First Birthday Smash!

Tonight we had a little family party. I made a little cake for Carson so that he could have the traditional first Birthday smash of the cake. He didn't get rowdy with it, but boy did he love it.



I finished the photo signing mat that the guests signed at the party. Thanks to Stacey for the letters. They worked out great

A cake so tiny I could only fit his initials

Birthday boy

Kate might be ready for some cake to

All for me?!?!? I'm ready to dig in!







Daddy is definitely his favorite guy

We couldn't distract him from that cake long enough to look at the camera!

Mommy and Daddy with the Birthday Boy

I promise you this was the best family picture we could get. We're working on it!

The Many Faces of our Birthday Boy

Today it's been all Carson. And rightly so. You only turn ONE once in your life and today I made the most of documenting every second (or so it will seem). I felt like I was smothering him today with hugs and kisses. But I was just flooded with the wonderful memories of last year and the day he was born. The easiest labor and the easiest birth. And then that night was the best when it seemed like everyone that we knew and loved came to the hospital to meet our boy.
I was getting some things ready for our little family party this afternoon and turned around to look at the clock and it read 1:13 PM. The exact time our boy came into the world. So here is our boy and his many faces on this day his FIRST Birthday. Oh, we love him so!

You know that stage where babies know you want them to smile and they start throwing out that goofy grin. Yeah, Carson is at that stage. Definitely. So hilarious.



My favorite thoughtful look

Joy!

This is my favorite Carson look lately. This is his face of wonder and it brings a smile to my face every single time.

Happy First Birthday to Our Wonderful Boy

January 29, 2010

My Dearest Son,
Happy First Birthday my sweet boy! I remember the day we found out you were on your way. I looked down at your sister Kate who was 4 months old at the time and told her that she was going to be a big sister. She seemed to like the idea and responded with a big smile. Your Dad could not have been happier. From the moment I knew I was pregnant I just knew you were a boy. And my heart was filled with so much joy that I would get to be your Mommy. The night before you were born your Daddy pushed your sister around in a box down the hall. She was younger than you are now. Daddy and I were so excited to go to the hospital early that morning that you were born. Your labor and birth could not have been easier. The second you were born I pulled you up onto my chest. Oh what a feeling! I remember Daddy saying a prayer over us and I just told you how much I love you and how much we had been waiting for you. Son, I already know that your heart is so full of love. Your sweet smile shows it everyday. You love to bury your head into us and you love to be held and cuddled. It is my greatest joy with you to be able to hold you close every day. I take advantage of every second of this sweetness. Being your Mommy has been a sweet experience from the first moments of your life. We have shared a special bond that I know will never be broken. I have held you through many hours in your first year and it has been one of the greatest priviledges of my life to get to be your Mommy. I hope that as you grow into the rough and tumble boy that I know you will be that you will not lose your sweetness. And I want you to know one thing. There is nothing that you can do or say that will ever make your Dad and I stop loving you. We will always be a safe place for you. But my greatest hope for you my sweet son is that you will grow into a strong man of God and that you will always turn to your heavenly Father in times of joy as well as in your trials. But for now sweet boy just know that our love for you has no limits. Just rest in our love and soak it up. I thank God every day that he gave me my boy, my wonderful surprise. Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Love,
Mommy

Lovely Beautiful Chaos

I have to say that all in all the combined birthday party was a success. It was chaos with 17 kids running around, but to me that was just the perfect theme for this party."Lovely Beautiful Chaos". Our life is pretty much chaos but oh what a life we have. Full of blessings and surprises everyday. Wet kisses, spontaneous hugs, intermittent screams of glee, belly laughs, and yes some crying and screams of madness (and yes the kids scream to). :) Some pictures to note. Make sure you witness the attempt at getting all the kids together for a group picture. Pretty hilarious I assure you. And my brother Burke proudly displaying his buns. Ahem! That is sandwiches that he labored over for the party. Also be sure to watch for a sweet moment between Kate and Carson (or Darson as Kate calls him) with the following lyric in the background "And whatever road you choose, I'm right behind you win or lose".I didn't plan it that way but that picture happened to fall in line with that lyric and I think that's how it's going to be for these two through out their lives. "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart starts it off, and to end it what could be more fitting for a double birthday party than a Beatles song named "Birthday" with the lyrics "You say it's your Birthday? It's my Birthday to yeah!" Lovely Be-a-yoo-tiful Chaos.

