Cupcakes and fun! Ella turns one!!

We celebrated our little nut's first year last weekend with an absolutely beautiful day spent with dear family and friends. We were blessed by a gorgeous 70 degree day, so promptly moved the party outside. Ella was a joy, bopping around greeting her guests and being exceptionally cute :-) Thanks to so many who were incredibly helpful making it a wonderful day for all of us. We love our little Ella so much, what an unforgettable first year!!

Supervising. Checking to be sure we are setting things up to her specifications.

Will "helping" by trimming the bushes.

Tables in the driveway!! Woo hoo for sunshine!! Seems so strange that only a few posts ago we had over 40 inches of snow in the driveway...

With her Pop-Pop.

Ella's cupcake bouquet. Mommy had lots of fun making this one!!

Joe, Benjamin and David playing in the driveway.

Ella, her godmother Anne, and her Nan.

Blowing out her candle!

Ooooo... sugar.

Dainty, for now.

With Mommy and Anne.

With Mum-Mum and Pop-Pop.

The kids (little and big!) at the decorate your own cupcake bar!

Uncle Damon the camera man and Nan the bearer of ice cream!!

Aunties!! (Amy and Jen that is!)

Maria chowing down.

Will relaxing.

YUM!

Some birthday love from brother... too cute. My joy.

WHOA, Ella this is a family blog... kisses for Benjamin.

The progression of these next few pictures cracks me up. As Ella was eating/playing with her cupcake, she decided to smash her bottle into it. Thinking, "This is kind of fun."

Then she realized that the frosting was now on the bottom of the bottle. "Now what?"

"Eat it, obviously."

"Who me???"

Munchkin.

Kate helping Ella open presents.

Getting into it!

This is a fun one.

Sweet, Silly, Ella

I thought with all the Will pictures in the last post, you might be wondering "What about Ella?" Well here she is. Even though she still doesn't sleep very well, cries a LOT, and doesn't share particularly well, we love her!!! She has this enchanting, sweet, cuddly side, loves books and giving hugs and kisses, and an irresistible grin when she gets excited. My little peanut...

Birthday Boys!

Will and Joe both celebrated their birthdays in February. Joe the BIG 3-0 and Will the BIG 0-2! Unfortunately, due to a bad bout with the flu, celebrations were delayed. Will had his "Mickey Birthday Party" a week late, but had a great time nonetheless. We can't believe our little guy is already 2. He's grown and changed so much and we love him dearly! What a wondrous, blessed, magical two years!!

Will helping Dad blow out his birthday candles.

Uncle Damon and Aunt Amy bought Will a flight jacket for his birthday. He's so excited to have one, "just like Uncle Damon's"!

The sick little birthday boy and his Mickey balloons.

Wearing his ears from Nan and Pap!

In his new tent from Mom and Dad.


Finally his party! With buddy Benjamin.

Will's cake (yep, I made it!).

The big event!

Ella bored by the whole ordeal.

Madeline cheesing it up!

The kiddos taking a whack at the pinata! Most of the grown-ups stayed upstairs away from the flying bats and candy!