Oliver's 1st birthday party

Oliver’s first birthday was a success. I planned a family birthday party for him with a few family friends but they didn't show up. I forgive them though.

Let’s see if I can remember everything. I started planning for his birthday a month before. I wanted to do it on a Tuesday so his Aunt Lara could come because that is one of her days off. We had the party on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. I made the invitations and hand delivered them to those invited.

The theme for Oliver’s party was, Where the Wild Things Are, based off the book. I ordered a Max costume for him to wear to the party (and for Halloween). I also ordered the book from Amazon. The people that were there signed it and wrote little messages about him. I think mine was longer than anyone else’s but that is because I am his mother. B (Quentin’s mom) read the book out loud to start the party off.

We then made monsters or wild things. I supplied brown paper bags, feathers, googly eyes, cut up construction paper, scissors, glue, glitter, and pompoms. It was a blast. I had fun. I think Oliver fell asleep during this part. After we were done making our wild things we had to wait for him to wake up so we could have cake and ice-cream and open presents.

His cousin, Maya, kept coming up to me asking when is Oliver going to wake up. I told her that he will wake up when he is ready. She then told me and other people that we should wake up Oliver because she wanted ice-cream. She is a character. Maya made loud noises and eventually woke up Oliver. So he got a half hour nap and for you moms out there you know the rest of your day is ruined because of that short nap. He didn't take another nap that day and was up and down the walls.

Anyway, he woke up and we sang happy birthday and his cousins, Chase and Maya, helped him blow out the candles. I made a gluten free cake. On Pinterest I saw people layering different shades of a color of cake on top of each other. I thought to myself, yeah I can do that. And guess what?! I did it perfectly and the people at the party were amazed with my skills. So the gluten free cake was different shades of green. B made a regular cake for the non-Celiac people. Oliver sat in his booster chair and was presented cake. I was expecting him to dive into like every other baby I've seen. Nope, not him, he sucked on his cake for a long while. He eventually realized that he could bite it and chew this new food. He only had one piece but that was enough to give him a sugar high.

After cake and ice-cream we opened presents. He needed some help opening them. On the last present he got the hang of it. He wanted to unwrap more presents but there were no more. He received a lot of presents. I must say that he is a spoiled one but I think I am okay with that because he is my first.

After the party I started to clean up the decorations that Quentin and I put so much hard work and energy into. His mom came up to me and said that I could leave them there and she will take care of it. I was glad because I really didn't want to clean up.

We came home and played with all his new toys. He enjoyed them much and is still enjoying them. I can’t believe that I survived a year of parenthood. I am glad that I did and I am looking forward to many more. Oliver is such a good kid. He is quite, loves to play with people. He is sweet, loving, sometimes gentle (he can be gently when he wants to be), and he is such a joy to be around. Whenever he gets in trouble I have to put my upset face on. It doesn't last long because his innocent face just melts my soul and I can’t help but smile at how adorable he is. He really is a gift from my Heavenly Father and I try to take care of him. I feel there are days where I am not doing so well and I beat myself up that I can do better. I then look at Oliver who is looking back at me and he gives me this big cheesy smile. He melts all my problems away with that face. I am reminded of how things are put into perspective when I look at him. Things don’t matter, moments do. I have realized that I am not really living life; I am just recording it so I can remember it later. I have learned to put the camera down and spend time with my little man because that is building a memory and I enjoy that much more. Kids teach us life lessons that we didn't know we needed to learn. I am grateful that I have Oliver in my life. He truly is a blessing.

Here are some pictures from his awesome day:

Here is my little wild thing.

This is his Aunt Lara rockin' out her wild side.

Quentin and I made all of the decorations.

This is B starting the party off by reading us, Where the Wild Things Are.

Oliver got distracted by the coloring pages.

And then her voice got animated and loud and that got O's attention.

Making monsters.

It is something else holding a sleeping baby in your arms.

O is sucking on his cake.

Opening presents.

He liked the wrapping paper more.

My 23rd Birthday

I know that I am super behind on catching up but I have my reasons. I have been preparing a New Beginnings for the Young Women’s program. I have also been preparing our Branch’s first Enrichment night. I know it isn't called that anymore but I didn't know what else to call it for you guys to know what I was talking about. The lady in charge has decided to name it, Midweek meeting for the Relief Society. I think it is long. My family and I have been sick on and off and it is miserable.

