We had a "whaley" great time

We had a birthday bash for the boys on Saturday, 8/23/14. I wanted to make sure we did a birthday party for the big ONE year olds! We had a great turnout with family and friends and it was such a special day for all of us.

For the party, we did a whale theme featuring aqua blue, lime green and royal blue. Our "little squirts" just "whaley" had so much fun! Pun intended. Ha! Seriously though, Stokes had a few little moments when he would get overwhelmed by the crowd and bust out with a big cry, but he would get over it quickly. He didn't get much crawling time as he and his brothers were passed around and held for pretty much the whole party. Ryan was just an angel. So many people commented to me about how alert, happy, and sweet he was. It was noticeable to a lot of people how much different, and better, he is after he is off the ACTH. William, as always, was an absolute ham. He kept everyone laughing by smiling, squealing and laughing basically on cue. Everything turned out really well and I owe a big thank you to MaSha, Tara and Matt for staying with us and being really awesome worker bees!

The minor hiccup was that the weather on Saturday was super sunny and bright, which was great (despite the heat and humidity) considering we were planning for the party to be indoor/outdoor! Then right when the party was starting, and I mean literally right when it was starting, the sky totally opened up and we had a doozy rainstorm. Complete with sheets of rain and thunder. So, we were trapped inside. I'm not kidding when I tell you that the minute the party ended, that darn sun came right on out and started shining again. Oh, the irony. But you know, what are you gonna do?!?!  ;)

Here are some pictures from the whale bash!

Front door

Homemade wreath

The cake set-up

Food

Smoked Salmon Crackers

Crab Dip with Pita Chips and Carrots

Shrimp Cocktail

WATERmelon Fruit Salad (get it??? Water... :)

Table Centerpiece

Goldfish

Peanut Butter and JELLY-FISH sandwiches

Blue and Green Jell-O cups

The Food Table

 Party Favors

Included bubbles, a whale bath squirt,
a lollipop and some sour candy

Outside

The drink table which included
Bottled Water, Ocean Water (aka blue Kool-Aid),
Wine and Beer

Our nice outdoor set up

Toys for kids!

Cakes

Blueberry and Vanilla Swirl Sheet Cake

 

Smash Cakes

Party Time

 

Great Aunt Kathy and Stokes

William with Cousin Taylor

Ryan, Wendy and Aunt Ashley

"Aunties" Stephanie and Heather

I had to capture this moment. LOTS of rain.

Carole, Molly and Beth

Lindsey and Brooke

The Atwoods - Brady, Brent, Hayes and Catherine

Great Uncle Duncan, Nana #1, Stokes and Nana #2

Kathy and me

 Time for cakes!
Getting ready...(shirts off!)

 

One of his little "moments"

Lighting candles on smash cakes

"Happy birthday to you....."

 Time to make a wish!

Time to "smash"/try their cakes!

 

 

 

Immediately following smash cakes, we gave the babies a quick "sink bath", one by one, to wash the icing off.

MaSha and me washing Stokes

Steph and Daddy gave Ryan his bath

William got washed off by Aunt Tara and Stephanie

And the party goes on...

Stephanie and me

Aunt Tara and Ryan

Me, Stephanie, Wendy, Heather and Connie



Granddad Stokes, Shanghai and Great Uncle Duncan

Great Aunt Alison, Great Aunt Kathy,
Elizabeth and Mary Margaret

Great Aunt Fifi and Stokes

Some of the guys!

Some of the girls and kids!

Playroom Fun

Nana #1 and William

MaSha and Aunt Anne

We could finally go back outside after most of the guests left!
Uncle Matt, Great Uncle Duncan and Granddad Stokes

Stokes peeking outside

Heather and Walker

Great Uncle Richard, Ryan, and Nana #2

Elizabeth, Great Aunt Alison and Mary Margaret

Stokes, Great Granddad, William, Ryan and Gran-O

The present pile. They aren't spoiled! At all!
And no one loves them.

Gran-O, Ryan and Heather

Molly, Carole and MaSha

Molly displaying her blue tongue from the Ocean Water

Daddy with Cousin Leece

Granddad Stokes, Ryan, Stokes and William
(another Stokie "moment" of the day)

 

Peery Family! Happy birth-celebration day to our sweet babies!!!!

Whoa...photo overload! I just can't help it. I'm obsessed with these little guys and when every picture is so cute, it's too hard to pick just a few. Tomorrow is their official birthday. OMG!!!!