Lilly's 1st Birthday

This picture sums up what I wanted for Lilly's birthday.

The kids enjoy their cup cakes:

"Am I supposed to eat all this? I said just one cup cake, but this is ridiculous!"

I wanted Lilly's first birthday party to be fun, colorful and low key. Mission accomplished. We invited over family only (which still turns out to be such a crowd). I dressed Lilly in a bright ruffled outfit (Ryan said she looked like a pinata). I had her in crazy pigtails to really set off her fun spirit. She was a little off during the party, but I think she still had a great time. She likes being around all her cousins. The kids played well together. I let them each decorate their own cupcake. When we sang to Lilly, every kid had a candle of their own to blow out. It turns out that is quite a big deal to preschoolers.

Cousin love. Sophia nicknamed Lilly "Lilly-bean" soon after she was born. It stuck.

Cup cakes galore!

Lulu's cup cake creation. She did an awesome job, as usual.

I wanted lots of colors! I love it.

Grandma Mil's Birthday

Let me just take this minute to celebrate my Grandma Mil. She is such an amazing person. A few weeks ago we celebrated her 88th birthday. I love her so much. I grew up with her right next door. She played a huge part in my life, and continues to do so. There were the pancake breakfasts, the car rides to school (one time with Dirty Dancing soundtrack blaring) and the warnings to us not to swing so high on the swing set. As I got older, I wondered how long she'd be around. At one point I was scared she'd never meet my children. But time pushed on and eventually my siblings and I started families and Grandma Mil was there for it all. Now, she isn't your typical Granny, sitting in the corner offering parental advice. She gets right in the crazy mix. She gladly holds the fussy baby. She comes up with creative tactics to get toddlers to eat. The kids love running over to her house begging her to set off her cuckoo clock. All her little great grandkids love her, and she love them as she calls them "my little sweetie face". So on her 88th birthday, it was no wonder she was completely surrounded:

Madeline, Christopher and Leif are vying for a front row seat to sing Happy Birthday to Grandma Mil.

This pic is funny to me because Christopher is hugging Leif and Madeline saying "Hap!" which is a word he made up when he group hugs. He was just so overwhelmed with family love! (See baby Tessa in the background?)

We had to make coconut cake because its Dad's (Grandma's boy) favorite. And whatever Mickey wants, Grandma wants. Ahh, mother and sons.

What a commotion! The kids were singing so loudly and not together at all. It was great.

A Birthday For Daddy.

Today is Ryan's birthday. I've never seen Christopher so excited for anything in his life of 2 years. He helped me bake the cake. He helped me icing the cake (ok he mostly licked the icing). He wanted to make Daddy a card, which he did. And on our afternoon walk, when he spotted his first ever rainbow after a long rain storm he exclaimed "Mommy, a rainbow! I want to walk through it! A rainbow! On Daddy's Birthday!". The grand finale was the presentation of Ryan's cake. Before I could even round the corner into the dining room, Christopher was bellowing "Happy Birthday to YOU!" and actually keeping the tune (a rarity). Christopher loves his Daddy more than anyone or anything in the world. It is so sweet to see a 2 year old share in such joy for another person. Happy Birthday Ryan.