Bubbles on Your Birthday: Meadow Turns 4

This year Meadow requested a rainbow cake. I brought up the idea of using natural dye and Scott talked me into trying it.

I'm not sure I talked her into it, but she did decide to go the natural route.

I used beets for red, carrot for orange, egg yolk for yellow, spinach for green, blueberries for blue and blackberries for purple.

Brooke did talk me into having nachos for the party.

The colors turned out perfect. I love the muted colors over the bright colors you get from food coloring.

Meadow helped decorate the cake with rainbow sprinkles.

When deciding on what to make for food for the party Scott and Meadow wanted spaghetti and meatballs. That sounded too messy to me. Then I thought what about nachos.

Ok, in what world are nachos less messy than meatballs?

When there are toddlers.

I figured we would just make a few sheet pans of nachos and have everyone share. Scott had another idea to have a make your own nacho bar. Thanks for all the work Scott, it was perfect.

I figured you wouldn't want mushy leftover nachos. Plus, who doesn't love three kinds of queso?

Having the party at our house this year was a good idea. We didn't have to worry about getting everything set up somewhere else and arrive before everyone else.

Well my knitted piñata didn't end up working out. My needle broke on our South Dakota trip and there was no way I was going to finish on time. Instead Meadow picked out this unicorn piñata.

Perhaps next year, Brookie.

Today ended up being pretty chilly for summer. Good thing I didn't have any swimming planned. This year we made giant bubble wands and had lots of bubbley fun.

The giant bubbles were awesome.

Strangely life affirming.

 

Back inside it was cake time.

Miss shy Meadow didn't want to blow out her candles out so I helped.

Even cut, the cake colors were awesome and you couldn't taste the hidden ingredients at all.

Then back outside for piñata time.

This never gets old even as they all get older.

The kids successfully hit it open themselves this year.

The party ended just as quickly it started.

I picked a later time in the day (after nap time) hoping people would stick around longer, but everyone had other things to get to.

After our guests left we opened presents. I knew Meadow wouldn't want to open them in front of everyone anyway.  She got some cute safari popsicle molds.

She also got one of Anna's dolls that she crafts. 

Meadow has been asking for a doctor's kit for a long time now. She usually doesn't have a single toy in mind that she really wants. Her aunt Katrina got her the perfect set.

She also got some new swimsuits, a purples dress, sidewalk chalk, hungry caterpillar book, sun hat, purple and pink garden tools, her own purple nail polish, a Minnie Mouse activity book and a Minnie Mouse beach towels. All perfect gifts for Meadow.

She's going to love everything.

She went straight for the doctor's kit.

Thanks, Aunt Katrina.

We did some more playing outside before deciding to go for a bike ride.

I figured we should do something fun on Meadow's day.

I got to try out pulling Meadow with my bike.

With it being Pride Weekend we decided to check out Loring Park.

It turns out that the pride festival is not as exciting as the parade or the parties around town.

Not much was going on so we headed across the street for the revised Sculpture Garden.

On Meadow's actual birthday we let her open her gifts from us: a new Dory bike helmet and a pink train for her train set.

We decided to take her to Como Town for her actual birthday. We were most excited to take her on the carousel, but apparently it closes at 4. Bummer.

Instead we started off on the train.

We walked around the park and Meadow didn't want to go on any other rides. Wish we would have known that before we bought a whole bunch of tickets.

Luckily they're good all year.

Meadow thought it was a good idea to go on the tilt-a-whirl. I knew this was going to be the up-down ride all over again.

Every time I caught a glimpse of her face I thought for sure she was going to throw up.

Then Meadow and I tried the bumper cars.

She insisted that I drive.

Everytime we hit another car she would giggle.

After experiencing the adult version, the tea cups were perfectly chill, just how she likes it.

I went on the roller coaster by myself since we had so many tickets.

I asked Meadow if she wanted to do the up-down ride again. She was hesitant, but then after seeing other kids on it she thought she would give it a try. Even though it's a kid ride one adult can ride too. Once she was strapped in she didn't seem so sure this was a good idea. Sorry kiddo no more up-down rides.

Just look at that face :(

All in all Como Town was kind of disappointing. A lot of the rides weren't operating yet I saw tons of workers just walking around. Maybe we will have to try it again.

There's a very weird vibe. All of the operators seemed angry. One even yelled at some little girls. It was weird, but it seems Meadow had a good time despite a few scary rides.

Happy 4th Birthday Meadow!