Happy 60th Birthday PaPa Ken!

PaPa turned 60 today, so this past weekend

we all decided to go home for a visit.

He definitely was the star of the show

and had 3 little ones glued to his side at all times...

definitely a full load on the paddle boat!

 Carly and Reagan show off their cattails!

Aunt Laura and Drew enjoy the view by the water.

 Helping open gifts...

   Snuggle time.

 "It took me 60 years to look this good!"
Dad is a t-shirt kind of guy...

 ...his own Slugger!

 Enjoying a beverage in the garage with Bracken

  

The girls hard at work.

All they needed was a pen and paper to keep busy...

and as luck would have it, the restaurant even

had a big fat pink marker! Score!

Coloring and "making books"

Fast asleep 10 minutes out of the driveway...!
(yes, Reagan still stuffs her blankies in her mouth)

Abstract Art by Reagan

We had our first art show last week...

Reagan created most of the work,

but she was insistent upon including some of

mommy's work too...see if you can pick it out

(it's a trick-or-treating scene - don't laugh).

I think it went pretty well,

we had a good turnout and the 1 year old

crowd seemed to like her work.

...then the silliness began.

 You'll notice Reagan actually has to hold up her

favorite princess gown...this one has seen better days

and is only not worn when it is in the washing machine.

 "I'll take this one...but I can only pay you in trucks."

- Mr. B

 "Her sense of composition and use of

color is extraordinary!" - Mr. B

Bracken's 1 Year Photos...

Bracken was being extra cute playing in the backyard today,

so I grabbed my camera and it turned into a

full blown photography session!

I will consider these his 1 year photos...

thanks to big sis Reagan for helping to coax

some smiles and helping with the props!

The faces this kid makes just crack me up...

This one is mommy's favorite!

To see all my favorites click here

Blue Icing Stains Carpets.

Thought I might include some actual photos to

commemorate the cake demolishing that occurred

last night (and also because in the video it just

looks like a flaming pile of icing...)

Why, it's Mickey Mouse!

The proud cake creators...

 By this point the sugar had hit us...

(notice Reagan's blue tongue, she was

in charge of the tasting)

 Sadly, we had no Mickey Mouse figurine...

but we made up for it by making it in the shape of his head
didn't think Bracken would mind much, anyway.

His first taste...

 Sharing?

...I don't think so...

 Happy 1st Birthday Mr. B!

Love you lots - Mommy, Daddy and Sis

STAT UPDATE: I doubled dipped and took

both kids to their checkups today:

Bracken at 1 year:
27 lbs 13 ounces and 32 1/4" in height

Reagan at 3 years:

37 lbs and 39 1/2" in height

(wondering how long she will actually

be able to call him "little" brother)

Bracken the Birthday Boy

We celebrated Bracken's very first birthday yesterday!

(hard to believe our little guy has been around that long)

We had cake and presents when Daddy got home last night

and I can say it was a genius idea to introduce new toys

to the kids and fill them with sugar right before bed.

In hindsight, I probably also would use less candles.

Technically he only needed one, but spelling out

happy birthday in flames seemed like such a cool idea in the store...

(cute kids, yummy cake and bad singing in the video to follow)

Cutie Patutie Mr. B

This kid melts my heart.

His faces are cracking me up lately...

 ...and I still love how he sleeps with his chubby
little legs curled up underneath him...

The Riverdale Rams Newest Hall of Fame Member Induction!

We went to visit GG and PaPa a few weeks ago

for David's induction into the

Riverdale High School Hall of Fame!

Stopped in at their office to visit

with Great Grandma Marilyn who was

passing through on her way to Iowa for her

GRADE SCHOOL class reunion!

(..she doesn't miss a year!)

Bracken refusing to sit with

Great Grandma Marilyn.  Way to go, son.

(at least she thought it was cute)

Reagan is happy to snuggle with PaPa anytime.

 Looking cute with stickers.

 Hard at work in PaPa's office.

 Cheese! 

 Reagan even thought Daddy's speech was hilarious! 

 The whole gang after the banquet including

Great Gma Judy and Gpa Earl.

 Being introduced at half time with a

cheerleader on each arm...

(just like the good ole' days)