Pinwheels and Polka Dots

The theme for Nora's 1st Birthday Party was Pinwheels and Polka Dots.  I had so much fun planning, creating and decorating.  I am not going to pretend to have any original ideas, I was inspired mostly by this site! And found other inspiration from various other places online.
The menu included: Chicken Salad Sandwiches (from Produce Plus, in Salem), Turkey Pinwheels, Veggie Platter, Caramel Apple Bar (my favorite!), Popcorn from Del's, Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treat Balls and Strawberry or Vanilla Cupcakes topped with Starburst Pinwheels :).

The 'Smash' Cake

Nora's Hand Made Pinwheel Bib

The Birthday Girl enjoyed her lunch and was about to fall asleep in her chair, so we thought it was time for cake!  She was a fan :).

After Nora demolished her cake, it was time for Birthday Boy #1 to have his cake!  I made a cake exactly like Nora's for Jared, but instead of pink polka dots, he got black.  He is 30, after all!

Yes, there really are 30 candles on there :)

 

He decided he could 'smash' his too.  I was standing too close :)

Birthday boy #2...Thanks for celebrating with us!

Alex's Birthday was yesterday (a day after Nora and Jared's)

Then it was present time!
Nora wasn't too into her presents- but that's okay.  Someday she will be!

I made a photo display with photos from every month of the last year

A big thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us!

A few of the party guests!

The 4 of us!

I had A LOT of help pulling this together.  Thanks to Birthday boy #1, he did a lot of the food prep.  Also, Libby and Abby came up early to help get things put together.  Thanks to my mama from bringing the veggies and chicken salad sandwiches.  I could not have done it without all the help!

Nora's 1st Year

Thirty & One

Today is the birthday for two very special people to me!  Jared turned the big 3-0 today and Nora turned 1!  I can't believe how fast this past year has gone.  Jared took today off from work to hang out with the family (and help me get things in order for the party tomorrow).  We started the day off with some birthday waffles!

Then we moved on to presents.  Ethan was an eager helper!

She was getting the hang of pulling the paper off!

Opening the gift Ethan picked out for her (Cinderella and Prince Charming Little People)

Now for a few things about Nora at 1:
She crawls really fast!

She can cruise the furniture and walk by pushing things around, but is not standing on her own or trying to walk yet

She still has 7 teeth

She has transitioned to whole milk in a sippy cup very well!

She is basically eating all table food, and loves to feed herself

She waves, blows kisses, claps and dances (usually all on command)

Birthday Girl with her balloons!

Smiley girl

The 1 picture I got with her headband on before she ripped it off

Enjoying the birthday lasagna made by Libby!

Happy Birthday to Jared and Nora.  I love you both more than words can say!

Photo Friday...Week 8

We spent Sunday afternoon playing in the backyard.  All 5 of us (Max is the 5th) played, ran, crawled, slid and swung until there was dirt/mud all over.  It was such a beautiful day!

Nora loved the slide

'Catching them at the bottom of the slide'

Boo at the Zoo

Last night was the Tate and Lyle night of Boo at the Zoo.  We went last year too.  We had a good time, as expected, and Ethan made his way through all 10 trick or treat stations.  We also rode the train and the carousel.  Ethan was a fireman with his own firetruck and Nora was a peacock (even if she sat on her feathers the whole time and wouldn't leave her headband on).

Ready to Trick or Treat!

Heading to the next treat station

Ethan and Daddy riding the carousel

Nora and Me on the carousel

Daddy with our little Peacock

I'll try to get some better pictures of their costumes on Halloween :).

Pumpkin Painting

Since Ethan has been into painting lately, we decided that he would paint his pumpkin this year.  He was really excited about it.  He started off by painting a face.  The usual eyes, nose, mouth and then we moved on to hair and cheeks...pretty soon the whole thing was multi-colored.  Nora even painted too.  I painted her hand to try to make a hand print on the pumpkin...it didn't work, but oh well :).

Just getting started!

No time to look up. This is serious stuff.

Nora isn't too sure about this

Trying the hand print

Showing off their completed pumpkins

Surprise Visitors!

Jared's dad will be out of town this weekend for Nora/Jared's birthday parties.  So, Karen had a great idea to come up this past Saturday evening to surprise Jared with an impromptu surprise party.  Grandma Karen, Grandpa and Dustin came up Saturday evening and it was a total surprise to Jared.  I made dinner and Karen brought cake for Nora and Jared.  It was a great evening and a nice way to end our day.  

The birthday boy!  Almost 30...ahhh!

Nora had a birthday balloon too!

Birthday Cakes!

Nora didn't have a problem eating some of hers!

Neither did Ethan :)

Present time!

Grandpa and Ethan 

Tickling session with Uncle Dustin

Punkin' Pickin'

Today we made our 3rd annual trip to 'The Great Pumpkin Patch'.  (Check out our 1st and 2nd trips here and here!)  It was a little chilly, but so, so fun!

Pile O'Gourds 

They found the perfect one!

Ethan and Nora...Adorable!

Hanging out on the hay bales

Jumping off the hay bales :)

It's never too cold for pumpkin ice cream

Wagon Ride

Happy girl

He's getting so big

Nora was about the size of a pumpkin last year.  

King of the hill!

Mama and Nora (One of my new favorites)

Our Family at the Pumpkin Patch this year :)

Photo Friday...Week 7

This is one of my favorite things Ethan has made.  I don't know why, it's just so very colorful and exactly how he likes to paint.

Child's Artwork on the Fridge

He told me this was a painting of the beach.  And the purple thing he is pointing at is a bird :).  So creative!

A Few New Tricks

I've had the video camera handy a lately and caught some of the things Nora is doing right now.  This includes; jabbering, clapping, waving, blowing kisses and dancing!

Go Cards!

Here are 2 of my favorite Cardinal Fans!!

We're excited over here!

Matching boys :)

Photo Friday...Week 6

Whenever Nora finds shoes she tries her hardest to get her foot into them.  She likes shoes, and what girl doesn't?!?

Showing me her find!

My Child Wearing a Pair of My Shoes