Joel's 2nd birthday!

This week, our little guy who in the past has often been referred to as "the littlest Kroh" turned 2.  Our Joel is wild, free, and fierce, but he's also independent, loving, hilarious and kind.  He's grown SO much over the last year since his first birthday and he's taught us that while toddlers can be exhausting, they can also be incredibly fun.

We celebrated his actual birthday with some chocolate "eclipse donuts" and spent the day hanging out at home to watch the eclipse.  He loved the donuts but was mostly clueless about the whole birthday thing.  Haha!

When you're 2, you can get away with diving right in. 

Eclipse ready!

Anyway, almost a week later we had his party.  We originally chose the weekend after his birthday knowing that we would have a newborn baby and fully knowing we would need that extra week to prepare ourselves and the house for hosting.  For the most part, we kept things pretty simple this time for our sanity... and again the whole newborn baby thing.  Had to make it all about the "choo choos" for him though, because that's kind of his thing right now. 

His invites were ordered here on Etsy and printed at Costco, and cut out to look like tickets.  (Address blacked out obviously.)

Dinner served could not have been more simple-- take out pizza, salad, and I made The Pioneer Woman's cheese bread. 

So I made both the regular cheese bread recipe and also the olive cheese bread-- ya'll, you have to try the olive cheese bread!  Nom! Nom!

Dessert-- chocolate cupcakes fashioned in a #2 train track. He actually ended up rolling the train through the icing tracks while we sang "happy birthday".... it was so cute!  And the birthday train, I got for a steal on Amazon when it was marked down.  The little cake on the back plays the tune of the Thomas theme song and Thomas has a little party hat on.  

Then a minor mishap-- see those wooden train whistles in the background above.  Well, we have a dozen of them and they sat on the counter all evening and never were given out.  Mom fail!  They were supposed to be parting gifts for the kiddos at the party.  Thankfully, all of our party guests were family, so I can now take a sharpie and write the names of all of the little cousins on them and pass them off as I see them next.  So dear family, get ready for train whistles!  You are very welcome! 

Sweet Joel, you keep us on our toes and bring smiles to our faces daily.  To see life through your eyes  each day is inspiring and reminds me to slow down and relish in the little things.  You are smart and strong, and your laugh is most infectious.  We love you so much big boy!  

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY JOEL!