The Party

Well, Saturday, April 21st was the big day - Jack's first birthday party. We had some friends and family over to grill out and celebrate. Overall it was a wonderful day! Jack had a great time opening more gifts, playing with his friends, seeing special family members, and of course, pigging out on birthday cake. Now I know we are sharing a lot of pictures with you, but just know we are filtering them. Between our camera and the cameras from both sets of grandparents, we had a grand total of 325 pictures to sort through!! So you're lucky we only posting about 30 of them!

The balloons were definitely a big hit at the party. Here Jack is enjoying one before the crowd arrives.

Hanging out with Papa.

Here are Jack's two namesakes: JACK Hankins and Ray ANDERSON.

Present time!!

Grammy & Pop gave Jack a gift with a beach theme. The green sand pail is actually one of Daddy's old Easter baskets.

John Bradley and his sisters (who couldn't come) gave Jack some really cool board books, but you see that, once again, the wrapping is what's truly exciting!

Here's Jack checking out a book from Granny & Grandy.

Part of Granny's gift for Jack was a poem that she wrote for him: J.A.M.

Tuesday April 18, 2006 was a great and wonderful day.
That’s when our new grandson arrived and finally here to stay.

It was love at first sight by all who were there
I even got misty eyed and could only stare.

Jack Anderson McCravy is your full Christian name.
One on which you should never ever bring any shame.

Two great-granddaddy’s you are named for
One who is old & the other a lot more.

Jack Hankins comes from your mama’s side
And Ray Anderson is your daddy’s pride.

It has now been a year since you arrived on this earth
But it seems just like yesterday we were celebrating your birth.

You have charmed us with your beautiful smile
Showing off the McAdams’ dimples all the while.

Yes, you do have your daddy’s very good looks
You even enjoy reading all your picture books.

But when you are tired only two fingers will do,
And of course your soft blankets of yellow and blue.

So happy, happy birthday to you, grandson
As you celebrate your number one.

And later when your folks become unfair,
And make you face the corner and sit in a chair.

And lose all patience and spank your fanny
Remember, you can always run to your Granny.

Jack really seemed to love the poem! Getting ready to open a set of blocks that came with the poem.
Yes folks, you are seeing this correctly . . . Jack's Great Aunt Beverly and Great Uncle Jim game him a Peter Potty. AKA . . . a urinal for toddlers!
But once again, the box it came it was most exciting!
The final gift of the day came from Grammy. She worked very hard on this creation (along with her friend Linda). It's a quilt of the alphabet, framed and ready to hang.

If you look close, you can see what's really neat about it. Each letter is made from material that represents the letter. So the "A" is made with apples, the "B" is made with bananas, etc. What a special gift!

Here's the birthday boy playing with his buddies, John Bradley and Keith. No those aren't rabbit ears on John Bradley's head, they're just Granddaddy's feet propped up in the recliner!Here's that box coming in handy again!

Happy Birthday to you! Yeah, I know it looks like a redneck party with Jack's bare chest shining, but it was just much easier than trying to get stains out of his clothes later!

Mmmm! This is pretty good stuff!

Jack finally got through the icing and into the cake.

Jack posing with his two great-grandfathers: Granddaddy and Papa.
The men in the family.

Looks like Jack is trying to take off!

Getting loved on by Grammy & Granny.

Uncle Mason worked all night and then drove three hours to come see his favorite nephew - then he had to turn around and drive three hours back to work again. Now that's love! Here's the last family photo. The tired boy had a wonderful first birthday party!