Happy 2nd Birthday, Robbie! (And Happy 3rd Annual Fall Fest too!)

My sister, Karen, and her husband, Jim, pity us for the lack of leaves we have in our neighborhood. They ever so kindly look out for their niece and nephews when fall rolls around, and invite us over every year to jump in their gargantuan pile of leave they have in their back yard. The kids LOOOOOVVVVVE it!

We started this tradition a couple of years ago, when Karen was pregnant with their son, Robbie. Here she is holding Evan (1 year old) at our first Fall Fest. I think that she delivered Robbie the next day!
It's hard to believe, but two Fall Fests later, here's Robbie, Mr. Big Boy!

The kids had a ball playing in the leaves.
I told my sister that the only thing better than having your own gargantuan pile of leaves is having a sister and brother-in-law with a gargantuan pile of leaves. ;)


After the kids had their fill of fall fun, we all worked together to bag up the leaves.
The kids worked hard too,

even Evan. With all of us chipping in, it only took us about half an hour...

...to fill 35 BAGS OF LEAVES!

Then it was on to some yummy appetizers, pumpkin soup and corn chowder, as well as opening presents. Evan assisted. (He needs some practice, of course, as he'll be having his own birthday in only 17 days.)

Here's Robbie sporting a cute vest he got from his Aunt Gretchen.

My sister is so crafty...check out this sign she made for Robbie! (Click on it to see it bigger.)

And check out these cupcakes she made! She even made the decoration flags on top of the cupcakes!

But one of my favorite parts of the whole day was when Robbie got his birthday cake...He had to be the neatest 2 year old birthday cake eater ever. I'm sure you are familiar with the typical "baby eating birthday cake protocol," which involves cramming as much cake in the mouth as possible (see Seth demonstrating below), and frosting and cake EVERYWHERE.

Such was not the case with Robbie. We all watched as Karen placed the cake in front of Robbie, waiting for the cake mayhem. My sweet little nephew checked out his scrumptious looking banana cake...and then LICKED IT!
Judging by his initial reaction, you might have thought that he didn't like it.
On the contrary, he did, and kept going back for more, not with his hands, but with his tongue. :)

Seriously, he ended his cake-eating just as clean as he started. Unbelievable.

YUM!
Happy birthday, sweet Robbie! We love you so much!