September 29, 2012-Happy 1st Birthday Keaton

Celebrating the big ONE!

(click here for today's pictures)

• When I walked into wake up the kids this morning, the first thing that they asked was "is it raining?" and "is there football?"  They were so excited when I told them it wasn't raining and ran to the window to look at the other window (ha!) to see if I was telling the truth.  I really should just tell them that is it football day every morning and they would all be ready in a flash.
• We had pop tarts for breakfast-the breakfast of champions.  Keaton did miss most of her breakfast because she was concentrating on her milk and then was moved to the shower.  She didn't mind since Grannymom had her a few snacks at the ballgame.
• It was a little cool at the ball game but that didn't seem to stop anyone.  Reagan was the first of the Dennies to run through the tunnel (I missed her picture this week) and then Anderson, Graham and hot on his heels was Campbell.  Campbell enjoys running through the tunnel more than the rest of the kids-and really who wouldn't enjoy running through that tunnel with 100+ screaming parents/grandparents on the other side.  
• First we will discuss the Bulls: the boys both did good today.  I don't remember the score (ask Anderson) but they did win.  Graham even carried the ball for a yard or two and Anderson pulled a flag.  Again, they looked more professional this week than last.  
• Now to the Dazzlers (I don't really remember if that is their name or not-but sounds good anyway):  They are just the cutest things.  Reagan missed practice Monday so she didn't know what in the world was going on today but today when they cheered during halftime-she just shined!  
• And finally on to our none players-Campbell and Keaton.  Campbell hang out with us during most of the game and then she decided that she wanted to be by her Daddy.  So she went across the field and sat on the bench near Robby.  She stayed over there for the rest of the game.  Keaton also enjoyed the game-or maybe she enjoyed the attention from 4 doting grandparents.  Or maybe it was walking around in the grass or maybe she liked the snacks Grannymom was passing out.
• Everyone earned their stars after the game and then they all deserved icees!  So they all sat on the blanket, dripping icees and eating them as fast as they could.  After most of the icees were spilled-I mean eaten, we headed to the other side of town-actually another town (back to Little Rock).  
• On the way we decided that we were starving so we stopped at Taco Bell for a quick lunch.  Then we returned to Taco Bell when we saw that we weren't given our whole order.  We made it in time to see the start of Cash's game and the kids were on the edge of the blanket all day long.  The boys and especially Reagan are ready for soccer.  They are enjoying football and cheerleading but soccer is what they really love.  (And personally it is my favorite too).  Graham was so proud that the ball flew and hit his foot during the game-it was like he had kicked the ball during Cash's game.
• Cash's team won as well today and we all celebrated by going to the playground for a little bit of playing before heading home.  Well, we thought we were heading home but we stopped by Krispy Kreme for Keaton's birthday doughnuts.  This was an unexpected stop so I didn't have my candles-though Robby asked why I didn't keep some in the car (seriously, my car is packed like MacGyver but candles are one thing that I do not have).  
• Keaton enjoyed her birthday doughnuts and everyone else did as well.  Then we went home and rested/watched the football game.  Things were going splendidly until after the game and Robby asked if I was going to get up.  Then he went on to tell me that the party was at 5-I thought it was at 6:30.  So I had a bit of scrambling to do-like a lot of running around.  Had to pick up the house, make the pancake batter, cut the strawberries, cook the bacon, sausage and biscuits along with quite a few other things.  Craziness followed but at least the kids can help out a bit.  
• Soon Pops, Nonna, Jason, Grannymom, Grandpa, Dana, Lilly and Cash arrived and the party started.  Robby and I had planned on having a pancake party for Keaton but we really have never cooked pancakes before so Nonna was recruited.  (We probably should do a bit more thinking through our themes-like camping in the rain!).  
• After Nonna cooked a zillion pancakes we started eating.  Keaton loved the pancakes but the strawberries were her favorite.  Next up was presents-she was the most proud of two new baby dolls.  She also received 2 pairs of shoes, socks, 2 hooded towels, a shape sorting toy and then a little dog that she loved pulling around.  
• Next up was cereal necklaces for the big kids.  They all still enjoy doing things like that and Campbell really did well too.  I had never seen her do anything like that and she stuck with it just as long as everyone else did.  Lilly made a necklace for Keaton and that child was so proud of her necklace and then later in the evening I spied her munching away on that necklace.
• Nonna was then sent back to the kitchen to make birthday pancakes-sprinkles and icing make anything taste great so they were a big hit.  Keaton ate until she was stuffed.  Seriously, I think that child gained a few pounds tonight.  She had a big birthday and was pretty exhausted by the end of the evening.
• But everyone else was exhausted too.  So we put the kids to bed and heard no sounds from them-tomorrow is Jason's birthday celebration.  We are ready for bed but first we must do our third load of dishes for the day!