Anderson's Birthday Party

In the middle of July, 

in the middle of Charlotte, 

in the middle of two CONCACAF Gold-Cup soccer games, 

among 60,000 soccer fans, 

we celebrated Anderson's second birthday with some of our favorites.  

They battled the crowds and the heat, 

drove around for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot 

and came to eat cupcakes and hatch dinosaur eggs with us.  

We were so blessed by their presence. 

Anderson had no clue that the party was all about him.  

He was content to survey the scene with Goldfish and grapes 

while big friends and 'baby' friends played around him.  

He did love the cupcakes and enjoyed hearing and singing 

his favorite song, "Happy Birt-day!" 

And hopefully he felt celebrated and loved.

 His safe, happy place.

Waiting for his dinosaur egg to hatch.  

There were 32 of these ice eggs! 

They were a big hit, but the big kids were not patient enough 

to let the heat or water melt them to reveal the dinosaurs 

and took to smashing them on the ground.

 Birthday Boy surrounded by friends

Thoroughly enjoying his cupcake

 The perfect present from the Millers

Sweetness

Party Prep

Posing in front of the movie posters that Daddy drew

for Alekzander's Planes: Fire & Rescue viewing party.

The party plan :: 

Invite 13 TK classmates for an after-dinner, drop-off, movie-viewing, 

pajama-wearing, lovey-toting birthday party on a Friday night.

Simple refreshments.  Zero decorations.  Toys/distractions hidden.

Easy and fun.

We followed through with the Planes theme with a few special, early birthday presents

{Planes: Fire & Rescue movie, Planes sleeping bag, Planes: Fire & Rescue pajamas}

and had to test out the goods and the projector before Alekzander's friends arrived.

Brother had to be in on the pre-party action too.

CW Octoberfest

I described our life today as crazy, but rich.

Our hearts {and arms} are full,

and our feet are tired.

With 'free reign' at our neighborhood

Octoberfest, we had to divide and conquer.

Anderson stuck close to Daddy 

and followed the stein around,

and I followed Alekzander around from 

bounce house to bounce house.

Later after the sun went down,

Anderson methodically put bean bags 

in and out of a game board.

Luckily everyone wore themselves out

and slept soundly all night long!

Bounce house fun 

The Cost of Celebrating

The after effects of celebrating, eating cake, and playing on the playground.

Sweet Anderson took a deep snooze after the party ...

clutching two of his balloons during his entire nap in the car

{while we drove out to see ATB's and Uncle Ryan's land}.

He also napped for a solid three hours during his first nap on Sunday!

Hopefully he's gearing up for an exciting first birthday week

with more celebrations to come!

Balloon to Heaven

Never far from our thoughts, 

we remembered Maddie and released a balloon 

in her honor after Anderson's birthday party.

We asked for donations to The Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund 

in lieu of gifts for Anderson.  

We are so blessed with so much stuff, 

we'd love to pass along a little blessing to others.

Maddie's mom wears an awesome "WWMD" bracelet; 

and her dad always challenges others with the phrase

What would Maddie do? 

I think this is something she would do, 

and I want my boys to want to do the same.

Donations can be sent directly to Charlotte Country Day School 

in Charlotte, NC or delivered to us.

Checks can be made out to CCDS and earmarked with 
"Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund" 

or can be made out to "The Maddie Rucker Scholarship Fund."

{A tax receipt will be sent for your records.}

Goodbye balloon.  We miss you Maddie.

Hoping our balloon made it up to Heaven!

Party People

Taking too few pictures is never a problem for us.

Taking pictures versus being in the moment is, however, a challenge for me.

Yesterday I attempted to be in the moment 

and have "many mini" conversations as I explained to my brother-in-law.  

As such, only a few of my apparent favorites made the photo cut!

We are thankful to all of our family and friends {pictured or not}

who came out on a 92 degree day to celebrate our little one turning one.

Mia, Gruffalo, and {movie star} ATB.

Some friends :: Xander, Sullivan, Blake, Ellie, & Cannon

Go, Anderson. Go!

Go, Dog. Go! is a favorite book in our house,

especially over the course of the last two months

as the theme overtook my thoughts and waking hours.

{Nothing says love more than staying up until 2 a.m. with your husband

making birthday desserts and decorations for a one year old's party!

Party planning is one of my favorite things to do, 

so even though we pulled some late nights, it was so much fun.}

Luckily Anderson is also slightly obsessed with Go, Dog. Go! too.  

He got his plush toy over a month ago, and it is probably his favorite toy to snuggle!

We've been excited to share a copy of the book and the stuffed dogs with our friends.

{Spoiler alert ::  The dogs go to a dog party at the top of a tree at the end of the book!}

Anderson got to smash a giant banana bread cupcake 'tree' after everyone sang to him.

Party guests got to eat stoplight brownies and  Ree's Marshmallow Crispy Treats.

 Cake eating is serious business.  

Not really sure about the green frosting, 

but even as tentative as he was, it ended up in his ears and hair

as it should on one's first birthday!

Big brother requested a special birthday parade.

We walked, rolled, rode, and scooted.

How would you go?!

{Adorable shirt made by a sweet friend!}

Playing DJ in his new, red, Cozy Coupe ride.

Hands on the wheel, big guy!

 Finally playing on the playground with a cute buddy!

 

 Go, Anderson. Go!

We love you so much.

One will be so much fun

with you on the go!