Eli's First Birthday

This past Saturday we celebrated Eli's first birthday. I can't believe that my baby is already one and Asa is now two.

Here is the chocolate chip muffins that I made to look like a penguin, so that it fit the theme of animals. However, Eli was not able to eat this because it had milk in it and since Eli is lactose-intolerant, he could not eat it.


Here is the birthday boy with his papa Tony.


Since Eli was unable to have cake, my mom made a banana bread that had no milk products in it at all.


The following seven images are of Eli eating the banana bread.








Eli getting impatient with waiting to open the gifts. Okay so he didn't really realize he was waiting for gifts but he was not happy waiting.


Toolbox from Grandma and Papa Woods, the perfect gift from a carpenter.


Opening the gifts from Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Cyndi.


"Hey, what else is back there?"


"I wonder if this card tastes good."


Truck from Uncle Kirk and Aunt Holly.


My smiley boy.


"Get that ribbon off my head."


The shirt that bears Eli's usual disposition. Eli is almost always happy, even when he isn't feeling all that well.


The photo puzzle that mama and dada got for Eli, so he has his own puzzle. We are still working on convincing Asa that Eli gets to try and do it on his own though.

Halloween Festivities - Final Post

Almar Orchard

Most of these pictures are pretty self explanatory.

This donkey came right up to the fence when he saw us. Think he might be used to getting hand fed by visitors.

The Turkeys just walked slowly in front of us. Almost as though they were oblivious to our presence.

This chicken/rooster was a little guy. Don't take this wrong but he is probably about the size of a cornish game hen.

Now this chicken/rooster was a big guy. He was bigger than some of the turkeys out there.

What? I have an itch. (It amazes me the different positions animals can contort themselves into.)

Eli looking at the Reindeer.

Eli deciding to gnaw on the fence.

Turkey Feather.

Finally, apples ready for cider. In a year or so, I'll take the boys back to watch them make the apple cider.

Halloween Festivities - Part 3

Halloween Day

The two previous posts were actually from Thursday. It was kind of nice getting to enjoy the costumes for more than one day.

Look we found Dorothy. To our surprize, when we arrived at Uncle Wayne and Aunt Regina's house, Shannon was dressed as Dorothy for Halloween. And of course we had to get pictures taken with her. They all look so cute together.
(Later when we got home I realized she was the only one of my nieces and nephews that I even got a picture of in their costume.)



After leaving Uncle Wayne and Aunt Regina's house, we took the boys out to Almar Orchard. We went out there specifically to try to get the yummy donuts. You know the cinnamon sugar ones with the granulated sugar. They had them. Yea!! While we were out there I took advantage of the photo opportunity the pumpkins scattered about gave us. Don't the boys just look adorable? I know I'm biased but what mother isn't, right?

Asa


Eli


Tomorrow I will share the photos from the petting zoo area. Once we left the orchard I didn't take any more pictures. I don't know why. I just didn't. I think it was my subconscious telling me to enjoy my time with the boys and not to worry about taking pictures the whole time.

Halloween Festivities - Part 2

Trick or Treating at Grandma and Papa Woods House

Asa fell asleep on the trip from Kroger to Grandma and Papa Woods' house. He looked to cute not to take a picture of him.


Asa not fully awake but still looking super cute as always.


My boys together in their costumes. Asa also knows exactly where to get his bowl from so that he can get some goldfish crackers that he also knows exactly where to look to get them.


Papa Tony showing Asa the book of spells that Grandma uses as a Halloween bowl.


Papa Tony with his two youngest grandkids. Hopefully one day they will have playmates closer to their age. Hint, Hint.


Shoving nerds into our mouth.


Eli getting into the candy.


Eli is eating a cheerio. He had some in a bowl and they were all over the kitchen floor at this point. Most of the candy grandma had was either chewy which Eli isn't quite ready for or had milk in it. Since Eli is lactose intolerant giving him milk chocolate is not a good thing.


Hmmm...What looks good?


Asa would have put everything into his bag had we let him. Finally we took and emptied the book and let him move the candy that was in his bag back and forth until it was time to go. I then put back over half of what he had taken from grandma and papa's stash. Of course I got some things for Chris and I that we like.

Halloween Festivities - Part 1

Trick or Treating at Kroger

Asa and Eli ready to go. We had finally got them into their costumes and were almost ready to go out the door.


Here is Asa's subtle way of telling us he is ready to go out the door. I think he has been taking lessons from Chloe. That is how she lets us know she needs to go outside.


Pumpkin Bowling. Asa liked this, he even helped to put the water bottles back up because well that is what you have to do if you want to knock it down again.


Poor Eli didn't get to do much but sit in the cart. He doesn't walk yet and doesn't really understand what is going on quite yet.


Decorating a cookie over by the bakery. This was fun, of course dada helped Asa with this.

Putting the Picnic Table to Use

Asa's Two

Here is one of Asa's birthday cakes that I made. I will admit I am quite proud of this cake. Now the other cake didn't look as pretty but it tasted just as good. I love the fact that this cake really does resemble a soccer ball.


Look at that face. Could anyone resist those eyes?


Eli playing contentedly with a cup and some toys. Poor guy didn't feel to good, only I was so busy with everything else going on I didn't realize it until after we got home. The poor thing is lactose-intolerant as well so people can't just give him anything to snack on. We are slowly figuring out what he can and can not eat.


And now an overview of the gifts that he received. Of course the best gift for Asa was being able to play with all of his cousins. He was almost oblivious to the fact that there was anything else going on around him.
Curious George Book and Stuffed Animal. (He loves the PBS characters - good thing since we don't get the other channels like Disney and Nickelodeon)


I can't think of what this is actually called but he loves it. He plays with it a lot. I like that it helps to aid in the teaching of his letters and numbers.


An official Wilson football. It couldn't be any other brand. It has to be a Wilson (for those who don't know that is my maiden name.)


The Potato Head Pirate set. Okay now I really had to include this one because I think Skylar is more excited by the gift than Asa is. Although Asa has enjoyed playing with it since it has been opened. He just didn't realize what it really was packaged up like that.


Clothing of any sort ended up being thrown directly to the floor. Asa may not of had much concern for it but mom and dad sure did appreciate the clothes.


The last gift to open was the picnic table that grandma and papa Woods got for Asa and Eli. It is a kind of joint gift since Eli's birthday party is two weeks after Asa's and they will both be using the table once Eli is able to sit at it without support.