Party Animal!

Arlo had a house full of guests this past Saturday for his first ever birthday party. 25 people came and enjoyed lunch and delicious cupcakes. The plan was for a picnic at the Governor General's, but rain kept us inside. That was fine for Arlo, it meant he could let loose on his cupcake knowing that a bathtub was close at hand...

Daisy drew on her years of toy playing experience to help her younger buddy Arlo figure out how some of his new gifts worked.

"...now push down on the handle Arlo...that's it!"

Sally and Lucy show how to drive his new wheels.

What a cute couple! Sally didn't leave his side for the whole party!

Everyone swarms the gift opening...Arlo had a lot of help with the wrapping.

Owen and Thomas are dying for Arlo to play some ball with them. Hayden wanted him to play with his toy soldiers, but Arlo was mainly waiting for the girls to show up and make it a real party!

Arlo couldn't get enough of Sally, he kept touching her face all through dinner and chattering on to her.

Hayden knows where his priorities lie. Forget the girls, there are cupcakes to be had!

That's how you eat a cupcake Daisy. Watch Linden dig into it.

Yikes, the candle thing again!

Why is everyone staring at me?

I could get used to all this attention....

Don't leave any for the adults!

Happy First Birthday!

The candle on the cupcake was the first indication that this was not just your everyday snack, and for a moment it seemed like the most interesting part of this experience...

Oh now I understand what all the fuss is about...CHOCOLATE!!!Nothing like getting right in there an enjoying a meal. Shirtless! I learned this move watching my uncle Scott eat spaghetti!Forget small pieces Mama, full speed ahead!

Family celebration!

Wow, who is more excited? You better keep it away from Daddy.

My very own Tonka! What a special day this has been. Can we do it again next year???

A year ago tonight....

Heading to the park at Dovercourt for some fun. I turn 1 this week, so I need to have fun while I'm still young.

Mom shows me how to have fun!

Playing in the waterfall at Dovercourt Park.

Last Victoria Day my folks planted a garden, and that night they went to the hospital to have me. What a whirlwind!

It might be early in the season for corn, but it isn't too early for Arlo to be trying his hand at the cob. We might have a new favourite here!

Freedom!!!

Awwww Dad! You aren't gonna let anyone see these pictures are you?

It is almost impossible to believe that a year ago tonight Jenny and Ray (with their trusty sidekick Tiiu) spent the entire night at Ottawa Civic awaiting the arrival of Baby Arlo! This has been an incredibly long year in many ways (if you compare the waking hours of this year with the waking hours of any previous year for either Jenny or Ray it is a was a longer year), but in many ways it is hard to grasp that Arlo is turning 1 on May 25th (just a few

hours away as I type this). In this time he has taken his first breaths, made his first sounds, said his first words, taken his first steps (since one month he has stood, and since seven months he has toddled, but he still won't let go of a finger or hand or pantleg to walk fully alone), eaten his first solid food (loves everything you give him, but really goes for peas, blue berries, and cucumber), eaten his first handful of dirt(and second and third, and...), taken countless road trips, flown in his first airplane (he has taken 11 flights in his 12 months of life!), visited his first new country (USA, Fijii, and New Zealand), shared his first kiss with a girl (there are quite a few to mention, but his main crushes are Daisy and Lucy, though he also has eyes for an older girl named Iris who sometimes helps look after him). He has had a busy year. Arlo frequents many places in Ottawa, and gets out to a pub, patio, or restaurant once a week at least. He is a regular swimmer at local pools in the city, he has taken part in music classes, attended a half dozen or more concerts as well as outdoor festivals, he is well recognized by the community at his papa's school where he drops in frequently. Arlo has packed a lot into this year.

Playin in the Rain...

The weather has been a bit damp the past few days, but this isn't slowing Arlo down one bit. One person's rainy day, is another's day of adventure, as he shows here by having a grand old time with the puddles on his driveway. Note that his brand new MEC raincoat did a fine job keeping his top dry, but all of his splashing, stomping, and sitting in the puddles didn't do much for keeping the rest of him dry. Needless to say he was right into a warm bath following this fun outing!

Arlo Rocks Out!

Arlo attended Churchill's "School of Rock 6 - The World Tour" concert this past Friday, and rocked out for the whole show. The School of Rockers sang 14 songs, and the whole concert took about an hour and a half, but he was moving and shaking for all of it. This was the second School of Rock concert he has attended technically, as his mom came to the show last year just over a week before he was born. This year he was able to recognize his Daddy onstage, and would have been quite happy going up there himself to have some fun.