Griffin's First Birthday Party: The Cake!

He liked it.

Griffin's First Birthday Party: The Peeps

We had a lot of helpers the night before and the day off the party. It was so nice! My mom and sister helped prepare all of the food, and my dad ran all the last minute errands. 

Griff woke up way earlier than usual, so Daddy took him out for donuts and to the park! It worked out great - he came home, took a bath and got a nap in before the party. 

We had lots of guests! It was wonderful to see how many people love and support Griffin - I was overwhelmed with love the whole day!


Griff sitting with Dorpa. This is how I left them...when I turned around, Dorpa and Grandpa were deep in conversation, and Griffin was halfway up the stairs...

Aunt Brit and Hudson!

Nana and Super Aunt Rhonda working hard

Caterpillar Love

Mr. Roen Pilcher :)

He loves Uncle Natey!

Aaron came, too!

Laura and Chase 

Matt and Lindsay

Becca

Admiring his cake eating abilities

 Super Aunt Rhonda!

And...More to come!

Griffin's First Birthday Party

In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf. One Sunday morning the warm sun came out and - pop! - out of the egg came and tiny and very hungry caterpillar. He started to look for some food.    

On Monday he ate through one apple. But he was still hungry. On Tuesday he ate through two pears, but he was still hungry.

On Wednesday he ate through three plums, but he was still hungry. On Thursday he ate through four strawberries, but he was still hungry. Friday he ate through five oranges, but he was still hungry. 

On Saturday he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice cream cone, one pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami, one lollipop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cupcake, and one slice of watermelon. 

That night he had a stomach ache!

The next day was Sunday again. The caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf, and after that he felt much better.

Now he wasn't hungry anymore. And he wasn't a little caterpillar anymore. He was a big fat caterpillar. He built a small house, called a cocoon, around himself.

He stayed inside for more than two weeks.

Then he nibbled a hole the cocoon, pushed his way out and he was a beautiful butterfly.

More to come!

Preparing for the Hungry Caterpillar

Griffin turned ONE on May 18th. It really did fly by. One of his favorite books is The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The book has holes in the foods, and he likes to push his little chubby fingers through them. Through Pinterest and Pottery Barn Kids, I gathered ideas. I made tiny caterpillars to live in little mason jars. They had a paper leaf inside with all the info. I delivered what I could....and then shipped the rest. Turns out, it is pretty pricey to ship little caterpillars across the state and up to Oklahoma. 

My wonderful parents came to help celebrate! I was glad they came a few days early. We got to have Grandpa and his camera around, hence the bath time montage below :)

Gram got to snuggle him and read his stories to him before bedtime.

And then, A SURPRISE!

The Birds came for Griffin's birthday! Best surprise EVER.

May Flowers

May brought me my very first Mother's Day. Last year, Griffin arrived 10 days after Mother's Day - this year was much more fun, not to mention more comfortable.

Brian got up with Mr. Man (and then they came in to say hi - I promptly informed him that mothers were not to be disturbed and to leave) and when I got up, there were presents waiting for me. I got some lovely things, but this was by far my favorite:

After we got dressed, we decided more pictures should be taken so we didn't look like hobos.

I love that Brian took the time to go to Hobby Lobby and do this with Griffin....and somehow, without me knowing :)

I had this framed and now it hangs proudly in our home.

Easter 2012

We went up to Oklahoma for Easter this year. It is always a good time with the Merkley Family. For Easter 2012, Scott had prepared an Itinerary, much like unto a cruise ship....

Saturday morning's outing was Griff's favorite! We all piled into the Merkley's RV and headed over to POPS, a little landmark in Arcadia, OK. You too can see what POPS is all about here: route66.com

Griffin loved getting to ride in Daddy's lap and not in a carseat. He sat and looked around and out the window, and then would giggle.

POPS has every single kind soda, coke, specialty drinks, etc you could ever imagine. They also make milkshakes, malts, floats...so good. Griff got to try his first milkshake and I ordered him his very own Kid's Meal. Delicious!

Sunday brought lunch, pictures, and the annual Egg Hunt.

Griffin and Gavin

First Easter Basket!

Pictures with all the cousins...it went well.

Hunting eggs also went well!

In the words of Braddock Bird,

HEY PEASTER!