The Great Pumpkin

We headed out to the Pumpkin Patch in Warrenton to get Brandon a pumpkin. He loved walking and running around the pumpkins until we found the perfect one! We love Fall:)

Happy Halloween

Julia (butterfly princess) Brooke (Snow White) Macie (Spidergirl)

Brandon or as Julia says "my Brandy"

Attempt of getting most of the kids together

Brandon's cousin Jillian (little kitty)

Aftering picking Brandon up from the grass to trick or treat

Daddy trying to hold Brandon's hand

Didn't last for long...

Trick or Treat

I'm good with this Reece's right here

After running around.... I got pulled around

Cousins- it is super hard to get them all looking

Next attempt...

I was exhausted.... and fell asleep on Daddy

Halloween 2011 was quite the adventure.... Brandon was joined by his cousins, Brooke and Jillian and his friends, Macie, Julia, Trent, and Rachel for some trick or treating in our neighborhood! Brandon wanted no part of walking and holding our hand- he seemed to want to dart anywhere. Guess that's what happens when you have a one year old... Our little Buzz Lightyear ended up in the wagon (thanks to Nana for going to get it) and getting pulled the rest of the way. We ended up with lots of candy and Brandon fell asleep on Daddy while drinking his bottle. (he hasn't done that since he was a little baby) I'm pretty sure we wore him out! Successful Halloween... check.

I'm One!!

Pictures of every month!

Cake and Cupcakes made by myself and my mom

Daddy and Brandon

Mommy and Brandon

I'm a big boy!

I'm the birthday boy and I love balloons

Julia, Macie and Brooke

Grammie giving Brandon some love

Singing Happy Birthday to Brandon

Yay for me!

My new stance with my hands behind my back

Opening the mound of gifts!

Love my new front end loader

Kelly and MacKenzie- sooooo happy to meet her and hang out with the Wolfes!

Papa and Brandon

Getting crazy with Uncle Jarred!

Brandon turned one the day we got back from the Disney Cruise and since we needed a whole week to re cooperate we decided to celebrate his birthday Oct 15:) The birthday theme was a sports theme- mainly football:) Nana and mommy decorated the cupcakes and cake to celebrate! We had about 30 adults and about 8 kids over as well. Brandon got LOTs of great gifts- especially some pretty cool toys! Our house has officially turned into a play zone- oh great! Brandon is literally running everywhere and after his birthday party ended up with some bumps and bruises on his head..... he will learn not to lead with his head at some point:) But we want to thank everyone who came to celebrate our little boy turning 1, we truly have such great family and friends! We can't believe how fast it went by and are looking forward to what the next year brings us!

Disney Cruise aboard Disney Dream

Disney Cruise on the Disney Dream Cruise Ship Oct 2-6 with the Mayes Family

Day 1: We headed to Port Canaveral around 11:15 via shuttle from our hotel. We checked in and then waited for our boarding number to be called. Mickey & Minnie were there to greet us and we hung out  until it was our turn to board Disney Dream. Once we boarded our stateroom was ready and we headed straight there to check it out! It was gorgeous and the best part was the veranda deck with the gorgeous view. Since our room was in the corner of the ship we were able to get a 30 foot long view of the ocean. We all decided to go check out the rest of the ship and let me tell you that ship is big. It has a total of 14 floors and every floor has LOTS to offer! We all checked out the Nursery where Brandon could go and the Oceaneers Club that Brandon can go in when he is 3 years old- and Brandon LOVED Andy's Room from Toy Story- we took a few pictures of him in there:) The first day went by fast and we needed to get some rest for the next day...... We are excited to head to Nassau..

