We Celebrate Matthew's 2nd Birthday

FIRST AN EXPLANATION: Matthew John's birthday was April 10 and that is the day he turned two. We were anticipating Jesse's request for leave being approved; and in theory, he was supposed to be home for Matthew's birthday. However, since Jesse's leave still has not been officially approved, Matthew has had several little birthday celebrations. His Grandpa and Grandma Hand gave him gifts last week and they had their own little party for him. You have to understand that we usually do this all together -- all the grandparents get together and really spoil the birthday child rotten for their own special day.

Since we couldn't do it together this year, Grandpa and Grandma Jones decided to bring some pizza and gifts last night. Here is what transpired:

MATTHEW JOHN anticipating pizza and presents . . .
CHRISTOPHER JAMES all pumped up for pizza and a party . . .

EMMA JOY all ready for Matthew's party . . .

GRANDMA JONES & EMMA enjoying pizza . . .
See how pretty EMMA's fingernails look?

Aunt Emily gave her a manicure on Friday!

Diana helping MATTHEW open up some presents

from her and Jesse.

The shirt says: "I may be small, but I'm the boss."

EMMA watches as mom and MATTHEW open a

Grandma Jones card . . .
"Look! Grandma Jones is on the back!" says EMMA
These are some light-up cars (Matchbox size)
CHRISTOPHER thought for sure these were for him . . .
(sorry, Chris)

This is Fridge Phonics by LEAP FROG
Grandma Jones saw this at Aunt Bree's house in Austin
and thought how much fun the
Pahman kids would have with it!
It plays the Alphabet song and goes through the
phonics of each letter -- the entire thing is magnetic
and can hang on the refrigerator -- good purchase, Aunt Bree!

MATTHEW is opening Diego Matchbox cars (5)
and EMMA is handing him a set of
100 wooden blocks

We got a MICHIGAN license plate for

EMMA, CHRISTOPHER & MATTHEW

to remind them WHERE THEY BELONG

and WHERE GRANDMA IS . . .

CHRISTOPHER wasn't too keen on having
his picture taken with his license plate --
he was really wanting those light-up cars!

Then it was time for cupcakes!
Look at MATTHEW'S precious little face . . .

MATTHEW is seriously getting into this . . .

He has decided the frosting is very nice . . .


CHRISTOPHER enjoyed every single
bite of his cupcake, and then finished the other 1/2
of MATTHEW's (the part without the frosting)

EMMA ate her entire cupcake without a problem!
She picked a chocolate one, because
ALL GIRLS LOVE CHOCOLATE !

We also gave Matthew a little Matchbox suitcase to put his cars in, along with a city playmat with roads for his cars to drive on. He seemed very pleased with his birthday presents.

It was nearly time for Grandpa and Grandma to go home, but Emma and Christopher wanted to play hide-n-seek for a little while with Grandma, so we did that. Here are the rules: Emma points to the designated hiding place (and you had best hide there), and then she and Christopher run to another room, count "1-2-3, ready or not, here we come!" And then they run right back to the designated spot and scream, "We found you!" Now, where is the challenge to that? I was going to foil their plans and hide some place else, but Matthew was all cuddled up in my arms and was making happy sounds and would have given me away had I tried. After that, we went into the boys room and played "school" for awhile. Emma was the teacher, and we had to do what she said! Christopher played along pretty agreeably too.

GRANDMA JONES & MATTHEW having a hug

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MATTHEW

P.S. All of you other grandchildren who are wondering --
Is Grandma Jones ever going to post anything about us?
DEFINITELY! I just wanted to do a few stories that were fresh
before I go back in time . . .