The Actual Birthday

So, here is Liam actually turning one year old:

He's facing forward in his carseat!

I'm am now so totally distracted by his dancing and singing and playing, and especially his attempts to snap to the music like I do! I wonder if he was doing these things while facing backwards...

It is family tradition to celebrate our birthdays like the Japanese do, at Shogun! So we're starting now and I plan on getting at least 18 pictures of Liam with a pineapple boat.

First chopstick use.

His sweater vest is off the hook!

He's thinking "What are those silly folks singing? Itchy Itchy?"

This is just an example of one of Liam's favorite activities: carrying around unwieldy objects.

Yay for making it through the year!

The Party of the Year

I'm finally posting Liam's birthday party pics!!!

(It was really his due date party since it was held 11 days before his actual birthday)

I had a loose cowboy theme going. When I say loose, these were my only decorations:

Liam's footwear,

Liam's leisure suit,

these two cowboy hats,

and Woody.

That's it!

Singing "Happy Birthday" to the honoree:

Time to eat!

"Ugh...maybe that was a bad idea..."

Cleaning up the chocolatey goodness:

Opening gifts:

I got him a trailer to pull behind my bike. As of this post, it is still in the box. I'll let yall know how it goes whenever it goes...

Party People:

Sarah Grace and Margaret.

Henry.

Tom, Harv, and Margaret again.

Old friends: Leslie, Sandra, and Janet.

Liam with cousins Henry and Madeline. (I LOVE that Maddie has her foam sword sheathed in her shorts!!!)

Two Margarets.

Liam with Mimi and SG.

And with Hannah and Dominick.

Now, the highlight of my day was Liam's foray into the water fountain. He had no fear!

So much fun!!! What an awesome one year old!

Liam's First Pool

...it might have been Sarah Grace's first pool, too?

Anywho, here are the babies:

I'm so excited for the friends they will be!!!

SG had a better attitude than Liam. Liam was doing that "I have nothing to say about this" thing.

Mimi teaching Madeline to swim. She's really starting to get the hang of it!

Getting lined up...

..and CHEESE!

(Why I didn't wear my contacts is beyond me.)

Mothers Day at Superior Bar & Grill

We seem to do a lot of celebrating at Superior.

Mothers and their children:

Me and Liam, of course.

Elizabeth and Sarah Grace.

Bekah and Margaret.

Mom and Bekah.

Once again, it was group photo madness:

There's lots to love about this pic: Tom convincing Henry to play nice, Madeline's sweet smile, Mom's fingers interlaced with SG's, and Liam and Harvey sharing the same expression!

Then SG attacked Liam!

This is probably the best one I got. Ahh, family!

Sarah Grace's First Birthday

So, continuing to catch up...Sarah Grace (my sister Elizabeth's youngest--soon to be middle--child) turned ONE!!!! That was a few months ago now, but it is still worth posting for posterity.

I, unfortunately didn't get an "after" pic, but--regardless of what her skeptical face says--SG loved her cake to death! Literally!

Cousins to date. I don't know how Rebekah manages to get great pics of all the Louis cousins, but these kids are loathe to coorperate!

Cousins with Grandmother Lagersen. Another difficult photo op...

Liam playing patty-cake with his great-grandmother/roommate.