Chuck E. Cheese

 We are so blessed to have an open adoption with Addison's birthparents.  Even more blessed are we that her birthparents are still together and plan to get married this fall!  While in Rochester we were able to help Nicole celebrate her birthday and what better place to do it than Chuck E. Cheese.  Addison had a blast playing games with Joshy and Nicole, but I think the highlight of her night might have been when Chuck E. came by to say hello.  This girl LOVES any character in costume.  How unusual for a two year old, right?

One of the really cool things about the evening had to do with the manager of Chuck E. Cheese actually.  While they were waiting for us to arrive, Nicole and Josh had shared that they were getting ready to celebrate her birthday with their birth daughter.  It turns out the manager was an adoptive dad who wishes he had an open adoption with his daughter's birth mother, but so far that has not been the case.  He was so fascinated and excited to watch us come together and popped over multiple times throughout the evening to check in on us.  I believe it was him who arranged Chuck E.'s special visit, and he was more than generous when it came time to cash in Addison's tickets.  Apparently they were "out" of the small slinky so she got the giant one instead.  He also slipped a bracelet/ring prize to Nicole for her to give it to Addison.  It was really sweet of him.

In all, it was a fun night and it meant a lot that Nicole would be willing to have her birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese for Addison's sake.  By the way, Addison says "Chuggacheese" like it's the sound that a train makes or something.  I think it's pretty cute.  Also, Addison is really into celebrating birthdays lately.  If you have one coming up, she will most certainly say you need a balloon and it will need to be purple with Tinkerbell on it.  So be prepared :-)