Happy {Early} 1st Birthday!

{Again, WARNING: Pic heavy!!}

Since Noah's birthday is in the middle of December and we likely won't be back up to Oklahoma until Christmas, we decided to have Noah's First Birthday Party while we were there for Thanksgiving. Normally, on my side of the family, we have joint birthday parties for everyone whose birthday is that particular month {June is our biggest month!}. So, we also celebrated Uncle Bud's birthday {TODAY!! Happy Birthday!} and Jessie's birthday {the day after Noah's}.

Aunt BB and Noah with his cake that Aunt BB made for him!

Happy 24th Jessie!

Noah loves his new books!

A walking toy from Grami and Papa!




His new pony from Nana and Papa - it even sings to him!


"I'm a pretty pony.... clippity-clap..."

Happy Birthday Uncle Bud!

The Birthday Boy!

He wasn't quite sure about the cake when we sat it in front of him.

"Nope, I don't like this at all!"

Then Mommy makes him try some....

and he LOVES it!

A little too much! After we took the cake away, he started chewing on his bandanna {which we were using as a bib} because it had icing on it. He didn't like the cake... just the icing.

***

And, because the pictures just don't do it as much justice as the real thing....

Here's a clip of Noah when he doesn't like the cake:

And here's one once he realizes that he likes the icing:

***

Playing with his airplane from Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike.

Spending a little extra time with his Grami before the party was over.

Busy, Busy

We were so busy, busy today:

Mom, BB, Jessie and I did some shopping together in the morning, while Daddy-Man, Ben and Noah enjoyed some "guy-time". We met up for lunch at Chipotle {YUM!} and then finished up with yet more shopping on everyone's part. Once Noah had his afternoon nap, we headed over to my Aunt Connie and Uncle Mickey's house to visit with them for a little while since they went to visit his family on Thanksgiving. The kids were so excited to see Noah and play with him and judging by Noah's reaction, I think he was happy too.

***

We met up with Grandma and Grandpa Smith, Mike and Brenda, and Eric, Amanda, and Marian at Tapwerks in Bricktown for dinner, after which, we headed back to their hotel to visit. Noah also got his birthday present from Grandpa Mike and Grandma Brenda:


Such a cute little sweater-vest outfit!


His very own laptop, just like Daddy's!

Amanda and Eric reading the Tinker newspaper:

GiGi and Marian, fixing her "wig"

The Boys

GiGi with the Boys

Us with the Grandparents

Amanda, Marian, and Eric

Black Friday

I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY. Seriously. I look forward to it all year. When I still lived in Oklahoma, I'd get up and go shopping with my parents, and then after Ben and I got married, I roped him into the "fun" {now he's just as crazy as me!}. Even after we moved to California, we'd still go out on Black Friday, often times calling my parents to see if they were able to get their hands on something we "needed". This year, the main event was at Wal-Mart. We left Mom at home with Noah, and Ben, Daddy-Man, BB and I all headed up there, lists in hand! We got a ton of things that we needed {and maybe a couple we didn't}... here some of the big stuff {with a few presents intermingled}:

After Wal-mart, Ben headed up to the base for gift cards {which, unfortunately, he didn't get... the base opened at 4:00AM!!} and Daddy-Man, BB and I headed to Toys R' Us and then Babies R' US for Noah-stuff. We didn't even have to go to Target or Best Buy because Wal-Mart does price matching! Yay for Black Friday!!

***

After we finished shopping {and actually got ready for the day}, we headed over to Tinker AFB to spend some time with the "Indiana" Smiths and Eric, Amanda, and Marian. While we were there, Grandma {GiGi} and Grandpa Smith gave Noah his birthday present and Christmas present. And we all know that Noah loves books, so he just loved the Santa book that they gave him.

Here's a clip of Marian reading part of the story to Noah:



I just love how he continued to look at the book and then look at her as she was reading it!

I think he really liked his new shirt too.

***

After lunch, Ben and I dropped Noah off to my parents and had a "date night" in the afternoon - a much needed date night. We saw Twilight!! SOO good... seriously, I'd even see it again.

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Later in the evening, 'Rissa came over to spend some time with us {okay, mostly with her BFF Jessie}:

We watched a movie:

Ben played his game {and won!}:

And Noah made his usual mess at dinner-time:

Black Friday is always a really good day. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

{Warning: it's a little pic heavy!}

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A Few of the Things I'm Thankful For:

• That My God Reigns.


• Ben - Dear One, you are the ultimate blessing.


• Noah, the healthy and happy love of my life.


• My Family :)


• My Friends

***

After sleeping in a little {well, as much as is possible with an 11-month-old on a pretty regular night sleep schedule!}, we all got ready, BB and Daddy-Man got the turkey ready while Mom worked on the ham, and then we loaded up in the cars and headed to Grami and Papa Snow's house for Thanksgiving lunch. It was all so good! Though, I have to admit, after having hosted Thanksgiving at my house for the past two years, it was a little weird to not have to worry about preparing a turkey and ham {but we did miss our friends!}. Here's a few pictures from Thanksgiving at their house:

Nana, Noah, and Papa after eating.

KK giving BB a kiss.

Sean and Michael, our high school guys. {I seriously can hardly believe it!}

Philip and Sally

KK and Noah

Me and my Papa Snow

Noah getting some extra play time in with Aunt Jessie

Papa Snow, Noah, and Grami

***

After we left Grami and Papa's house, we headed over to Eric's to visit with Ben's Dad, Brenda, Grandma and Grandpa Smith, and of course Eric, Amanda and little Marian. Little Marian {who is always entertaining just being herself!} kept us entertained by putting on a concert for us:

The best part to me was the fact that she kept her MP3 player plugged into her ears so we couldn't hear the music that went along with the words that she was singing! :) Well, that, and the fact that during every song she whipped off her glasses and hat and threw them to us in the crowd. It was pretty much fantastic!

Noah and his GiGi {Great-Grandma Smith}

Grandpa Mike and Noah

We made it!

We have arrived in Oklahoma! Ben got off work around 4 and we were finally on the road around 5... and even with a pit stop at Target in Wichita Falls {man, I miss having a good Target to shop at!!}, we made it to Oklahoma by 10:30PM. Noah was happy to be here too:

My Little Helper

This afternoon Noah and I started packing for our trip to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. He was quite the little helper. Well, at least I think he tried to be...


I kept getting sidetracked when he would crawl in and out of the suitcase.

It's so hard sometimes to not stop what I'm doing and take pictures when the kid is so darn cute!

Sharing

Noah has already learned how to share! :)

He's such a sweet boy!