Evan's Palmer-Side 2nd Birthday Celebration

While Jon's family was in town for his installation at Faith, we decided to celebrate Evan's birthday a little early so they could get in on the fun. We took him out for a day at Grant's Farm (mostly because Evan loves "horseys" right now and it was a lot less walking for Great Grandma and Preggo Mommy since they have the tram ride). He loved seeing the horses, as long as they kept their distance. And he really loves the stuffed horsey that Grandma and Grandpa Palmer bought him as a gift! He even named it Ace! :) And what would a trip to Grant's Farm be without visiting the crazy goats? Evan was excited because he got to feed them "himself" (mostly) this time. The pictures say a thousand words...

After we were exhausted from the Farm, we had to run to the store to find a swim suit for mommy (Do you know how hard it is to find a modest swim suit this time of the year?! impossible! I had to settle for wicking sports clothes!) and a shirt and tie for Daddy (we didn't bring his down since we didn't think he'd need them quite yet). After that we went out to eat at Chilis, and then headed back to the hotel for swimming, birthday cake, and presents.
After we all got suited up, we walked into the pool room (we were the ONLY ones in the pool room), and Evan started screaming. Normally we would have helped him ease into the pool, but since it was his birthday and it was getting late, we decided to scrap swimming and just hit the cake. (I figured the sugar rush might help his mood a bit too...) :)

Evan was excited to eat the cake, but scared to blow out the candles...But his favorite part was opening presents and getting some really cool stuff. Auntie Barb (Evan calls her titi bob...it's cute!) gave him a play cell phone and two Praise Baby DVDs. Grandma and Grandpa gave Evan a box full of fall clothes (with lots of cars and balls on them!) and a portable cot for either camping or naps or a transition to getting used to sleeping in a toddler bed). Once that got set up, he insisted that he sit on it to open up the rest of his presents. Mommy and Daddy got him floating drums for the bath tub, and (intentionally last but certainly not least!) Great Grandma got him a real metal drum set (with 2 snares, a cymbal, a foot/base drum and a stool). He was pretty stoked. He REALLY wanted to open it up, but we opened up the floating drums instead and he sang us all a song before we headed back home for our long day ahead.

Evan's real birthday party probably won't be until the end of the month when Auntie Shana and Uncle Kyle come to visit (especially since on Evan's actual birthday next Sunday his daddy has to preach for the first time at our new church and it's also the grand opening celebration for our new youth building the Hangar). We won't even get to see much of our little 2 year old on his birthday! But I'll be thankful for the extra time to plan his party and do a better job decorating his next cake. I'm thinking about going with a drum theme... :)

Walking with two Grandmas

Too close! :s

Evan liked feeding the goats

Happy birthday, dear Evan...

A serenade to break in his new drums...

To see the rest of the pictures, visit the album here.