{a party for the lil man}

We celebrated Layne's birthday Sunday evening with family and a few friends. What started out to be a "circus" themed party turned into more of a "movie-theater" themed party, or so Matt informed me. I'm really not sure till it was all said and done that the party had any theme at all, but it sure was fun!

I had planned to do the celebrating outside on our patio... But it started to rain JUST as I was preparing to bring out the last of the food- AND snap pictures! So, there aren't any really good pictures of the props, in my opinion, but you can have a look and see for yourself.

Layne had a great time and behaved like any one-year-old does at their own party... A little confused about all the ta-do but happy for the attention... But I'm pretty sure Big Brother had the best time of all! We woke him (Miles) up from his nap once everyone got here (and he was STILL snoozing)... He sleepily marched outside and started playing. He had a very thrilled but dazed (and still a bit sleepy) look on his face... But he grabbed a toy and proceeded in the march/bike-riding/toy-pushing down the driveway sweetly greeting all of his friends and cousins...

Layne ate more popcorn than most adults would ever think about eating before the party actually even started... but what can I say- it was HIS party!! (And his Great Gramma was holding him- things like that are to be expected. And cherished.)

Let the party begin...

{i had just started putting the food/drink out... and it began to sprinkle...}

{lemonade with strawberry puree...}

{the elephants are really the only thing that made it "circus-y" in the end...}

{party is now INSIDE the dirty garage... if i had THOUGHT to have parties in the garage, i might have cleaned it out... *sigh. it did start a new brainstorm of how to restore this old thing we call the "garage" which is a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother time...}

 {more of the same...}

{dirty, embarrassing garage... but shelter from the rain for which i was thankful...}

{the older boys eating their movie-theater food...}

 {elliot doing what elliot does... chillin'... and being a cutie!}

{miles with gramma neenie the great- that has 2 meanings. she is great and she is the great gramma!}

{soon to be poked, picked, swatted, splattered, and squished...}

{momma, i really have no idea what to do with this...}

{but it COULD be potentially fun... Ooooh! and is that CANDY?!?!}

{this is really as bad as it got. he was mostly interested in picking the sixlets candy right off the top... fine by me, precious boy.}

{the proud parents.}

{and the worst thing about parties... cleaning up the mess.}