ladybug party

Elle's party was a great success. It was perfectly pink and adorable with the ladybug theme.........the cake was really pretty and delicious............Elle was really happy and looked adorable in her birthday dress that my girlfriend sent her.

Our friends showed up and sipped on pink lemonade and enjoyed Jimmy John subs, our favorite sub place from College. We all gathered in the birthday room (our converted dining room) to sing Happy Birthday to her. The three of us made a wish and blew out her one candle and Ted helped cut the cake and served everyone a scoop of the classic ice cream flavor of my childhood-Neapolitan. She took a few bites of her personalized ladybug cupcake, and then moved on to gift opening. Our friends and my Sister were so generous. Toys, adorable clothes, Elle's very first tea set, and books to mention a few of the lovely things she received. Before everyone departed we handed the little kids little ladybug favors with little treats in them as a litle thank you for coming. As I've said before, I am so thankful for the people we have met in Cincinnati. It makes me not want to move. It would be hard to start over with people that don't know the history of my family. This group of friends know why my Sister was the only family member to attend Elle's party. I would hate for people to not know and to not understand.

It was fun and special but I feel like a broken record when I say this, but these events are wonderful for Elle, but sad for me. The two people that I wanted to make proud, that I wanted to help cut the cake, that I wanted to help take the pictures- weren't there and they'll never be here. There's not an event that I won't wish they were here. I wanted my Mom to help me clean up after everyone had left. Thank gosh my Sister was there and it was great to spend time with Aydan too. Although, he is not the biggest Aunt Missy fan these days. He is a little obsessed with Uncle Ted at the moment. Girls are boring according to him. It's adorable to see the way he looks up to Ted. My parents would be so proud of him and how much he has grown up. He's going to be okay but I am so sad he doesn't have my parents as Grandparents anymore. I look at how much Grandchildren mean to other Grandparents and it's heartbreaking my Parents missed out on all of this. The fun stuff......

Elle had a great year. I look back on the adventures we have taken her on, road trips, the lake, lots of weekends in MI, her first beach vacation in the Florida keys, time spent with her Grandparents as Ted and I enjoyed Paris and Ireland, and much more. We have been fortunate and I do look forward to the continued joy and memories we will experience with Elle. She was the perfect birthday girl and I just love to entertain and I can't wait to do it again. I love details even if I'm the only person that notices them. While I don't attempt to cook or make anything that fabulous, I think Elle will look back at pictures and know that I put a lot of time and effort into her birthday parties and will notice the little things I did to make her event special. She will likely say, "my Mother couldn't cook a thing but boy she could throw a lovely party". Funny thing is, if I tried, I know I could cook. It's in my genes. I just don't enjoy it. I like to bake sometimes. I can make some things but I have found my Sister is the master of this and I truly believe my Mother passed on that gift to her. Just like that-she could replicate her cheesecakes. I'll stick with making things pretty and special for now.