Two year old Aidan’s birthday party

Today was the grandson, Aidan’s, second birthday. After having my own sixty-fifth birthday several days ago, I reflected on how lucky I was to fully enjoy this treasured child’s milestone birthday.

All day Aidan waited for the cake moment when we would sing “Happy Birthday” to him. He was so excited that he loudly protested taking an afternoon nap.

I left the whole scene and went to pick up his 93-year old great great aunt, Rochel, at her apartment. She perks up every time we include her in our family celebrations concerning her nephew.

After returning home, I slipped up the stairs to see how the nap was going. What I found was his grandpa (papa) almost asleep in his room, and Aidan standing up with his arms extended for me. I, being a reluctant disciplinarian, swooped him out of his bed and allowed him to play with a toy lawn mower, I’d acquired at the neighbor’s yard sale.

Throughout the day, Aidan would approach the table where he knew we’d recently celebrated other birthdays, eaten cake, and sung “Happy Birthday.” I kept saying, “not yet”, and pretty soon he was saying it too.

Aidan also burst into a melodious version of ” Happy Birthday” every time he approached the table.

It was so sweet when he opened his presents. Unlike last year, he understood what was under the wrapping paper and ribbons. Toys!

My husband and I gave him a tool set mimicking Papa, who is a fix-it person, and Aidan became very excited by the toy drill. It made noise, and he wasn’t exactly sure what to do with it. At first, he was running around with it and waving it in the air.
After Papa pointed out it was a fix-it tool, not a weapon, Aidan pretended to fix things. It was particularly poignant to see his 93- year old, Aunt Rochel, patiently allowing him to pretend to fix the bow that came with the present. She did the same exact kind of thing with my kids who still adore her. (Aidan is named after her husband, Al, who was equally patient and kind.)

Other favorites included a fancy wagon, pretend grill and basketball hoop.

We finally all sang “Happy Birthday” and brought out the cupcake cake. A big smile lit up his face. Aidan liked the icing, ice cream, and cupcakes. All of us enjoyed watching him blow out his candles, and eat his cupcake.
I couldn’t help thinking that by next year Aidan will be older and wiser. Maybe, by next year he won’t need as much help blowing out his candles.

Aidan at his two-year old party. ( His auntie stuck the bows on his head.)

I hope we will all be there to see it.

A Day at COSI

COSI provides fun and learning.

Today we went over to our grandson, Aidan’s, house. We were going to spend the day at COSI (Center of Science and Industry). This museum has been in Columbus for a while. It’s a very innovative, hands-on, science museum. There are shows, and explanations of science included with the admission place. There are also 3D movies for an extra fee. It is well-worth the cost.
We knocked on the door and we could hear Aidan getting excited behind the door. He loves us! And he enjoys going to COSI. There is a

flat membership family fee, and the family can take him there any time they want. The family can bring two guests with them too.

We went to the car to start our fun day at COSI. He pointed to the seat next to him, and said, “Bubbe, sit down right here. Let the talking really begin! It is so cool to watch speech development. It goes from sounds to words, phrases, sentences, and finally strong requests.

COSI is cool

We finally got to COSI where all kinds of trucks were parked

 

Making memories at COSI

COSI provides fun and learning.

Making memories at COSI

outside, and the kids and parents could get on them and pretend to be truck drivers. There were also yellow, plastic pretend hard hats available for everyone.  (This was a special event for Father’s Day. )

Aidan couldn’t decide if he wanted to wear the hat, so he kept taking it on and off. Since we all wanted him to wear the hat, we put the hard hats on too. What people will do for their children and grandchildren!

His Papa and Daddy, David, seemed to be just as excited about the trucks as the youngsters. They took Aidan’s hand and led him from one giant truck to the other.

I looked around and saw a few enthusiastic girls.  I did see a lot more excited boys and men.

Kid space

Kid space  is the most imaginative place for little kids.  There is  a pretend kitchen, doctor center, barn, doctor office, car, ambulance, play water tables, and an inside playground.

Aidan’s other Grandma, Gerry, and I stayed there with Aidan while his parents went to the planetarium with Papa. Aidan has a fair sense of play already. If he gave me a plastic banana, Gerry got one. He already knows that he shouldn’t show preference for one grandma over the other. How smart is that?

His favorite place was the water area. They have all kinds of water tables, boats, balls, and different contraptions powered by water. He was drenched even though they have little plastic blue aprons. All the kids playing there seemed so happy.

I couldn’t help but remember taking Aidan’s mom, Stacey, to COSI when she was little. She loved it just as much as he does. It’s nice to be able to go back with her little one. It’s almost like getting that golden time back again.

Columbus, Ohio, is so lucky to have such a wonderful place to take children! Like Aidan says when he gets there, “Wow!”

Making memories at The Columbus Ohio Zoo

There’s nothing like a toddler grandchild to make you feel wanted. My husband and I returned from a 10 day vacation and we got a great reception from our little one.

“Papa, Bubbe,” he shouted, while jumping up and down. I felt like a rock star. It’s more like my husband is the lead singer and I am in the backup band, but that’s okay.

The next day we all went to the very cool Columbus Zoo. My daughter took us with her Columbus Zoo membership. Yes, the tables have turned. I guess the next chapter started a while ago. (When I wasn’t looking.)

Now, the zoo added an African exhibit that gives the animals a big giant space to wander around in; maybe they don’t even know they’re captive, maybe they think the humans are on display?

I discovered something in the African exhibit that my grandson really liked, a music area. A xylophone like thing and some big drums. Pounding those babies was delighting him, and his sixty-something Bubbe. Papa showed up and they both were beating those drums together.

No more animals for our toddler after he discovered that music section. Just finding and

Beating the drum at The Columbus Zoo

following that beat!

Afterwards, a group representing African music showed up, and we all tried to get into it.

So, there we were at the African exhibit: animals looking free in the wild while the family is moving and grooving.

Memory making at its finest!