Joshie's First Birthday

April 26th was Joshua's First Birthday and we decided to celebrate it today (the 30th). We invited two of our neighbor families - The Crisps and the Dustins. The theme was Smiley Face.

Here are a couple of videos taken. There are a few skips in each video. Our camera has the option to take pictures during video recording and that was what happened. The pictures taken are below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IEPV5u5EuE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dePTvy9CJc

Josh didn't really like the frosting. He ended up not eating ANY of the cake. I guess the frosting was just too gross to him and wouldn't even try the rest.

The party was a lot of fun. We sang "Happy Birthday", ate cake and ice cream, and opened gifts. The kids played in the living room while the Mommys got to chat. It was great.

Figured it's time to post more pictures . . .

Jacob decided that he was thirsty so he got himself a cup out of the drainer and the milk from the fridge. I had been in the living room changing Joshie's diaper and didn't realize what he was doing. He almost made it. He filled the cup about half way and then I hear "oops". Joshie decided that he was hungry and went and got some baby food. (I do feed my kids, I promise!!) On the way to Battalion the day he deployed. I asked him how he felt at that moment and this is the look I got. A little crazy.

Following Daddy to his office. Our Soldier Blake took some pictures with the boys. Take a look at those eyes! Joshie is wearing Jacob's shirt in all these pictures. He threw up all over his own before we got there and this shirt was the only extra one in the car.

Our last family picture for a while.

Joshie has developed a whine-cry. And it looks like this. I laugh every time. Look at those lips!

Blake hasn't even been gone a whole week but it feels like so much longer. People are constantly asking how I'm doing and I can truthfully say, "Just fine." He has had so many little (month long) trainings in the two years that we have been in the army that it just feels like that. He's usually gone during the day anyway - the hard part is when there's only me and the boys at the dinner table and after the boys go to bed the house is so quiet. I don't think I've ever watched so many movies before bed before. Since he's been gone I've been watching a movie a night. I have two months free of Netflix so that has been my bedtime companion for the last few days.

We figured that when Blake gets back, he'll have been deployed for half of Joshua's life and time-gone-for-entire-army-time (does that make sense?) for half of Jacob's life. Oh well. C'est la vie!
We knew what we were signing up for and the benefits far outweigh the negatives. And even the negative for us (him being gone for a year and missing so much of our lives) is a benefit for the Afghani people. They get him for a whole year to help their country. I'm so proud of Blake and his willingness to fight for others freedom.