Happy Birthday Hobbes!

First thing this morning, Calvin informed me it was Hobbes' birthday.  He told me he had already sung him Happy Birthday, but we needed to have a cake and presents.  Also, I was informed that he had turned 2.  So, we celebrated!  

We compromised with banana bread in a bundt cake pan.  Calvin helped make it and waited patiently until after dinner to eat it.  And, a new puzzle and coloring book that were stashed for a special occasion were brought out as gifts. 

I was more that happy to celebrate someone who has been bringing us all happiness for (a little over) 2 years!

Hobbes originally joined our family to complete our Match Day ensemble, but as we'd hoped, he quickly became much more than a prop.

Hobbes was one of the first toys Calvin formed an attachment to and has been the most lasting one.  He's been a lot of places with us but only seems to get more cuddly as he ages.

Calvin quickly took to holding him around the neck (always tucked under an arm), so he's got a bit of a long neck these days.  And, he's a bit less shiny, but we like him just the same.

These days, Hobbes has his own seat in our car as Calvin has designated the cup holder as his spot.  Every time we get in, Calvin makes a point to pretend to buckle him in as well.

Hobbes gets a little neck sparing time in his "carrier" as well.  Calvin requested we make this one morning to look like the one I use with Clark.  He was pretty proud of his efforts in helping and loved using it for a while.

Calvin used to not understand the significance of us calling his tiger "Hobbes."  He went along with it because we had always done it.  These days, he is excited that there are whole books written about the two of them and loves to have us read them to him.

I loved that we were able to have a special day to recognize such an important part of our family.  Happy, happy birthday Hobbes!  We're so glad to have you around!

Inaugural Train Ride

We took our first train ride of the season today!  Clark was unsure what to think of it, but Calvin was very, very excited to be back on it again!

So much has changed since riding it the last couple weekends in the fall!

Of course, we couldn't be at the park without a little more fun.  Calvin has been coming to this playground since just before his first birthday.  (He spent time here even before we closed of this house!)  Of course, he especially loves visits with Daddy because they are a bit more rare.

 Clark loved the swings today. 

It brought back fun memories of taking Calvin to a park for the first time when he was just about a month older than Clark is now.

Today, though, Calvin only spent a couple minutes on the big boy swing before climbing up the jungle gym every way possible.

These days, he is loving the big "noodle" slide, the rock wall, ladders, and playing make believe with the set up underneath it.

I'm so excited about all the fun we have ahead of us at this park this summer!

Two Weeks of Germs

We've had a rough couple of weeks around here.  Calvin spent almost a week with a cold virus.  He was a sad little boy with a fever and no appetite.

More than once, I found him wanting to play with Clark but unable to do much of anything but lay next to him on the floor.  It made me feel terrible for him. 

Unfortunately, that meant Clark was front and center with the germs and came down sick a week later.  Clark took it a step further and got pink eye on top of the cold, though.

Shortly thereafter, the germs caught up with me and then Devin a few days later.  Then, Calvin's seasonal allergies flared up before spending yesterday with an upset stomach.  Thankfully, the boys were both still their cute, sweet, funny selves but were just sleeping a bit rougher.  We are all on the mend now, though, and I'd really, really like to keep it this way!