Savannah is TWO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH GRACE!!!!!!

My big plans to not throw a party this year were the ultimate fail.  Last week I realized I was crazy to think I could just sit back and not throw a party, so what do I do?  I threw a party!  A quick email invite to everyone we know and an afternoon baking and decorating cake with the birthday girl were about all it took to throw an awesome party!  Our friends packed the house, kids played with toys, adults stood around chatting.  There was nothing formal about this party, decorations consisted of anything I already had in the closet, food/drinks were simply cake and lemonade, yet Savannah was surrounded by love (and M&Ms, or "eme-num-nums")

I've baked and decorated a lot of cakes in my day, but this one was by far my favorite!  I showed Savannah all my cake pans and though she had trouble deciding between the teddy bear cake and the elephant cake she went with the elephant in the end.  I chose to use M&Ms to decorate because they were her favorite candy from her Halloween stash, plus she was able to sort them by color and they were easy for a toddler to handle!  She had a blast decorating with mommy and I had a blast with her!!!

Savannah helping mommy decorate the Elephant M&M cake

Finished cake and cupcakes

Ultra-elaborate party decorations

The candles spelled out "Happy Birthday Savannah"

Daddy lighting the candles

Surrounded by family and friends

Happy Birthday To YOU!

Birthday girl enjoying her eme-num-nums!

Savannah took a good half hour enjoying her cake...at least three times as long as any of the other kids.  She savored every bite. There was not an M&M within arms reach by the time she was done. 

Our friends were strictly instructed NOT to bring presents...but some of them deliberately disobeyed. She's been enjoying her birthday wearing new clothes and playing with new toys :-)

Opening presents

New hat and sidewalk chalk!

To the birthday girl:

Savannah Grace Marcus you are a dream come true.  You are the smartest, most beautiful, and energetic toddler I could have ever imagined.  God has blessed me by allowing me to be your mother through the good times and the tough times.  Through giggles and temper tantrums (which ironically can often coincide).  You've grown and learned a lot this year.  You can run and jump. You talk in complete sentences.  You're almost completely potty trained and can dress and undress yourself (and insist on doing so independently).  You sleep in a big-girl bed.  You can sing the ABC song and recite Bible verses.  You love singing songs, playing in water, coloring, and play-dough.  You FINALLY have enough hair to use hair clips, though they rarely stay in your hair very long.  You recently became a big sister and you've handled it much better than I anticipated.  I love you so much and am excited to watch you grow and mature this next year.  Happy Birthday my love.

-Love Mommy