Boy's First Birthday Party

*This post is dedicated to our sweet Godmother, Beth. We missed you today Beth but will gladly re-hash the cake event anytime you are ready. Beth lost her best friend, Rina , today from a long battle with cancer. Beth, we are thinking about you and sending our love your way! We are here anytime you need a smile, laugh or hug!!! We love our books and will read them lots so your "college money" will not be wasted!!!

Every mom wants to plan a big PARTY for her boy's 1st birthday. You only turn 1 once, right?Our birthday celebrations started on Friday and stopped today. I now know why I might not be committing to a party every year. I am tired, our house is a mess and it is not even Monday yet. Nevertheless, the party (which started as family only and enlarged to 20) was so much fun! At least we will only have to do one birthday party a year! Our cousin, Savannah, played in our exersaucer during the party. Look how big she is! She is nearly as tall as the boys!!!

SUNDAY LUNCHTIME BRUNCH it was....It is the boy's best time of the day! Here is mommy and the boys posing for a photo. Maybe it was the 40+ eyes on them, but they were not into eating their lunch. Turner held ole faithful....after all, Mr. Balloon is starting to feel like my third child...1 week ole newborn he is! (He flies into the air. Turner grunts and points to the ceiling. I get up and give him back to Turner. Mr. Balloon float away again and gets stuck in the ceiling fan. I rescue him and return him to Turner when the grunts and pointing is too apparent. You get the picture.)

Birthday Boy B: Taylor-1 year old! " We love our baby boy B!!!"

Birthday Boy A: Turner -1 year old "Oh, how handsome is our baby boy A !" Love the bruise above the right eye...he got stuck under the pack n' play trying to get his silver cup. (And yes, Taylor has a right black eye from hitting his eye at school. Twins--double trouble!!! When something happens to one, the other one is doomed!)

" Oh, you can't trick me. I am so done with this hat!"

" Happy 1st birthday T and T!" Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!!

The boy's smash cakes!!! Thank you Publix!!!

At first, there was no interest. We sang "happy birthday" (yes, i was close to tears!) and they both stared at us. I would have stared too if 40+ eyes were on me. Turner was fixated on his sippy cup while Taylor prefered his wheat thin.

Taylor gave it a sample.....Momma trying to coax sweet ole Turner.

Aunt Ellen gave Turner a try while daddy looked on. He opened wide and seemed to like it (at first).

Taylor waves to the camera with his frosted finger. And a special thanks to Uncle Jay who took the photos so mommy could enjoy herself!!!

Daddy and mommy pose with Turner, who is still suspicious of the attention and the cake.

Family Photo: "We'll take it!" As you can see, Taylor loves the cake (No surprise here.) and Turner is checking out his brother thinking, " Man, you still have that freaky hat on and what is all that stuff on your face!"

Taylor still digging in....

Gan helping Turner get his balloon.

" Now this is what I call lunch!"

Mommy and Turner getting a good laugh out of Taylor's face! Aunt Nikki and Turner loving each other while Taylor gets a bath from daddy! Poor Gan holds his head from a cold....sorry you don't feel well Gan!

John 5 hides to eat his cake or shall I say frosting!!!

Aunt Ellen and Turner

Mommy gets some love from Taylor....loving that he still smells like cake!

Happy birthday, Turn!

Uncle Ray gets some play action with Turn and Mr. Balloon!

Jeff, Aunt Sabrina and the boys--and a special thanks to Mr. Stall (aka Jeff) for saving Mr. balloon from the ceiling fan!!! We love the sidewalk chalk and baby board books. Mommy and daddy say thanks for the "college money".

The Woods (Jay and Nik) loving on T and T!! Thanks ya'll for our ELMO book and puppet, books and the walking/talking dog. That Elmos puppet book is awesome--mommy is getting Uncle Jay one for his birthday!!!

The Brown's...hated that the girls missed the big party! Oh well, we will have to celebrate with them again!!! Thanks so much for the adorable overalls and new toy!!!

The half eaten spread.....french toast (thanks Boo), egg casseroles, fruit salad, coffee cake (thanks Ellen!), spincah salad, appetizers (thanks Carrie) and ham biscuits!!! Oh, and the Moet Chandon mimosas were in the kitchen!!! Only the best for the boy's 1st birthday!!!

We were in the kitchen and heard this tapping on the kitchen wall. Mommy panicked thinking there was a rat in the wall. Thankfully, it was only Guinness' tail, as he and Georgia had escaped from the bedroom and were waiting to be let out!!