 Brandon and Trent

Mom and Brandon waiting for our turn to board the ship

Daddy and Brandon on Deck 11 where all the pools and slides are

 The view from our room

 Julia, Brandon and Macie- they had so much fun with Brandon

Trent and Brandon in the toy car

 Brandon loved all the lights

Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas- We arrived in the Bahamas around 9:00AM and we had already eaten breakfast so we watched the ship pull in to port which was pretty cool. We took Brandon to Nemo's Play Area where he splashed around with all the fun animals that squirt water! After we ate lunch we headed out to the Atlantis Resort where we visited the Aquarium! The kids were all so excited to see all the different fish, sharks, eels, starfish, stingrays, etc. It was one long walk and we were ALL exhausted after this trip (lets just say next time we go on the cruise- we might just stay on the ship-  lol) After we got back on the ship we all took a nap before it was time for dinner. Mommy and Daddy, TJ and Erin were headed to a nice dinner at Palo restaurant and Brandon got to go to the Nursery for a few hours where he could play with all the other kids. The food was delicious at Palo- can't complain about any of it!

Brandon in his stroller where he was most of the day!

Big Fish

Brandon was fascinated with the HUGE grouper

We couldn't contain the animal for long!

Our attempt of a picture in front of the Atlantis

Excited to sit in the big chair at Atlantis

Headed back to our ship

Daddy and Brandon on our deck

Mommy and Brandon on our deck

Day 3: Castaway Cay (pronounced Castaway "Key") We all arrived at Castaway Cay around 9:00AM and were excited to head out the private Island owned by Disney! The weather was gorgeous with a slight breeze so it wasn't too hot. We were excited to head to our very own private Cabana so we got of f the ship as soon as we could. We were in Cabana 17 where we had our very own private beach and space to hang out. The Cabana was better than any youtube videos we watched......it came with it's own private sitting area, pack and play, fresh water shower, refrigerator stocked with sodas, waters and moist towelettes! Brandon of course was only interested in getting to the water and playing around in it. He loves it so much he doesn't care going head first into the water.... crazy boy! We tired him out and were actually able to put him down for a nap while we were down there. There is so much to do at Castaway Cay that we didn't get to do most of it! Next time we come we hope to take advantage of more:) We headed back to the boat so we could get a quick nap before our dinner time! Disney was having a Pirates of the Caribbean theme! Everyone was given a bandanna to celebrate the evening and most of the kids were dressed up as pirates. Disney had a deck party and then fireworks later on in the evening! What a great way to end such a perfect day:)

On our way to the Cabana

Our very own private Cabana

Loving the beach

On our own private beach (that's our cruise ship in the background)

View from the inside of our Cabana

All wet and getting tired

Attempt of taking a picture with the bandanna

Headed to dinner:)

Macie and Julia excited for the Pirate Party!

Day 4: At Sea: Our last day on the ship was spent at sea! The ship pulled the anchor and we just hung out in the middle of ocean under the sun:) Most of our day was spent at Nemo's Reef with Brandon - his favorite spot on the ship. All of Nemo's friends squirted, sprayed or mist water and I think Brandon would stay there all day until he asleep standing up. His favorite spot was the slide and he would always figure his way back there. We had our last dinner on the ship where Disney Celebrated Brandon's Birthday! They came over to our table and sang to him:) Since we had to get up very early in the morning we went to bed somewhat early. 

Nemo's Reef

Love all the water

I want to go over there!

Uh oh got poured on!

Posing with Daddy in front of Nemo

Posing with Mommy in front of Nemo

Catch me if you can!

Loves the slide!!!

Playing with some toys in the water

Gorgeous day on the balcony- view from our room- SOOOOO relaxing

On our way to dinner

I'm such a big boy!

 Handsome boy

Celebrating Brandon's 1st Birthday at dinner!

Day 5: It's all over :( We had a very early breakfast and then headed off the boat to make our journey back home to VA! We had to hang in the airport for a few hours which was challenging- but soon enough  we boarded the airplane in hopes that Brandon would nap like he did on the way down. AND he slept the ENTIRE plane trip to Dulles- it was amazing! Everyone around us (4 adults and 4 kids) were so surprised how quiet our group was on the plane- must say that we were impressed ourselves! We certainly had a wonderful time on our Disney Cruise aboard the Disney Dream- we are already talking about booking our next cruise in 2013! From the service to the quality of food it was such a great trip that anyone could enjoy- we even saw couples with no kids on the boat (there are separate adult areas)! We are looking forward to our next cruise with Disney.

 Sad day:(

The boys with their matching shirts