Gage's first Birthday PARTY!!!

Yesterday was Gage's first birthday! I can hardly believe that he is ALREADY a year old. It seems like just yesterday he was a six pound baby!! We didn't have a party because today was better for every one's schedules and a little easier for me time wise. None the less, the boys still had a blast playing and Kayden loved singing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GAGE" all day long, BOTH days!!

This morning after i got the boys dressed in their birthday finest, i had them get together for a picture and i got so lucky! I took the best picture of the monsters together looking so handsome!!

The monsters looking EXTRA handsome!!

I had a lot of running around to do before Gage's party, which was scheduled for 4' o'clock. I went to a lot of stores in town and got all of our b-day supplies and the ingredients for the wonderful cake recipe that Teddie gave me!! When i got home with all the stuff Gage was very excited! He absolutely loved his "Happy Birthday" Balloons! He smacked them around and squealed with delight! It was so cute!

Gage playing with his "happy birthday" balloon before his b-day party

Gage was not very fond of his birthday boy hat, but Kesha tried anyways!!

There was a lot of preparation before the party but it went very well. Most of our friends came to see Gage and wish him a happy first birthday. Auntie Kinny, Auntie Amber, Grama Lisa, Auntie Ash, Auntie Jenny, Brian, Alex, Kesha and Anthony all came. Ashley brought Aiden and Lauryn and all the kids had a blast playing with all the toys, as well as the new presents that Gage received.

Brian watching as Ash, Lauryn, Kayden, and Aiden played together after gift opening.

Lauryn and Kayden playing at the table after snack time (lauryn and her adorable crazy face!!)

Auntie Jenny helping Gage (in his birthday champ pin) drink his juice box.

Gage and Aiden playing with a ball from Gage's new helicopter!

Gage was so tired (since he decided not to take an afternoon nap) that he was glassy eyed and sort of cranky by the time present opening came around. We all helped him open his gifts, while he was most interested in rocking back and forth in the new little homemade rocking chair that Brian brought him!! It was the cutest thing to watch, he was having such a blast!

Gage loving his new rocking chair from Brian!

Gage opening presents sitting in his new rocking chair!!

Gage enjoying his new farm blocks that Auntie Kinny got him (almost ready for cake time, with just a onesie on. Nice and clean, no more laundry for the momma)

The best part of the day was singing "Happy Birthday" and blowing out the candles. Unfortunately i didn't get to make the cake recipe that Teddie gave me due to time, but Auntie Kinny bought Gage a "Kung-Fu Panda" cake that Kayden picked out so it still worked out well. Gage was beyond tired at this point, so he literally lounged in his highchair and grinned goofily while we all sang "happy birthday" to him. He didn't even attempt to touch the cake or the candles.

Gage grinning at everyone as we sang "happy birthday"

The "Kung-Fu Panda cake" that big brother Kayden picked out.

He barely even touched his cake at first because he was so tuckered out. He lounged for a while with his lil' footsies up on his highchair table and poked at the cake. I spoon fed him one bite and that was all it took to give him another wind. After that it was "all hands in cake". He loved every minute of it and got very messy but it was so worth it to see how happy he was!!

Gage lounging in the highchair, not quite sure if he has enough energy for this cake business

Gage with a little taste of frosting.. but not quite enough sugar to get him up and running

Hmmmm.... maybe this cake thing is not so bad after all.....

More please momma... i think i like it :)

Oh yeah!!! Now he is digging in!!!

MMMMM.... This cake sure is good!! And i seem to have a sudden burst of energy!!

Gage shoveling some cake in... sugar buzz slowly starting!!

Cake is my favorite momma.. yum yum!!

After Gage picked apart his cake and got some energy back, Pete gave him a bath to find our child under the frosting and Gage had a little wind left in him to play with his friends and bid everyone good bye for the night.

Gage and Kayden playing with Gage's new puzzle after his "cake bath", ALL CLEAN!!

The "goodbye slow dance"!! They were so cute dancing and wrestling together, they both really enjoy playing with one another and both Lauryn and Kayden have amazing imaginations!

After all was said and all the cake eating was done, it was a very good first birthday. Everyone had a good time. Gage enjoyed all of his presents and loved playing with his new toys, even big brother got a few presents and got to play with his "girlfriend" Lauryn. Hopefully next year we will somehow be able to have Gage's birthday with ALL of our family and friends.

<3

Gage's first Christmas

Gage's first Christmas was a very good one, all except for Grandpa Hoot not being here, most of my family and our friends got to see him. It would have been even better if everyone in Rhode Island had been here too but unfortunately that wasn't possible.

Gage was very curious about all of his gifts and had a blast handing Me and Pete tiny scraps of wrapping paper from all of his gifts! Grandma Donna, Auntie Jeni, Uncle Dan, Auntie Kinny, and cousins Olivia, Anakin, and Odin were all here to help with the present opening as well!

It was a good time. Such a good time in fact that Gage had to take a nap in between present sets, thus the sweet outfit change into his patriots jersey :)!!

Gage's first Halloween

My Adorable lil' Chili Pepper!!

Here is for all the Rhode Islanders and all of our family and friends who weren't here in Marquette to see Gage for Halloween. I know that these are old pictures, but seeing as we just started the blog, i am going to post the old pictures as well as the new! :)

For Halloween Gage was a Chili Pepper. The costume was so cute and i was sure that it would fit when i bought it, but come Halloween, we had to squeeze Gage into it!! None the less, it was still an adorable costume!! He was nice and Cozy at the Coast Guard Halloween party and everyone loved him (as usual)!!

I did it!!!

So, Teddie just told me how to start our blog!! I am so Excited! Now all of our family and friends can see what the monsters are up to and look at our pictures without us having to e-mail 900 people!!

I had such a blast watching the boys play together yesterday! Kayden is such a good big brother and Gage loves to play with him!! Gage recently learned how to crawl up on the couch himself, so now he crawls up by Kayden and dives onto him, laughing hysterically the entire time! Anyone that sees them together cannot help but smile! These are some of my absolute favorite pictures!

The two boogers together!

I have no idea how they have SOOO much energy in the morning!!

Now that i have figured this whole blog thing out a little better, i have decided to add a few more pictures. The monsters are absolutely amused with one another and it is totally cute. Gage laughs at the tiniest things that Kayden does and Kayden adores it now that Gage says "bahda" a.k.a brother.. as i have so motherly interpreted it <3>

Gage is walking now and he seemed to get the idea that he is a pro somehow. He tries to sneak up on Kayden and charge him but it doesnt always work out that way. Kayden is bigger and a LITTLE bit more coordinated!! Just a few days ago Gage leapt at Kayden and Kayden dodged it so that Gage fell right on his face. I gasped but it turns out that as long as his big brother is involved, its all fun and games! He laughed his lil' butt off and continued to play! It makes me so proud to see the two of them loving each other and having fun!