Charlie is One!

I always take the week off for my birthday and most of the time I take a trip. Last year it was a trip to Utah by way of Texas. This year we wanted to spend more time with Kyle and Tiffany and their great kids. So off to Utah we went. We took theRAV4 and I was pleasingly surrprised with the gas milage. It is rated at 26mph on the highway. We avaraged 25.4mph with a 40mph head wind and a 30mph tail wind.

We rang the doorbell and I knelt down to be at eye level with the kids, because I could hear them fumbling with the door knob. The door opened and they saw us with ear to ear grins. It was so fun to see them again after almost a year. Wish they were closer. Charlie was having his first birthday the following week but we had a birthday party for him just a few hours after arriving.

It started with a ball pit, a blow-up pool with about 200 balls. It was kind of an appitizer for the caterpillar party. Erik and Ellie really enjoyed it but Charlie was not so sure this was a fun idea. We had earthquakes and hurricanes and the balls were flying, as well as the kids. Nothing but laughter, except for Charlie - he wanted out. The others played in the ball pit for quite awhile. Close friends and family were there to usher in birthday number 1.

As usual Tiffany out did herself again with the party decorations. And even though Charlie won't remember a thing about them, they were all recorded on digital film.

The creative theme and cake was inspired by the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and all the snacks were taken right out of the book.

All smiles from Ellie, still in the ball pit.

As was Erik!

Charlie was enjoying one of his presents - an electric toothbrush, so that he would not keep taking his sibling's electric toothbrushes. Well if you buy one at the dollar store, it probably won't work. This one didn't. What do you expect for a buck?

We finally got the actual party started with the birthday cake. Charlie had his own - nobody else was allowed to touch it. There was some extra wind supplied to blow out the one candle but he got his wish and didn't end up with any girl friends.

Charlie didn't know what to think of the plate of sweetness placed in front of him. He started cautiously. This is the before.

Mmm. Tastes kind of good......

I need a bigger bite.

Man, this is really addictive. I hope I don't get any cavities; I have six teeth now, you know.

I am done now. I don't feel so well. Take the remains away. Sugar highs are a fallacy. Notice the gob of frosting on the wall behind the high chair. This is the after.

More blogging of our trip to follow.