Happy Birthday Evan!

Today my baby boy turned one!  It is so hard to believe a year ago he was in the NICU and now he is celebrating his first birthday!  Yesterday we had the first of three parties with Grandma and Grandpa Roberts, Great Grandma Donna, Uncle Paul, Aunt Jana, Connor, Olivia, Uncle John, Aunt Sarah, Ada and Evie.  It was a great party and Evan got tons of awesome gifts, though he was more interested in the wrapping paper and ribbons then the toys!  Today we had a small celebration with just the four of us at home.  Unfortunately my camera is having some serious problems and almost all of my pictures turned out blurry!  I will post some more pictures from the party once I download my mom's pictures.  Until then, check out my sister-in-laws blog How Did This Happen, she has tons of great pictures from the party.

Evan is ready for his birthday party!

He was excited it was his first birthday!

Return Trip to the Salon

This time it was for Evan.  Evan was starting to sport the Justin Bieber hair-do, so we thought it was time for a cut.  Evan was excited to see the salon and all of the toys, but once the stylist sprayed his hair with water it was all over.  He was upset the rest of the time.  He really hated having his hair blow dried!  But the end result was so cute!  He no longer looks like my baby, now he looks like a little boy!

The before picture

Being tortured at the salon

The new big boy hair style!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the special women in our lives!  Thank you for all of your love and support throughout the years!  We love you and hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

A few of those special women;



My mom



Chris' mom



My Grandma, Donna



Chris' Grandma, Margaret

My sister-in-law, Jana

My sister-in-law, Sarah (celebrating her first Mother's Day!)

Easter Festivities

Easter weekend was filled with many fun and exciting activities.  On Friday we went to Grandma and Grandpa Roberts' to decorate eggs.  Saturday we went to Grandma and Grandpa Tribolet's hotel to swim.  Sunday morning we were visited by the Easter Bunny and went to church.  Sunday afternoon we had the everyone over for Easter dinner and the kids had an Easter egg hunt.

 

Evan watching the egg decorating

Creating a masterpiece



Such concentration



Enlisting the help of Grandma

Taking a dip in the pool

Marin loved trying to dunk everyone

Learning the back float



Evan and I watching the swimmers



Easter morning



The hunt for the eggs is on!



This looks like trouble



Uncle Paul helping Evan find his eggs



Having fun watching the big kids











A Trip to the Salon

We took Marin to the salon to get her hair cut for Easter.  Normally we take her to Great Clips, but the end result was never that great, maybe because she hates to sit still for more than 2 minutes!  So we took her to the Lollipop, a salon for kids.  It was a wonderful experience, the stylist was great and her hair looks adorable!

Getting her hair washed

She got to eat a lollipop and sit on the cool lion while getting her hair cut.

Bye-bye split ends!

Getting the royal treatment.

The result!

*The day Marin got her hair cut, it was rainy and windy.  When we left the salon Marin kept saying, "Is my hair getting ruined?" (I wonder where she possibly could have gotten that from!)

Breakfast with the Bunny

On Sunday we went to Reiman Gardens in Ames for an Easter Egg Hunt and Breakfast with the Easter Bunny.  It was a fun event and Marin absolutely loved the Easter Bunny!
 

Enjoying a sprinkle donut.

Marin getting her face painted.

The result; a flower in her favorite colors, pink and purple.

Evan was too busy watching everybody to eat his breakfast.

Decorating an Easter cookie.

Searching for eggs.



Marin was very happy with her loot.



Little Mr. Sunshine!

Marin and the big guy

Evan was not as fond of the Easter Bunny.

After the Egg Hunt we headed to the butterfly garden.  Marin was closely examining the butterflies.

Marin decided she liked the "dead" butterflies better, she was a little intimidated by all of the butterflies flying around her (as was I).
After the event we went to our favorite Ames restaurant, Hickory Park for lunch and ice cream sundaes.  Things did not go as well there, I think everyone was ready for a nap!

Visitors

Last week Uncle John, Aunt Sarah, Ada and Evie came to town.  We were very excited to see them.  Ada and Evie are 9 months old now and so much fun.  They both were showing off their new crawling skills for us as well as all of their teeth!  Evan enjoyed watching the girls, though we were hoping they would teach him how to crawl!
 

Ada

Evie

Evie, Evan and Ada

The Next Food Network Star

Last week while Marin and Chris were making preparations for my birthday, Marin insisted that they had to make me a cake.  So the night before my birthday I was banished from the kitchen while the two of them baked a cherry chip cake for me.  I was impressed by how well the two of them did, especially considering Chris had never baked a cake before, though the texture of the cake was a little strange.  Here are some pictures of my little chef in the making.

Buttering the pan 

Carefully pouring the batter into the pan

Making sure it all gets into the pan

Licking the spatula to test the batter (something I would never allow!)

Making sure the cake doesn't burn

Adding the perfect amount of frosting

Making sure the frosting tastes okay (Chris said she ate more frosting than she put on the cake!)

Viola!  A perfect birthday cake for mom!