The Daulton Dabbler

new blog...

2012-11-30T13:33:00.001-08:00

So...Google will only allow 1GB of storage space for pictures. I guess I should have downsized all of the blog pictures from the past seven years. Oh well.

I'm using Wordpress now. You can find me at:

http://lauradaulton.wordpress.com/

Bear with me as I try to figure things out over there. It seems very easy, though!

Project 52: FORTY-SIX

2012-11-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

I know this picture isn't the greatest quality (it was taken in low light on Jenny's iPad), but I just love it. Last weekend, as I said in my previous post, I went to Austin to visit Jenny! As her friend Jessica said, "All is well in the world when the Rich twins are together." I agree.

I "helped" Jenny with coordinating the volunteers for ArtReach. By "help," I just kept her company the whole day...which means I shopped for myself. Let's just say I am set for my Christmas presents to myself (you know you do it, too...or maybe it's just me). I also nagged her to rest more since she's battling walking pneumonia. She didn't so much like that part of it.

We had a great time Saturday evening, too, eating her roommate's yummy feast and watching a movie together she had checked out from the library...and then giving up on that painfully boring movie and watching Gilmore Girls together instead.

I really enjoyed my little vacation to see my sister. It was very weird to not have G or Eric with me, though. I slept in each day (!!!) and didn't have to feed anyone before feeding myself. It was pretty blissful.

Project 52: FORTY-FIVE

2012-11-12T10:48:00.001-08:00

We have the privilege of having the Hill family stay with us for a week.

They are missionaries to China that our church supports.

They just happen to have an 18 month old daughter

(score! instant playmate for G!).

We have had such a great time getting to know this sweet family.

Even though our house isn't the biggest or the best,

we do have a guest room

and the kid stuff.

Maybe someday we can swing over to Beijing and visit them!

(Don't worry...there were three adults surrounding this daredevil.)

(I had to post this cutie-pie picture, too!)

G and LG have fun together,

and we have fun with Andrew and Jaime

(who, surprisingly, are very similar to us...just mirrored).

Shout out to Eric... he has such a hospitable heart. He knew how important it was for me to spend this past weekend with my sister in Austin at ARTreach. He kept G, took great care of him, AND was a great host to our guests. He even made Turkey Cookies on his own to take to the International Thanksgiving Dinner. He EVEN made it to early service at church on time! I mean, really. This guy is a keeper.

Our guests have been so much fun. Jaime is sweet with a servant heart. I don't think our kitchen has ever been this consistently clean! Oh, and she's cooking for us tonight! Andrew provides us with great conversation and home improvements...He fixed Eric's closet door (finally!), checked out why our dryer isn't the greatest, and raked up all the leaves in our yard. Wait, he didn't do the last thing. That's just wishful thinking.

14 month update!

2012-11-08T15:41:00.002-08:00

STATS: 26 pounds, really tall, 18 month clothing

EATING: Eating is about the same - you eat three meals a day and sometimes an afternoon snack. We offer you milk at every meal and water in the afternoon. If you ever finish your milk, you get water. We make sure to give you veggies first so you'll eat them! Your favorite is still asparagus. You pretty much eat what we eat most of the time. We have even given you some spicy curry like in Mommy's Lentil Soup. You sometimes like spicy things...and then sometimes eat them and yell at us. Ha! Let's just say you drink a lot of water and milk at those times.

SLEEPING: You sleep about 11 1/2 hours each night. On the days we are home and don't have activities, you take two naps (or try to...these have been a challenge recently). On days we are out and about, you take one nap. Total nap time equals about 2 1/2 hours.

NEW THINGS: You are a walker!!! You now officially want to walk more than crawl. Crawling is still your go-to, but in the past two weeks, you have become more brave with walking. You get a look of determination on your face and go for it!

You have some new signs (and you LOVE the "Baby Signing Time" video and ask for it all the time...and throw fits when Mommy "redirects" you...): "signing," "drink," and occasionally some of the animal names.

