Caleb's First Birthday Party

This past Sunday we celebrated Caleb's 1st birthday! Both sets of grandparents were in town for the weekend, so it was a great excuse to celebrate his birthday one week early. It is hard to believe that almost one year ago we welcomed Caleb into the world. We have been blessed with such a sweet, loving, fun, and playful little boy.

Look how big I am!

My mother-in-law prepared delicious side dishes and homemade chocolate ice cream, and my dad was the master grilling chef for the birthday BBQ. Thank you for the delicious spread!

Caleb had a fun time playing with everyone and showing off his new toys.

Enjoying a birthday lunch of pasta salad, cheese, and fruit. This little boy can eat, eat, eat! And then it was time for dessert...

 

Caleb had his own smash cake too...

And smashing he did well. He was a little timid at first, but quickly got the hang of it....

Grandma Sue got a good video of him demolishing the cake...you  made us proud big boy!

Grandpa Art and Grandma Sue

Grandpa Mark, Grandma Betty, and Daddy

Mommy and the birthday boy, ready for a post-birthday bath

A bath and clean clothes makes for a happy boy.

Caleb received a lot of very nice gifts, and his cousins from far away made a special appearance! He was more into playing with the paper than opening the gifts, but he did enjoy what was inside. Thank you everyone!

Loving on our neighbor/party photographer, Michelle



Shortly after, Granpa Mark and Grandma Betty said their good-byes and began their drive back to Illinois. Caleb (and us) had a great week with them. We really appreciate all of their help...and the extra sleep!

Grandpa Art and Grandma Sue just arrived for the week, and we are looking forward to the fun week ahead.

We had fun celebrating Caleb's first birthday. You are so special to us, big boy. We love you so much!



Go, go, go with Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty drove from Illinois to visit us this past week. It has been a treat having them here, especially for Mr. Caleb! Upon arrival, they had an early birthday present for Caleb to play with throughout the week. Caleb likes to go, go, go in his new car, and he has put many miles on it already. Though it may appear, we do not encourage drinking and driving -:).

At first they took it easy with him because he was getting over a stomach bug and it has been 100+ degrees outside, but he was ready to go, go, go by day two. Their first outing was a nice drive through the country to a town to the west called The Plains and a trip to the famous Manassas Battlefied.

The spotted a mom and baby deer pulling into our neighborhood on the way home.

The next morning Caleb was the first kid on the playground...probably around 6:30am -:). He had fun riding the panda? and going up and down the slides.

On the 4th of July we went to Leesburg to walk around, look at antique shops, and eat some ice cream. It was HOT that day, and we all enjoyed some lemonade with our lunch.

The next day the troops went to Fredericksburg, Culpepper, and Warrenton. They really did get around this trip! You may be wondering what the next pictures is...last week I showed Caleb how to say hello and put the phone by his ear...now EVERYTHING has turned into a phone -:). This is a shoe phone. We have also had cup phones, pizza phones, pea phones, leaf phones, mulch phones...pretty much anything is fair game!

Our Good Buddy found a caboose to play on.

Then our little monkey went for a climb in the tree. He loves heights and climbing. We are going to have to watch this little boy!

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On their last outing, they went to Sky Meadows State Park and the Arboretum. The pictures from their trip turned out great! I see where Nathan gets his eye for photography.

And here we have a leaf phone....hello?

Since the three musketeers explored together this week, we finally managed to get a picture of them together.

Thank you so much for the great visit! We have had a wonderful week with grandpa and grandma, and we are so thankful they came to spend the week with us. My parents are on their way, and will be with us for the next week. Tomorrow we will celebrate his FIRST birthday one week early with all the grandparents in town. This is one lucky little boy.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July! Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty are visiting this week, and we are having a great time. Stay tuned for another blog on their visit.