 We thought of a few different themes for Addi's birthday, based around her favourite things but in the end bears and rainbows just had to win out! She had always been a fan of rainbows...but I think it definitely became more apparent during lockdown when we were making them and searching for them in windows etc... and she just always loves to tell stories about a bear coming or we search for bears when we are out in the woods and a few of her favourite cuddly toys are bears so the rainbow and bears party was born! 
I was in love with this giant rainbow balloon I found online and the cute little tassel garland and rainbow plates and party cups.
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 It just so happened that Auntie Mara ended up coming to stay a few days before the party, which meant she could bake us these epic Bread Ahead doughnuts complete with rainbow sprinkles! |
Ella had helped me make some smartie choc chunk cookies, and we had bear cakes and pom bear crips...plus this fun fruit rainbow!
Our little two year old...or big two year old I should say! where did those years go! Loving her rainbow skirt that Granny Kathy gifted her - perfect party wear! and new rainbow sandals I got her especially from Gap.
Getting into the swing of things with big sis!
A little family pic thanks to Auntie Mara!
and some pass the parcel!
because everyone knows no party is complete without some pass the parcel!
and a little bit of dancing.
Then it was onto the feasting!
These bear plates were super cute!
After we had lunch it was time for a walk in the woods,
which was looking super pretty with all the wild garlic out in force!
and no bear birthday is complete without a real bear sighting! thanks to Google 3d!
We frolicked among the bluebells,
and had to stop for a pic with a cherry blossom!
and the birthday girl with the clematis
She also took her brand new balance bike for a spin around the block.
When we got back it was time for some cake! We sung to Addi and as we were singing one of the flames popped one of those balloons and it flung onto Addi's arm and gave her such a fright she started crying! It wasn't the happy moment she was expecting! but we gave her a little cuddle and tried again...
Round 2 was smiles all round with no balloon injuries!
and even bigger smiles when tucking into her chocolate Oreo cake with vanilla bean frosting!
but let's go back to the morning because I skipped over the present opening fun!
She came rushing down the stairs as we sung happy birthday to her - ran into see her prezzies and said 'a bike' very enthusiastically! and then promptly fell over it and started crying as she tried to look at it!
Apparently tears and the birthday song were a running theme of the day!
Luckily the tears faded quickly, as the opening commenced!
She loved her cuddly bear from Granny Kathy, and sleeping bag from Grandpa - ready for some camping fun this summer!
These very cool ice cream wellies change colour in the sunlight!
and she got spoilt by some cards and money from the lovely ladies at church who couldn't see her because of lockdown.
and one more of her skirt and sandals, because she just looked so grown upto me!
So here's a little recap of Addison Mae at age 2 and all her favourite things!
She loves having her very own bike, but is equally excited to go in the seat on Daddy's bike when we go on longer cycles...
'bike ride' is one of her favourite outings to request! which pleases Byron greatly.
She loves the water! in all its forms - the bath,
watering the plants in the garden,
throwing stones in the stream,
playing in her water table which was her bday gift from Granny and Auntie Alli,
toe dipping in the river,
to full on swimming!
the sprinkler in the garden
splashing in puddles...
and especially the beach!!
During lockdown when all the parks were closed it was difficult to explain to her why we couldn't go play on them, so there has been a whole lot of park playing since they opened back up again! In fact I think every day the girls have played on at least one, if not multiple, playparks!! to make up for lost time.
This was Addi's face the first park back! I think it speaks volumes!
She loves a swing! but her new found favourite is actually the....
zip line! I had been holding her on it earlier in the week but yesterday she went solo on it, and I was like wahhh my baby is too grown up! luckily we have an annual pass to this one in a walled garden in our town so I'm sure it will feature lots over the summer!
She has also developed a new found love of Duplo! which works well alongside her lego obsessed sister. It all began with this Frozen castle set she picked out with her birthday money,
and then at the start of June the bottle fairies came to take away all her bottles and milk. She left all her bottles by the fairy door outside her room before naptime, and when she woke up there was a present there instead of the bottles! and it was a Duplo train which she was thrilled about! The first two nights were less than fun without the milk, but after that she adapted surprisingly well and has never asked for milk again! and is sleeping through the night so much better now, hurrah.
As well as giving up her milk, she also upgraded to a toddler bed instead of her cot so it's all been happening!
She even had her very first sleepover with Ella a few weeks back, which they were both super excited about!
She is super helpful around the house, from always wanting to empty the cutlery holder in the dishwasher, to loading the washing machine and putting the liquid in, and she is also really good at tidying up! Sometimes without even being asked - long may it continue!
She has got really into games over lockdown, and more recently loves puzzles!
She also got a new play doh set from Auntie Mara for her bday which has provided hours of fun!
Her imagination is really taking off, and she loves to set up little scenarios with mini characters or cuddly toys. She decided in the little scene below that it was one of the cuddly toys birthday and so everyone needed a party hat and a piece of cake for their party!
She still loves her babies! One day I turned around from baking and saw her on the sofa with all her babies in a row, taking a sip on that giant bottle! maybe she was secretly missing her milk ;)
She loves to bake, and help mix and sprinkle on these rainbow cupcakes - and has been a great little assistant for my Borders Bakeshop bake-a-longs that I have been doing during lockdown.
A few more pics showcasing her rainbow love!
Looking back on these pics it makes it look like we've had an epic sunny summer, when in fact all that water fun/river swims/beach days all happened in April and May! June and July have been washouts...as I predicted! Let's see what way August goes, I'm crossing my fingers for better weather but won't hold my breath!
The girls loved hanging out in the hammock on sunny days,
and one day after getting Addi dressed I came downstairs to find her just chilling on the blanket in the garden, soaking up some sun! It was super cute!
One thing I love to see each year are the rhodos at Dundock Woods. Sadly they were just slightly past their best when we visited, but it did make for good petal carpets!
This pic is a good representation of their relationship - always racing to keep up with her sister wanting to do everything that Ella can do and more!
If Ella does something like attempt to climb this tree, Addi says 'Addi do it too' and often because of her age and size she can't always do the things Ella is doing and that's difficult to explain!!
So lockdown has been a bumpy ride...of sibling tensions! Being with each other all day every day can wear thin, and there has been a whole lot of fighting...
but sometimes, they can play beautifully together and do cute things like this all on their own! just because they love each other. Hopefully these moments start to outweigh the fighting, whiny ones!
