My baby turned 1 today! The time has flown and he has been a wonderful boy. He's been taking steps lately, but today he took several steps on his own initiative, without any help. Way to go, birthday boy! We sure love you!

He's 3! With a Rainbow Party!

 Otto turned 3 last week and he couldn't be more excited. He's been talking for months about his "Rainbow Birthday" and it finally happened! A little back story: Around the supper table, my parents ask everyone what their thankful thing for the day is. Since my niece and nephew have been staying with them since January, they've gotten into the habit too. So even when they come to my house, they always ask, "What is your thankful thing?" For months, every time Otto is asked what his thankful thing is, he replies, "I'm thankful for my RAINBOW BIRTHDAY.", the last part usually said in the most awesome way possible. After he says it, his cousins will always say, "NOT AGAIN!" because he says it every. single. time. Needless to say, he was excited for what was to come. And come it did, in all its glory!

 

We had RAINBOW everything! Rainbow games - a rainbow relay where the kids had to run to assemble the pieces of the rainbow, and rainbow bean bag toss (not pictured). Everything on the food table was rainbow too: rainbow jello, rainbow Skittles and Twizzlers,  rainbow fruit, and the Super Epic Rainbow Cake I made myself thanks to Whisk Kid. I made the loot bags myself: personalized vinyl pouches, coloring book with pictures of Otto's favorite characters, crayons, and of course, some rainbow Skittles!

 

On Otto's actual birth day, we spent some time at Gramma and Grandpa's, where they gave him his gifts. The best gift in Otto's eyes is the dinosaur quilt Gramma made for him. He LOVED it! As soon as he got over the shock of how awesome it is, he immediately started pointing at each of the dinosaurs, naming them by name, "That one triceratops. That one a brachiasaurus. That one T-Rex. That one stegasaurus!" He was over the moon! Then Gramma and Grandpa took us all out for ice cream and the cousins all played in the playland.

When Pappy got home for the weekend, he brought one more gift for Otto - a balance bike, which Otto just loves!

 

Happy Birthday, Otto!

Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday, Lucky Me

I'm so behind! I've been busy and not busy, sick and not sick. Did everyone catch that awful stomach flu last week? I knew about a dozen people who had it the same time I did. Nasty.

But on to more exciting things! Like, happy one year anniversary to Andy and I! Andy planned the day and all along I assumed we were going to Banff. He first took me out to Black Diamond for breakfast at the Barn (A favorite for us. I wanted to take a picture of the pancakes - they were huge! - but I forgot my camera in the car). Then we followed hwy 22 up to the 22X or Spruce Meadows Trail. I thought we'd head straight for Banff, but instead turned into Calgary. I was confused and Andy would not tell me where we were going. Then when we turned into Deerfoot Meadows or Run or whatever that place is called (with the IKEA) I joked that he was so nice to take me to IKEA even though I know he hates to go there. Well, we didn't go to IKEA. Instead, Andy said to me, "I want you to have your camera today. We don't have to wait until Christmas!" So, we got the Canon Digital Rebel Xsi!!!!! Wooooo! This is the LUCKY ME part!

So, we've both been playing around a bit and figuring things out with this new camera. So fun and exciting! I love my Andy for giving me a surprise like this! Oh yes, and my present to him was a mini album comprised of pictures and text from our dating life - things that we both had written in our dating journals!

Next, was Andy's birthday! Yay! Happy Birthday Andy! It was games at the church with a potluck supper. The highlight of the evening was opening and playing with Paul's present to Andy. Uh... we're not really sure where Paul scored this beauty, but the guys sure had fun rolling around in it! We kept joking that maybe Paul nicked it from the Rotary Club? Anyway, I'm glad you had a good time Andy!

Medieval Fair - Paul's Birthday Bash

Yes, I know it has been awhile and now I'm playing catch up. Starting with this fabulous Saturday that Andy and I spent at Paul's farm near Millarville.
Paul organized this entire event for his own birthday and it was amazing! Almost everyone showed up dressed in Medieval costume, and the games were amazing! He even had performers come to do flame-eating and belly-dancing. The man of the day was our King Paul, who was dressed to the hilt! Andy was so proud of his own costume. Paul had even made two "horses" for jousting.






















There was jousting, axe throwing, spear throwing, and eating without utensils (I think that was Paul's favorite part)!