52 Weeks - Birthday Week

We did an awful lot to celebrate your first birthday.  It pretty much encapsulates the coolest elements of my childhood into two good weeks for you.  So I guess that means we are off the hook for the rest of your youth!  OK, maybe not.  But you did get to do a lot of fun things you will never remember.

To start with we had a large gathering of family and friends the weekend before your birthday.  This barbecue friend fest culminated in the moment of your unwrapping presents and eating cake.  Although the cake eating was a bit anti-climactic.  You would only swipe your finger across the frosting.  You didn't seem too interested in breaking into the cake.

Playing on your new toy that mom and dad got you!

Sharing your new toy with cousins!

This was your cake.
Your mom made individual cupcake monkeys for everyone else.

The party was as much as for your mom as it was for you. =D

Yes, you were that happy.

A balloon!!!!

Princess, not just for today.

Dig in!

Notice how the cake is largely left alone. Shame.

Since your birthday party was before your actual birthday, we had to do something for your actual birthday.  So we went to Red Robin!  They gave you your own ice cream and balloon!  You have loved balloons ever since we went to Red Robin for my birthday and I gave you my balloon.  We also tried to give you some food from Red Robin, but you were only interested in the fries.  Typical.

The real fun started two days after your birthday.  I took the Wednesday through Friday off that week and we started by going to the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium.  You really loved the animals.  I was surprised that you even loved the fish!

Heading into the Zoo.  What do we see?

Leaping Lemurs!  Or... Sleeping Lemurs.  Shhh.

I honestly don't know how your mom caught me looking so apathetic.
We were both super excited about the elephant.

What is that weird looking thing? It's a Tapir!

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!  Or just Tigers.

Fish!

This guy came out from under his rock just to see us.

These Walruses were as big as a boat!

Walking between exhibits.

This was the only Polar Bear seen that day.  Much to my dismay.

All that sight seeing really wears a girl out!

But we have lots of energy after nap time!!

Down the slide you go!

You must have spun about 30 times in this thing.

Caught in daddy's web!  Ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!

The festivities that followed the Zoo weren't really about your birthday.  They were more of a Perkins family get together (reunion).  But we sure did have a lot of fun down in Seaside, OR.

Wishing to play X-Box Kinect with the big kids.

Touring Tillamook with Gramma.  Look at all that cheese!

Investigating the local wildlife with P-Pa.

Finding someone to share lunch with.

At Haystack Rock.

The most amazing part of this picture - P-Pa smiling.

So... much... fun!!!

"Helping" Aunt Ali and Uncle Kyle build a sand castle.

Helping of course means eating sometimes.

Playing Fooz-ball with Aunt Ali and Uncle Kyle.
I'm sure you won.

Downtown Seaside, OR on a beautiful day.

If only all your other birthdays could start out this amazing.  No pressure.