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The Year As it Was

I put together this video for the kids Birthday party. I especially marveled at how little Kate was when Carson was born. Were we crazy? Apparently yes! But we wouldn't have it any other way.

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Mimi and Kate

I have to say that there is something truly special about witnessing the relationship between my Mom and my daughter. Kate has really taken to my Mom on these last couple of trips and it has been so neat to see their special relationship form. Kate woke up every morning she was here and asked, "Where Mimi?" And then we would "knock knock" on her door to wake her up. And Kate would exclaim "Hi Mimi" in a very cute high pitched voice. Kate followed my Mom everywhere, even into the bathroom! The secret to Kate is hugs and reading. If she can climb up in your lap and snuggle with a good book she will be your friend for life. And although my Mom sometimes wished that there would have been more of a variety of books (Goodnight Gorilla for the 20th time!) she was game for every single book. I tried to capture their special relationship.

A Wedding with Elvis and the Beatles

This week end, I went to the wedding of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Kim. Kim and Phil's wedding was sweet and personal. Her music was Elvis and the Beatles. She walked down the aisle to "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney. Needless to say I cried many tears. There is just something so sweet and touching about someone that you love and hold near and dear to your heart as a friend finding true love. And I know that this is a cliche. But never have I seen a more beautiful bride. I mean she just glowed. I will never forget the look on her face when they open the doors for her to walk down the aisle to her groom. Absolutely breathtaking. I was truly honored to be in the presence of such great love and such an incredibly happy beginning.

Ruffles and Birthday Flourishes

I made some ruffle pants for Kate and amazingly they turned out ok. Meaning I didn't sew two legs together or end up with just one leg. Well, of course that happened! But that is why God made a seam ripper.
Front View

Side View

Sitting down view

And a little sneak peek of the pre Birthday festivities. I am in high gear right now!As you can see there is really no color scheme.I took advantage of the fact that it is a boy and girl party so every color is incorporated. Yeah for variety! The menu is even more variable. Kind of the theme of our life right now, so it works!!
The banners are up! It must be Birthday time!

A preview of Carson's Birthday Shirt

Preview of Kate's Birthday Dress

Little Girl

This picture will always remind me of when Kate went from "Baby" Kate to "little girl" Kate. Oh my heart!

A Closer Look

Kate loves shoes, but sometimes it gets in the way of her fashion sense. She is crying in this picture because we just told her she has to take off her shoes to go to bed. I told her when the shoes over footsie pajamas craze comes into style she can tell everyone she was ahead of the trend.





Kate loves to draw

She likes to double fist the markers. Good approach.

Shoot, that's the table cloth. No big deal because they were washable markers. Quick little lecture about not drawing on the table cloth and everything was cool. However, 10 minutes later when I caught her drawing with crayon on the dishwasher was not cool.

I went back to my grade school days for this one. A teacher I am not, but I do remember some art projects. I made this necklace for Kate yesterday. She wanted to help me with the glue but apparently that meant holding the glue above the paper with out squeezing it. I tried to explain that we might never get the necklace done with that approach. So when she moved on to something else I set to work. She loved it at first even proudly showing it off to her Daddy when he came home. I was proud of my creative craftiness. That is, until I was picking up for the night and noticed it in a crumpled, trampled heap behind a chair. I wasn't expecting her to take it to college, but I thought it would at least make it to the next day!


I've got a little Merry Maid of my own. I bought this little motorized sweeper that in my opinion is the best invention for people with little kids. Our floor is always crummy and I can just whip this baby out and clean up messes quick. Kate has a fascination with it and I am finding that if I turn it on and give it to her she will scoot it across the floor and do a pretty good job. I am told that the new wonder of cleaning wears off pretty quick so I am taking advantage of her fascination while I can!


Kate loves this rocking chair in her room. She loves rocking! It's special to me because it was my rocking chair when I was a little girl.


And here's a closer look at the kids' birthday banners. I am pacing myself so that I am not doing everything at the last minute. My Mom was the Queen of kids' birthday parties and they were always memorable. I know she had a lot of fun putting them together because I LOVE planning for this one. Must be in the genes! By the way, Kate's banner is not done yet. It needs a little something else. I'm sure Hobby Lobby will have the answer! I am happy with Carson's. I thought it turned out very handsome (cute).


And finally here's a look at Kate's new "necklace". Plese don't look to close though. She was rummaging through the folded laundry. Draw your own conclusion. Silly girl!