Ben's Birthday -- February 16

Ben had a "ball" themed birthday party - a theme that might be viewed as inappropriate for a teenager (you decide). Gavi helped me make an ice cream filled chocolate cake that in the end looked a bit like a basketball. There were moments when we weren't so sure it would be recognizable. Fortunately, thanks to the demi-sphere pan, it would have fit the ball theme even if it just looked like a brownish-orange ball. No matter what it looked like, the most important thing was that it tasted good. It's hard to go wrong with chocolate cake and ice cream.

Ben's favorite gifts were round and bouncy. Nana and Papa gave him a set of Clemson balls that he carried around all afternoon. It was amusing to watch him try to pick up all of the balls at the same time. Given the body proportions of our two-year-old, it was a bit like watching an adult juggle four medicine balls.

All in all it was a successful day. Ben turned 2. So far it isn't terrible at all.