Zoralee's 2nd birthday

We had the world's lowest key birthday (for a kid), which was just perfect for this year. Between my pregnancy fatigue and having just hosted a big Thanksgiving shindig the week before, we took this one easy. 'Twas a leisurely morning, the adults drinking coffee whilst entertaining/being entertained by Zoralee and Bennett, and Zoralee trying to finagle as many chocolate cupcakes as she could ahead of the celebration. Then, in a little window of the early afternoon, when the kids were up from their naps and Jason hadn't yet left for work, Zoralee opened her presents, and we sang happy birthday and gave her another cupcake with a "2" candle in it. And that was it!

She wanted to play with each toy and read each book rather than move along to new presents. It really felt like we were encouraging ADD by giving her gifts one after the other. Somebody suggested that for a child her age, it'd be a good idea to let her open a gift each day leading up to the birthday. 

She loved her singing card from Grandpa and Grandma as much as any present.

The next two pictures are from the morning time, before Zoralee had opened her first present of new clothes. She got those leopard pajamas for her first birthday. They are wonderful pajamas, but every once in a while, when she drops her drawers and has messy hair or a dirty face, she looks like quite the urchin child. Just after the second photo, Zoralee needed to go tinkle. She found a nice patch of grass, but not wanting to step fully onto it, she gingerly put one foot on the grass and kept the other on the sidewalk. She did her business in a beautiful squat/straddle, and then leaned onto the sidewalk foot, slowly swinging her other foot around until it too was on the sidewalk. Then she looked over at me and gave a little hick chuckle and grin - with (and I am not making this up) chocolate cupcake stuck to one of her front teeth. 

"This looks like a post-domestic disturbance still shot from COPS. All Zoralee needs is a frying pan in her hand." - Rachel

times with the fam in Texas

My parents left Monday morning, having visited for 2 weeks. They spent every waking moment with Zoralee in one activity or another, much to her delight. We also checked out Mexican restaurants around town, went to the San Antonio Zoo, walked to the playground, and got into a philosophical debate or two. I got to nap a lot; it was heavenly.

Rachel and Bennett came in late Thursday night, so their visit with the folks overlapped for three days over Zoralee's birthday weekend. Our Pickle is a pretty lucky gal to have family travel to wherever she is just for her birthday! Last year it was Alaska, and this year Texas. We might have to move somewhere even more exotic next year to test the family's stamina. Oh yeah, we are - North Dakota! That'll be the true test, one of overcoming shame and humiliation. For you see, we grew up in Montana telling North Dakota jokes, which generally focused on a North Dakotan's lack of intelligence or good looks. Very mature, I know. For example,

Why don't North Dakotan's ever ride their bicycles in Montana?
Because there are too many chain removal signs on the mountain passes.

...and other riotously funny quips.
 
Anyway, that was a rabbit trail if there ever was one. First, here're some pics of the general family visiting activities, then I'll do another of just Z's 2nd birthday. Also, Rachel has more pictures and stories over at her blog. 

snakes are evidently not cool in Zoralee's book

the Okapi, a shining example of genetic indecision

self-dusting: similar to Zoralee's self-yogurting

wishing we'd gotten to the goat petting pen before it closed

helping Grandpa with his morning reading

greeting upon arrival a weary boy and his Mama

Chore #1: establishing positions on Grandma's lap

pull ups on the playground

The kids love each other, even though they continually wake each other up from their non-coordinated naps. As I write, Zoralee ran up to Bennett and patted his cheeks, saying, "Bennett! Bennett! Bennett! Bennett!" She concluded by shaking his hand and saying cordially, "Nice to meet you!"

remembering Pearl Harbor

Here is a song that remembers Pearl Harbor from the perspective of one of the ships, The USS Arizona. My brother, Luke, wrote it and put it to a slide show of old photographs.