The Big Number Two!

Samson Vonnegut turns TWO today!
Since the Daycare Center was closed on Monday for Staff Development, we were able to swap days and get Sam in on his birthday, which i was really psyched about 'cuz this was going to be my first "Mommy Bakes for the Class" moment! I will never outdo my cousin with her

birthday cake creations (think Spiderman, a snake and a MEGAPHONE! - all handsculpted), but I can be a mean Cookie Baker. So i decided on my all-time fave, and a loved classic, The Chocolate Chip. Ron made them however (i was swamped at work!), and in true Ron fashion, he tweaked the recipe. He added half a jar of Wegmans Mint Chocolate Fudge dessert topping. Wow-WEE! Yum-MEE!

At 2:30, Shirley and i arrived to the kids just wrapping up naptime (there was even a wee one still napping in the corner). Pretty soon thereafter, i
passed out a cookie for each child, which i had decorated the night before with kid-friendly and recognizable shapes: a balloon, a bicycle, a sun, a moon, a butterfly - that sorta thing. I squatted next to Sam, pulled two candles from my pocket and a lighter and the class began to sing. He slowly looked up, in almost a dazed way, and then began to cry. I don't think he knew what to make of the attention. I patted his back and soon it was time for him to blow out his candles (I helped a little). Ron had made the cookies GIGUNDO (at least from a 2 yr old's perspective), and most of them did not finish even a half. I look over, and there is Sam with nothing but crumbs in front of him! Ha! Daddy's lil boy.

Then the kids wanted to play outside. Good GOD, was it cold out, but you would never know by the kids excitement and energy. Sam had a good time running with his little plastic grocery cart, and playing follow the leader on the playground's wood border. After about 20 min, the kids came in and played around the room, listened to story time, and Ron enjoyed a 'taco' for a snack.

At 4, the Center was hosting a saxophone quartet from Ithaca College. Each class had a designated time to go and listen. They even wheeled the baby's in cribs to listen, which i thought was way cool! Sam's class really enjoyed it. Sam was a little antsy, and i wondered if it was because Mommy and Daddy were there (showing off). He clapped and danced - it was a really nice time.

If you would like to reminisce with us a little, travel back one or two years...