Ari's First Birthday

Two weekends ago, we went to Virginia for my nephew's first birthday celebration! Here are a few (not very good) pictures of our time there, especially for those friends of the Nalle family who are now far away.

Ari's first birthday dessert was his momma's strawberry shortcake, with freshly picked strawberries (courtesy of Dad, Lena, Jacque and me). Make a wish, Ari!


First tentative bite... then he went to town!


Jacque enjoying her little boy's delight.


Opening the first cards...


...then presents. This is Jacque as she opened our gift, which included a jar of bubbles. Right after she made this face she said, "It's very wet... and sticky." Uh-oh.


Well, after we cleaned up that mess, we got to see Ari open Nana and Grandpop's present--a talking, Elmo, shapes-naming, wheel thing. Ari was giddy with joy.

(For the rest of the visit, the three kids all played with this thing together, while the adults rued the day it was invented.)

Here's Lena, modeling a tissue-paper kerchief. Very stylish, very green--we Nalles are into creative recycling.


Ain't she a cutie-pie?


This last one is Meg, eating her strawberry shortcake and looking... startled? Guilty? Like a deer about to get hit by a Suburban?


Unfortunately, I don't think anyone even thought to get a single group/family shot, or even one of the three kids together. Hopefully next time...

We love you, Spruill family! Thanks for opening your home to us and allowing us to celebrate with you. We are grateful to God for adding Ari to our clan... one whole year ago.