Turner: " Thanks for coming to our party, Savannah."

Savannah: " Thanks for letting me ride your pony."

Taylor: " You think there is any of that cake left?"

Happy 1st birthday T and T!!

The celebrations have begun and will continue through the weekend. Our boys are 1 today!!

Turner and Taylor,
We love you so much. Our lives are perfect because of your presence. We love your laughs, smiles and even your cries, make us giggle!!! Our favorite thing is to here the two of you giggling away. Many Saturday mornings, your daddy and I lay in bed, look at each other and smile because you two are in your rooms (pitch black) and talking up a storm!!! The past year has been one fabulous dream and all because of you!! Here is to many more years of health, happiness, laughter and continued good looks. : )
Love, Mommy and Daddy (although we all know who completes the BLOG)

"Our first present" from Miss Tara (cute pj's and books)

" Man, this is some cool tissue paper!" (Excuse Taylor's outfit, please. He spilt his milk from his sippy cup all over him during the car ride home.)

Turner takes Mr. Balloon on a trip around the cave, while Taylor inspects his new present, the tissue paper!

Turner inspecting a ball from mommy and daddy while Taylor reads his card from Ms. B.

"Happy Birthday to me!!!" Taylor--1 year

" Happy birthday to me" (and Mr. Balloon..don't forget him. his feelings might be hurt.), as I munch on cheerios!!!

Yeah!! Since it was our birthday, mommy decided Mr. Balloon could go to school with us!!! Funny thing, he was a hit!

Heading into school for the day. Mr. Balloon was tied to Turner's shoes, just in case he got distracted. Funny thing, he had such a tight grip on him that I had to pry his hands open just to get the safety belt on.

Randoms

Turner trying on a winter hat as I got out their "new fall/winter clothes" to be sorted, washed and hung up. Whoops, think I overbought!!! Taylor dragging the shirts around the boy cave. SHOCKER!!!

Taylor and Betty--Betty came up from the beach for a little visit and we loved it. We took Betty and Carl to our favorite weekend lunch spot and Momma Brown's was enjoyed by all.

Go Falcon's! GO Matt Ryan. You are our hero!!!

Yep, the balloon is still around...

Our triplet, Mr. Balloon is still around. He made his guest appearance with the twins tonight in the bathtub. Turner insisted. We bathed his head, he held tight. We tempted him with rubber ducks that "quack", no interest. Only his faithful balloon. No love between Mr. B and Taylor, but the opposite is true of Turner. Mr. Balloon is his best friend. Poor Taylor has been replaced. As you can tell, Taylor hasn't even noticed!

Minutes later...." I still got him!"

And on Monday night.... Mrs. Balloon enjoyed an organic dinner of chicken nuggets, rice, veggies and pineapple. Turner (who typically uses his right hand) ate with his left hand while he held tight to his new buddy.

Bottletime!!! Yep, Mrs. Balloon is a faithful one. She stayed tight as Turner drank away. Poor boys have no idea what the next set of balloons mean...it is their 1st birthday on Friday,September 18th, meaning more balloons, party hats, cake but the worse part.....bye bye to bottles! Welcome to the World of Sippy Cups!!! Glad the Balloons and their friends will be there to cheer the boys on!!!

Happy Birthday Poppy and Drew!

Taylor enjoying a snack before we jetted off to Poppy (3) and Drew's (2) birthday party. They are neighbors and friends from Parkton Road. Funny thing....the boys never nap. And today, they decided to nap forever, so we were late for the "Ready, Set, Jump" Party. Taylor took an hour and a half nap. SHOCKER, I know!!!

Daddy and Turner going down the big slide. Turner was just smiling the whole time!!

Gotta love this photo---Taylor was too smiling. Glad all you can see is his blond "fro" standing up like his daddy!!!

Taylor pushing a chair around the soft mat, as Turner plays with a car.

Turner admiring all of the older kids.

Daddy pushing the boys around on the car. Funny thing...Taylor knew exactly what to do. As daddy started pushing them, Taylor grabbed onto the back of his brother and just went with the flow!!!

"The Lunch room" Happy birthday, Poppy and Drew!!!

The Slade boys taking over the room--jump ropes in hands!!! What a great party favor!!

And a balloon!!! Turner loved this balloon so much. It was his new pal (and still is). Pictures to follow. Taylor is more interested in eating the end of the pump rope. After all, "daddy ate most of my pizza and cake".

After Party: 1339 Parkton Road! And the balloon was invited for an overnight....