Ellie-belly turns 1!

This was Ellie on her first official playdate with Parker last year . . .

And this is them now . . .

How quickly they grow . . .

Here are some more pictures from Ellie's Mexican-themed first birthday party!

You can trust him.  He's a doctor.

Gracie and Ellie getting ready for the festivities.

Birthday Girl, Mama, Big Sister, Gigi

"It's my party!"

No, she doesn't look pleased, but the adults were.

See prior comment . . .

Parker, Jake, Gracie and Nolan eating

This is pretty much how Nolan and Gracie spend all their time.

Sari, me and Erin.  Yes, I have crazy eyes.

Erin and the kiddos

It was very important to Nolan that he assist with gift opening.  

Yes, thats a 3 year old swinging a bat at a pinata.  We pride ourselves on our good judgement.

Parker taking his turn.

And it was Jake for the win!

Look at that face . . .  How can you not give him everything he wants??

10 years!

beach fun

Yes, I am VERY behind . . .  and I suspect that isn't going to change anytime soon  . . . But for now, here are some pictures of our recent beach trip.  We spent a week in Seaside, Florida with our friends Susanne and Chris and their family.  It was a great time, but I was much more tired by the end of it than I have ever been after a vacation.  Enjoy!

Parker was in heaven with non-childproofed cabinets? Maybe part of the reason I was so exhausted after?

Susanne reading The Cat in the Hat to Sophie and Nolan.

Olivia with Parker.  She is a great big sister to Sophie, and just generally fantastic to be around.

Chris and Nolan playing dinosaurs.  These days if you want to interact with Nolan you better be willing to play dinosaurs.  Or to witness a tantrum.

Sophie in her bumbo! She wasn't a huge fan, but she is still cute as heck!

Parker at the Seaside reparatory theater production of The Stinky Cheese Man.

Susanne and baby Sophie

The older kids playing Go Fish . . .

Baby Sophie! In other news, I need camera that doesn't make adorable babies blurry!

Susanne and Olivia kayaking

sandcastles!

Dada and Parker

Olivia and Sophie

Sophie, Susanne and Chris at the outdoor concert

falling asleep . . .

Nolan watching the concert

He was in love with big holes on the beach and and now refusing to call the bath tub anything other than a hole.  

Family photo!

Olivia hamming up a frown during Chris' game of "lets see who can stand in the corner and be quiet the longest."

Parker's par-tay!

Parker's first birthday party just ended . . .  Lots of kids, fun and food.  Thanks to everyone that came! Here are some photos:

Fun with Aunt Amy and bubbles!

snacking . . .

"cheese!!!" Nolan and Victoria

I love this photo . . .  Gracie looks SO annoyed, Ellie is in the back trying to get someone's attention, Bodi is just sitting on Nolan's chair and Jake and Parker just look happy to be playing.

Gaga, Parker, Mema and Aunt Pamela

Jake and Parker with their party hats on

Bodi getting ready for cake!

Helen, Parker and Ellie in the ball pit

Ryan is relaxing . . .

Gracie is ready for cake!

Nolan just fed his dinosaur some cake

Aunt Pamela and Parker

Monkey cakes . . .  I was quite proud of these!

Parker wasn't so sure about his . . .

He eventually got used to the idea of eating it though :)

and needed a bath before presents

Chaos ensued once it was time for presents

And continued throughout gift opening

Gracie promptly tried on Parker's new swim trunks

Helen, Parker and Nolan playing after the party

And now I'm going to go lay down.  Or have a snack.  Or both.

Parker . . .

I am way behind on updating the blog.  Last weekend we had Parker's first birthday and the Fourth of July.  This coming weekend we have Parker's birthday party and I still haven't posted pics from my nephew's bday party when I was in Mass . . .  In the meantime, here is a picture of Parker doing one of my favorite new things of his . . .  he throws a ball then looks totally shocked/ecstatic/surprised . . .  You can't tell me this kid isn't cute . . .

While I was away . . .

I was in Massachusetts for almost a week and a half and left Ryan and the kids to fend for themselves!  From what I've been told there were several trips to Home Depot, Nolan went to "pirate camp" and also got a haircut (though Parker CLEARLY needed one.) Ryan wasn't too exhausted when I got home, and was even to get a run in one day while a friend watched Parker for a few hours (thanks Sari!) Parker tried to act aloof for a bit after I got home, but that ended pretty quickly . . .  Nolan just wanted to show me every toy in the house  . . .

Rest in Peace Buzzy . . .

This photo was taken last Thanksgiving of my grandfather "Buzzy" and Parker (who, for anyone that doesn't know, is named after my grandmother, her maiden name was Parker.)  My grandfather died last week at the age of 91, after a brief hospitalization for congestive heart failure, 21 years to the day after my grandmother.  He was always very active for his age, he lived alone and continued to play golf and bowl until last summer when he started to have significant health problems.

I have a relatively small family on my mother's side.  Buzzy had two children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  We're all going to miss him a lot.  We buried him with a golf club, his hole-in-one trophy (for the two hole-in-ones he got in the last 15 years) and a chocolate bar . . .  And took a drive by the golf course after the funeral on the way to the cemetery.  We're pretty sure he would have liked all that, except he may have felt that we didn't leave him with enough chocolate . . .