evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

Nina's first birthday. She is one! (and a month and 12 days!!!!) Whether we were ready for it or not, it was upon us. Nina is growing and changing everyday and we’re running to catch up.

The theme was cake and cats. Nina has been trying to say "kitty" since she was like 8 months old at least. The earliest memory we have of her being excited being belief was when she met her first feline at about 4 months old. Cats seem to be a favorite for her and I wanted this party to be for her as much as a one year old is able to grasp. I made little cat masks for all the kids. Kendra pulled through for me and conjured up a friendly cat AND a pug! The pug, dressed in a spandex cheetah print thing with pink lace, turned out to be much more of a Nina pleaser than the cat, who hid under our bed the whole time. It was fun for some of the older kids to run around playing hide and seek with the cat and the pug.



If you can't tell from the picture, our apartment was pretty full and there was some mayhem. Including me being mask nazi, trying to get a picture of all the kids together with their cat mask on at the same time (note to self: masks are good for older kids) But I think Nina enjoyed swimming in a sea of friends and cake. She seems to do really well in big crowds of people with a lot going on all at once. Her friend Alex was super excited to sing happy birthday to "Nani", Jan said he was practicing all day. Lily helped her finish her huge messy birthday cake. There were snacks and cupcakes for everyone else and Lily insisted on pink cake like Nina's. Nina didn't mind sharing. Evan and I's favorite moment of the party was right after Nina tasted the cake, she slowly lowered her face into it. We'll post the video some time soon.


Nina, wondering what's next. Food?


The blessed cake is in sight.


First taste.





A range of reactions to the cat masks:


Nibs


Soren


Alex


Daphne


Henry and Elijah


Vaughncito


"I made them wear these?"


Blurry evidence that a pug was there

Labels: birthday, cats, Nina

This was how we spent one of our last days over christmas break.


marchin' along


Whose woods these are I think I know



Nina found some bark

Sarah & Evan Stout!

we realized Nina needed gloves and we hadn't brought any so she wore these!

She was so tiiirred! In her hiking pack!

Here is how I usually am during Rexburg winters -- I bundle myself and Nina up. Holding my breath (so the cold air doesn't enter my body) I scramble from the front door of our apartment to our car. Plus my body tenses up and basically I avoid outdoors at all costs. Cold=pain. I don't even let Evan open the car door for me because I'd rather he use those few seconds to get in the car and get it started heating up. SOOO Here in Washington I got to breath and move easy. I ran around, I jumped around, and it felt so free and nice, to be outside and be comfortable. And it was green and beautiful! You can see a little snow on the ground, but that was just in one area in the mountains. Mostly, nice and mild weather. aahhh