Here we see Uncle Benjamin trying to teach Gregory how to fish.
Having never hosted a fishing tournament, I made a few mistakes. But I learned and thought I would pass these on:
1. There are kids involved. Mere thumbtacks in the walls to hold up yarn draped with a heavy sheet will not do. The whole thing will fall, revealing a large Daddy fish hiding behind the pond.
2. Kids don't mind if the pond is not blue in color.
3. If the specimens being fished are too heavy for either the pole or the child fisherman, they will have to become flying fish and leap from their watery confinement. Next time I will hand the kids their empty party bag and let them fish their prizes one at a time so Mike doesn't have to throw the whole thing over :P
4. Uncle Andrew is a very nice helper.
Then we had us some real cake with a real "number one" candle! No chocolate this year--as it's one of the only things that will still get Isaac really pukey. Aaaand, you may be feeling the lack of our family photographer (did I mention I miss you Lauren?) like I am. Ah well.
Isaac liked his cake a lot!
But he may have liked his plate even better.
Peek-a-boo!
Gregory could hardly eat his pizza. He kept stage whispering to me "Those are my cousins!" and looking over at Kara and Jayden. I wonder if this picture was taken before or after Mr. Bearly lost his sight. Tee hee hee.
And of course, there were the presents. Oh, the presents! Gregory has already taken them over, I'm afraid! He loves the cement truck and bubbles from Grandma Morrow, and the rideable rocketship from Grandma Richardson is very fought over. Grandma Blackham chipped in on our present, which was unfortunately ordered too late to be present at this party (I'm a slacker I know). But it's AWESOME. And we got it all set up today and the kids love it too so there. I will make another post about that as soon as I get the camera outside with it instead of the toolset. Oh yes. Be excited. Very excited. So, Isaac plays with his toys as often as Gregory has his back turned or is being forced to share by his mean Mommy.
I can't believe that my baby is ONE!! He stood up again today when he didn't realize I had moved his support (his birthday toy from us, as a matter of fact). He continued to clutch the toy he was holding and just look at me like nothing was even that exciting. I was trying not to freak out, but it must have showed because he finally looked around, realized he was standing by himself, which is clearly an impossibility, and sat himself carefully down. He says "dog" and has recently surprised us with "Julia." He loves to say "Hi," especially to himself in the mirror! He's also finally growing into himself. He's tipped the scales at 21 and some odd pounds--right in the 25th percentile (it's a huge accomplishment--up from the 5th!). He's finally stopped spitting up so much! Yaaaay! His legs have the slight beginnings of baby rolls too! Though I hold no hope that he will ever catch up to his cousin Emily :P He is such a sweet, easy going little thing, and he is a delight to have around. Happy Birthday my darling Isaac bug!
