Birthday Week

Victor's birthday fell on the coldest day of the year, and also on one of the days that Ben was gone for a pastors' retreat, so it was a little... understated.

 Nevertheless, we tried to do some fun things.

Playing with our new special blocks

Homemade playdough

We got a surprise invitation for lunch at a friend's house, so we did venture out into the sub-zero weather (MN schools were cancelled because of the crazy cold).  It was delightful!

And our celebratory cookie for dessert... no cake this year.  

(Mom will try to get her act together next year!)

On the weekend, we decided it was probably time to give Victor his gifts!  But we were invited to double-up with "Grandpa David" for a birthday celebration, so we postponed again and had a really wonderful time.

And at last on Sunday, he got to open some presents!

From Dad and Mom... some new trains 

 

 

From Auntie Lori, super fun Tickle Monster book, complete with its own tickle gloves!

I can start feeling a little bad that I didn't do more to make the time special... but at the bottom of it, I am thankful that birthdays don't have to be a huge, exhausting gala.  And we pray that Victor will know himself to be deeply loved all the time, and not mostly through parties and presents.

We thank God for another year with this very precious boy!