Audrey is 2 years old!

Neither my parents nor Ryan's parents had a lot of kids by Utah standards (four and three respectively) and we're all still relatively young so the grandkids are really just beginning, but when we got them all together for Audrey's birthday we had 19 people! Four parents, five brothers and sisters, three brother or sister in-laws, one future sister in-law, three little ones, plus the three of us. (We're sorry one brother in-law couldn't make it; we missed you Sam.) So it was mostly craziness, but I loved it all the same. Audrey is a lucky girl to have so many people want to be there for her.

For those of you reading this who don't know, Audrey loves the show The Little Einsteins. It's about four little kids who go on missions with and inside their friend who is a red rocket. So I talked the good people at the Albertson's bakery into attempting a rocket cake for her birthday. Here's the finished product.

It looks just like him!

Apparently, Audrey doesn't really love to be the center of attention. Last year she cried while everyone waited for her to dig in to her cake and this year while we sang to her we got this...

What a weirdo!

Audrey actually helped me open her presents and got pretty excited with each one.

My mom made her this fabulous apron. I think she looks adorable in it. (Now we can really put her to work in the kitchen!)

Audrey really loved this car from her grandma Jackie and Grandpa Craig. She was so anxious for her dad and grandpas to put it together she wasn't even going to wait for them!

Now if you all will allow me a little indulgence, I'd like to reflect some on the last year.

Over the last year Audrey broke her leg on a slide, had to have an MRI when she fell on her head, and was consistently off the chart for head circumference compared to other kids her age in medical news. She went on three flights to Texas, Pennsylvania, and Florida. She learned tons of new words, meanwhile making up a language all her own.

She gives the best hugs and kisses, knows how to say "please" in a way so that you CAN NOT say no.

Is full (and I do mean full) of energy, never tires of the same games or toys or books, makes her mom and dad laugh, crazy, tired, and happy.

I'll finish off with a picture of Audrey with one of her favorite things in the world...a pile of grated cheese! We love you baby girl!