Independence Day...

Since we had just celebrated Alivia's birthday, I was in the birthday cake mode.  So, I made a birthday cake for the great USA.  And we actually sang Happy Birthday to America.  Twice.  That was a first.  A bit nerdy yes, but totally appropriate.

The morning of the fourth I was sicker than a dog.  I went to Urgent Care and got some antibiotics since I hate being sick longer than 2 weeks (and had been) and I especially hate waking up to a gallon of green snot stuck in my nose/throat coupled with a raging headache (which was the case that morning).  I was so sad for myself since I love holidays and celebrating.  But I decided to push myself and still celebrate with pool time (without swimming) and a BBQ at my sister's. 

 Learning to float on her back...but not really.

 She just loves grabbing onto flesh and squeezing.  Poor Luke and his ear!  I get malled all. day. long.

Matching Cousins: Caroline and Alivia.

Wearing a red, white, and blue of course. 

Playing in Aunt Brooke's play room.  She loves to climb the slide the wrong way and give me a heart attack!

And the fireworks.  Livy loved them.

(Remember I was sick, ok.  So I shouldn't look good and healthy.  So there.) 

First Birthday...her actual day 6.28.12

Even though Alivia had already celebrated her birthday in style with family and friends early, Cody, Livy, and I still made 6.28 a special day.  We went to lunch at Ruby's on the pier.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day - not too hot and not too cold.  Lots of people were at the beach enjoying the weather.  

After lunch, we went to the beach park and pushed Livy on the swing until her heart's content.

I attempted to take pictures of the birthday girl and her birthday balloons (epic fail), then we went to Suzie Cakes to get a cupcake, came home and had another messy cupcake dessert for the birthday girl, and she opened her present from us.

I can't believe I have a one year old!

First Birthday Party...The Girl, The Presents, The Sugar

The Birthday Girl...


The Presents...


And The Sugar...


She LOVED the frosting and cake and wasn't too messy at eating it if you ask me.  After undressing her and getting ready to take her into get a bath I found her back at the highchair trying to find any last morsel of sugar.  That is so something I would do if society would let me.

First Birthday Party...The Decor.

Livy's birthday party was at my parents house.

Here are some of the decorations...


I made tissue pom-poms and month photo garland.  The 9, 10, and 11 month photos were used for the centerpiece to the table, and as a backdrop to the table I used the 1-8 month photo strands.


The photos are now hanging in my dining room...see?



Party Hat made by Aunt Marci...isn't it darling?!


We had fruit skewers, vegetable cups, chips, and cold-cut sandwiches...super casual.

The Dessert Table...with cupcakes and cakes and berries and cherries.  It was a labor of love.  Notice the pearls for my Alivia Pearl on the cake and cupcakes.  The cake was my strawberry cake. 


The Happy Birthday sign that-almost-killed-me-but-turned-out-slightly-above-barely-ok.  So sad.  And it looks particularly bad in the above photo.  As does the table, but this wasn't the finished look.
It's a lot of work throwing a party with the buying of food and supplies, baking, and decorating.  Golly, especially when you throw the party in someone else's home it means transporting everything! 

Getting ready to sing...

More to come...