A Very Hoppy Birthday

Jonathan celebrated his second birthday over the weekend. He is just starting to really talk, and "froggie" is one word he can say - although it sounds more like "foggy". Any time he sees a frog, he points to it excitedly and says, "foggie!'" So I decided to put on a frog party for him. After consulting my sisters, my mom, and the internet for good ideas, I decided to make a cake depicting the life cycle of a frog. Everything is edible except the two plastic frogs, the toothpicks, and candles. You can see the pictures enlarged by clicking on them.
Also, various food items on the menu got renamed to be "froggy friendly." Among other things, we served "lily pads" (sliced cucumbers) and "toadstools" (fresh mushrooms) with dip from a bell pepper frog.

We also served "flies" (raisins) and "frogie tongues" (fruit roll-ups) with "pond water" to drink (lime-ade and 7-up with lime sherbet on top to make it "scummy."

Colonel Strong Vincent got into the action by blowing up 360 balloons to create a "frog pond" for the little froggie guests to hop around in. He got to use his compresser which made it even more fun. To complete the pond atmosphere, he put on a tape of pond and water sounds while the little frogs played in the balloons.
Jonathan really seemed to enjoy his birthday and so did Alyssa and the guests. Here are a few more pictures of the fun. You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.
Blowing out the candles.


Alyssa covered her eyes to count to 20 while the guests hid in the balloons. Then Jonathan copied her and said, "Two, five, eight, nine."

Growing

Jonathan is growing so fast! It's so amazing to watch him learn new things and imitate the things we do. Alyssa and I were just outside pulling some weeds from our flower gardens and lawn and throwing them over the fence out of our patch of green yard and onto the brown dirt that won't grow anything until the rain comes this winter. After watching us do this several times, Jonathan picked some leaves from one of my herbs and took them over to the fence and threw them out, too. Yesterday when I sat down at my computer, he crawled into my lap and put my hand on the mouse. He knew just where it needed to go. He watches exactly what we do, even when we don't realize he's looking. He doesn't miss a thing!

Reminds me how much I need to be watching Jesus, reading what He did when He was here on earth, listening to what He wispers in my ear minute by minute, and imitating Him in everything I do. Maybe I'll grow as fast as Jonathan is!