Constance's Birthday

In lieu of a birthday party this year, we took Constance to the Denver aquarium. Constance is a very diligent watcher of Octonauts, so we thought she might enjoy seeing underwater animals in real life. This turned out to be an excellent choice.

However, the day before we started having car problems. Grandpa was able to jump start it and we made it to and back from Denver without any problems. 

Poor Ana has been struggling with a bad stomach bag all week. She was just a little bit grumpy.

Daddy was a good sport, even though Constance firmly refused to associate herself with a photo prop.

 Ana cheered up a bit once she saw the fish.

 Constance ran from one window to another and looked at all the sea creatures very intently. She knew the names for lots of them and pointed them out very excitedly.

 She was excited to find a starfish.

 And the sea turtle was pretty amazing.

 But the jellyfish were her favorite.

 The sharks were a little scary.

 Somehow she talked Grandma and Grandpa into buying her a rather expensive pink dolphin at the gift shop.

 Everyone really enjoyed the food at the restaurant. But what I had didn't sit too well and when we got home, I spent the evening on the couch and didn't make it past 9 even though we had a ton of work to do.

I'm glad we were able to make the aquarium happen because the next day when it was actually Constance's birthday, things just didn't go too well. The car wouldn't start again and Constance burst into tears because she really wanted to go to the store and pick out a balloon. Ana was still stomach sick and just wanted to be held, and then the birthday cupcakes were a bit of a disaster.

But Constance and I did get the house decorated a bit. And then she let me take this cheesy picture of her showing her teeth.

 Poor Grandma and Grandpa weren't feeling well but they still came over and saved the day by bringing birthday balloons and presents. Constance quickly forgot all her other troubles.

 Especially when she saw the Rainbow Dash pony Grandma and Grandpa gave her for her birthday.

 Daddy got her an Octonauts book.

 Constance and Ana were very forgiving about the cupcakes.

 Constance loved her new Frozen snow boots.

 And Frozen pajamas.

 Luckily birthdays are pretty easy to pull off when you are four years old.