Anderson's Birthday Party

In the middle of July, 

in the middle of Charlotte, 

in the middle of two CONCACAF Gold-Cup soccer games, 

among 60,000 soccer fans, 

we celebrated Anderson's second birthday with some of our favorites.  

They battled the crowds and the heat, 

drove around for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot 

and came to eat cupcakes and hatch dinosaur eggs with us.  

We were so blessed by their presence. 

Anderson had no clue that the party was all about him.  

He was content to survey the scene with Goldfish and grapes 

while big friends and 'baby' friends played around him.  

He did love the cupcakes and enjoyed hearing and singing 

his favorite song, "Happy Birt-day!" 

And hopefully he felt celebrated and loved.

 His safe, happy place.

Waiting for his dinosaur egg to hatch.  

There were 32 of these ice eggs! 

They were a big hit, but the big kids were not patient enough 

to let the heat or water melt them to reveal the dinosaurs 

and took to smashing them on the ground.

 Birthday Boy surrounded by friends

Thoroughly enjoying his cupcake

 The perfect present from the Millers

Sweetness