Willie Family Reunion

The magical thing about going to Gma Judy's and Gpa Bill's house, is that miracles really do come true, especially if you are obsessed with motorized vehicles like 4-wheelers (otherwise named wawa's for the sound they make...)

Alexi can't believe it's true, all the books he has read, the pictures he has studied, all his hard work has lead up to this very moment, the moment of truth...

The moment where when momma realizes that there is not enough hair dye in the world for her to make it to Alexi's 30th Bday...the moment momma realizes it's a loosing battle, the little man loves his motorized crafts.

After 'playing' on the instrument of evil, the little man figured out the 3 step process of how to turn it on, all by himself...no joke. It took momma longer to figure out how to get the darn thing started. Luckily, little man's legs weren't long enough to kick it into gear (at least until next year....)

there was only one thing to do...find the biggest helmet known to man

and then, it's off to the races sport's fans...

This experience could only be topped by...well it really couldn't, but riding the horse was fun too...

But first, a pat on the head for the farm dogs

This was really Santana's Day, the day of the Horse...

Her mom's theory, better for her beautiful daughter to fall in love with horses, then men. Hey, it's worth a try...

Gpa Bill rounds up the troops,

and off they go...Santana loving every moment

Alexi takes a turn..

Mt Hood from Gma Judy and Gpa Bills front porch.

And finally, the family reunion. Aunts, uncles and cousins...and of course fuzz bucket, mom's (and Bill's) dog.

Alexi's second desso trip

In what is now appearing to be an annual trip, Alexi floated his second Desolation Canyon River Trip. Wiffy absent due to necessity of her job, I too the opportunity to join my friends and fellow river rats for some r and r on the river. It was hot. Lots of fun was had squirting the other boat with water.

River monsters were always lurking in the water.

"Arg-arg-arr, where's my little children to eat!"

These were scary creatures to avoid.

Screaming, giggling, and poking-out-the-tongue was the best defense.

Then there were serene quite moments.
Andi relaxing with daughter Tallia at the oars.

But-tired babes sleeping, left time to admire bold beautiful buttes.

Barry and Lisa enjoy the same quite time with their bundle of joy Mia swaddled on the main deck.

But Alexi was not much of a sleeper. He was always jumping on the oars. Even when he was not supposed too. "Look Ma, no adults!" as he works the boat away from the shore.

But how can you get mad a such a cute little bug?

Little charmer did his best practice marriage dance, as he ran around the girls 10 times, sometimes running forward and sometimes prancing sideways.

Was Tallia not too sure of this display?

Mia might have been pleased.

Did Alexi's charms do their work?

"Wew, girls are hard work!" as he warms my stout to an appropriately drinkable temp.

Mia had her own way of cooling off by eating big habanero-looking peppers.

Tallia likes it hot too, buy playing with the sizzling sparklers.

Hot fun requires hamburger cooldown. And perhaps a Chocky Milk or two.

Some times other types of hot would happen as occasionally there was not enough oars to go around.

So while the girls were getting some cool down spa time......

.....Alexi would be manning the oars.

"Wew, this oaring is hard work"

See you on the river next year!

Gma Lin and Gpaw Rob

After the wedding bash, it's great to cool down with some chocolate ice cream, and a trip to the zoo with gma and gpaw, who finished off Alexi's birthday month with a bang!

Ice cream man with Gma and Gpa...

Tying the Knot

Off to Colorado to watch the G-man seal the deal with his sweety.

Lit'l James, looks on...

James and Karen, after surviving a day on the Poudre River

Flower Gals...

And finally, the preacher man makes it official

Wuv, true Wuv...

Who gave that man a knife?

Hmmm, wonder what the G-man is going to do....

And then, it was time to dance the night away.....

the oarsman

My little bug is a natural at the oars. I suspect that next year he will be rowing me down the river!

Chillin many ways before heading to the put in.

A little to much helmitting?

Running man and his new space helmit.

Alexi's First Soccer Game

With the expert coaching of daddy Chris, Alexi was reported to have actually stayed on the soccer field! His team pictured in black.

Big Boy's Bday

Can you believe it? Three already...how time flies. Well, to add some fun to big boys B-day fun, his cousins were in town. Alexi below with cousin Santana ripp'n it up on the scooter and bike.

Let the festivities begin: wack the dino. Great fun, here is Alexi give'n it his best shot.

The dino was pretty resilient so off came the mask and on went the wacking

Going in for the goods:

Hard to imagine all these kids just sitting still, but there you have it...the wonder of magic

As special guy of the day, Alexi got the first pet of the dove which magically appeared out of a box.
He wasn't quite sure what to do with the bunny however... maybe he was hoping for cake instead??
And then there was balloons and face painting. By this time Alexi had fled the scene to get a head start on the cupcakes, which really needed someone to lick the frosting off the top for them.
A little swing on the porch while enjoying the sugar high

And there he is: in his original birthday suit, all sugared up, and officially three!