It was three years ago today that the inspiration for The Rock Father entered our lives: Adalyn Monet is 3! It was also 13 years ago today that my wife and I were married. Yes, it’s a day for dual celebration, as the little one arrived on our 10th Anniversary back in 2009. With the birthday falling during the week this year, we held our annual summer gathering together with Addie’s 3rd Birthday Party this past Saturday, and today I’m sharing some photos with you here on the site. The theme for the party this year? Caillou.
Pictured Above: Addie running around in pre-party mode.
If you’ve been following along, you already know that Caillou has been an obsession for Addie practically since birth. The little boy whose adventures can be seen on PBS Kids or on Sprout several times daily is a fixture here in our house – a doll of which has been a companion for my munchkin. Surprisingly, finding Caillou party decorations was a tough task, despite his constant presence on TV. Eventually, we landed at Birthday Express, an online retailer with a pretty sizeable selection (Sidebar: I’d have joined their affiliate program, but thanks to Illinois’ crap laws – the infamous “Amazon Tax” – Birthday Express doesn’t work with affiliates in Illinois. Thanks again, Pat Quinn!). One thing missing from the Caillou line of party supplies was any type of “hanging” decoration. My wife improvised, combining some paper plates with some curling ribbon to make our own.
And the custom Cake from Lovin’ Oven Cakery in Round Lake Beach, IL was a big hit…
Since the Caillou decor wasn’t quite “girly,” we mixed it up with some additional summery accents.
While there were some big hits all the way around, it’s only appropriate that I feature my sister’s gift – a First Act Discovery Guitar, Addie’s first genuine six-string:
Making a weekend out of things, on Sunday we took Addie to Patch 22 in Wadsworth, IL – a place I recommend for those in between Chicago and Milwaukee. In addition to being a working farm, they’re open on Sundays May-October for a petting zoo and pony rides. For the most part, it’s FREE, but pony rides are $10 for 20 minutes out in the pasture. A great deal, and one we’ve taken advantage of on several occasions. Check out the pics:
Adventures aside, Addie is the reason that this site was first launched – and along with her sister (7 weeks) they’re a pair of our finest creations.
Happy Birthday, little one!
