"For today is Your Day of all Days!"

Yesterday was our baby's

 1st Birthday!

Can you believe it? Traceon is one year and one day old....

Where does time go?

I decided to celebrate his birthday Dr. Seuss style!

Here is the Birthday Boy in his Dr. Seuss shirt! How cute is he?

"If we didn't have birthdays, you wouldn't be you.

 If you'd never been born, well then what would you do?

If You'd never been born, well then what would you be?

 You might be a fish! Or a toad in a tree!

 Or worse than that...Why, you might be a WASN'T!

A Wasn't has no fun at all. No, he doesn't.

 A Wasn't just isn't. He just isn't present.

But you......You ARE YOU! And, now isn't that pleasant!"

Well I made all kinds of yummy treats for the little guy and his guests! Horton Hears A Who...Thing 1 and Thing 2...Green Eggs and Ham...and Cat in the Hat cupcakes!

Here is Little Boy Blue's CAKE! This I made...ALL BY SCRATCH! It was my very first fondant cake...and I think it turned out pretty good! It was super fun, and I plan on doing it again!

We totally had a Root Beer Float and Pop Station...equipped with Dip N' Dots!

The boys' Great Great Grandma Snyder is here in town visiting! I am so glad that she was able to be there for Trace's birthday! (Annndddd....Her 86th was today! More of that later!)

Ky...NEVER take Aunt Sam too seriously...I know I'm loud and crazy, but I love that cute little mug of yours so much!

Trace totally rocked out with some awesome gifts! The Big Bro of course got to help the Lil' Bro out with opening them!

Eating wrapping paper...

Mom...I got to see what it tastes like!

Trace got his very own VACUUM! And boy does he LOVE it!

Aydan sportin' his Biloxi shirt!

This train toy...is pretty much AWESOME, SPECTACULAR, WONDERFUL...I even want to play with it...and do!

SOOOO EXCITED THAT IT'S MY B-DAY!

This is what Aydan picked out for the little brother...it's a

 TOY STORY 3 TENT WITH TUNNEL INCLUDED!

Both kids love this thing...

And of course we had to get it out right away!

This pic is for you Uncle D-D Aunt Jess, D-Man, and Tag....Traceon LOVES his Doodle Bug (and phone...just like at your house!)....Thanks so much!

Isn't he fun? I mean seriously....

These kids were so excited for Traceon...or maybe they had too much cake and ice cream...?

Singing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and mom's buggin' with this dang hat!

Aydan helped blow out the candles! Man I love these 2!

DIGGIN' IN!

The aftermath....

Bath after cake...in the sink...pretty good...I think!

"Today you are you! That is truer than true!

There is no one alive who is you-er that you!

Shout loud, "I am lucky to be what I am!

Thank goodness I'm not just a clam or a ham

Or a dusty old jar of sour gooseberry jam!

I am what I am! That's a great thing to be!

If I say so myself, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!""

This little boy was so tired...he fell asleep while reading books!

Look at those SWEET ROSIE CHEEKS!

The LOOT...including the rocking chair (which is for all of us) he already loves that big, soft, brown, cushy, rockin' machine!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! For sharing Traceon's Day! And THANK YOU for all who participated in writing him a letter for his time capsule! It will be sooooo incredibly special when he reads them on his 18th!

This little boy is so special to me! I love every minute with him! He touches my heart in a very special way!

I was so excited to see him when he was born! He came into this world at 7:49am, Tuesday November 17th, 2009! Doc pulled him out, and he started to cry...which made me cry! It was one of the most happiest days of my life! Laying there looking at my beautiful baby boy turn purple, a shade that I NEVER want to see again, then watching as the nurse passed him into the N.I.C.U, I knew he was a fighter! LOOK AT HIM NOW! I'm so proud to be his mom! Oh how I cried last night! I just want to be able to remember everything about him as he is, and as he grows into the incredible man he's going to become! Every moment I cherish with him, I want to savor it forever! It is only sad because, time goes on. But you have your memories forever!

Happy Happy Happy 1st Birthday Baby Boy! Mommy and Daddy love you!

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On a side note:

I GOT TO TALK TO JUSTIN TODAY!

He is now at Camp Buehring, Kuwait! He sounds good! He was really excited when I was talking to him on the phone Tuesday night, as they were getting ready for lift off! They left at 12:20a.m Mississippi time Wednesday morning to Sheri, Ireland where they had an 1 1/2 layover! Justin said, and I quote, "People talk cool here." He said it was really really GREEN and raining in the land of the Irish...oh...I'm jealous...even if he just got a glimpse...and was not really there for site-seeing! After their layover, they got on another plane to fly to camp in Kuwait! Justin said he slept most of all plane rides, and his buddy woke him up as they were flying over Turkey, and over the Iranian border! He said that all the freeways are lit up so it was easy to spot specific cities like BAGHDAD! Yes the flew over Baghdad, and headed into Kuwait! From the airport to camp, was a 2 hour bus ride of flat, dessert, and white sand! Justin also said all of the cars go really really fast...fast like 100mph fast! Yikes! They arrived at camp at 6:00 in the morning, Middle Eastern Time! There is a 10 hour time difference from Idaho to Iraq...just so you know! He said they got set up in there tents and fell right asleep, and got up after a couple hours to eat breakfast! Justin's such a geek! He is just so excited and having a blast...which makes me feel ssoooooooo much better. Anyway he said the food tastes really different which is going to be hard for him to get used to, and everything is in Arabic...like the nutritional guides on food packages! Fun! He says they only get 15 gallons of water per day, each, for washing, brushing....or whatever I guess...not to drink though...not that water at least! Oh! And they also informed the troops that they are doing a COMBAT PATCH CEREMONY after they are in country for 30 days! This is super exciting because Justin thought they weren't going to do this...this is just a patch that goes on Justin's uniform underneath his flag! It was nice to hear him and it was also very relieving...I have to admit...I was on edge all morning...phone close at all times...waiting to hear that he was safe! It was about 9pm there when I talked to him (11am here) and he just got done lifting weights and was headed for a shower! I'm so proud of him! More updates later...Oh and....they are going into country on THANKSGIVING! Hopefully soon we can be able to skype with him and stuff... so yay!

If you were at all wondering where in the world Justin actually is...here is a map of Kuwait and Iraq...

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Today we celebrated another BIRTHDAY at our house! Great Great Grandma Snyder turned 86 today!

We had everybody over for stroganoff and chicken a sausage rigatoni aaannnnddddd PIE...fffrrrrooommmm Babe's Bakery!

Here's Trace cheesin' it up at dinner! He makes me smile! And...Boys ARE just better!

 

Aydan and Tommie on the Train! See...awesome toy huh?

Isn't she just sweet? I love that she was able to visit, and we were all able to celebrate her birthday with her! She really REALLY enjoyed it!

Happy 86th Great Great Grandma!