A Very Late Birthday Post

So... bad mommy over here totally forgot to tell you about Alyssa's 1st birthday, not like it was an important day or anything  *I hang my head in shame*

We decided to have an open house instead of an actual party for Alyssa.  Figured it would be easier than having 25-30 people in our house at once.  Yes, you read that correctly, 25-30 people (we only had 18 show up).  We have A LOT of cousins and we can't invite some and not the others. 

At 11 my friend Ellen, her husband, and their daughter (who is a month younger than Lynden) arrived and hung out for an hour before jetting off to another birthday party.  Lynden had a blast playing with the pretty pink purse and accessories they got Alyssa. 

After they left we managed to have lunch and get Alyssa down for a nap before the bulk of people arrived.  

We had already decided cupcakes would be after nap time, so a lot of people planned on coming then to watch Alyssa have her first taste of sugar (I'll get to that in a moment).

About an hour after the birthday girl's nap was over we had 11 squish into our living room getting ready to watch Alyssa "open" gifts (this involved a lot of help from Lynden). 

reading her card

I love this dress, even though it's pink

Birthday Girl!

opening her gift

frowning in her new chair, which she loves

once we sat her in it she sat there for 10 minutes

What's in here?

checking out her presents

mommy helping

what about this one?

 

Pretty girl

After presents we decided to hand out cupcakes

Pretty pink cupcakes
In typical fashion: they looked pretty but didn't taste great

"Eating" her cupcake

Alyssa was unimpressed with the cupcake, which did not break my heart.  I think a year is too young for sugar.  She liked the icing, a bit, but would not budge on trying a second bite of the actual cupcake. 

As the crowd dwindled down my cousin Nicky, her husband, and their 3 kids, who are around Lynden and Alyssa's age, arrived.  All 5 kids played for almost 3 hours, non-stop.  It was probably the highlight of the day, for me; to see all the kids play, for the most part, very well together.  

It was a really great day and I am so happy we were able to have family and friends spend the day with us. 



Sporting the track suit Aunty gave her 



Reading in her new chair