2. Party One was on Saturday with Jak’s Calgary grandparents.  We wanted to do something low-key, but something we knew he would enjoy.  The answer — a trip to the park!  (Thanks to auntie erin for suggesting Helicopter Park…it was a hit!)Jak’s favourite part of the park wasn’t the swing.  It wasn’t the slide.  It wasn’t the merry-go-round.  It was a ramp.  Yes, you read that right.  He spent the majority of our time at the park just going back and forth, up and down the ramp.  Crazy kid. 

3. Here are some “behind the scenes” shots of our time at the park…

4. Maguire was at the park, too.(I promise he’s under that blanket…)

5. One last round of photos from the park — boys being boys!

6. We had dinner at our place after our park adventures, and I made sure to have a giant chocolate cupcake for Jakzen for dessert.  In preparation for what I assumed would be a messy experience, I stripped him down and plunked him back in his chair, all ready to dive in and get dirty.  First, he was unsure what to think of our singing…and even more unsure of the sparkly candle.Once the sparkler had burned out, he picked up the cupcake and we were all ready with our cameras to capture him attacking it with gusto.  No such luck.  He took one lick, and put it down.  Apparently there really is such a thing as too much chocolate…

7. On Sunday, it was Olivia’s birthday.  Crazy that this weekend marked her FIRST birthday.  Already!  She’s such a happy little girl — and a total ham for the camera.

8. Yesterday we had a party with some of Jak’s best buddies…and of course, more cupcakes.

9. Maguire, the party animal.

10. Jakzen got the obligatory cupcake with a candle in it again…and once again, he wasn’t sure what to think.

Thankfully Jak has good friends like Ronan who *tried* to teach him how to blow out the candle. 

Jak made a couple feeble attempts at blowing, but in the end, Ronan saved the day and blew out the flame — and Jak was grateful!Of course, Jak didn’t want anything to do with eating the cupcake, and opted instead for a chocolate cookie.  Which he LOVED…and his mommy finally got those messy birthday shots she was looking for.   

Today you are two years old.

Today you are sweeter and cuter and smarter.  Today you are also louder and faster and more stubborn.

These days you make us smile when your first stop in the morning is to say ‘hi’ to your brother and your last stop at night is to give him a smooch and tell him ‘good night’.  These days you also drive us crazy when we can’t stop you from waking your brother from his naps and when you shriek in his face.

Lately you have amazed us with your puzzle skills, your curiosity, and by how much you want to help.  Lately you have also made bigger messes, said ‘no way’ too many times to count, and made it very clear when something displeases you.

We love your spunk.  Your energy.  And your smile.

We love your sense of adventure.  Your fierceness.  And your giggle.

We love your crazy hair.  Your stinky feet.  And your ticklish tummy button.

We love that you prefer broccoli over cake.  Noodles versus potatoes.  And cheese above all else.

We love that you flop like a fish when you sleep.  We love chasing you around the kitchen.  We love when you “couch potato” with us daily.  We love that you call your brother ‘bubba’.  We love how you love playing with any/all kids.  We love that your eyes light up when you see your grandparents.  And we love that you are the world’s best snuggler.

Jakzen, we just love you.  Every single bit of you.  Happy birthday, baby boy.