I don't even know if it's possible to find words to accurately describe how great this weekend was. I mean, it was just perfect! After a full day of rain on Friday (ok, that part was not really perfect, but our grass did need it) , we had the BEST weather for an outdoor birthday party on Saturday. So many of our friends and family came over to celebrate our little girl and she was just as happy as could be at her party. The rest of the weekend didn't disappoint either, with a Notre Dame win, fun times with Matt's parents and the big kids, and a wonderful church service were Matt spoke and one of my best friend's sweet babies were baptized. I really don't want this weekend to come to an end!
One of the best things I did when planning Katie Wynn's first birthday party was hire a photographer. I knew I didn't want to be hiding behind the camera lens when the big day came, and I'm so glad I didn't have to. I really enjoyed just being at the party! The down side to that, though, is that I don't have any pictures to show for it yet. Seriously, not an even an iPhone picture! So a post all about the party will have to come once I get the photographer's pictures back.
That doesn't mean I don't have lots of other pictures from the weekend! And here they are, from super crappy, blurry phone pics to semi-decent ones from my real camera.
The weekend started out with a dreary, all-day-rainy Friday but it didn't slow my little Lady Bug down! She hammed it up all day long her her Lala and Poppa who had just arrived into town.
I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it on her or not, but Katie Wynn loves men! She shies away from the women - you know, the ones who always want to hold her - but she'll flirt and peek around at men on any given day. It didn't take her long to decide she loooooved her Poppa. Seriously, she never cuddles like this in my arms!
I really don't think he minded being her favorite and getting all of her good lovin'.
Obviously with Friday's all-day-rain shower, I was a nervous wreck about Saturday's outside party. There was no way I would be moving the petting zoo into my house!! My worried prayers were answered when I woke up Saturday morning to sunshine. We woke up early and got to moving furniture out to the grass. The yard was wet but it thankfully dried off before the animals (and party guests!) arrived. We tried to so hard to lay Katie Wynn down for a nap around nine so she would be well-rested. But you know, nothing ever goes as planned. T minus seven minutes til her birthday party and she face planted into her Poppa's chest and fell asleep!
We let her sleep for about 25 minutes before waking her up and bringing her outside. She had no idea what was going on! The picture below is from the end of the party, when I finally found the party hat I made for her. She was supposed to wear that when eating her smash cake! Oopsie daisy.
Like I said above, the party was a huge success. I hope the photographer got a good picture of her grin when she rode the pony, but it's really her giggles that I want to remember! Maybe we have a little cowgirl on our hands? I know that would thrill some of her cousins! :)
On the party invitation, we requested that, in lieu of gifts, guests bring a donation for Heifer International. I'm thrilled that we'll have a sizable donation amount to send their way, and I'm also thrilled that we don't have TONS of new toys to find room for. We waited to open what few gifts she did get until after everyone had left except for her grandparents and great grandmother. KW did a great job of opening the first gift - two barnyard books - but then couldn't be bothered to open any other ones. She was too busy carrying her books around! Thank goodness for Anna and Wyatt being there to help (and being more excited about her gifts than she was). Oh, and one gift had a blue ribbon on it that she wore as a birthday princess sash.
It wasn't until they got to the very last present that she decided ripping the paper off could be kind of fun. Good thing it was a big box with lots of paper on it!
As soon as all the gifts were opened, the birthday girl crashed HARD! She didn't even fight going down for a nap.
After her nap, it was fun to watch her face as she rediscovered her new toys all over again! This is Lulu Ladybug who plays four different songs. It jingled the whole time it was wrapped up in its box. I feel for the poor UPS man who had to drive it around all day!
After a busy Sunday morning and a lazy afternoon, we took Katie Wynn outside in the early evening to try out some more of her new toys. How cute is this garden cart that she got from her Aunt Beth, Uncle Nick, Jett and Bren?
It doubles as a wheelbarrow, but she hasn't quite figured out that it would be MUCH easier to wheel around if she would pull up on those handles!
This chair is not new at all (five bucks at Walmart, go get one for your kiddo!) but we had it out for her too. She decided rather than sitting in it, she'd rather carry it around. That seems smart for someone who's still trying figure out how to walk without falling over, right?
She took a break from her furniture rearranging to play basketball with her Daddy. I bet her brother would be thrilled if she took up an interest in this sport!
She ended the evening back with the chair, but this time actually sitting in it. And of course, she's giving all those grins to her Poppa!
I'll be back soon with updates about this little girl being ONE. How is that even possible?? Til then, kick back - literally - in your lawn chair and enjoy this awesome weather!