Birthday Planning for TWO, 101

How to plan a birthday extravaganza for a two year old:

1. Dream big! Develop a birthday party theme that is (debatably undeniably) over the top and make sure to bite off more than you can chew, planning and orchestrating-wise.

1. Make like a juggler and simultaneously run ten different errands, manage your two year olds tantrums, plan a party and keep your cool.

1. Rely on the godsend that is your family and friends who are being coerced into helping you prepare for the big bash. Thank goodness for them. Just for that, you guys will get a few swings at the (not to toot my own horn, but it truly is) fabulous piñata I have spent more hours than I care to admit, making. I never want to see another glue stick, as long as I live. Unfortunately, with Lily having yet to enter the realm of elementary school, this wish may go unfulfilled.

1. Drag your nearly two year old to the site of the party, almost daily to prepare for her party. "I promise Lily, all this shuffling will be totally worth it in a few days when I you have the most beautiful party a two year old could dream of". Let's hope so. Let's just hope Mommy doesn't end up tearing down the streamers, flags and pom poms like a mad woman before we get to the actual soirée!

1. Bake four dozen cupcakes, cookies and one giant fondant covered cake. No big deal. 

1. And when the big day arrives, greet guests, treat them to a pink lemonade and pour one for yourself. You deserve it. Now, about that piñata...

Two, much!

As June 6th, 2012 nears, it is apparent in more ways than one, that Lily is almost two years old. She's revealed that she is fairly adept at hoisting herself out of her crib. Yikes. It's too early for a toddler bed, I mean, we would have to strap her down in order to keep her in bed (and that's not allowed,is it?). Also, the tantrums have reared their ugly head. We're doing our best to try not to acquiesce her demands (i.e Dora, ice cream cones, etc) but are only human and sometimes we cave under the sheer force of her toddler will. I know, two steps forward, three steps back. We're all a work in progress over here. 


Don't get me wrong, we are enjoying all moments, great, small, joyful and difficult and this comes with the territory. It's just that at present it's all new territory that we're navigating. On the upside of TWO, we are all working together to get ready for her second birthday party which will be carousel themed this year. This idea was born simply of her love of carousels. 

Allow me to introduce Exhibit A

Lily's love affair with fiberglass horses began at the carousel at the Woodland Park Zoo. Chris and I had taken her for a ride and when the carousel came to a stop, Lily decided she'd prefer to stay on and ride 3 more times. Such a jockey. And when those four rides came to a conclusion, the screaming began (we're working on this, don't judge). It's just because she's (clearly) very passionate about riding horses. However, when visiting our friend Allie and her new horse, Luna, Lily politely declined to sit nicely on Luna's back, for a photo. Here's the proof. Apparently it's just the inanimate horses that do it for her.

"Nooo! I only ride horses with PINK manes, PINK!"

Regardless, we have decided that Lily will appreciate the carousel theme. It has become a sort of tradition that my mother and I plan Lily's parties and so far, my parents have hosted them at their house because it really lends itself to entertaining. We have vivid imaginations and ideas and this tends to manifest itself in the parties we plan for Lily. It is fun and definitely a labor of love, but also exhausting. This year as a splurge, we've decided to hire local photographer, Julie Harmsen to capture Lily in all her sugared up, two year old, glory so that years down the road, we'll still have the beautiful photos to remind us of the lovely way we celebrated Lily's milestones. Julie is one of those incredible photographers that exacts the perfect shot, the one that you yourself try to hold frozen in memory forever. She has an impeccable eye and we're so excited to see what beautiful moments she will catch from behind her lens. 

Lily, we've come a long way baby, and you're only two. We can't wait for all the adventures that lay ahead and we're blessed and thankful for all the joy you have already brought to our lives. The fact that you are now starting to talk up a storm is also exciting. You can actually say TWO, but it's still lost on you that TWO is the milestone we'll be celebrating in a few weeks. We can't wait, this party if going to be TWO MUCH FUN! (Yes-I did)

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make 

a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not 

scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too

Little did Chris and I know that a afternoon lunch run would result in nearly a decade of rascally puppy love. Neither did my parents (who eventually took care of Oliver) 

 Oliver, utilizing his special talent as an alarm clock

Staring contest/post nap stretch

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, it was with heavy hearts that we said goodbye to our family dog, Oliver. Our story together began in October of 2004 in Moscow, Idaho. Chris and I had met at school and had been dating for nearly a year and had decided to head over Moscow for some lunch. As is customary for me, I asked pleaded with Chris to stop at my favorite place (purveyor of pets) to procrastinate, Pets Are People Too.

Whether you know me well, or barely at all, you know that my ADD leads me to all different types of distractions, the opportunity to ogle cute puppies, being one of these. So, Chris, knowing better than to deny me this simple pleasure, agreed. But let's be honest, clearly he is as much a softy as I am when it comes to buying pets unexpectedly (or cars for that matter, more on that later).

As we entered the pet store and made a beeline for the puppies, my heart started racing, as it always does. I spotted a liter of cute Jack Russell pups and immediately started waving my hands back and forth in front of the glass in the vain hopes of getting the puppies to play. (Note: this effort is futile when animals are sleeping) Eventually, one of the sleepy puppies woke up (Who was tapping on the glass? Definitely not me!) and I asked to hold him. Let's just say it was love at first nuzzle. Chris and I were smitten and decided that for $50, a little lover like Oliver was a steal. So, to make a long story short, we shared puppy duty for a few blissful sleep deprived months (definitely training camp for those without children, only 5 x easier) and then when my parents came for Moms Weekend, we revealed our little bundle. My mom, of who I am basically a little clone, was love struck instantly. And it's a good thing because shortly after, my roommates and I relocated to an apartment which wasn't canine friendly. 

So off to my parents he went, a new playmate for our older family dog, Luna. The rest is history, the two became fast friends and spent their days frolicking in the yard, getting into mischief and bringing an unimaginable amount of joy to the Roeter household. And that brings us to the present. Oliver became very ill the last month and lost 10lbs, nearly half his body weight. A trip to the veterinarian revealed his diabetic state as well as a liver disease that would ultimately prove to be degenerative. It was a hard decision to reach as a family, but a merciful one, sparing Oliver any pain and suffering. 

He will be missed every day. It was such a feeling of comfort to be standing in the kitchen and see a flash of brown and white fur bolt across the yard. He was spunky, at times, spoiled, but always loyal and happy to be with his family. He was my mother's little man. 

My own personal sorrow was tempered by the fact that I am now a parent and that puts everything into perspective. This is not to say that the loss of a pet is any less significant but when you have a child, the sun rises and sets with them. and a dog that was once your baby becomes your dog, separate from your actual baby. And I was relieved to get a free pass on the "Circle of life lesson" this time around. Lily is too young to really grasp the gravity that comes with the loss of a pet. Also, Oliver lived with Ama and Papa so he wasn't around Lily on a daily basis (but not far from it considering the amount of time we spend there). Someday perhaps we will have our own dog and Lily will get to learn the valuable life lessons that come with have a pet to take care of.

 I am so thankful for the time that we had with Oliver. He made our lives more fulfilled and enjoyed a pretty idyllic one himself. He was all snips and snails and a most lovable rascal. Goodbye, sweet boy. Thank you for bringing us so much joy and love.