Arrgghhh Matey - Happy Birthday!!!

So my darling little baby turned one year old. We had been out of town with the reunion and then home just in time to throw together a pirate party. And since it was a party I thought it would be more exciting to have him wear a special outfit, so he wore his superman Halloween costume as well. So a bit odd- a superman pirate- but still fun.

 

We decided to do cupcakes for his birthday, and I found these pirate skull cupcake liners which added to the effect. We then added a snake, a gold coin, and a flag that Eve made for us.

Look how great the photo below turned out with the birthday boy in the background! As you can tell from other posts Jaren is usually very smiley and excited. This day I think he was feeling a bit off and also aware that there was a lot of attention on him.

No, Varian is not wearing make-up - he's sporting his very own black-eye for our photos. He smacked his face into a soap holder while trying to get a drink from the bathroom in our hotel (in the dark).

This was Jaren's first sanctioned piece of dessert - much to the excitement of my inlaws (Warren/Oma cough cough) who had been trying to slip him dessert since he was a newborn. They've mostly given up now, and I don't even think Reid has had any contraband-sugar slipped to him. But Jaren did enjoy his first taste of cake as you can see. He just shoved those cupcakes right in, and at one point we thought he might gag he was eating them in such giant fast bites. 

Here come some of those smiles. It was a fun party, being with family, and celebrating Jaren's sweet life. Here are a few last shots of his cute face, playing with his cousins and opening presents. (Sadly 2 days later we were flooded and he lost all his sweet birthday presents.)

   

   

 

 

Wrapping Things Up (Jan '11)

Okay - we're about to wrap up the Aston Family Reunion parties. Here's a few more shots of getting together. Out to lunch with Mum, Claire and Leah. Abbey and Jazzy helping to feed Jaren. Games party and Pajama party.

        

And can you believe it - my little baby turned ONE year old?! Wow! He is growing up way too fast! But is so absolutely adorable and loveable. He is a joy to our lives! (Okay in reality he has already turned 2 years old and Reid is about to turn one. Where is the time going?)

This is a darling little suit that Claire brought over from the States. His Birthday was on a Sunday so here are a few shots we took that morning before we were off to church. I didn't realize till after I saw these shots that I had forgotten to do my make up that day. Oopsie! There were a lot of people getting ready that day, and I often try to match my eyeshadow to what I'm wearing and hadn't dressed when I did my hair, so was going to come back and do my make-up later. Oh well. But Jaren is the main cutie-pa-tutie here anyway. Stay tuned for his birthday party shots! :)

Say Cheese! (Jan 2011)

Since the Aston family was all together in one place for the first time in many years, we decided to take family photos.Varian's sister Lani has her own photo business (Alana Aston Photography) and did an amazing job. To see more of her work go to her website HERE. This proved to be a bit challenging as the first 5-10 minutes into the shoot it started downpouring rain. So much for getting your hair all done and ready. Hence the wet spots and more straggly hair in some of the shots. The shot below is one of the only group ones we got before the rain drenched us all.

 

We took a few of our family back at the house while we waited for the rain to stop. 

 

Here are some of Claire and Brandon's family and Chad and Felicity's family waiting out the rain as well.

Then we were back outside for another shot at big group family photos. I have to state right from the start to remember that I'm 4 1/2 months pregnant in these shots. I wish I would have chosen a different shirt to wear because I don't look pregnant enough to look cute pregnant, I just look a bit chubby. But that's not chub - that's my badge of motherhood!

Here's a beautiful shot of the Aston siblings (minus the in-laws). And then the grandparent shots.

I was so paranoid about Jaren spitting up during the photo shoot and was so precautious and then right at the end it was our turn for family shots and he spewed all over me. So hence the big wet spot all down my shoulder/arm. Sigh. And even worse I forgot that I had tucked the bib into my pants pocket which looks ridiculous. Very disappointing. I need to get/learn how to use photo shop!

 

   

 

Here are some of the darling shots of Jaren that we took. Some are similar but I couldn't narrow it down, they were each so adorable! I just love his huge open mouth smiles. What a delight! He does have the faint sign of a bruise on his head - he was very much in the falling stage. Again one day photo shop will take that right out. :)

   

 

Here are some of the other solo/family/group shots that were taken that day. I wish we would have gotten one with all the siblings and spouses but with all the kids it was a bit hectic and people started leaving early. We're also missing Mya in the girl shot, and didn't get a complete boy shot. Tsk. Next time. But I love all the photos and Lani did such a lovely job!!!