1st Birthday Party

Has it stopped raining yet so we can play outside?

A lot has happened in our family in the last two weeks.  We celebrated Hadley's 1st birthday with a big family party, spent Memorial weekend at the cabin, began work on a 1973 pontoon boat in which we now are part owners and I started my new job.  Whew!  That's not mentioning just our daily grind of work, daycare, laundry, trying to eat a healthy dinner and all staying relatively sane.

As I mentioned, we headed up to the cabin for the first time this year for a long Memorial weekend.  It was a full house with my parents, Mike's parents as well as Rachel and Matt's families and 3 dogs.  The more the merrier!  In our family tradition we had very early mornings, ate lots of good food and were busy  keeping 4 kids 2 years old and under entertained - rain or shine.  

What kid doesn't like a horsey ride from dad and grandpas?

We had a lot of close bonding time.  Behind Hads is her new little cousin due in August!

We bought a pontoon but in actuality it's 2 floats that we're building upon  in order to transform it into a party barge!

 

We also had Hadley's 1st birthday party on Saturday afternoon.  After naps we opened presents and had one of her favorite meals of steak, shrimp, cheesy potatoes and fruit.  Hads liked the balloons and all of the gifts - including a doll house, riding toy, new clothes and her own comfy chair. 

She didn't even wait for the toy to be fully unwrapped before jumping right on.

I love to party!

Our best family photo at this party.

Hads held onto her birthday balloon throughout the whole meal.

We made her a homemade carrot cake with cream cheese frosting topped with pink frosting and sprinkles.  Yum!

Hadley picked up her whole piece of cake and chomped on it.  Bradyn smeared it all over his face.

Someone didn't want to go to bed so played cards with Grandpa until 10:30 one night.

Godfather and Godson - they look like real father and son sometimes!

These two busy boys played so well the whole weekend. 

Bathing beauty on the beach.

Here's the whole crew for Hadley's birthday.

We also celebrated Bradyn's 1st birthday - this was the best cousin picture of the weekend.

Lots of cake in the hair and sand in the mouth necessitated a bath.  Who doesn't love a double baby bath?!

Our little "twins" also enjoyed the swing together.

Our big boy.

We are busy this summer but some of my favorite moments are found in enjoying the little things - like Miles singing church songs while helping us trim our bushes.  Hadley now signs please and blows kisses like a pro.  Nothing makes her happier then basking in attention and love from her brother but they are starting to enter a new phase in brother and sisterhood - "Hadley's looking at me!"  "Don't let Hadley touch my puppies!"  These are just a few phrases we hear often these days.  Both Miles and Hads also don't like it when I hold just one of them - they want me to put down the other one and hold only them.  Now that I'm working full time Grandma and Grandpa Gray are taking care of the kids on Fridays and the kids are loving all of the attention they are getting and fun they are having.  Miles is busy helping Grandpa Gray with lots of projects around the house and Hadley likes practicing to walk with grandma.