The Littlest Husky Turns One!

First birthdays are a big deal - but not for the kid - for the village that raised him! It's a party to celebrate and thank the people who loved and supported the new parents over that first trying year. So naturally, we wanted to  throw a big party and of course, I wanted to make Morgan feel like he had at least something to do with it, so being generous, I let him pick the theme.

Without even a pause, he chose the University of Washington's mascot, 

Huskies. 

...

Huskies? Purple and gold? Football??

...

Ok, go Huskies! It turned out to be a really fun and easy theme to work with.

I was super busy, and dealing with a less-than-enthusiastic-or-even-remotely-happy-about-this-party one year old, so I actually didn't take any pictures but fortunately my friends did. 

This is the dessert table. I painted the husky (!!!) and used that image in the invitation (below), and all the food placards for a little continuity. 

  

 

 Brownie balls, chocolate covered blueberries, and chocolate truffles were our "doggy drops," super appealing I know, but warranted lots of fun responses. Pirouline cookies were our "chew sticks," and I made bone-shaped sugar cookies iced purple. 

We had "water bowls" which were little ramekins full of blue jello, chocolate peppermint bark, purple and gold rice krispy treats and "pup-cakes" which were frosted with raspberry buttercream frosting and absolutely divine. 

Among other things, we served hot dawgs, "puppy chow" (chili), "swaddled pups" (little smokies wrapped in crescent rolls) and of course "pupcorn."

Kai's "smash cake" was so much fun, but not exactly put to its intended use. He picked at it a little bit and then carried on with his loud display of disapproval.

                                 

Activities included bone cookie decorating. 

Freeze dancing to the fight song and playing "obedience school" where all the kids had to perform a variety of tricks and were rewarded with skittles. It was absolutely adorable.

Puppy story time and a puppy parade and an aptly decorated piñata.

Our wonderful friends headed home with an "adopted" husky puppy that said "Thanks for being part of my pack."  Ugh cuteness overload.

Kai was rather unsure about his cake, even after I taste-tested it for him, and was thrilled, terrified, ... a little... overwhelmed by the whole party.  But once everyone left and the presents were opened, his award-winning grin came back out again. 

Disneyland November 2014

Long days and lots of magic and grandma came along. Even better, we were able to meet up with cousins! We spent a lot of time at Tom Sawyers Island just letting Kai crawl.

 

Little Lamb Baby Shower

I threw a baby shower for a friend the other day. She suggested it could be lamb themed, so we went with it and had a lot of fun coming up with fluffy white foods and decorations.

 Yea.. I am not an artist, but I painted that little lamb with leftover sample paints for wall colors and furniture. I am so proud.

 We had egg salad and cucumber sandwiches but when you call them "Herbed Free Range Egg Salad and English Cucumber and Cream Tea Sandwiches" it sounds so much better.

 This was my favorite thing. Buy cheap plastic shot glasses, fill with Ranch and voila! So cute AND sanitary.

 Greek yogurt bar! White and fluffy and uber tasty.

To drink, we had basil cucumber lemonade and strawberry and chocolate milk.

It was a wonderful success, and somehow in my fun I completely forgot to take any more pictures. Like of all the delightful friends that came or (gasp) my dear 8.5 month pregnant friend. For shame.

Disneyworld April 2014

We had a wonderful time visiting Morgan's parents at their annual National Pie Competition and Festival in Celebration, Florida because it meant not only some high quality family time but high quality Disney time!

Four Point Five Months and the Light of Our Lives