Nathan's Birthday Party

This post is really a long time coming. 
Nathan turned ONE this year.  When I look back there have been so many things that have happened to our family.  Nathan is such a bright spot in our family that we can't imagine life without him.

Nathan and Eliza blowing bubbles and waiting for the party to start.

Our Mellor cousins arrived and we got the party started!

Dallin, Hayden, Daniel and Bradley

Haylie, Grandpa and Nathan petting Lily

These two just love their Grandpa!

Daniel jumping over the slip n' slide.  

We put two slip n' slides end to end, but it didn't work very well.  

 Bradley

 Hayden

 Daniel

 Tyler illustrating why end to end doesn't work.  

The bottom of the first slide fills up with water making a very effective speed bump.

 Tyler

We decided it would be best to have them side by side so the kids could race.

Dallin and Daniel getting ready...

I think there was a false start so they had to try again.

Hayden and Bradley racing down.

I am sure there was a false start on this one!

Dallin decided to race Hayden...on foot.

Hayden and Daniel racing.

The kids had to lay on the cement to get warm.  They thought it was too cold.

Dallin and Tyler

Hayden

Haylie and Aunt Andrea

Haylie just loves Aunt Andrea

Nathan wanted to help with the water.

Eliza wasn't very happy by the afternoon.

She had been fevering on and off since we got to Grandma's house.

Lily bonding with Uncle Neldon

(He really does like dogs and the proof has now been documented!)

Haylie snuggling with her mom.

Nathan and Great Grandpa Marvin

We were glad that Grandpa was able to come down and join us for the party.

Once the kids were done with the water slide Uncle Neldie and I broke out the kites.

Getting the princess kite in the air.

I wanted to see how long it would take the kids to figure out we had them.  

It only took about 2 minutes!

Uncle Neldon racing around the get the turtle kite in the air.

Haylie was the first to come.

She did a very good job flying the kite.

Uncle Neldon helping Eliza

The Ninja Turtle kite (flown by Tyler) attacked the Princess kite (Flown by Eliza) and got all tangled!

It took Uncle Neldon a few minutes, but he got them loose and flying again.

Daniel claimed the Spider Man Kite.

Spider Man flying past Ole Glory.

Aunt Brenda and Haylie were trying to keep warm by sitting in the sun.  

We had to move Nathan out there too, so he would quite trying to eat rocks!

The kids moved the kite flying to the back yard.

Grandpa and Daniel seeing how high they could get the kite.

Tyler flew his from the tramp and got it pretty high.

The breeze was strong enough to get the flag waving.  

Bradley put the flag up almost every day when we first got here.  

Then we quit being responsible flag flier, so we quit putting it up every morning.

Once the kite flying was mostly over I got out the water guns!

Daniel, Kaleb and Haylie were the first to come over and try out the water guns.

Kaleb and Eliza

Eliza loves to shoot the water gun.  She got me pretty good a couple of times.

Daniel shooting Kaleb.

Kaleb thinking about shooting Grandpa.

Kaleb and Eliza decided to gang up on someone else.

Aunt Brenda joined in the fighting out of necessity!

The boys "accidentally" squirted her.

Eliza getting me.  She really wanted to shoot some one but she didn't want to be shot.

Daniel was ruthless!  I had to pick up a gun to defend myself!

Daniel and Kaleb ganging up on me.

Aunt Andrea helping the little ones refill.

Poor Tyler!  

All the kids chased him around the yard shooting him even though he didn't have a water gun.

 

During all the water violence, Aunt Andrea made some really nice bubbles.

Nathan really liked the bubbles.

Grandma and Haylie joined in on the bubble fun.

Uncle Neldon, Aunt Brenda and Nathan

When we started to get hungry we had Aunt Andrea and Grandma start making the kabobs.

Lookin' good ladies!

Nathan got too hungry, so we started him out on some banana.

Then Uncle Neldon gave him his first birthday present.

An empty can of Mt. Dew.

He was captivated for about 5 minutes.  He couldn't get enough of it.

Yes!  I am sure it was empty!

Uncle Neldon...need I say more?

Uncle Neldon helped Grandpa do the cooking.

Grandpa's new grill works very nicely!

Kabobs and hot dogs being modeled by Uncle Neldie.

The kabobs were super yummy.  I can't vouch for the hot dogs though. :0)

Time to sing and do candles!

Nathan was very excited about the candle.  

Aunt Brendie did a great job keeping him out of the flame.

"I really want some!"

Ummm...that is good stuff!

My plate is empty!

I need more...

I know you have more in there!

While everyone finished their pie we moved in to do some presents.

Nathan got a little remote from Grandma and Grandpa.  

Along with some clothes, but he was much more excited about the remote.

Oooooh!

Nice!

We had to do some pony rides before everyone left.

Haylie didn't want to get off!

Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane and Nathan took advantage of the fact that the kids were riding the horse to attack the kites.  They just love the tail!

This boy is way too excited!

Kaleb and Haylie

Hayden and Dallin

Nathan got a special call from his Dad for his birthday.

He was really excited to hear his dad's voice.  He just couldn't figure out how he got in the phone!

Kaleb and Bradley

The Birthday Boy's turn!

Tyler was a good sport to ride with Nathan so he wouldn't fall off.

 

One of Nathan's favorite thing to do is taste rocks!
He just can't help himself.  They just look so good!!

It was a fun evening and we are so glad the Andersons, Mellors and Great Grandpa M were able to join us!  Happy Birthday Nathan!
June 22, 2013