You say some new things: "down," "mama" (more than "Laura" or "Rara"...much to your extended family's chagrin), "please" (I've heard it just a couple times), "bye-bye"

You can blow your nose (only on your terms). This month, the weather has changed a bit, and we've noticed that you have your Daddy's seasonal allergies. Yay. At the beginning of the month, your cough remained and became dry during the night. You would have these coughing fits every night. I started you back on some old Albuterol that we had from last year when you had RSV until I could get you to the doctor. We switched you to a Pediatrician (duh) and he asked if you had any eczema. Well, you do have patches on your legs! He said that eczema and asthma run in the same circles. So now, we have you on steroid cream and steroid breathing treatments (which are milder than albuterol). We have some non-expired albuterol for emergencies. Once we started you on this, you got much better. Your allergies came back once the weather warmed up again, but you're no longer waking us up in the night with your coughing. Yay!

You are starting to learn how to use a fork. You always want to help Mommy with this. Sometimes she helps you get food on the fork, and you pick it up and feed yourself. Next skill: drinking from a cup!

When you are riding with Mommy in the car, and she says, "I love you," You will find her face in the rearview mirror from your mirror and give a kiss! It's so precious.

You wave bye bye (and say it!) to everyone now. You are also very free with blowing kisses.

You have had some separation anxiety lately with Mommy when she goes to Ladies' Bible Class or MOPS.

For Mommy's reference, here's your schedule:
7am wake, breathing treatment & books, brush teeth, breakfast, independent playtime, playing or walking/running with Mommy
9:30am nap...ish
10:45-11:00am wake & play
12:00pm lunch, possibly an errand
1:00pm nap
3:00ish wake & play...maybe a snack, depending on how much you ate for lunch and how late you slept
5:30-6:00pm dinner
7:00pm Daddy-duty - maybe a bath, books, pjs, bedtime at 7:30

Garrett,

You are more and more like a little boy instead of a baby each day. You always surprise us with the things you know and are learning. You are so cheerful and most of the time are very flexible and good natured. You eat very well, too. You have good table manners and are learning how to use a fork...kind of. We love you so much.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Project 52: FORTY-FOUR

2012-11-01T17:45:00.000-07:00

here we go.

Mommy had to help me a lot.

I really liked just holding the paint brushes.

Did you know that the paint from my hands gets all over the paint brushes?

Mommy loved picking up the paint brushes after I had handled them.

I convinced Mommy not to post the pictures of me cleaning up.

That would be embarrassing.

Here's our final creation!

And just for kicks,

Mommy wanted to post a really cute picture of me (clothed and) smiling.

I love fall!

Learning Curve Update

2012-10-31T13:39:00.002-07:00

and of course, the day I post that I have Nap Time figured out, he plays for his entire afternoon nap.

yup, that sounds about right.

Learning Curve

2012-10-31T09:01:00.000-07:00

LEARNING CURVE #1: Making Decisions Together

Last week: I made a last minute decision (without consulting Eric) about keeping G in church with us instead of taking him to the nursery. He did great (I was exhausted!). We took him to class, and I taught the cradle roll class. We finally got home, were completely worn out, and we all ate lunch. G was super-hyper, but it was naptime (for all of us!). Eric suggested we keep G up a little and let him crawl around since he didn't get to during church. I, of course, took offense to that because it was my decision to keep him in church. Short story long, G did NOT sleep, we did NOT sleep, and we all went to the game room. Eric and I took a nap on the couch while G played. (It's a completely safe room, and we could hear if he got into any trouble...don't judge.) :) G was finally worn out at 3, so we put him down again, and he went to sleep (finally!). FAIL.

This week: Eric and I discussed what to do with G BEFORE church, agreed, and G went to the nursery. When we came home, G was so tired that he couldn't even eat lunch (read: throwing a fit). I put him down right away, and he is currently taking a long nap. We'll feed him lunch later. :)

Solution: Make decisions about this kind of stuff TOGETHER. Duh. Seriously.

LEARNING CURVE #2: Scripture Lessons

Before: Whenever I read the New Testament, I always read it in the light of me being a Gentile. You know, not a Jew. Right? Ephesians 2:11-18, for example. The subtitle is "Oneness and Peace in Christ." It's all about Christ bringing peace to us - Jews and Gentiles - creating one new people from the two groups. Read as a Gentile, that jives with me and makes sense. Verse 17 says,

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Read as a Gentile, I think about being far away from Jesus when I sin. Right? Sin separates us from God.

