This year we decided to keep Hank’s 3rd birthday super low-key. As we think about it, every year has been super low-key (ha!): that’s us for ya!
We badly wanted to take Hank to Disney World for his birthday since he really loves to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when he visits Grandma Linda and Penny. He loves doing the Hot Dog / Hot Diggity Dog dance and at the present it seems like his favorite character is Donald Duck (it’s gotta be the voice). So we knew that Disney World’s Magic Kingdom would be AWESOME for him. However, we have lately found ourselves losing a lot of weekends to other events that we just could not afford (time wise) a whole weekend away without working on the house.
A couple weeks ago, Hank and Christina were spending the morning at the Sarasota Children’s Garden. Hank befriended a 3 1/2 year old boy Sasha (short for Alexander) visiting from Canada. Christina was talking with the boy’s mother and father for a bit. When they were leaving, they mentioned that they were going to go to the beach. Christina replied “We still haven’t taken Hank to the beach.” They were INCREDULOUS and rightfully so. That’s when we realized that before Disney World, Hank needed to go to the beach!
So, we decided to celebrate Hank’s birthday at Lido Beach Key; this is the closest beach to us (a 10 minute drive and a 20 minute bike ride from our house). Some photos and videos from our visit:
Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ldpilqzn1iwdg4c/20180428_111738.mp4?dl=0
Hank requested a Mickey Mouse birthday cake, so Christina made him one. Bob warned her that it seemed a little too complicated and, of course, Christina ignored his warnings (she’s famous for this). Anyway, she spent all Friday night (until 3am frosting it). Although it was quite an ordeal, the cake turned out good enough for a toddler; Hank was super HAPPY and I (Christina) am pretty happy with it too!
We FaceTime with Grandma and Grandpa (Pat & Linn) when we sang Happy Birthday, so we kinda forgot (and now regret) to record the singing! 🙁
Here’s a video of him eating it though… which, we realized after the fact how much cake and ice cream was doled out (WHICH WAS DEFINITELY TOO MUCH)… Bob was the one who served him (Christina loves to point fingers)…
Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zjosjen8sh8c7r5/20180428_192720.mp4?dl=0
Video of Hank building a race car: https://www.dropbox.com/s/nylypexk4ieyoe0/20180428_195627.mp4?dl=0
Video of Hank calling Aunt Donna “Donald Duck” (hahahaha / sorry Aunt Donna): https://www.dropbox.com/s/0tstlw6e1d8gf7m/20180428_201411.mp4?dl=0
*** Notes on Cake & Ice Cream (for those who are curious) ***
Homemade Chocolate Cake (recipe is from a Norman Love cooking class that Christina went to… thank you Pat for the gift card for the class)
Publix Buttercream Frosting found in their Bakery area, tinted with Wilton’s icing dyes (Black, Copper, and Peachy Pink)
Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (Alton Brown’s Recipe) with Luxardo Maraschino Cherries and Chocolate Chips added in
Homemade Whipped Cream (flavored with vanilla and stevia drops), using an ISI (thanks to Pat giving Christina it as a gift)