Happy Birthday Again?!?

On Saturday we had a celebration for Lydia with friends. It was a teddy bear breakfast. Each child wore their PJs and brought a teddy bear. We enjoyed breakfast pizza, fruit and muffins. The crust was a little overly done, but no one complained. The older kids played bear bingo and those under 1 year played on the floor. It was great getting together and Lydia got some really cute things. I read about a tradition for gift opening which worked really well; those who give the gift sit next to the birthday person. It was really cute, Lydia's friend Malcolm (9 mon.) tried to help her with the wrapping on his present. It also worked great since Charlie video recorded the whole thing and was able to capture everyone at the party.

Happy Birthday Lydia!!

It is so hard to believe that Lydia is already a year old. Where did the time go? And how have we managed to survive on so little sleep for the past 12 months? :) Through the ups and downs it has been amazing and so we celebrated in style on her b-day with family.

Grandma LuAnn made yummy white, chocolate, and strawberry cupcakes for the Birthday Girl. The party's theme was polka dots so each cupcake had candy dots on them. The teacher in me requires a theme and everything to go together, so I went all out with colors matching her outfit, circle lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and a little assignment for the guests (favorite memory from her first year). I love thinking of this kind of stuff so if anybody wants a party planner let me know. It was even fun creating a display of all her month pictures taken by the teddy bear. The display really showed how much she has grown over the last 12 months.

One candle for her first year of life. She must be thinking what are all those people looking at?

The gallery of onlookers as she eat her first birthday cake. I'm not sure if I will have enough pictures to choose from for her scrapbook.

Lydia picked each dot off the cupcake and eat them one by one.

Finally, she came to life and went to town eating the cupcake and flinging it off her hands.

Obviously Gma LuAnn makes a mean cupcake :)

Lydia enjoyed opening her birthday presents while Daddy enjoyed trying to get them out of the packaging.

She got some nice toys and clothes too. :)

Cousin Kyla was interested in playing too, but I think we need to work on Lydia's sharing skills. Now that she is a year, a lot more is expected.

Super Weekend

Super Bowl weekend is always a big deal in our house and this year was no different. Charlie took off Sunday and Monday for the big event. Once again we hosted our annual Super Bowl party. It is always fun to see friends and the group is growing as there are now 3 babies hanging out down on the floor. We also celebrated Charlie's 30th birthday with cake. He blew out 30 candles in one big breath. He sure is full of a lot of hot air :) Lydia and I also gave him a shirt that I made which says "Well Aged over 30 years" like a fine wine, he just keeps getting better with age. Then yesterday he and Lydia enjoyed a day together sleeping in and then cleaning the house. In the evening we went to Mankato for hair cuts. Lydia did such a great job of sitting still for her first trim and it looks really cute :)

Wow Daddy that's a cool shirt!

Getting ready for the game. Who will we cheer for?

Too bad the Colts aren't in the game! :(

That's a lot of candles, Old Man!!

I'm so pretty, oh so pretty!