Olivia's 1st Birthday Party!

It was a great day for a birthday party. The weather was perfect, sun shining, not too hot, gentle breeze here and there, and no annoying bugs. Everything happened without any problems or hold-ups. The party was Saturday at 11:30, and we actually had everything ready by Friday night. So when we got up on Saturday all we had to do was get ourselves ready, Mike and Craig picked up the tent and tables, and Olivia and I picked up the food, cake, and balloons. We all met at the park and set up. We had the party at Chibana Park, the same park where the Easter Egg Hunt was.
This will probably be one of the biggest posts ever, but I figure its her one year birthday, and that is a pretty big deal. And for those family and friends that weren't here with us, you get a play by play run down of the party! The party theme was "Turning One is Fun!" Which sort of turned into an Elmo theme once we figured out she was in love with him. Here is a recap of the party!

Her "smash" cake. I made it! It is sitting on my "Special Day" plate I got from my mom one year.


Growing up, at every family party there were always these posters of pictures and captions. Whether it was a birthday or graduation it would have photos of the person being celebrated. I thought it would be special to carry the tradition on with Olivia. So I made these:

This one was a big hit. It is all of the monthly "progress pictures" from 1 month to 12 months!

Her Elmo balloon:

The Decor:

I had some foam sticker crafts out for the bigger kids to enjoy:

A stuffed dog served as the guest book:

The food:

The Birthday girl with her balloons tied to her chair:

Her party dress had cakes and cupcakes all over it!

Making her rounds to meet all the guests:

What's that face for?

Some of our guests. Gabe was a party animal:

And this is new baby Macey and my friend Jill:

This is Diego and his mom Rachel. Diego's birthday is May 5th!

The kids doing the foam crafts:

Birthday girl and Daddy:

Aww kisses:

This is Holly and Abby:

Angie and Gabe...in his defense, he had an ear infection...

Walking around with Mr. Craig:

Taa-daa...I can walk!

See her pretty dress?

The super-cute cake!

Olivia seeing it the first time:

This is her new "shy" face. She tilts her chin in and looks up with her eyes:

Lighting the candle. Proved a little difficult in the "gentle breeze."

Covering it to stay lit while we sing:

Make a wish!

Getting in line for cake:

You give one guy a video camera, and the other a camera to take pictures, and this is what you get:

Mommy cutting cake:

With her birthday crown and bib...the crown didn't last long:

Checking out the cake:

Mommy helping her out a little:

There we go:

Getting into it now:

Giving mommy a taste:

Is there anything on my face:

Priceless:

Oh no, rubbed her eye:

Want some?

Dad, is there anything on my face?

I'm just going to keep playing in this:

Smiling for another camera, but I love how this came out:

All cleaned up:

Playing with Gabe:

They have the same look here:

The Dads and babies:

Mic and Maddi with the bday girl:

Maddi and Olivia:

Mommy and Olivia:

We didn't open her presents at her party, we opened them later at home:

She is good at opening them!

Walking all around the house!

The loot! Only two things the same...not bad considering there is pretty much only one place to shop!