Party!

Sunday was the big day!  Jovie's first birthday party.  The weather forecast for Sunday (when last checked on Saturday) was gorgeous, so we were going with our original plan to have the party at BelleHaven park.  However, when we got out of church, it was raining.  So, Julie remembered the shelter at the Fairlington Park, and we moved the party there.  Of course, then I gave everyone the wrong address.  And Julie and I had to finish softening the cupcake frosting by turning on the heat in the car (Julie's second save-the-day idea of the day) as we were setting up at the park.    But it all worked out, and everyone made it!  The rain stopped just as the party was starting and we had lots of fun with our wonderful family and friends!

Here she is - the big girl, making the "1" sign

 The cupcakes I was very proud of!  (Julie helped ice and present them)

  

 Yummy food

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Mingling at the party

 Wonderful friends and family all came

 The favorite facial expression these days

 Grandmas and Grandpas

 Daddy and his One-Year-Old

Jovie kept reaching for all of our small group friends to hold her, and I think she asked each of them to hold her at some point during the party!

 Jovie loves Poppy!

 This bunting was made for one of my baby showers.  I said I would use it at that baby's first birthday party - yay!

 Daddies and Babies

 Grandpas on dinner duty

 All the kids with their star sunglasses (a party favor)

You'll notice - Jovie never keeps hers on

 It's a challenge for almost everyone to keep them on

(The pipe in Pyke's mouth is also a party favor - for bubbles)

 Jovie tried to escape every now and then

 Grandma and Jovie

 Our family on Jovie's birthday

 Cake! This part was super fun, and Jovie got right into the spirit of it.  While everyone was singing "Happy Birthday" to her, she seemed a bit confused, but watched everyone.

Here it comes!  Blow out the candle!

 First touch

 Here, Jovie, you eat it

 First taste - tentative at first

 Diving in!

 And then she went all for it, and made a total mess.  Thankfully, we did a back-up napkin under the bib, so the dress came out unscathed.

Look at that bib pocket

 She was so entertaining to watch go for it!

 How much is stashed in there that I can eat?

 Since the Hoberts came, she's been doing the shy tilt her head and act coy thing with men lately.  Here, she's doing it to Grandpa.

 Here's the book she opened from Naomi.  We're not sure if it was due to sugar rush, but she was giddy with delight when she looked at it for the first time!

 Everyone was so generous.  What a blessed little girl.

(Blanket props go to Sandyn for letting us use her all-weather blanket)

 Opening presents

 Thanks everyone!

 So far, Jovie does a nice job sharing her toys with other kids.

 Hanging with the family

We really enjoyed ourselves, and I was overwhelmed by how loved and blessed a little girl that Jovie is.  She is surrounded by loving support, and I'm so grateful for that.

Happy Birthday, Jovie Rae!