Now: Okay, but I've grown up knowing God. And I don't think the Gentiles did. The Jews did, for sure. So, what if I read this as a Jew...because Jews have been near to God their whole lives, like me. Gentiles, then, would be people who have not been near to God their whole lives...people around the world who do not accept Jesus and his teachings. I don't know about you, but that changes my reading of Ephesians. It opens the world to me for Jesus and salvation.

He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. v.15

Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. v.16

Now, I know technically, I'm not a Jew. But if I read these passages with the understanding that Jews were people who grew up "going to church," and Gentiles were people who didn't (or who believed in other things...), then this passage has a whole new meaning.

LEARNING CURVE #3: Nap Time

A Few Months Ago: Nap Time. I have always let G go to sleep on his own, from the very beginning. Lately, he has been playing for a LONG time in his crib before finally going to sleep. This has completely stressed me out. I worry about him getting enough sleep during the day (he just does so much better when he naps!), and therefore, I can't rest or be productive or anything until he actually takes his nap.

Aha! I finally decided that G was old enough (13 months) to understand when it is Nap Time and my expectations that he remain lying down and try to go to sleep.

Two Weeks Ago: I decided that if I saw that he was standing up in his crib and playing before his nap, that I would go in and lay (lie?) him back down and say, "Lay down. It's time to go to sleep." This worked very well the first two days. Then, he viewed it as a game. When I would come in, he would crash to the mattress and giggle. He's lying down, right? Um, wrong. He was willfully disobeying me. He is definitely old enough to know what he is doing as far as this is concerned.

Now: Without going into too many details, now I am very firm and strict with him. I follow the same disciplining procedure each time (the FIRST time I go into his room when he's not lying down). It works. He stays lying down and goes to sleep within minutes. Yesterday, I had to go in twice, but that is not the norm. Hopefully, soon, he will learn to not get up at all, and I won't have to go in there.

It's so hard to be consistent. It's so hard to discipline. But it works. And it's necessary. And G is learning. And I am learning. Whew. This parenting thing is not for the faint of heart.

Now I need to go take a shower because he's napping.

In his Pack N Play.

After weeks of not napping in it.

And I only went in there once.

Project 52:FORTY-THREE

2012-10-26T11:59:00.002-07:00

As you already know, we had a wonderful time with Grandma Lois and Grandpa Stan last week. Since I'm making these Project 52 posts into a book, I wanted to commemorate our time together.

I also wanted to commemorate our time at the Texas State Fair. We went the last Thursday night of the Fair this year. We ate new fried foods; we watched the Bird Show; we took our picture with Big Tex...

The next morning, Big Tex's 60 year old electrical innards had a problem. I'm just amazed that he has lived such a long, full life! Did you know that Big Tex only left the Fairgrounds twice in his lifetime? The last time was to go to ACU's homecoming in 1955. That's crazy!

Anyway, we are all saddened by this iconic loss. Next year, I'm sure he will be bigger and better. We look forward to it!

I'm so glad we have a great last picture with him:

And Garrett's first time meeting Big Tex in 2011:

Owens Spring Creek Farm

2012-10-25T12:26:00.005-07:00

Embrace the Camera!

2012-10-25T06:01:00.001-07:00

For more embracing the camera where YOU get in the pictures, visit the Anderson Family Crew!

Fun with Grandma Lois and Grandpa Stan

2012-10-24T08:29:00.002-07:00

Eric's parents live in Chicago,

so we don't get to see them very often.

In fact, the last time we were together in person was April.

Needless to say, we have been looking forward to their visit for a very long time.

G loved every minute with his grandparents.

His great uncle Tim even came all the way from San Antonio to hang out with him

(and his sister Lois)!

By the way, do you see these stacking/nesting blocks?

You probably won't believe me

(I hardly believe it myself),

but G has figured out how to nest them all together.

In order.

Such a smart kid.

He doesn't know what to think about pumpkin goop, though...

But he got to see the counter

because of his learning tower,

hand crafted from Pops!

...although he was a little frightened...

He had fun seeing what Grandma Lois was up to, anyway!

We really liked Eric's homemade spinach quiche

that we enjoyed outside in the beautiful fall weather!

