Birthday Bash!!!

On Saturday, we celebrated your FIRST birthday! It was very lovely...mostly just family were invited, with the exception of our dearest neighbor Paul and the Waller Clan, (Byron, Suzanne and Ms Penny...(more about "her" later!!!)...

We asked Aunt Gigi and Uncle Victor to stop by and pick up a few balloons on their way over...and in their usual wonderful style, they BOUGHT a helium tank with 30 balloons!...(Only a handful were used!)...CRAZYNESS!!! They always do special things like that!

You greeted everyone and hung out for a while and then went off to nap for a good hour and a half...we all took the opportunity to feast on hamburgers and Ceasar salad...the weather was a bit cool/cloudy, but that didn't stop Santi and Ben from enjoying the pool...they were the only brave ones!

Ms. Penny, in her usual manner, tried to steal the goods, as documented here:

She helped, (OK...she pretty muched opened all the presents!)...which was great, as you were a bit unsure as to what to do. Ms. Penny being a pro at First Birthdays, brought in the experience and saavy needed to get the job done...

The cake was chocolate on chocolate with chocolate...an old family recipe from Grandma Hersheys...

Santi helped you blow out the candle...

You were a bit unsure of the massive, (did I say MASSIVE) slice your Aunt Gigi served you...(See, she does EVERYTHING BIG!!!)...but you played and I think actually ate some, although you thought the candle was a bit tastier!

I hope you had a great day piglet! We love you!!!

Pics of O and Dad...

Pure happiness...

Hey Uncle Mike...What's That Smoke Behind you?

Ahhhhh....

Surprise!!!

For O's first birthday bash, Uncle Michael and Aunt Julie came for a "surprise" visit...Grandma Mary also made the journey all the way from Ohio for the week long fete as well...We had a great time...and here are some pics!

Mama's Birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday...and it was wonderful! We spent the whole day up at the pool, swimming and BBQing...and these are some of the pictures we took!

The Visit...

Ms Penny brought her mom over for a little lunch and a little pool time...Owen and Penny enjoyed the cool water...they splashed and explored things...

Suzanne took this picture of them...it made me laugh...how they are facing away from each other...all little with their rolls and their hats!!! I see that Louis snuck in as well...



After our swim and milks, we went inside and played for a while in the playroom...after they left around 4ish, Owen and I took a little nap...What a lovely day!

The Hose...

Today was another beautiful day...O and I went on a little errand to pick up moving boxes, came home and sat in the garden for a while waiting for Penny and Suzanne to arrive...The light in the garden was so welcoming...O and I sat on the yellowing grass as he made his way to the hose...They entertained each other as I watched.

Fearless...

O is fearless...he loves water, as seen in this pic taken this afternoon...I put him down on the lawn while I hooked up the sprinkler...and off he went. I must have "saved" him 10 times before I just decided to let him deal with the sprinkler...he wasn't smiling or squealing with delight, but he stayed there playing with the water for a good 15 minutes...

Splashy splashy!

Federation Forest

Yesterday we decided to stop working around the house and took off into the wilderness...we drove for a while...visited a couple of National Parks...walked and had a lovely picnic in the woods. It was truly a beautiful day and O enjoyed himself...as did Joe and I. We have decided to dedicate one day each weekend to playing...and one to working...balance! Yey!