Raif's 1st Birthday Bash

Our little lobster
Mom and Dad aka Flapper and Gangsta

Mom and Dad with Bailey and Raif

My sister and I

Bailey and Raif with their cousins Jaymee and Lexy

The Vega Clan

Our Family

Pocahontas

Our little baby is 1. I can't believe it. It went by even faster that Bailey's 1st year. We celebrated in style with a fun Halloween Costume Party. We had 71 friends and family join in on the fun. It was a fabulous party. We have wonderful friends and family who are always game for a good time. They've put up with a hat party for Bailey's 3rd birthday and now a costume party for Raif's 1st birthday. Thank you to all who came for making the day so special for us. We love you all. (More fun photos to follow)

Traditions

Pumpkin Patch 2009
Pumpkin Patch 2009

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Pumpkin Patch 2008 (Raif was born 1 week later)

Pumpkin Patch 2007

Pumpkin Patch 2007

Pumpkin Patch 2006

Pumpkin Patch 2006

Pumpkin Patch 2006

I belong to a mom's group and one of the topics was traditions. We discussed different traditions we do, and got some great ideas from other moms and their families. One tradition I forgot that we did, but have done every year since Bailey was born, is the pumpkin patch. I already posted the pictures from this year's pumpkin patch, but came up with a new idea. I just printed out all of our family pictures from each year's visit to the pumpkin patch. I'm going to go and get frames and put the pictures out each fall, so the kids, and Colby and I, can see how we've all grown. Enjoy the trip down memory lane!

Pumpkin Patch

Colby and the kiddos
Brenda and the kiddos

Raif and Brenda

Look at me, I'm standing on my own!

Bailey driving the fire truck

Raif in the middle of lots of pumpkins

Bailey dinging the train bell

Our family

Brenda and the kiddos

Bailey in her Halloween shirt

Bailey riding the pony
Colby came home early from work today for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. I love seeing the growth of Bailey and how each year she is more and more adventurous in what she will go on. Raif was very interested in the hay and the amount of hay he could shove in his mouth. This is actually his second trip to the pumpkin patch. Last year my mom and I took him when he was about 4 days old (don't judge, I'm not one to sit around after giving birth). The weather was actually turning crisp near the end of the night, a perfect way to celebrate the coming of Autumn! We had lots of fun and enjoyed a delicious dinner afterwards at Claim Jumper.

Curtain Call

Raif loves the curtains in my room
So much fun!
Raif has discovered that curtains are so much fun to play with. He will spend about 30 minutes entertaining himself in there. There is somthing so magical and fun about being hidden and covered up to a child. When Bailey is home, the two of them can play for an hour giggling and laughing in the curtains. Some of the best play toys are not toys at all, just everyday househould items that kids can imagine and pretend in. I know some people would never let their children play in the curtains, "it will get them dirty, they might pull them down, you'll mess them up, etc. etc." I don't let them tug on them and if it gets too crazy the game is over. The fun they have in the curtains will be worth the trip to the dry cleaners in a few months to clean up the magical curtain land!

Stress

Women stress over the silliest of things. Here it is, two weeks before my baby turns 1 and I am stressing about the amount of people that we invited to his party and where we are going to put them. I should be celebrating in the fact that we have a happy, healthy baby and we are about to celebrate the first year of his life. No one really cares about the fact that there will be standing room only in our house. No one cares that the house might have some of Boomer dog's hair lingering in the air. No one cares that Colby tried to patch paint in the house and I can see streaks on the walls. No one cares that there are a gazillion flies outside and that they sometimes fly inside. Everyone does care that we get to celebrate and be together for Raif's 1st birthday. So, I am too. I am going to try and stop obsessing over these little things, although I will still try and see to it that they get taken care of. I am going to try and revel in the moment and enjoy the day. Breath. Relax. Enjoy. Words I am going to try and live by in the coming months.

Liz and Jerry's Wedding

Sarah and Carmen stole the mic
Aaron and Sarah

Aaron with the girls (Brenda, Sarah and Carmen)

Kevin's stance for picture taking

Colby and me

Colby and I spent Saturday night with our Ireland family. My Aunt's Beth's brother's daughter (this is why it's easier to just say we're cousins) had a vow ceremony on Saturday, they actually got married in Vegas, but wanted to celebrate with all of their friends and family. I didn't get a chance to take pictures of Liz and Jerry, but I now Shirley did so check out her blog later. Liz looked beautiful and Jerry so stylish in his hat. We dined on delicious BBQ food, Sarah's cupcakes, and even an ice cream machine. There was a fun photo booth with props that as the night went on got crazier and crazier. Congratulations to both of you!

Art Projects

Bailey's Art Wall

As preschool begins, I was getting overwhelmed with the amount of "craft treasures" Bailey was coming home with. I taped a couple up on one of the kitchen cabinets, but it was getting in the way of opening the cabinet door all of the way. So, I came up with a genious idea. Don't judge, I love all of the things my little girl does, but don't need to see it in the house everyday. So...there is a wall in our garage that has nothing on it. This has become "Bailey's Art Wall." I know, I know, you are probably thinking I am a horrible person to put my daughter's treasures in the garage. But...(1) I think it actually looks great, and adds some flare to our garage. (2) We get to see it everyday as we drive into the garage. (3) Her daddy also gets to see it when he drives home from work and into the garage (4) I will put up some of her holiday creations in the house, to add to the holiday decor (5) She truly thinks it is special and enjoys getting a place to decorate that I won't try and fix. So, there. It's not as bad as it sounds. She loves it, I love it, Colby loves it. Enough said.