Celebrating the Last {First}

{grab some caffeine...my choice is peppermint mocha coffee...lots of pictures memories to follow!}

We had such a nice long holiday break!  And when I say long...I mean it didn't seem long at all and went way too fast!

We celebrated Elizabeth's first Thanksgiving with Dan's family!  It also marked one of the last of her firsts.  It's so hard for me to believe that last year at this time we were getting ready to meet her for the first time...
...but this year I had much more room to breathe...and much more room for some mashed potatoes! ha!

Aunt Janet is always such a wonderful hostess!

Emily made paper feathers to wear like the Indians, and she worked so hard on them all morning...

...but then she decided not to wear them just before we left!

The kids enjoy seeing their cousins...but if you ask me...they are all growing up way too fast, and it's not fair...but seems like nobody really asked me, but still...

Hannah and Emily 

Cameron and Shelbie

Elizabeth, Shelbie and Kendall

Uncle John

Great-grandma Martha

Daddy's {other}Girl

Emily has been giving Elizabeth walking lessons so she can walk before her birthday!  Elizabeth loves it!

Bethanie and Ellie

Thanksgiving is always a holiday we look forward to for good food and family time! 

I love the group kids' picture!  And I'm pretty sure Elizabeth will be walking by next Thanksgiving...darn it...because she will have grown up another year...

...it just goes so fast...

But we were thankful more than once this week...

...we were so lucky to have the whole family together again to celebrate this sweet little E's first birthday...

I can't believe this celebration has already come and gone...1st birthdays are so special...

...it was Alex's idea to blow up a bunch of balloons and let them float around on the ceiling!  I thought it looked perfect!  I love when the kids are excited about planning the parties and help out!

{nobody asked me what I wanted.} 

And once everyone arrived...we wasted no time to start eating!

Alex, Gram and Hunter

Time to make a wish...

{it wasn't my birthday...but my wish was to let time stop for just a bit so I can keep them little...but I blew out the candle, so my wish counts right?  ...sigh... }

{what am I supposed to do with this?}

{oh okay...mmm...just a little taste is enough...then smash it up as much as possible...this is so fun!}

Present time is the highlight of any birthday...just ask any kid!

{can you even find Ellie behind all the kids, gifts and balloons?  ha!}

I am so thankful that I have these pictures to look at...even though it wouldn't mean much to anyone else scanning through them...but at the time I was sitting there surrounded by all the kids and trying to open gifts...I honestly felt overwhelmed...but to look at them now and see all the smiles of delight on each of their faces...I realize how lucky I am to be the one sitting there surrounded by all those kids!  How lucky that Ellie has so many cousins and family members who live close and are able to celebrate her very special day!  It means so much to me...more than I can put into words!

Grandma, Great-grandma Martha, Emma and Ellie

Emily and Gram

Emily and Aunt Nicole

Shelbie and a sleepy Ellie

The dreaded much anticipated group shot!

Partied out...

While the party girl slept off the excitement of her big first birthday bash...

...the other guests headed home and my mom and sister stayed a bit longer for a game of kickball...

and a few more group pics...

It was a great celebration...and I want to do it all over again!

If only we could turn back the clock...

I've got just one more day to cherish before she officially turns one...

...and I am going to hold onto every single second!

Thank you all so much for celebrating this special occasion with us!