Chance's First Birthday

I apologize for the delay in my posts! This darn 2012 is hard to keep up with!


Can you believe Chance is 1 year old!
That's right ladies and gentleman...my little man is 365 days old and I still don't have everything figured out. At least I had family around on Chance's birthday to help with all of the details and to celebrate the special day.
What do you think of our spread?  I wanted to make sure it was birthday themed and not Christmas! Having a birthday the day after Christmas you have to be careful not to blend the two...

  

My sister is the queen at parties and decorations.  I was so glad that she was there because she was able to make Chance this amazing little cupcake birthday cake. She is so talented! I thought it was perfect. 

Lindsay also made white chocolate covered strawberries and pretzel sticks...delish!

Anyone that was worried that Chance would be slighted for gifts because his birthday is 12/26 was very wrong!  Chance was spoiled beyond belief.  

Watching Chance play with his cousins will never get old.  

We were lucky to have the party be with both of our immediate families.  

Hi, baby Kennedy!

Chance and my dad playing all around the kitchen in the Mickey car. 

Time to open birthday presents

Trying out his first pair of ski goggles

More presents...

Adrian excited for CAKE

Max and Brad

Brunch in the kitchen

Addison is ready for cake too!

The progression of the birthday cake...

at first Chance was not exactly thrilled about being put in his high chair

but then everyone in the room started singing "Happy Birthday" to him and he started to look around and realize that everyone was happy and this was all for him

 Checking out the cake and testing out if he is really allowed to just dig in..

 starting to like this whole birthday thing

 ohhh...frosting is yummy!

 really yummy

 trying to share with me

 making sure it is still okay to eat this gigantic cake

 Apparently, Max and I can't find the camera but Chance is all smiles!

 finally getting dirty

and...he's full!

The birthday boy with Grandpa Mike and Grandpa Les.  

What a lucky boy!

Thanks to both of our families for taking the time to be there with us on Chance's first birthday.  You are all so special to us!

Christmas Day

Christmas day we woke up bright and early at my parent's home to see what Santa brought us?  

Chance stayed up until almost midnight the night before rocking out with the McKennedy's.  He had a little bit of bed head on Christmas morning.  I need to make a mental note to teach the little guy about having fun in moderation :) 

Addison however was bright eyed and bushy tailed.  She just knew that Santa had brought her a go go puppy!

Yeah for Santa! 

Chance ripping into his Santa present.  

He needed a little help from Addison. 

Chance got this amazing race car track that teaches letters, numbers, and songs.  Thank you Santa!

Oh to be a kid again! There is nothing better than Christmas morning as a child! I love reliving all of this through Chance.  

Chance was so overwhelmed.  What a lucky little boy.  

Max and Chance

Marti

Chance playing with his dump truck. 

My beautiful sister!

Playing with all of these toys is exhausting.  Chance didn't want to let go of his car but had to rest his head.  

After a quick cat nap he was back to exploring all of the cars and trucks he got.  

Addison was teaching Chance how to use her race track.  

I loved the little snowmen decorations that my parents set out front to welcome Chance and Addison.  

Grandpa and Addison watching the Smurfs. 

Max and Grandpa Delbert

Max, Chance, and I with my Grandma and Grandpa Drake. 

Johnson family photo.
Thanks mom and dad for having the whole gang to your house.
We had an amazing Christmas!
Love you

A McKennedy Christmas

After our small Lehman family Christmas on Chrismas Eve we were off to the McKennedy Christmas! Max's grandmother Helen lives in an assisted living home in Bella Vista and many of her children came to town to spend the holidays with her.  In fact, so many people came in to town to spend Christmas with Great Grandma Helen that they had to rent a banquet room at the Hyatt.
At first, I was a little bummed that it was going to be at a banquet room because I thought that it would lose some of the personal feel...man was I wrong! I always forget that Max comes from this amazing Irish Catholic family that has fun no matter where they are! That's part of why I love him and and the McKennedy's!!

Max and I jumped right into the headbandz game with all of the kids as soon as we got there. You have to guess what you are by asking yes or no questions.  So fun and the kids loved it!

Our best attempt at a "cousins" picture

It was so fun being around everyone! I love big families! 

Grandma Helen's great grandchildren.  

Cousin Cody

Cousin Ryan

The picture of the "fun" McKennedy's that participated in the tacky sweater theme.  I am very happy to report that the Carol Lehman clan had 100% participation :) 

See I told you 100% participation.  

Max's dad, Mike had the best sweater in my opinion. 

I love this photo! 

Watching the great grand children play with their light sabers.  

AND

This next photo was my very favorite part of the night! 

All of Helen's children got this amazing black and white family photo of them packing up for a vacation.  

I love the reaction on all of their faces...so special!

This is the photo that they all got as a gift.  It's absolutely precious!

Family hug! LOVE

Brad, grandma Helen, and Max

What a wonderful evening and a very special Christmas eve!