YELLOW BOOTS AND BUBBLES

A few weeks ago, friends of ours, the Monettes, gave the boys a few hand-me-downs. Out of everything in the bag, the yellow rain boots have definitely been the favorite.

Even though they are two sizes two big, Luke wears them everywhere... and usually on the wrong feet. He loves being able to put them on himself.

I'm glad they are a few sizes too big for him now, that way he will be able to enjoy wearing them for quite a while.

Luke was recently given his first Bubbles of the summer. This year, he is more capable of going through the steps to create the perfect bubble. His only flaw in the procedure is that he puts the wand a little to close (or inside) to his mouth. I'm sure he's tasted the bubble mixture quite a few times.

It's also really cute when he says the word "bubbles". He always says it in plural form because he loves saying anything with an "S" in it. His MOST favorite word to pronounce with "s" in it is "Noise". A few others are: mouse, house, horse and mess.

We're so happy that he is finally starting to talk and we're able to understand him.

GREY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

Now that our internet seems to be working a little bit faster, I am finally able to blog about Porkchop's First Birthday.

If you visit this blog regularly, then you saw the post where I showed photos of the invitations I made for Grey's party. And from those photos, I'm sure you deduced that the theme of the party had something to do with a Farm and Barnyard Animals.

With the cake, I took it one step further. I had seen this cake, in a parenting magazine I subscribe to, last fall. At the time, I thought it was really cute, but didn't give it much more thought. Then, in February, when I started thinking about what to do for this big event, I remembered the Barn Cake. Based on that, I designed the invites and a theme was born.

I had a lot of fun decorating the Barn Cake and all the Animal Cupcakes. I think it turned out pretty good.

After decorating the cake on the morning of the party, I then headed over to the venue (Walker's Garage) to set everything up. With a handmade sign, a few balloons (tied with twine), daisies in mason jars, red check table cloths, and votives in tiny tin tubs, a Farm Themed party was born.

Here we are, the proud parents, of the birthday boy...

... and this handsome young man.

Mommy sharing a special moment with Grey.

A few of our party guests took time out to have their picture taken with the Birthday Boy - Jo An Buchholz, Arlinda Kesock, Marcia Sayre and Lilly Nolan.

After Grey was fed his dinner, he sat and waited patiently for the festivities to begin.

His patience started to wear thin when he started to get sleepy. At this point, it is already a half hour past his bedtime.

As we got ready to sing "Happy Birthday", Daddy had his own special moment with Grey.

While we sang, Grey was completely mesmerized with the candle.

Big Brother, Luke, leaned in to help with blowing out the candle.

After it was blown out... Luke wanted to blow it out again.

Daddy, Grey and Mommy.

Luke giving Grey a Birthday Kiss.

We put the candle in a Pig cupcake, so Grey enjoyed a yellow cake cupcake with Strawberry Icing.

He really liked the Marshmallow Snout.

After devouring his cupcake, Grey got his picture taken with his God-Parents, Colin and Jennie Monnette.

The Sugar has definitely kicked in!!

Then it was time to open presents... and there were a lot of presents.

Our friends are so good to our boys.

As the party wound down, people started getting a little silly, including Luke and his buddy Aly Judy.

What a little heartbreaker this cutie is - Little Miss Morgan LeFevre. Who's future wife will she be, Luke or Grey's?

Grey practicing being a Little Hoo!!

The party was a huge success and a lot of fun. Along with the Monettes, most all of our friends from here in the neighborhood were there, and we were blessed to also have our friends Scott and Leslie Armstrong in attendance. It really touches our hearts when people who mean a lot to us, travel out to where we live, to share special days, like this one, with us.

We hope our little Porkchop had a wonderful First Birthday. Mommy, Daddy and Luke love you very much.

AT THE BEACH... WITH A DUCK

Yesterday, me and and boys were lucky enough to have Marc home earlier than usual. So after dinner, we took advantage of having an evening together as a family, and took the boys down to the beach to play.

It was one of those perfect spring evenings...

Grey spent most of the time practicing his new found ability of standing up without holding on to something.

Luke ran back and forth, back and forth, and back and forth from the Jungle Gym to the water.

Grey also enjoyed an after dinner snack of... Sand.

Still practicing standing... and loving every minute of it.

Then... along came a little feathered friend. Luke liked chasing her around the beach.

She enjoyed swimming with the boys.

She must have been enjoying a night out, while her hubby was at home sitting on the eggs.

While I lay on the beach blanket (taking all these pictures), Marc got in the water with the boys.

Yes, Grey is sitting in the water in his clothes. What kind of mother am I?

Before leaving to head home for Bath-Time, Marc started splashing Luke. Do you think he liked it?

My Men...

... and the perfect evening.