Grandma and Grandpa brought G some birthday presents

that are now his favorite toys!

Such a fun extended family picture!

We ended our really fun week with a trip to the State Fair,

capturing one last picture with Big Tex.

(May he rest in peace.)

Project 52: FORTY-TWO

2012-10-19T08:09:00.000-07:00

Garrett was named after Leroy Garrett, who is still living in Denton, TX. Every year, we try to visit him, especially to make sure that we have documented memories of Garrett meeting his namesake.

Garrett's grandparents got to come with us this time. They know Dr. Garrett, too, so it was really neat for them to experience the visit as well.

Project 52: FORTY-ONE

2012-10-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

As I look back on my pictures from this past year,

um,

Eric and I aren't in a whole lot of them.

Obviously, there's a little show-stopper in our house nowadays.

So, I am trying to be intentional with being in the picture together with G.

Or with Eric in the picture with G.

Or either of us in a video with G:

Sometimes on Thursdays, I participate in Embrace the Camera.

My MOPS group is getting in the picture, too!

So...um, get in the picture. :)

Maybe in a few weeks, it'll be ...get WITH the picture...

13 month update

2012-10-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

You weren't really performing much for your picture this month. I guess you're a little out of practice since we don't do this every week anymore...

There. That's better.

STATS: You're very tall and average in weight. You are giving Mommy awesome arm muscles! You wear 18 month clothing and seem to be staying there (hopefully...that's the warmest clothing we have!).

EATING: You eat three great meals a day with maybe one snack. I'm trying to get our dinner time and your dinner time lined up, but it's hard. Usually, I feed you veggies that you can pick up while I am finishing dinner. Then, I'll sit down with you while you eat and while we wait for Daddy to get home. You may play a little while Daddy changes out of his work clothes, and then you come back to the table sometimes with us while we eat. Sometimes, though, we're not even that organized, and we spend time with you and put you to bed before we even get to eat. Then our food is cold and we have to microwave it. Bleh. Obviously, we're working on this.

SLEEPING: You still take two naps (ideal!), but sometimes take one nap because of Mommy needing to get out of the house. When you take two naps, Mommy puts you down at 9am and at 1pm. For your 9am nap, sometimes it takes you awhile to go to sleep. Mommy always wakes you up at 10:30. For your 1pm nap, you still sometimes take awhile to go to sleep (sometimes not, depending on your level of activity). Mommy doesn't wake you up, though. I let you sleep until you wake up (usually around 3...this varies). Mommy is VERY thankful for your naps.

On days you take one nap, you go down after lunch (usually in the noon hour). You usually sleep very well (about 2 1/2 hours). Mommy hopes that once you are down to one nap consistently, you will extend your nap a little more.

At night, you go to bed around 7:30 and sleep until 7am. On days we have to put you to bed later, you don't sleep in...you always wake up at 7am.

Mommy was hoping you would continue this amazing sleep behavior when you traveled with Mommy and Daddy to Abilene this weekend. You didn't. You were having too much fun and never wanted to sleep. ...which stressed Mommy out. We need to work on this, little mister.

A fishy kiss face makes it all better, though. :)

NEW THINGS: You give lots of hugs (to your stuffed animals) and kisses (to everyone...air kisses...you don't lean in yet). You charm the socks off of every cashier, nursery worker, and friend.

You still love eating every little thing off the ground. I live for the day you can play outside without eating leaves, acorns, and bugs.

You have taken some steps this month (very deliberately), but you still have no interest in this whole walking business.

This month, you have gotten very frustrated with your lack of communication abilities. You have started using more signs, though, which have helped so much. (You love your "Baby Signing Time" video and shriek when you get to watch it!) You sign "please," "more," "eat," and you point to what you want. You understand me when I ask you to do things, like, "Put the baseballs back in the bowl," and "Go get the train." I have to be very patient and not give up, but you usually do what I ask.

You haven't enjoyed getting your diaper changed this month. About half the time, you kick and flail around. I talked with some mentors about this, and they told me to lay down the law and regain control. So, the next time after you disobeyed my warning, I gave you a swat with a wooden spoon (when I use just my hand, you laugh at me...that's not going to work). It worked the first time and has gotten much better. You still like to exercise your will during this time, but you are obeying more and more.

