Happy 4th Birthday!

How did he get so big?  Today he turns 4!

I'm this big!

                          Cheese!

A little birthday decoration for the birthday boy.

       And let the party begin!

  

Effective water gun use against the "bad guy" aka: dad.

This is my favorite part of the party when JV and E finished off the cake.  So much for nap time!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

Look who's birthday it is!

For about a week now, I have been telling JV that he's gong to be 2 soon.  It's going to be his birthday, but there have been quite a few birthdays lately and so every time I mention birthday he references a friend.  This morning I excitedly told him "Happy Birthday!  It's YOUR birthday today!"  It didn't take him long before he started to get the idea.

Self portrait during our (still in progress) t-shirt craft.  That blog is to come soon.



We borrowed It's My Birthday by Helen Oxenbury from our local library and have read it at bedtime for the last week or so.  It's a story about a little boy and his animal friends who work together to make a cake for his birthday. 

Yesterday we picked up cake mix and icing and I told JV that we would make a cake or his birthday just like the story.  I didn't catch his expression with the camera, but when he saw the cake mix it was priceless!  He knew exactly what we had to do next.

 

It wasn't long after pulling out the cake mix that daddy came home early (yay!) and we were all working together to make JV's birthday cake just like the book.



Pouring oil in the cake mix:



Stirring the mix:

And of course tasting the mix! 

(Yes, I know you shouldn't eat this, but it's too yummy to resist!)

Out of all these presents...

He ran strait for the tricycle! 

It took about 30 minutes before we could get him off the tricycle and that was only for cake.

 Looking at daddy while we sing "Happy Birthday".

"Yay!" I blew out the candles.

Finally, tasting the cupcake.

Apparently I'm in his way:

Sharing a cupcake with daddy:

After daddy took the tricycle to the garage he was able to focus on present opening:

And card reading:

Then it was back outdoors so he could ride again. 

Daddy teaching JV how to use the pedals



Happy 1st Birthday Jackson!

     For Jackson's 1st birthday, Brent and I decided to have a small family birthday party.  We held off on buying the party materials until we were in North Carolina.  I was certain that we would find little boy or 1st birthday party supplies easily, but I was proven wrong. 

     There are tons of cartoon characters and baby boys items, but no1st birthday party supplies.  After searching high and low, we finally found some cute animal themed supplies at Party City.  Then having no luck on a cake to match, we bought a Wilton cake pan in the shape of a #1 at AC Moore and called it a day.

     After setting up the party supplies and decorating the cake, family and friends joined us in celebrating Jackson's 1st birthday.  We began the celebration with a little playtime!



Papa Larry with Jackson and friend Layton



Jackson flirting with the girls

Just like old times

Grandma Jackie with our newest friend, Anna Elizabeth

     Next, he ate one of his favorite meals, hot dogs, followed by reading birthday cards and opening presents.

In preparation for the cake smash, everyone put on their festive birthday hats!

  

Grandma Vaughan made this very cool cupcake cake.  You can't tell by the pictures, but the cake was bigger than Jackson's head!

 He wasn't quite sure what to do at 1st, so I gave him a little taste and before I could get out of the way ...

 ...he was covered in chocolate!

 

Happy 1st Birthday Jackson!