Happy First Birthday to Niles



When Niles woke up on Saturday, May 19th--his first birthday- his siblings presented him with his first gift: a red ball. He loved it.




Chasing the ball with James, whom he adores.




Check out James cracking up in the back. These two boys just love each other so much!

Later Saturday Night we had some friends over to the Ranch House for a birthday fiesta. Michael and Anna Gregg were visiting from Arizona and stayed out at the ranch and partied with us after their trip to Yellowstone.



WE set up a buffet (like Gordo's Mexicateria!) and ate some really stellar food. Here's Curtis Westenskow and my blurry amiga, Kim Strupp filling their plates.



James' buddy Lydia W. with her yummy taco.

Suzy, Melissa, and Jillian Westenskow

I forgot to take a picture of the pretty party table Adeline set up- she even decorated the cupcakes! Here you can kinda see the limeade and fun margarita party cups, the cipcakes, and the salsa bar. We also made a latino playlist on our iPod with Mariachi/Norteno music (like Los Tigres del Norte), plus Macarena, Ricky Martin, Soraya, etc).

Heidi: ever the party animal

Little boys table: James, Birthday Boy Niles, and Jason Strupp

Out on the deck, Tyler Strupp, Suzy and Lydia W.

Heidi, Jared W, Addie, and Hailey W.

Making a birthday toast!

Inside at the Dad Table: Aaron Roberts & Trevor Strupp

Mark Westenskow & some awesome flowers (I ampretty sure a kid took these pix).

Outside at the Mom table: Melissa Westenskow, Kim Strupp, and Jessie Roberts. That view is not too shabby, eh?

Pinata time! Rich hung the pinata off the deck while the kids took turns swinging at it. Here is James taking his turn.



All the kids cherring James on, waiting for their turn.



Niles' Great-Grandma Lyn ate a dum-dum from the pinata and it tirned her tongue blue.
AWESOME!

Another shot of all the kids playing pinata

Michael and Anna Gregg celebrating their 15th anniversary weekend at the ranch house (Michael is my bro Will's best friend, I call him my 6th brother, but he's really more like my 3rd...that's how long I've known him!)

The birthday boy enjoying his cupcake, ready for bed!

Niles got these fabulous blocks from the Strupps, so James had to test them out for him!

On Sunday, May 20th, we were all feeling pretty sick--a combination of strep, allergies, eye viruses, bronchitis, etc), so only Rich & the girls went to church. Later that evening, the Melins came over for a family birthday party and the Greggs came by to say goodbye, too, on their way home to Arizona.

Our super fun Grandma Melin made this cake for Niles. It's a rocking horse-- or a rocking llama.

Niles with Grandma Melin

Aunt Angie made this cute hooded towel for Niles. Again, James had to test it out!

Heidi gave Niles one of her elephants he loves to play with.



Niles and his cake (with cousins Rosalie and Hannah)



cake & ice cream for everyone!

Saying goodbye to Meeky & Anna

Grandpa Melin, James, Hannah, and Rosalie

Opening gifts and enjoying cousins.
Mike, James & Niles, Angie, Great Grandma Lyn, Hannah, Addie & Heidi, Grandma Melin, Me, and Rosalie.

SO...we made it a year and we have a happy and healthy boy who is fearless and vocal and sleepless and so much fun. On his birthday, he had six teeth, was 31.5 inches tall and weighed 25 lbs even. He can walk, run, go up and down stairs, blow kisses, feed himself, climb in and out of the tub, and pretend to read books. He loves to entertain his older sibs and is in a hurry to do everything they do. Happy Birthday, dear Niles!