Baby Robin

Yesterday was my granddaughter's fourth birthday.  Much anticipated and loved at birth, our Baby Robin became (I'm convinced) the most photographed child on the planet.  Yesterday was no exception.  She woke up with a big smile on her face, knowing that it was her special day, and it proved to be just that.  She had an all-around Princess birthday party.  I'd say that Robin is one lucky little girl to have so many people who love her so much!

When the paternal grandparents (and a neighbor) arrived, we gathered in the back yard and broke with tradition to have Robin open her presents before dinner and cake.  Meg had a spread of yummy snacks to stave off the hungries while this went on, and Robin seemed truly delighted with the things she got. 

Little brother Ryan sat patiently and watched her open her presents.  He really was a good sport about it, considering that he is only 2 1/2, but he soon discovered that he had some "consolation" presents, too.  The Grand Prize present for both was a big-kid bicycle (complete with training wheels).  Ryan took to his instantly, riding around and around the inside of the garage like he was born with wheels.  Robin needs a little more practice because her bike is bigger and has caliper brakes.  Still, Meg's plan that the children could be playing with their presents while the grownups prepared dinner worked! 

After dinner, there was homemade ice cream cake that Grandma Judy brought, complete with four candles and fresh strawberries on top.  Then we returned to the back yard so the children could open a princess castle pinata.  (Yep!  Grandma Judy had found a pinata in the shape of a castle with Cinderella on it!)  This one, however, wasn't the kind that one hits with a stick while blindfolded (thus clobbering others in the process).  It had ribbons on the bottom, which were to be pulled, one at a time, until the right one releases the trap door--and the candy.  (Leave it to the Disney people!)  The children loved it!

When I left at about 9:00 PM, the children were splashing around in the bathtub, getting ready for bed.  Both should have slept well because they had had a very big day!  (And so did the grownups!  Megan fell asleep in a chair in the garage before dinner, watching Ryan ride around and around on his bicycle.) 

All in all, it was a lovely day for a young lady who is the apple of her grandmother's eye.  God bless the children!