(An Arrested Development) First Birthday!!!!!

 During the hundreds of months I was pregnant with Dutch, I discovered the long-ago cancelled TV series Arrested Development. Netflix had all episodes of the first three seasons and while on bedrest, I watched each and every one, laughing my face off.

After Dutch was born, I found myself up very late at night nursing and snuggling one very sweet little man. With nothing much to do, I rewatched all three seasons.

It soon became a favorite to both Dutch and I (Cam  had already been a fan). Eventually, Clementine even got in on the A.D. action (as long as it was pre-"loose seal"/hook hand).

 So it was only fitting that we chose an Arrested Development Birthday party for our little man.

 Our cake was an homage to the Bluth's banners,

 the foods tied into the characters (we had Gene Parmesean dip, Uncle Oscar's brownie's, Ann's "Fancy" Eggs, Corn balls, Candy Beans and Lindsay's Ham Water--which was punch that really did look like ham water).

 There were so many kids here it felt like a mini daycare. It was fun and loud and there were toys everywhere. In other words, it was perfect.

 Out of no where, Dutch did this! Several times! What a ham.

 Then it was cake time and I wasn't sure how Dutch would respond to his first ever taste of baked goodness.

 Well, he responded like this.

 And this.

 Then there was this.

 Which of course, led to this.

 (I got smart and changed out of my white skirt real quick. I took Dutchy back to change his diaper and find new clothes. While I changed him, he sneezed a double compacted nostril full of frosting. It was hilarious.)

Ski to Sea Parade

 The Ski to Sea parade is old news to Clem, but a big first for our boy Dutch. Also monumental for our boy--the last ride in the Moby wrap. :( (mama is sad to retire the wrap that BOTH of my babies rode in the first year of each ones' life!)

 We found the perfect spot to enjoy the parade. The weather was a bit on and off so we were thankful to find a covered spot, away from the drizzles that kept starting up. We set up camp with blankets, chairs and a bottle for the wee man.

 Clem watched from the sidelines.

 And pretended to march along with the marching bands.

 And then the fire engines came by in procession. Blaring their horns and sirens.

 Dutchy was not amused. Cam tried covering his sweet little elf ears to no avail. In moments, he was HOWLING. But he calmed down pretty easily in mama's arms as we went for a short walk away from the fire engines.

 The biggest hit of the day had to be these three camels.

 Maximum Clementine excitement.

 Then the rest of the parade continued as we're used to. The Shriner guys came by in little tiny cars.

 There were some dance teams

 and marching bands (our favorite!)

Plus this cool spinny hoop thing that a group was doing as they marched along.
A fun day was had by all four of us.

Today I took my babes to one of our favorite parks in town. This was Dutchy's very first trip to the park where he could partake. He L.O.V.E.D. it.

 

 

 And somehow he grew up right before my very eyes.

 

 And this girl schemed and built the afternoon away. She built a trap, explored a hollowed out stump and went "fishing" in the creek using a branch and a variety of leaves to attract fish.

 

And this is why I work half time.

Spring Performance

 

 

Last night Little Miss had her annual Spring Performance. (Here's last year's pictures of the May Performance). We took a few pictures in front of our (nonblooming) lilac tree before heading out.

 And a couple in front of the rhodies at the performance site.  My beautiful girl.

 Dutch was held captive by the music the kids sang. Clem's class performed a few songs including This Land is Your Land, This Land is my Land; The Crawdad Song and I've Been Working on the Railroad. They also did a few songs in Spanish but by then our girl was mostly done singing and was spending most of the time on stage waving and telling her neighbors who was in the audience to see her.

 When the singing was through, Clem came back to us in the crowd. In keeping with tradition, she started borrowing everyone's camera's to capture her own memories (after the preschooler's performance, the older kids took the stage to sing, play instruments, etc.).

 At this point, Dutch had no horse in the race so he gave up on listening quietly. Cam took him to the quiet room which was located right behind our row. Cathy soon joined him. I love the picture Clem got of those two in the room with Dutch and the reflection of Clem and I outside the room laughing.

 

Mother's Day '13

 Mother's Day this year was spent down at my aunt Carolyn's house in Lakewood. Her backyard just happened to be the spot where my nephew Nolan learned to walk. Her living room the place where Dutch learned to crawl (on Christmas!). We had high hopes and expectations that Dutchy would actually take his first steps in her beautiful yard this year, but that was not in the cards for us. However, we DID get some beautiful pictures with the kiddos!

 My beautiful girl could not get enough of this wicker swing in the backyard!

 

My handsome boy couldn't get enough of the soft green grass between his fingers! 

 The baby boy cousins got a turn in the swing, too.

 Baby FREAK OUT!

 

Miles tried and tried to eat the singular tuft of hair on Dutch's head. It was pretty funny watching Dutch semi-tolerate it. 

Then Dutchy and I chilled on the bench while he tugged on green leaves, tasted the wooden back of the bench and my sister click click clicked away.
(There are still LOTS more pictures to share but I'm saving some for Dutch's one year birthday here in a few!)
THANKS SISSY!!