Oliver's Birthday Party!
We celebrated Oliver's First Birthday with friends on Sunday at Owl's Head Park in Bay Ridge. It was such a lovely time! I wish I had gotten more pictures - especially of all the people who came, but I'll see what I can do to make sure we have as many memories of the time as possible!
As you know, we have been going through some CRAP for the past 2 months. Oliver's allergies, bed bugs, low morale at our jobs, ear infections, strep throats, colds...it's just been a little overwhelming. So we were looking very much forward to this little party to a) celebrate this marvelous milestone with a beautiful little boy, b) see our fabulous friends and eat some glorious food and c) get out minds off this junk. All things were accomplished in grand style!
Owl's Head Park is 2.2 miles away from our house. Thankfully, Doug was able to hitch a ride with our friend Jeff to get all our items (tarp, Oliver's tent, cooler, drinks, food, utensils, paper plates, cups and napkins, games, etc. etc. etc...) over to the park. I walked Oliver over so that I could pick up his balloons and cake. There was a block party on 5th Avenue from the top to the bottom of Bay Ridge, so it was a little manic!
When Oliver and I arrived, Doug was standing on the laid out tarp next to the cart, bags and cooler staring hopefully at the entrance of the park for anyone to help him. :) Minutes after I arrived, Maria and Maoli's family came. Doug and I gave Oliver to them and feverishly set up everything without the picnic table that we had relied on because the only tables were bolted down in a different area of the park! Score 0 for preparation reconnaissance. Doug had the ingenius idea of turning the grocery cart on its side and draping the tablecloth over it for a makeshift table, which worked. By that time, more people had arrived, people were helping themselves to crudites and fresh fruit and watching Oliver hand out the bubbles to his friends.
Oliver's First Birthday Party Menu:
- Crudites and Hummus
- Fruit
- Potato Chips and French Onion Dip
- Shredded Beef Sandwiches
- Fennel and Orange Salad
- Vegan Potato Salad
- Cake
- Vegan and Gluten Free Cupcakes
Oliver's First Birthday Party Games:
- Bocche
- Ladderball aka Redneck Golf
- Soccer
- Frisbee
- Bubbles
- Playground
- Go in and out of a Tent
Oliver, it was such a nice party. You were a champ - toddling around, smiling and laughing. You're still not into the whole separation anxiety thing, so you didn't mind being held by anyone and really, if you lost sight of me or your Dada, it wasn't the end of the world. Half the time you might not have even noticed that we were there! There were kids to play with - Quinny Powell, Jennifer and Eliana Yuan, Lucas and Marco Seguin, Noah Shand-Lubbers and Trinity McFaline - and you just ate it all up. The one thing you didn't really eat up was your vegan, gluten-free cupcake, but I think that's because you're not really into sweets right now, other than fruit. When we got home, you were EXHAUSTED and cranky, but that's to be expected for such a host as you were! We opened your presents, which you LOVED (thank-yous are going out soon!) and you collapsed in your crib! I'm so proud of you - you enjoyed and were the star of your first party! Here are some pictures to help you remember:
Thank you to all for coming! Big thank yous to Heather, Eileen, Jenn and Joel and Jeff for helping to clean up and pack up the car! Thank you, Jeff, for helping Doug with all the stuff!
As you know, we have been going through some CRAP for the past 2 months. Oliver's allergies, bed bugs, low morale at our jobs, ear infections, strep throats, colds...it's just been a little overwhelming. So we were looking very much forward to this little party to a) celebrate this marvelous milestone with a beautiful little boy, b) see our fabulous friends and eat some glorious food and c) get out minds off this junk. All things were accomplished in grand style!
Oliver's Evite Invitation that went out to 123 people!
Owl's Head Park is 2.2 miles away from our house. Thankfully, Doug was able to hitch a ride with our friend Jeff to get all our items (tarp, Oliver's tent, cooler, drinks, food, utensils, paper plates, cups and napkins, games, etc. etc. etc...) over to the park. I walked Oliver over so that I could pick up his balloons and cake. There was a block party on 5th Avenue from the top to the bottom of Bay Ridge, so it was a little manic!
A: Our house
B: Owl's Head Park
When Oliver and I arrived, Doug was standing on the laid out tarp next to the cart, bags and cooler staring hopefully at the entrance of the park for anyone to help him. :) Minutes after I arrived, Maria and Maoli's family came. Doug and I gave Oliver to them and feverishly set up everything without the picnic table that we had relied on because the only tables were bolted down in a different area of the park! Score 0 for preparation reconnaissance. Doug had the ingenius idea of turning the grocery cart on its side and draping the tablecloth over it for a makeshift table, which worked. By that time, more people had arrived, people were helping themselves to crudites and fresh fruit and watching Oliver hand out the bubbles to his friends.
Oliver's First Birthday Party Menu:
- Crudites and Hummus
- Fruit
- Potato Chips and French Onion Dip
- Shredded Beef Sandwiches
- Fennel and Orange Salad
- Vegan Potato Salad
- Cake
- Vegan and Gluten Free Cupcakes
Oliver's First Birthday Party Games:
- Bocche
- Ladderball aka Redneck Golf
- Soccer
- Frisbee
- Bubbles
- Playground
- Go in and out of a Tent
Oliver, it was such a nice party. You were a champ - toddling around, smiling and laughing. You're still not into the whole separation anxiety thing, so you didn't mind being held by anyone and really, if you lost sight of me or your Dada, it wasn't the end of the world. Half the time you might not have even noticed that we were there! There were kids to play with - Quinny Powell, Jennifer and Eliana Yuan, Lucas and Marco Seguin, Noah Shand-Lubbers and Trinity McFaline - and you just ate it all up. The one thing you didn't really eat up was your vegan, gluten-free cupcake, but I think that's because you're not really into sweets right now, other than fruit. When we got home, you were EXHAUSTED and cranky, but that's to be expected for such a host as you were! We opened your presents, which you LOVED (thank-yous are going out soon!) and you collapsed in your crib! I'm so proud of you - you enjoyed and were the star of your first party! Here are some pictures to help you remember:
Hanging out in the grocery store waiting for your cake to be written on. You were like this from the minute you woke up - Doug joked that you knew it was "PARTY DAY!"
Your first trip into the tent. Perfect for you, huh?
Handing out bubbles, like the perfect little gentlemen you are.
Little happy guy.
Shot to show Lucas and Marco, Jennifer and out little makeshift table.
I think you may have had a crush on Jennifer - the two of you were kind of inseparable.
See what I mean?
You and your dad dressed alike.
You looked kind of like an old man getting ready for bocche.
The poor teen that had to write on the cake was so embarrassed. He came out of the swinging door and said, "I'm so sorry that I ruined your cake." I took one look at it, laughed and said, "Honey, he's 1. He doesn't care!" And you know what? That cake was DELICIOUS.
Singing you some birthday song!
You were starting to get tired here - so we snapped a quickie.
Poor worn-out brother.
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