Happy New Year Andrew!

We did it!  We made it through Year 1 as Parents (and, quite successfully if I do say so myself).  In addition to coming out the other end of the first year of Andrew's life with a happy, healthy and bright one year old son, we have also gained a new perspective on life, each other and ourselves.  I know it may seem a little strange to proclaim,"Happy New Year!" in the middle of August, but it is the end of the first year of Andrew's life, and, Wow! What a year it has been!

Yum! Ice cream cake at Birthday Party #1!

While reflecting back over the past year, I read back through my old blog posts, and cannot believe how much our lives have changed.  I don't think anyone would have guessed that just a few short months after Andrew was born, we would be moving across the country and starting new lives.  I never pictured myself as a blogging, jet-setting, California wine country living, bi-coastal working mom with a baby who is a more seasoned traveller than most of the population will ever be... but here I am and here's where I'll be for now... so, stay tuned for the next year for more "Adventures of First Time Parents" at the "Foster Fun House"!

In light of the biggest change during Andrew's first year of life, we thought, "What better theme for Andrew's 1st Birthday Party than California Surfin'?"  I enlisted the help of Aunt Amanda, and we spent a lot of time and energy planning, shopping and decorating around the Surfing theme... but you'll just have to trust me on that - we did a terrible job of documenting the party.  Amanda got a couple pictures of the cake and table via her iPhone, but I'm really disappointed we did not get more of the details we had really spent a lot of time on and more pics of all the guests who came to make Andrew's Birthday so special.

Cupcake Cakes... so much easier for serving, and then we could give Andrew his very own for smashing!

 

Mike did a Taco Bar, complete with Rice, Beans, Chicken, and Home Made Guacamole and Salsa

 Shark Jello - Shark Swedish Fish, Nilla Wafer Sand, Blue Raspberry Jello and Umbrellas, Wa La! (the fruits of Aunt Amanda's labor)

Jello Shark Waitress (aka Aunt Julie)

These were a hit with all the kids - Birthday Boy included!

 

From Left to Right - Aunt Alice, Cousin Carol, Aunt Julie, Mom and Andrew

 

Cousins John and Harold

Grandmom Palm - 96 Years Old and still Partying!



Mom-Mom, Aunt Cyndie and Cousin Julie

Cousin Jasper

From Left to Right - Sterling, Lauren, Miranda, Me, Mike, Ben, Karen, Josh and Andrea (and baby Juliette!)

Our Resident Surfer (showing off some of our surfboard decorations)

 

Kim and Brianna (and Baby to Be!!) and Jen and Kaeden... again, didn't get ANY shots of baby Keira! :(

Scott and Mike

The girls fighting over the Birthday Boy... Juliette on the left and Petra on the right

 

Sweet-"sea" Juliette

Beach babes - Karen and Juliette

Amanda, Karen, Mrs. and Mr. Carlisle, and Mrs. Blanchard

 

Birthday Cake Time.. .yes, Andrew had his fingers in right away...

Yum!

 

 

More to come of the rest of our August visit to PA.