Happy Birthday Abby!

Okay, okay...so I'm two days late with the birthday wishes. Let's just blame it on pure, undiluted, and totally mind numbing exhaustion. Yeah, nothing wears out a mother like a birthday party. And not really the party itself, so much as the preparing for the party. The week before the party, I was, yet again, a 'single' parent. Josh was sent out of town...again... for work due to the lack of things to do around town. (thank you economic crisis) Better than no job at all, I say. So, needless to say, the week was a long one and I had to get all of my ducks in a row for the party. On to the purpose of the blog...

Saturday was a smash! Abby was this amazingly perfect little party girl. It was as if she knew exactly what she was supposed to be doing and was extraordinarily efficient in doing so.

Alex & Abby donning a set of birthday party glasses...mama's little Elton Johns!

We started off with the opening of gifts to get the ball rolling. She plowed through them without so much as a distracting thought. Honestly, I've never seen a one year old open presents so easily. I blinked, and it was over; a pile of new shiny things now lying strewn about in front of us.

Then it was time for lunch. I went all out (insert sarcasm here). Sandwiches with a side of chips and dip. Spared no expense (once again...insert sarcasm). Next on the agenda, we were ready for the big easter egg hunt. In my head, this part involved miss Abby's first easter egg hunt. That didn't go exactly to plan. She passed out cold after filling her belly with the tasty lunch goodness. Poor thing was drained. (she's not exactly a socialite). We let her catch some zzz's while the rest of the kiddos zipped around our backyard, desperately seeking the candy filled treasures hidden in my already over-grown lawn. It really was a blast. They all had so much fun. Alex was in his element this year. He did great and was more than thrilled to find his fair share of the loot.

Alex was havin' a blast looking for eggs!

All the kiddo's with their baskets full of treasure. (The only one missin' is Abby)

(Left to right: Kate, Linsey, James, Lauren, Linda, Alex, & Wesley)

Abby awoke from her birthday slumber to find that she was once again ready to fill her tummy with more birthday treats. Cake and ice-cream. Or for those avoiding the dairy, soy-ice-cream. (though I fail to see how you can put the word 'cream' in something where there lies none) She, once again, was the little pro. I would swear that she did this while in utero. She plowed through a generous helping of the chocolate cake that I had decorated into the wee hours of the morning before.

My graphic design skills put to use. The flower and butterfly are actually a second layer of cake.

She probably could have eaten about three times more cake than I gave her.

After all was said and done, the party was over and the guests were on their way. Thank you to all who came and joined in the festivities. You made it a special day for Abby and the rest of us. It's already been a whole year and a spectacular one at that. As much as I'd love to drone on about every little detail, from the gifts given to the color of the now trashed crepe paper streamers, I really must make myself go back to mothering. I hear silence...which as a mother to a 2 year old and a 1 year old...can not be good. So if you will excuse me, I'm going to go attempt to not pass out from residual exhaustion while I entertain my monkeys. I'd never make it as a professional party planner.