Lilypalooza

We're in trouble if Lily expects a birthday celebration like this every year!

To start our day we headed to the diner for our regular Sunday breakfast with Dad Dad. Mary, our favorite waitress, brought out Lily's french toast with a candle on it and a smiley face made out of cantaloupe! Lily did not know what to make out of all the fuss!

What on Earth?!?

After breakfast we headed home for Lily's nap. She definitely needed to rest up so she would be ready for Lilypalooza! Mary Beth and Patti planned to have a shower for me together with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. When the shower was cancelled because of our travelling to China Mary Beth and Patti suggested we have a 1st Birthday/Welcome Home Lily party instead. What a party it turned out to be!

The scene of Lilypalooza...before the crowds showed up!

Mary Beth hosted the party at her beautiful home. Every family should have a Mary Beth...and no, you can't have ours! I like to kid that she's our Martha Stewart...minus the condescending attitude and jail time. Seriously, Mary Beth makes every occasion special with all the love she puts into it. Mary Beth is a wonderful cook, enjoys entertaining, and somehow makes it all look so easy. I highly recommend you find a way to get invited to Thanksgiving Dinner at her house. Mary Beth loves to feed a crowd and it's a day you wont soon forget!

Lilies and a parrot

Lily and a Parrott

Patti and Mary Beth divvied up the cooking detail. Based on the huge spread they must have been cooking for days! Patti is what my mom always called our "social butterfly". Patti can make anyone feel welcome and made sure everyone had everything they could possibly need. Patti also arranged to have a moon bounce for the kids (and some of the adults, too!).

Dad Dad brought some of his delicious potato salad...both with bacon and without...for those obnoxious vegetarians in the group. Dad Dad also took care of the beer and wine. Beer and wine at a 1st birthday party?? Hey, we had soda, juice, and water, too!

Suzy and Sheila brought several yummy desserts. There was something there to satisfy every possible kind of sweet tooth. If you were trying to diet Lily's party was not the place to be!

Tony and I...well...we did...ABSOLUTELY NOTHING...just showed up with the guest of honor and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Before

During

After

The love and support from our family and friends during the long wait to bring Lily home was their gift to us. On the party invitations we asked that they not bring any other...people did not listen!! We practically had to rent a U-Haul to bring all the gifts home.

Listen...I said, "No Press!"

More than 60 people came to help us celebrate Lily's 1st birthday. When you come from a large family...and you sprinkle in a few friends...it doesn't take much to gather a crowd. The weather was absolutely beautiful, the food and drink plentiful, and lots of family and friends to share in the celebration. We could not have asked for a better way to celebrate Lily's special day! Thanks so much everyone and thanks Mike for sharing your beautiful pictures!