All-American Birthday Bash

We celebrated Eli's 1st Birthday a week early with an All American Birthday Boy bash this past weekend.  We had a wonderful time with a house full of people, upwards of 50, and lots of decorations, love, and birthday wishes for our little guy.  It felt so great to have our home filled with so many people, so many friends and so many family members.

I still can not believe that he is going to be a year old in just a few days, this year has without a doubt flown by faster than any other year in my life.  More on our one-year-old next week, for now, just pictures from the party.

Decorating for the party! Nice to have such tall family members to help!

Uncle Blake and Eli goofing off with the noodle.

Uncle Blake and Eli.

Uncle Blake and Eli.

Papa D and Eli eating goldfish.

Uncle Blake arriving with the balloons. And Papaw Kitties, too!

Bug playing under the table while we were slaving away!

Payton and my dad making Eli his birthday hat. You would

have thought they were doing surgery with all of the

measurements and time they put into that thing!

The food table!

The cake was amazing!

Fruit kabobs.

Rocket dogs.

Fans for the warm weather!

Thank you so much to a dear friend, Elisabeth,

who made Eli's cake. It was definitely a highlight of the party!

Eli loved the cake!

Mommy with the birthday boy, cake time!

Eli and his girlfriend, JS (and Jane's mommy Julie).

Perfect picture for the day! "Vote for Eli", our little walker!

He is officially a "walker", walking up to 10 steps at a time,

pivoting, and only crawling when he must get somewhere fast!

Uncle Blake and Cousin Ashley with Eli.

Eli and Uncle Blake.

Papa (Eli's great-grandfather)

Payton and I stole some time for one of

our first pictures together in a long time!

My mom and Aunt Becky.

Lori, me, and Erin.

Eli with the kids on the slip and slide.

My Aunt Becky and Lori.

Eli's Granny and Papa (great-grandparents) 

came all the way from Tyler!

Payton's sister, Lesley, and sweet little Emily.

Missy came with her kids.  You've heard me mention

Missy a lot in my blog, she watches Eli every day while

we go to work.  She is very special to us and Eli. 

He loves his Missy, and couldn't keep his hands off of her...

So excited that Julie, Jane, and Spencer could make it!

Eli's Meme, Cousin Emily, and Aunt Lesley,

came all the way from Houston!

Photo booth with the kids (Payton and I with our niece and nephews and Eli)

More photo booth fun.

Photo fun with Payton's mom and sister and all the kids.

My brother, mom, and dad and our little family.

Getting cleaned up with Papa D after the party.

We sent these balloons off after everyone arrived for

what would have been my Nanna's 75th Birthday.

She passed away a few years ago from cancer, but she

is in our hearts every day, and a great way to end

a perfect day, honoring her memory.

A huge thanks to my mom and brother who came to Austin the day before the party to help do final decorations.  My mom also spent all day Friday cleaning our house on her hands and knees which was a huge help!  And my dad, who helped pick up last minute things on Saturday, and do some yardwork so the house would look nice.  And thank you to Meme for providing the big outdoor fans, they were a lifesaver! 

And thank you everyone who took time out of their weekend to help us celebrate our little boy.  He is so incredibly blessed to have all of you in his life, you all who love and dote on him day in and day out.  I remember looking around the party at one point, taking in all of the people who come from all different areas of our lives...college friends, neighborhood friends, family, and family friends; relationships that Payton, Eli, and I have made along the way, who gathered together to help us celebrate our blessing.  Here's to many more years, and many more amazing memories!