So in December I had my 23^rd birthday. It was really fun. I mean like the best birthday EVER! I woke up to a note on my bedroom door. The door was closed by the way and we don’t close it. I was surprised to wake up with the door closed. I got out of bed to see what the note said and it read, “DO NOT OPEN DOOR. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”. I laughed and knew          Quentin was decorating the house. I got dressed and just sat on my bed waiting. I sent a message to Quentin telling him I was awake and that I needed to pee. He told me to hold on a minute. I did. Then he said it was okay for me to come out.

I was in for a surprise. I opened the door and there was a wall of crape paper and balloons. I had to pee really badly and so I ran through that massive wall and found Quentin on the other side with his brand new camera videotaping me.  He turned it off and I went and relieved myself. I came out of the bathroom and he was there waiting for me. He told me to walk down the hallway. Okay? I walked down a little ways and found a sparkling crown hanging from the ceiling. I took it off it’s’ string and placed it on my head. I looked at him and he told me to continue walking. Okay… I could see at the end of the hallway there were different colored crape papers hanging down for me to walk through. I walked through them and then BAM! “SURPRISE!”

-WHAT!? PEOPLE ARE HERE AND THEY SEE ME IN MY PAJAMAS?! QUENTIN YOU ARE DEAD! -

And then my father-in-law presented breakfast to me which was waffles (my favorite) with Cool Whip and strawberries on it. There were candles that spelled out “Happy Birthday”. I thought that was neat. They sang me the Happy Birthday song and all was done. I got to sit down and eat my loverly breakfast with family around me.

After that I was forced to sit down and open presents. I remember that I got awesome soft and warm slippers from my sister-in-law, Merritt. I got soaps from my brother-in-law, Nathan which he made and they are amazing.  If you guys want home-made soaps he is the guy to go to.  I got some notes from my niece, Maya. And some yummy raspberry and rosemary jam from my sister-in-law, Ivy. Oh and I got a kiss on the forehead from my mother-in-law which was special. And the best hug from my adorable son. He had so much fun playing with the balloons which we just got rid of last week. I never knew balloons could last so long.

Then when everyone was done talking to each other and some people had to go to work I got to take a nap along with my husband, son, and two sister-in-laws, Ivy and Merritt.  When we woke up Quentin told me to get ready because we were going to go somewhere nice.

We all got ready, hopped in the car and enjoyed a long hour ride to, wait for it, SANTA’S VILLAGE! Oh my gosh guys, I love this place so much and to be there on my birthday was double the fun. We didn't know it was going to be freezing though so that part wasn't fun. But oh I had a blast. That was Oliver’s first time there and I can’t wait for him to go again. They had a light show which was spectacular. I got to ride bumper cars, eat lots of yummy foods, stand under a heat pole thing, go on a train ride, feed reindeer, and buy some souvenirs.

We dropped off Ivy and Merritt at mom’s place and then drove back to our house which I was looking forward to. Nothing is better than coming home to a warm bed. 

We arrived home. I turned the lights on in the living room and the kitchen, dropped our bags down onto the couch, and then went to go use the bathroom. I walk to Oliver’s room because that was where daddy was getting him ready for bedtime. I walk into the room and the most beautiful rocking chair sat there. Oh I was so happy I think I got teary eyed. I remember telling Quentin that I would like a rocking chair but I didn’t think he was paying that close attention to what I was saying. Ladies learn this, when you think he isn’t listening, HE IS! That rocking chair was the best birthday present I have ever received (that I can think of).

That was the best birthday ever people. I love my husband and the things he does to keep me on my toes. I am so blessed that he is mine.

Here are some pictures from that day:

Look at that beautiful crown.

Here is Merritt putting up the wall of balloons.

TADA!

Boom

Oliver loved walking through the balloons. Those balloons lasted till Valentine's Day.

I crowned myself.

Beautiful isn't it?

Here is Oliver and me being sleepy. Quentin told me they woke up at 5:30.

Opening presents.

Merritt inspecting the soap.

The Royal wave. Yeah, I got it down.

Quentin is holding up the ceiling with his super strong neck muscles.

Oliver loved being around his Auntie Merritt.

Such a cutie pie!

Smile!

I'm in love with this little boy.

This is from the light show they had. The other pictures are blurring.