The rest of the fun from turning ONE!

A couple days ago, I began this birthday bonanza of posts! Tonight, I will finish it. After 3 hours. No, that is not an exaggeration. It actually took me that long. I won't get into the nitty gritty details of WHY it takes so long, but it does. I contemplated once again leaving out a picture here and there, but I really want to remember this day. And if I don't write it down and capture it in photos, I won't. I'll think I will, but I know me. The same me who is amazed at how many mothers of teenagers can rattle off the month their child got their first tooth, when I cannot remember what month Colton got his, and he's barely a year old!

So I decided to leave the pictures in. Though they start to look the same after a while, when I really look closely at each one, I see that they each tell a different story. There's something different about each one and it's those little things that make this day so exciting and special. So sit back, grab a drink, maybe 2 (I told you, it's long. There's like 300 pictures I think) and enjoy the show.

This birthday party defied every "rule" about FIRST Birthday parties. It really did. If you google first birthday parties you will see these rules:

"Invite one child for each year of age your child is turning." So 6 kids including my own? I don't think so. Try 38. That's more fun.

"Keep it simple. One year olds won't know the difference." Yeah, but I will. So Jumping Castles, Pinatas, Cotton Candy, Carnival Games and Crafts probably don't count as simple do they?

"Keep it short. Plan it around your baby's (I also noticed that most websites refer to the "singular" baby) :) nap time. " Oops. My bad. Party started at 1:00. Guess what time nap time is???

Anyway, you see my point I'm sure. We broke the rules. But here's the thing. This party was not just for the babies. It was for us. And it was for all of you who have supported us and cared about us, and loved our babies like your own. This was a true celebration of 3 miracles. And we didn't want to celebrate alone. So here are the pictures from the day...

HAVE YOUR CAKE, AND EAT IT TOO

Ethan (Not at all fond of the hat)

Hunter, (not so much fond of the hat either)

Colton (okay, so no one loves the hat. At least he's wearing it anyway.)

Wondering why there are 80 some people watching him.

Interesting...

Totally un-enthused about his cake. This cannot be my child.

Okay, yes he can. My, how I love this little boy.

I believe this was me saying "Colton, eat your cake. Everyone is watching you."

Dainty pink frosted fingers. Love it.

EVERYBODY SAY "JUMP! JUMP! JUMP!"

After most everyone had left, we had some Bunchkin Jumpin Time! Ethan was not sure he was a fan at first, but after going in the second time, he was feeling better about the whole thing!

No surprise, Colton is a HUGE fan of the Jumping Castle!

Dad and his trio

Nana Bunch peeking at Colton

Beautiful Girl

Contemplating Life as a one year old.

Aunt Kristen and Colton

I love this picture because Hunter is always so curious about Brian's "Ami" tattoo. She will crawl right up to him, put both of her little hands (that still don't even cover the whole tattoo) and then open them both up "peekaboo" style as if she's seeing if it's still there. She will do this over and over and over...

Such a peanut. This girl cracks me up.

"Hey Grampy Sam! You comin in?"

Hooray! He came in!

Aunt Mary and Colton

Good friends Dave and Seth! Seth loved the jumping castle as much as the babies did!

Brian and his mom :)

Dave, Seth and Jaxon Pearson. This appears to be a very serious discussion they're having.

Mary, Joshua Hopkins and Colton

Gramma Debi encouraging the Bunchkins

Is this another race brewing??

Those look like sleepy birthday eyes to me...

Hey Gramma! Whatcha doin out there?

AFter his first round of uncertainty, he decided to come back and give it another try!

Okay this is kinda fun!

Hey little man!

You know he likes it if he's making raspberries!

PINATA TIME

Okay I have to apologize to the children at the party for this one. The pinata hung there for the duration of the party. Apparently a few children did see it hanging and inquired about it to their parents. However, with all the hustle and bustle going on, we completely forgot about it until there were about 7 kids left. Luckily they were mostly younger kids so they got to scoop up all the candy without the threat of older kids stealing it first!

Obviously I posted these pictures backwards, but that's okay. You know how it works. However. I'd like to point out how ghetto we are. We could not find a single "bat-like" object for kids to use to hit the pinata. No kidding. Nothing. So please look what we ended up with. Yes, that's a night stick. You know you're at a police officers house when...

Swing Jaxon!

Mom will help you!

I love kids and pinatas!! Look at that ferocity!

COTTON CANDY

So Devynn was pretty much a pro by the end of the party!

And so was Aunt Mary!

PRESENTS!

Aunt Kristen and Nana Bunch looking on from above

Hey Sexy Baby! "You want my daughter to wear WHAT?" says Brian

Auntie Val, Mom, Charlotte, Hannah, Hunter and Carolyn

The best present ever...

AND FINALLY..THE BABIES AND THEIR GUESTS. (Well, most of them anyway)

Niki and Colton

Brian, Denise, Seth, Dave

Charlotte, Me, Mollie!! :) (And Karen in the back)

Me and Jen (and baby Ava)

Daylen, Nana Bunch, Eric, Papa Bunch, Brian

Bob, Denise, Dave, Uncle Jim, Jen L

Kathy and Hunter, Jen, Delaney, Nicole and Brody, Daylen

Sarah (and baby Henry) and JAmes

Gerri, Nana, Ken, Papa

Lacey, Katie, Jen, Rob & Andy

Please take note of Mary's awesome craft center! She had every kid make a foam picture frame with their names on them, with sequins, crystals, beads, etc! What fun!

Bryan, Drew, Emilio and BP in the kitchen

Kristen, BP, My dad

Bob, Rosey and Ethan

Hotties! Kelly, Jen, Anabelle, Jaymee

Dave, Denise, Seth, Rosey, Mary, Uncle Jim

Trynnity, Jaxon and Katie, Ryan? or Wyatt?

Katie and Jaxon. OMG SOOOo cute! I'm almost afraid that Jaxon may have replaced Hunter as his wife!

Delaney, Nicole, Jen and ANdy, Baylee, Jaymee, JAmes and Sarah, Mollie (and our wagon riders Brody , Joshua, and Trynnity)

Rosey and Hunter, Lacey, Uncle Jim and Auntie Val

Kelly and Jordan, Karen and Alexa

The Kershner Girls minus one sick at home! :(

ANabelle and Jaxon, Renae, Sonja, Jaymee, Jen and Mary

Beejai, Parker and Benjamin, Rob,Andy, Jen, Charlotte and Hannah

Jen, Leigh, Kathy

Nana and Hunter

The Birthday Bunchkins

And their mommy

ALL the kids...almost.

Gramma Debi and Colton

My mom, Auntie Valerie, Carolyn and Hunter

Too many to name!

Karen, Heather, Anabelle and either parker or benjamin (I can't see the socks!)

The Mattus' and Hopkins

Jen, Karen, Jen, BeeJai

Ami, Mary, Anabelle, Heather

I'm going to look through other pictures from other people's cameras to see if I can find more pictures of the those of you whom I do NOT have photos of! Thank you all for coming to the party and for loving our babies!

SEe you next year!