Party Party Party Rockin' Everywhere!

We had the BEST baby birthday party, ever! Olivia loved every second of playing with all the other kids. And the adults had fun, too. With her birthday being in December, I was planning an indoor party. It turns out, it as a beautiful 70+ degree day! It was so wonderful having all the kids playing in our backyard.

This party was entirely planned around the birthday cake. I make 4 prep cakes. Then ... I forgot to set the cake out at the party, and I forgot to take a picture. It was a beautiful, 2 layer, french vanilla with pink cream cheese icing cake sitting on a beautiful clear, glass cake tray. Seriously, it was awesome. But you'll never know. How about a partial picture of the first test cake?

The birthday girl herself!

Poppy showing up was a complete surprise! Olivia loooves her Poppy (my father), and we didn't think he was going to be able to make it since he's been in Kerrville taking care of Grandmother. When he walked in the door 10 minutes before party time, I literally started crying. Liv was SO happy to see him, and so were we. The day wouldn't have been the same without him.

Cousins

Friends

Memories, cakes, and good food.

Smash cake time!

Look closely here. Julie got the perfectly timed picture of Olivia .... putting the candle out with her fingers. Oy.

She's such a good sharer.

Presents! The kids has a blast, and we had lots of "help" opening the gifts.

And, after all the new toys, she went back to 'ol faithful.

Christmas in Kerrville

Bright and shiny Christmas Eve

Helping decorate her first tree. It may have been last minute, but she had a tree!

At first, she wasn't too sure about presents.

"What's the big deal, guys?"

"Wait, is there something in there?"

"ZOMG! BABY BUMBLEBEE!!!"

"We saved her."

Behind, but not my behind.

I have, oh, several hundred pictures to sort through. I can predict Christmas/Birthday season for the rest of my life in one word: crazy. So until life settles, and I have time to go through all those photos, how about an iPhone update?

Olivia (and her usual unruly hair) playing with her friend Parker on New Years Day

Steps! After 5 years with no steps off our deck, we finally built some. And by "we" I mean my mother and I! Who rocks now?!

Olivia's first bubble bath!

Fun at the playground.

Olivia helps with the dishes. 

Pete's Trail of Lights

Christmas photo overload ... Christmas photos coming in stages ..

Our city sponsored over-the-top trail of lights has been cancelled for several years due to the cost. So a friendly man named Pete (I assume) has made his own! And super bonus: I actually got all 4 of us out the door in a timely manner. We got there before the baby got grumpy and before the crowds. For me, folks, that was a Christmas Miracle.