Garrett, you are such a joy in our lives! You love people. You are such a sweet boy, but you are also a rough and tumble boy's boy. I love seeing your little personality develop, and I am so excited about what this next month might bring in your development.

For Mommy's reference, here's your schedule:
7am - wake, change diaper/clothes, read a Bible story, breakfast, independent playtime in the playpen for 30 minutes, play with Mommy afterwards.
9am - nap
10:30am - wake, change diaper, play
11:00ish - lunch, then maybe an errand
12:30-1:00 - nap (hopefully...I'm guessing this will become your only nap in the near future.)
2:30-3 - wake, change, snack, play, errands?
5ish - dinner, then play with Daddy
7:00 - bedtime routine (sometimes a bath, stories with Daddy, prayer, song, lights out)

Project 52: FORTY

2012-10-05T06:16:00.002-07:00

The other day, I had an epiphany.

If I just get work done while G is napping,

he won't see me do the work!

Plus, while he's napping, I should be resting and taking a break, too.

Duh.

The rest of you have probably already figured this out.

So, this week, when G is awake, I have been INTENTIONAL

about doing the chores where he can see me.

I even let him help make his dinner!

...until the frozen green beans got too cold for his little hands.

Might I add that he really enjoyed helping!

Get ready, son...

And for your viewing pleasure...I present:

The Penne Pasta Eating Machine:

FISH KISSES!

house arrest

2012-10-02T12:02:00.001-07:00

G has an ear infection.

He's been sick with the snots since late last week.

So, we're home.

I put us on house arrest until Wednesday so he doesn't give any germs to anyone else.

Aunt Christy sent G a birthday present that we got in the mail yesterday.

If it really just was a box filled with packing peanuts, it would have been fantastic!

But Aunt Christy went above and beyond and got a super-plush zebra

and the book Press Here by Henre Tullet.

Thank you!!

G had so much fun with these peanuts.

He put them in the muffin pan,

scooped them into measuring cups in the little swimming pool,

and just had a lot of fun.

Okay, so do any of your kids do this...

G has this fascination with this curtain tie.

Behold:

It's like it's his security blanket.

Eric and I think it's so quirky and funny.

I leave you with this:

He's planting the packing peanuts. Attaboy.

Project 52:THIRTY-NINE

2012-09-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

He's growing up so fast!

He used to be so scared of slides:

And now he loves them!

He's still a little scared of swings, though:

(back in March, 6 mo old)

and now:

Oh, and I posted the good video yesterday of him walking.

Here's proof that he doesn't really want to do it yet:

Be brave, little man.

Intentionally keep on trying!

To see more Project 52s, check out the Styleberry Blog.

To see what Project 52 is, click on the tab at the top of this blog.

here he goes!

2012-09-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't technically say that G is a walker now by any means, but in the past couple days, he has come a long way (so to speak!).

He is still very tentative in his walking, but he'll get there.

It's so exciting to watch him figure things out!

Oh, and you may notice all of the stuff in the pack n play behind him.

That's his new "thing."

I like to think that it's his way of cleaning up the entire room...

DVDs, picture frames, and all...

Happy birthday, Daddy!

2012-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Garrett has been calling out for his daddy all. day. today.

So we explored a new park tonight for Eric's birthday, and almost made it on the news!

(There was an NBC 5 news van at the park...we may have been in the background.)

I really wish the above picture were in focus. He is not so sure about swings.

I was beginning to think he wasn't going to be brave.

Then we discovered the slide.

To say there was a fit when we left is an understatement.

Garrett was difficult to console, too.

Happy birthday, Daddy!

For more Embrace The Camera, head over to the Anderson's blog.

Project 52: THIRTY-EIGHT

2012-09-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend was so much fun!

It began Friday night when G and I picked up Eric from work,

went to Schlotzsky's for dinner,

had a little dance party,

and went out to the Plano Balloon Festival!

This will definitely become a tradition of ours.

We had a great spot to watch the balloons fire up,

and G knew what was going on!

He loved babbling on and on about the balloons (we think)

and drinking from a water bottle.

It's the little things in life.

And the big things...like hot air balloons.

...and 5K races.

That's a big thing for me!

