Gwen's Birthday: Day Out With Grandma J!

When Gwen woke up on her birthday, I went in her room and immediately wished her a happy birthday. Her response: "Am I three?" I said yes, and she got a huge grin on her face. She then announced that she wanted to make her birthday cupcakes. I broke the bad news and told her that I had already made them. She was a little peeved until I told her that I saved the frosting part for her. She immediately wanted to go downstairs and start on the decorating. When we finished the cupcakes she said, "I'm going to eat the cupcakes all gone because I'm three now!"

After we finished with the cupcakes, we headed down to Tukwila to spend the day with Grandma J! We met her at the Rainforest Cafe. If you never been there, it is decorated to look like you are eating in the middle of the jungle, complete with noisy, animated animals, rain, and occasional thunder and lightning. Gwen was a little nervous at first, but after a while, she got into it.

Gwen was a little apprehensive as we stood at the entrance
It was hard to keep Gwen's attention during lunch. She was too interested in all the animals

Grandma J brought a darling present for Gwen to open. It was a princess castle
Gwen was able to pull herself away from the animals and her present long enough to enjoy her mac and cheese. Gwen orders mac and cheese everywhere we go!
Gwen didn't seem very excited when we sang to her. Again, I think she was more interested in the animals

Gwen and Mommy at Rainforest Cafe
Gwen and Grandma J at Rainforest Cafe

The three of us

After lunch, the plan was to take Gwen to Build-A-Bear, but apparently Southcenter Mall doesn't have one. Opps! Gwen didn't mind at all and had a great time playing in the children's area..

After some playtime, we went to a few stores and tried some clothes on Gwen. Southcenter had some cute stores that we don't have at Alderwood. I got her a couple cute things at H&M and Crazy 8. Gwen tolerated trying on clothes and really enjoyed trying on shoes and boots!

Eventually, I decided it was time to head home. While Gwen and I were making one last potty stop, my sweet mom snuck back to the Rainforest Cafe gift shop and bought Gwen a stuffed whale that she had taken a liking to earlier when we were there for lunch. My mom felt bad that Gwen didn't get her bear and wanted to make up for it. Gwen immediately named it Shamu and has slept with it every night since she got it. Gwen's lucky she got to spend her birthday with her sweet Grandma!