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One more thing
Monday, February 25, 2013 at 08:44PM 
I guess you've figured out we went to North Carolina for the baby's first birthday.
We had a pizza party -- to include fresh veggies served with Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing and Rotel/Velveeta dip with Mission tortilla strips -- and birthday cake and presents for the boy, who I believe exceeds the legal limit for cuteness in most states.
The kid enjoys life too. His mother ordered a transferable cake topper for him in his party's theme: Curious George. It came with a t-shirt that featured the same design that went on his cake.
He wore it with gusto and panache.
Last spring on Allissa's fourth birthday our theme was Strawberry Shortcake and the same lady -- a friend of my daughter's -- made the transfer for that cake.
TG and I took the cardboard flat envelope down to the Ingles supermarket not far from my daughter's house and handed it to the ladies behind the counter in the bakery. We picked out a sheet cake.
The ladies couldn't have been nicer if they'd graduated with highest honors from niceness school.
But my daughter was buying this birthday cake and it was more convenient for her to take the envelope containing the transfer to a Food Lion store.
Where the ladies couldn't have been less cooperative. As in, they refused to put the edible Curious George design sheet onto a cake for her.
As Stephanie walked away one of the ladies raised her voice and said: "Cross contamination, you know."
?????
So Stephanie went to Ingles where the bakery staff were glad to help her.
Oy.
After supper and before tucking into that cake -- oh and cross contamination is delicious, just so you know -- Andrew opened his presents. He got lots, to include a basketball goal from his parents.
Everybody helped him figure out how to use it.
I got him a Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer which is being delivered to him tomorrow. I had to order it online. His mother says he needs something to ride in the driveway.
My experiences attempting to find and purchase that toy -- or one like it -- at a price that wouldn't bankrupt me, is a whole separate blog post.
After presents, the cake was lit and blown upon and thoroughly enjoyed by one and all.
No one has suffered the ill effects of cross contamination yet.
After baths to cleanse them of the grease and grime of pizza, ranch dressing, cheese dip, buttercream, and general hilarity, the children were put to bed.
I was showing Stephanie and Audrey the Little Tikes Push & Ride Racer using the same link I provided above, when I mentioned to Stephanie that I would have gotten Andrew a toy lawnmower if I'd seen one.
She lit up like a cross-contaminated river running by a neon factory and ran from the room.
Audrey and I looked at one another, puzzled.
Stephanie returned with a Walmart gift card that had been sent to Andrew by one of his relatives. She wondered if they had such a toy lawnmower at Walmart dot com.
Turns out they did, and Stephanie pretty much flipped out and we ordered a Little Tikes Gas 'n Go Mower for Andrew, using his birthday money.
Audrey marveled aloud: "We just helped a baby open at least ten presents and now we're online, ordering him one more."
Yeah. How we roll y'all. Now when I was a kid ... never mind.
On Saturday we took the kids outside for pictures and invigorating outdoor play.
Andrew was feeling his one-year-old oats (or maybe it was all of that cross-contamination) and immediately began charging up and down the lane.
I think he would have done it all day if we'd let him. Not one single toy accompanied us outside.
Later TG posed Andrew on top of a tree stump and he really seemed to like the view. I know I did.
The big sisters wouldn't sit on a tree stump but they posed sweetly near a tree.
Andrew the Younger, as I think of him (he even has his own board on Pinterest), had a blast on his birthday.
But then, he has a blast most days. He's my lollapalooza. One of my klediments.
I love him. A lot. I think he's pretty swell.
Have as many birthdays as you can, Andrew. I heard that birthdays are good for you. Those who have the most, live longest. Coincidence? I think not.
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Happy Monday
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Reader Comments (4)
:) :) :) :)
First I have to say that you're right. (I can hear you - of course you are - you always are!)
Anyway - that child is just so adorable! Those eyes just suck me in, those cheeks, the perfect little mouth. It's almost too much.
The cake was adorable, although it was most likely contaminated. I think you best be alert for any signs of illness.
Last but not least - this post was a heartwarmer for me because it took me back in time. My Andrew had a Little Tikes lawn mower and he so enjoyed being out there, pushing that little thing across the grass. And - he also had a little coat very similar to your little guy. I hadn't thought about it for a long time but seeing your Andrew brought it right back. Cuteness Deluxe!
Cross...What???? Lazy bunch of.....Grrrrrrrr!!! It was going on HER CAKE!!!
Uggggggg.....
Anyway, He's Adorable!!! And your photos are gorgeous Miss Jenny!
hughugs
He is a beautiful little boy!
It looks like a great party, the girls have really grown, and ANDREW, well he's gorgeous. Happy Birthday little man.