This week, I battled the horrid stomach bug.

The boys had it last week.

We have in no way prepared for this family run we signed up for months ago.

But we rallied and had a great time!

It was a small race.

Downhill for the first half

and uphill for the last half

(who planned this race anyway? Good grief!)

Shocking to myself mostly,

I ran the entire thing!

Whaaaa?

It was great

(although I cannot walk this evening...),

and Eric was so sweet to finish with me.

Hopefully our family can do more runs like this.

Oh, and I got 4th place.

...out of four.

Project 52:THIRTY-SEVEN

2012-09-16T12:47:00.003-07:00

this kid is TALL!

2012-09-12T13:33:00.002-07:00

Do you see the highest curved line? That's the 95th percentile.

Do you see the little black dots? That's where G has been at each appointment.

33 inches at 12 months. Uncle Alan, I think you're going to have some competition.

(Uncle Alan is 6'7"...)

Comparison

2012-09-11T11:53:00.002-07:00

This was the picture we used on Garrett's birth announcement, September 2011:

Don't worry, I'm holding up his head and I'm standing right there. I just cropped me out of the pic.

Here he is today:

The Birthday Boy

2012-09-11T10:12:00.002-07:00

Great Grandpa Ken got to come!

Great Grandpa kept trying to force him to walk...

...which resulted in this.

Now, for the cake!

...and the clean-up

Then we spent about 10 minutes letting him play in the water.

I think we have a new fun activity!

My entire family got to come, so we made sure to get a family picture.

(Yes, we coordinated with the party colors.)

We also got a 4 generation picture.

Thank you to my dear friend Rachel Baker for taking most of these pictures! She did a great job. My cousin Mark also took some pictures. He just grabbed my camera and started shooting away until my battery ran out. Thanks, Mark!

Curious Garrett Turns ONE! ...the decor

2012-09-10T08:34:00.000-07:00

I'll let the pictures tell most of the story.

I'm thankful for Pops and Mamo coming up (and bringing G's Great Grandpa Ken and his Uncle Ben!) and helping with everything. G loved all of the extra attention for sure!

I wasn't originally planning on anyone being outside because the temperatures had been around 106. But, Friday night, a cold front came through and cooled things off to the upper 80s. It was blissful! The balloon garland was a last minute addition...as was the painting of the table and chairs.

Mamo and I always have a project when we're together. We found this amazing fabric at Hobby Lobby and snatched it up with a 40% off coupon. Mom bought a plastic shower curtain liner to put over the fabric (way cheaper than buying the special plastic).

Jenny and I spray painted the chairs and table. Ben helped one night by waving his arms for our motion detector light to stay on while I painted! Ha!

I love how they turned out, and it was just in time for the party!

I moved G's high chair outside as he was begging me to

(in the form of throwing a fit during his dinner).

I carried the Curious George theme through the whole house.

Look for the books and several yellow hats in the decor.

See it?

These amazing cookies were made by my dear friend Ashlee.

Check out her new business and facebook page here at The Sweet Artiste.

For each of G's birthdays, I'm going to have everyone sign a book that represents either the party or something significant in his life at that time. I thought the first book turned out great!

Disclaimer: I really don't like the original story of Curious George. The man in the yellow hat takes George from Africa via bagging him up to put him in a zoo! Good grief!

I cut up a few too many bananas for our banana split bar. Smoothies, here I come!

Eric, as always, is a great host. Here he is setting up the banana split bar.

It was a hit! Everyone's banana split creations were so much fun to see. Garrett even enjoyed some ice cream for the first time. Yum!

My friend Allison Harms made the invitations and these cute signs. The whole party color scheme is based on what she came up with! Check out her etsy shop and blog.

I found the paper straws at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the cute pails at Target's Dollar Spot.

Oh, and I found the hot dog trays at Ace Mart, which we used for chips and salsa/guac and the ice cream sundaes.

I was at Hobby Lobby at just the right time to snag this grey chevron fabric.

I printed off the monthly pictures for this banner that I made.

See the yellow hat?

This was moved promptly outside.

I printed off all 52 pictures from each of the "Watch Me Grow" pictures.

This was one of Eric's favorite parts of all of the decorations.

Next up: the birthday boy!