Happy Birthday!

Saturday was a momentous day... one whole year since Colin and Gillian entered the world. To celebrate an event of this magnitude, Lea threw together (or planned for eight weeks, I've heard it both ways) a great big shindig, replete with a theme! The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which seemed appropriate given that our little caterpillars were transforming into butterflies before our eyes. Behold the Caterpillar (I made the eyes):

The theme continued with the main cake and the smash cakes:


The party started with Colin and Gillian visiting with all of their friends and family who came to celebrate with them.
Colin and Great-Grandma Smith:

Colin and Jess and Joe:


Colin and Grandpa Frank:

Gillian (and her teeth) with Jess:

(C&G were very, very friendly and pleasant throughout the entire party. I was a little worried since they had been a little strange lately, and, honestly, I don't think they get out much! However, after a very brief shy moment, they were off like little social butterflies. -Lea)

After some visiting it was time for lunch. A variety of vegetables, fruit, salads, and sandwiches (hot sausage and meatball) were enjoyed by all. Following lunch it was time for cake and (homemade) ice cream. Colin and Gillian got the first crack at the cake with their smash cakes.

(I had decided that we were signing "Happy Birthday" twice a while ago. I have shared many a birthday song with my aunt and cousin [and sometimes brother!], and while I don't really mind, I thought it was a good idea to start out treating this like TWO separate birthdays! So, we started with Colin since he's older, and then we sang to Gillian. We had been practicing for a week or two! -Lea)






While there was plenty of smashing and spreading of the cake, neither Colin or Gillian ate much of it. Even when we tried to feed some to them, they just spit it out. My theory is that they had never had anything that sweet before and thus weren't prepared for it... just my theory.
(My theory is that they don't like the texture.... -Lea)

Anyway, mashing up a cake can really take it out of you:


After cake came the presents... at the moment the kids love toys that they can ride on so this fire truck (from Great Grandma Hannold) was a big hit:


While he looks happy in this photo, the lion-eared PSU helmet hat was not a big hit with Colin (though both Lea and I thought that it was really cute):


Aunt Emily and Uncle Stevie got Gillian a tutu, which she enjoyed wearing:

(And I have taken many opportunities since to put the tutu on her! LOVE IT! -Lea)



Another big hit was a singing animatronic sheep (he sings Thank God I'm a Country Boy) from Great Grandma and Grandpa Smith:

The little ones received many, many wonderful gifts from all of their friends and family (the ones featured here just happened to be the ones with semi-usable pictures), and we're very thankful for all of them.

After the present opening, Gillian and cousin Sarah needed to give their cousin Jake a hug:
(There did seem to be a small amount of jostling for Jacob's attention! Gillian toddled over to Jacob and asked to "UP." Sarah saw that, and went over, pointed emphatically, and got UP too. Gillian then gave Sarah stink eye. Very, very funny. -Lea)


Finally, as things were wrapping up, we took a family photo of Great Grandma Hannold with her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.


It's wonderful to be able to say that Colin and Gillian had no less than FIVE great-grandparents at their First Birthday Party. How amazing is that!! It was so good have Great-Grandma Gert, Great-Grandpa Lee, Great-Grandma Dot, Great-Grandpa Bob, and Great-Grandma Hannold to celebrate with us!

It was a very, very special day. A whole year. What an accomplishment for Colin and Gillian, and for Daddy and Mommy! We could not have made it without the love and support of all of our friends and family. These two little caterpillars-turned-butterflies are blessed, and I hope they return the joy and love that you have all given them! Thank you, thank you!