Baltimore/"Cool car Susan."

I know I'm posting backwards, but before Gabe's birthday, he and I went to Baltimore to visit Susan and her family. Lay over in Chicago+long flights+crying baby=me crying on a plane full of strangers and the whole way through the airport to meet up with Susan. We pretty much lounged around and sewed and played Legos Harry Potter, which is just the way we like it. Our children hated each other to the point of having to physically restrain both of them and keep them in separate rooms. That was very sad. But the times we got to spend just the two of us was wonderful. We went to D.C for a day and went to North Carolina for a week. Consumed more vinegar/burned the back of my throat more than I ever have in my entire life (no offense Granny Jo!), fought back the urge to respond with a southern accent in conversations, saw the Most Beautiful scenery and homes, and wolfed down dinner at a mexican restaurant in 5 minutes flat. I love N.C. It was bittersweet to say goodbye after almost 3 weeks. Thanks for taking us in Suze and Nick!

We were lucky on the flight to Chicago and had a row to ourselves!

"Ughhh mom. How much longer??"

Windy city

Layover in Chicago

Undie boys!

These undies are too big for Calvin!! Susan gave them to Gabe!

Shortly after this picture, he peed in them. Yeah, potty training is going well.

Glued to the TV

They DID enjoy bath time together!

Nick was so sweet to Gabe the whole time. Gabe kept saying "Nick! Watch me!"
At the National Zoo

The Air and Space museum

Those are full sized planes!! The roof is retractable so they can get the planes in!

Playing on the Mall

Looking at the rain in Roxboro

This empty window pane was Gabriel's FAVORITE thing. He played with it the whole time.

Susan sewing her baby crib bedding

Me sewing a skirt

Our date night out to the Red Stocking Revue. SO much fun! Baby_____ tagged along :)

Gabe shares the joy of Nutella with Calvin

He approves!

Gabe's 2nd Birthday

Yikes. I have a 2 year old. When I was little, we used to watch Dinosaurs the Tv show. I loved it. But the only episode that has stayed with me these 15 years was the Terrible Twos episodes. I actually had nightmares from that episode. Seriously. Watch the episode but NOT WITH YOUR KIDS if they scare easily. I don't want to be blamed for nightmares! Part 1, part 2, part 3 Anyway, this is honestly the first thing I think of when I think of terrible twos. I have heard recently that it's not the AGE 2, it's the YEAR 2, if that makes since. The Chinese actually celebrate it that way. When a baby is born, he's already 9 months old in their books. Gabe just passed through his 2nd year which is when that supposedly happens. So I think were in the clear. Cross your fingers. 

Gabe and I flew home the day before his birthday from Baltimore. Friday was his birthday and we opened the presents from us. We got him Toy Story the movie, a few Hot Wheels, a car mat, and an ABC magnet game. Nate brought him a cupcake home from work and then we went to dinner at Zinburger. YUM. 

The next morning was his party. It was a Cars themed tailgate. The cute invitations were made by Nate and they were supposed to be a race flyer. 

Nate and his brother Daniel cooked up some home made root beer that we called motor oil and lots of burgers.

We had banners with movie quotes on them:

The food table

Flo runs the fuel station and this was our fuel station... I know it looks really awkward if you don't know the line.... :)

Guido is the best tire changer around so we played a version of pin the tail on the donkey. And yes I drew and painted that all by myself. Thanks for asking. We used black paper plates as wheels.

We made personalized license plates. This was a hit! These two tables were packed.

Cake with Cars on it and, come to find out seconds after this picture was taken, trick candles! I just grabbed them because they were .99c at the store. I looked pretty dumb trying to blow those candles out over and over...

Eating cake at the new table Grandma Rene got him.

Wearing his Cars shirt for the occasion.

The kids also played on the car mat with the 30(!!!) cars he got for his birthday and watched Mater's Tall Tales. Highly recommend. I don't really like the movie Cars beacuse of Lightning McQueen. Mater is the best part of the movie, so a movie all about him? I'll take that over Cars any day.

You thought I was exaggerating. :)

(And yes he has a black eye. That's for a later post!)

Happy Birthday baby toddler!

P.S. Babycenter.com sent me my weekly e-mail on Friday and the new header said "Your Preschooler". I almost had a conniption. I'm still recovering. Please send chocolate.