The Party

Our little partner had his 1st birthday. He invited his favorite little cowpokes over to the homestead for a birthday with all the fixins. Ok we are done with the wild west talk, but we did have a full cowboy themed birthday party. We used each of the kid's cowboy pictures to make wanted posters. Birthday boy was wanted for milk stealin'

Wanted for pony stealin'

Wanted for gun slingin'

Wanted for gecko mind control

Wanted for Stealin' Kisses

Wanted for Horsin Around

Wanted for Bedtime Extending

My little buddy helped me make lemonade for our barbeque. We had hamburgers, boston baked beans, potato salad, chips, fruit salad, red velvet cake.

The kids loved the kid's table and being able to have their own root beers.

The whole Cowboy Crew

Some of my favorite photos

When the cowkids started getting restless we took them for a walk to the creek. I want it noted for the record that Little Miss was wearing a cowgirl outfit and then decided to change it into a leotard. Of course all cow girls wear this to round up the cattle. The added knee socks work to scare away the rattle snakes.

The kids loved throwing rocks and I loved that no one got hit in the head.

My sister took Huck outside and got some great photos. All of you should have a sister that takes photos at your kid's birthday parties, because if it would have been up to me you would have had a photo of someone's shoe and Huck running away from me.

The crazy thing about these photos is that I think he looks older overnight.

These are my new favorites and show off his personality.

We tried to get a photo of him with a cowboy hat and this is the best we got.

I found these cowboy boots for him.

The older kids were so excited about our game. I purchased a rubberband gun and had them set up cups to shoot down and let them go at it.

Our beloved Uncle Patch.

The boot cake.

Huck's gift was a bike that converts from a rocking bike, to a bike with an extended handle for us to push, to a bike he can ride by himself. He loves it as well as his siblings.

Happy Birthday Little Guy.

First Birthday

Our little guy turned 1. On his actual birthday we just had the family. We got a little cake for him. Albertson's gives them a free cake on their first birthday. When we started singing happy birthday for him he loved it and started singing along.

When we gave him the cake he was dove right in.

Then he just grabbed the entire cake shoved it into his mouth.

What a happy boy.

How did this happen?

So when did we go from this...

to this?

Did I blink?

Did I sleep a little too long?

Was I on extended holiday?

Has life passed me by?

Because

there is

no

way

that this

was only 1 year ago. Someone please tell this little guy to stop growing. Please.

Happy birthday little one. We love you.

Snow Day

We woke up to bare roads. Not a single flake of snow. All of us were bummed, but we tried to make the best of it and got ready for school. We got breakfast, dressed, teeth brushed, homework in bags, lunches packed, etc. We had noticed that snow was falling but we kept checking the news and hadn't heard that school was canceled. We were getting shoes/boots on to go to school and Ken yelled out that it was posted that school was canceled. The kids were thrilled and instead of running out the front door they ran straight out to the backyard.

Little Miss didn't even get out of her PJs. We told her if she wore her snowman PJs it would snow the next morning. It worked, but now she wants to wear them so it will snow every day!

The kids played outside for 3 1/2 hours. Little Miss was out there for the majority of it too. I kept trying to get her to come in and she refused, "I want to be with the old kids". Leo stayed out the longest, nearly 4 hours. They built snow forts, snowmen, had a snowball fight, sled, played with neighborhood kids. They had a blast.

Huck was so upset when I took him inside. He wanted to play longer, but he was so wobbly with the boots and holding up this much weight was not fun. Yes I know he is wearing pink boots, but at our house you wear the size that is appropriate regardless of the color.

Of course we had to finish off with hot chocolate.

A road trip

So we took a road trip this past week up to visit my parents. Ken had to visit his mom after she had knee surgery.

We had a great time playing with my sister's kids and my family.

We were able to help Papa and Mimi with a lot of his projects.

Papa got the idea that it would be fun to build a fire. The kids had a blast

burning the extra branches and wood.

Give a kid a stick and he will make a cross bow.

We were able to get a shot with Mimi and all of her grandbabies, not an easy task.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day was very mellow around our house. Ken and I were able to go on a date together a few nights earlier. The day of Valentine's day Ken made dinner (our traditional lobster dinner) and an amazing cherry cake.

Here's my little lover boy. I woke the kids up with heart shaped pancakes

and strawberry milkshakes.

We also gave each of the kids a book for their gift. Midge got a hamster book, Leo got a science book (he got glow in the dark stars which he used to decorate the underside of Midge's bunk bed. It is so cute to go into his room at night and see him sleeping under a sky)

Little Miss was delighted with her fairy books.