Do the Happy Dance 'Lijah

I know there have been a lot of videos on here lately... I guess Its an easy out for me, instead of writing! Here is a classic Elijah move that I have to share, it was recorded the same night as the walking ones, so its the same beer bottle > we don't constantly have beer bottles sitting around! In fact that night was the first time I have ever made Bubba do a "Beer Run" but we both just had the inkling for a beer and its not something we have in the house normally. LOL. I swear!

So enjoy the HAPPY DANCE, its a bit Stevie Wonder and when he really gets into it the legs start going too.

as always remember to scroll to the bottom and pause the music before starting the video. Thanks for Following us!

8000 miles away...

View Cape Town in a larger map

a lil interactive tour of where we are headed... Nicole asked me to point it out on a map... I did that, and then some. You should be able to click on it and have it take you to a full page,which you can zoom in and out of to get an idea of where we are going and how far it is. Each blue marker has a tidbit of info and some have photos.

WALKING. BABY STEPS!

My Baby is Walking!!! I suppose that makes him a bona fide TODDLER now! eek

His first couple of steps were the day before his birthday, and then it seems like he added a couple or so steps each week after that and now can do about 10. I left him with his Grandma and Noah yesterday and came back after a few hours to see him waddling around! ha ha of COURSE it happens when I am not around... I'm only with him 99% of the time...

Anyway its great that he is mastering it now as its only 3 weeks till South Africa and his Great Grandpa prides himself on his children, grandchildren and grandchildren being early walkers ... which we were NOT but at least we'll actually be walking when he meets Pop-Pop otherwise he may have been shunned! LOL just kidding.

Friday Fun with an envelope.

1 BUBBA plus 2 Noahs and 2 Elijahs = Hysteria... Enjoy!!

ps. I'll do a proper post soon!!

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Just for laughs

OK so Bubba told me I had to put this up for more people to see since it only has 833 views on Youtube and some lame-o " Hot blonde on Ostrich" has 17 634 !!??? So have a good laugh at my expense!

Ps. Thats my Mom and Aunt wetting themselves. My Mom was supposed to take photos but she was so busy laughing she got several quality shots of the ground.... ENJOY

( scroll to bottom of page and turn music off first)

Rub A Dub Dub

who does THIS remind you of? ( above)

After eating and wearing his Spaghetti for Supper, Elijah took a leisurely sink bath and then needed time to air out his goods.

Coming down off the Turtle High.

I got asked a great question today : " Were you more tired at the end of the day on July 5th 2008 or July 5th 2009?" My honest answer : "2009" . But if I could go back and do it all over again , I would in a heartbeat, just like 2008. There are things I'd do differently from this year ( more on that later) but I would not change a thing from how 2008 played out - that was how it was meant to be and the reward is now a whole year old ! Incredible.

I think it was a successful party overall. In the future I won't throw a party on his actual birthday, I want to spend that day with him and I feel like I was too busy to do that and am sorry for that. He woke up at his usual 7am on Sunday, we cuddled together in bed for a while and then got the day started. Pancakes for breakfast and then he "opened" a few presents. Then Mommy got back to work in the kitchen and Daddy kept the birthday boy entertained.

The weather forecast was saying "SEVERE THUNDER SHOWERS" for our area starting around 4pm... exactly when the party was scheduled to start, a party which was planned for outside since it had not rained in weeks... of course! So I did a re-think and despite it actually looking good outside , we decided not to risk it and so we set up everything inside. I had borrowed 3 large Tents, 3 Tables and plenty of outdoor chairs from a friend for the outside but those stayed in the garage unused :( I had visions ( and the supplies) for the bigger kids to be running through the sprinkler, doing sidewalk chalk, games, ball pits, popsicles in the sun, crafts and splashy turtle pool for the lil ones, none of that happened. It could have in hindsight as it didn't rain at all, but I had spent all my setup time indoors and by the time people started arriving I just had enough time to change and brush my teeth!

There was plenty of food, I felt like I was forcing people to eat because Bubba had warned that there was too much food and I didn't want to prove him right by having tons of leftovers - which we did - We had Hotdogs , you know we had to have hotdogs as a shout out to when Elijah had no name and we called him hot dog , Casey wore a Hot dog T-shirt! Wish we had got a picture of that. We also had burgers and "turtle sliders" for the kids but I am not sure if people even knew thats what they were as I didn't explain them well. Here's what they wee supposed to look like>

Of course I had waaaaay too much candy. My intention was not to overdose everyones kids with sugar but more for decoration but of course I told them to help themselves at the end.

There were 2 cakes - a Turtle and a Tortoise as well as 20-something cupcakes. Of course a Fruit Turtle - what party would be complete without one? And Turtle juice -punch with a turtle swimming in it. Have I mentioned my middle name is "over -the-top" Its a family name. From my Moms side.

So despite me forgetting to bust out the bottles of wine, the music I had prepared on my ipod, the cute lil tent I had lovingly made and several other small details, it went well.

The highlight was when everyone sang Happy Birthday to my baby, I wish I had got that on video, instead I stood there with the camcorder in my hand and sang. Then he was offered his first cake and he did not decline it. He did devour it!

He shrieked with excitement and I think he loved all the attention, but once that cake was in front of him I am pretty sure he did not know the rest of us were even there anymore!

He was showered with wonderful, thoughtful and super fun gifts. I hope I Thanked everyone verbally when opening them, it was a bit chaotic!! We really do appreciate your generosity and he has not found a single one that he doesn't like yet! Including the boxes.

My guy is ONE. Its been a whole year that we have been blessed with that face and the personality that grows by the minute. I wish wish wish MY family could be here to celebrate with him, but they called and sang to him earlier and we'll make up for it in due time. Thats just the way it is for us but our love is big enough to cross over vast oceans and it was felt despite them not being here in person.

Thank you to everyone for being a part of his life so far , I just know he is going to grow up to be a person of integrity and honor with a great sense of humor and gratitude because he is learning from all of you everyday , some of the most wonderful people in the world. Lucky Boy.

Happy Birthday Dear Elijah. Happy Birthday toooo YOU! Hip Hip Hooooray. Nog-a-piep HOORAY!

A Quick Thank You!

Its late. We are all pooped. But THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for all the cards, thoughts, messages , gifts and thank you to those who came to the party I hope you had as much fun as we did!!

I will update in the next couple of days but until then, THANK YOU!

ELIJAH - MY ONE YEAR OLD!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LIL MAN!

Its the big day! My baby is ONE . Look how far we've come!!

I am nostalgic and proud and in total awe of him.

But I don't have tome to dilly daddle, its a party day too and much to be done.

Of course it has not rained properly on WEEKS but todays forecast says RAIN ALLL DAY with Thundershowers starting around 4pm > exactly he time the party is supposed to start! Grrrreeeeat.

But I guess the show must go on, I almost postponed but Bubba would not let me. So I just hope its not a total chaotic disaster , I want it to be special for my Boy.

Better get back to work. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELIJAH T TAYLOR I love you with every ounce of my being!!!