Gabe's Birthday at the insane yet efficient Chuck E Cheese

CHUCK E CHEESE

For Gabe's birthday (post birthday birthday party) we went to Chuck E Cheese with about 9 of Gabe's friends.  It was like a party exploded all over the place and children were flowing out of it.  I think there were about 5 birthday parties going on and numerous other children just there to burn some energy.  However, amidst all the chaos it was a tightly run ship.  For the most part. The kids played video games and burned through their coins for one hour.  Then we were all called to our table to eat pizza and enjoy the Chuck E Cheese show.  I must admit that the show was kind of on the measly side. But my memory may be decieving me. I remember Chuck E Cheese's being HUGE! There was an enormous stage, up in front. When the lights went dim and the spotlights would start flashing and we knew it was time to run to the front to watch all the robot characters start singing. I thought it was magical! What happened to all of that? Anyway, Gabe got to hang out with Chuck E himself and I guess he was sort of excited.  The highlight was the ticket booth - Gabe got to catch the tickets as they blew all around him.  He caught the magic tickets and ended up with 1480 tickets. That got him the crazy blue ball that the boys promptly turned into a hat when we got home.  See picture of Sammy below.  All in all it went pretty well.  I didn't have to do a whole lot of work, which is what I wanted in the first place.

Burning through his coins.

Just barely letting Chuck E touch him.  I am okay with that.

Inside the ticket booth.  Very exciting.

Displaying the magic tickets.

Sam modeling Gabe's loot.

Gabe's 6th Birthday

Gabe had his 6th birthday yesterday. We had a small family celebration and he opened presents from family - Grandma's and Grandpa's too.

After he blew out the candles on his cake he started ti giggle. Mike asked what he wished for and Gabe said,"I wished for big boobies!" I think it really scared Mike.  But no worries, our son is not in jeopardy of becoming transgender or a major body builder.  Gabe is merely quoting his favorite "Americas Funniest Video" clip in which a girl wishes for big boobies. Also he likes to say boobies.

I am sure you can guess what he is giggling about....

Gift from Grandma Millie and Papa, he has more enthusiasm than he is showing here.

Gift from Grandma and Grandpa Fairchild

Gabe eating his cake

Gabe loves food - especially if it is sweet and chocolatey!

Gabe playing with the bubble blower - he loves bubbles - what two year old doesn't!
I can't believe that he is two already. It makes me a little sad. He is more a little boy than a baby. He is so much fun though. He loves to ham it up and be silly, he adores his older brother Ben (he has many bumps and bruises from trying to do everything Ben does), and he loves to snuggle and cuddle. He still believes that Mommy and Daddy kisses can cure any owie, and when he hears "no, no, no" he generally listens. People say that the two's are terrible, but I have been a witness of a headstrong four year old and it frankly makes a two year old look like a walk in the park! (I love my Ben too!)

Gabe is 2!!

Gabe admiring his new cars - he love Disney cars. Grandma Featherstone gave Gabe a group of cars and he struggled trying to hold all five of them at once. He takes them everywhere he goes. He'll say,"Done cars." and hand them to me. So I put them aside and two seconds later he'll desparately say,"Cars! Cars!". We do this little drama over and over.

Playing with the cars that Grandma Fairchild gave him. The red car moves on it's own after you shake it. So, Gabe figured it was easier to throw the car and have it bounce several times, turn it on it's wheels and it speeds away on it's own. Much easier and more fun than shaking it.

Gabe know seems to understand that there are some toys that are exclusively his. Most of the time he is okay with Ben playing with some of them. But every once in a while he remembers - hey that is my toy and the screaming begins - from both Ben and Gabe. It is so much fun to play referee.

Ben showing us another fierce fighting pose. He has been wearing his power ranger costume all week.