It's a Whited World: UNDER THE BIG TOP

Riley is One! To celebrate we had a circus-themed birthday party. We served mini corn dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, peanuts, animal crackers & circus peanuts. The kids played circus-themed games, listened to circus music and took home prizes in popcorn boxes. It was a simple but really fun party! All week the forecast for the day of the party was rain, rain & more rain! The party was being held at an outdoor park in our neighborhood and we didn't have a backup plan. So all weekend I was praying for good weather. As we were decorating it got overcast and started to rain. (Side note: Riley ventured out into the rain for the 1st time and really enjoyed it). As soon as the time came for the party to start the rain stopped and the sun came out!

God is so good!

About 45 minutes before the party was suppose to start we put Riley down for a nap. She usually takes short naps (an one hour nap is long to me!) so I wasn't too concerned anout her sleeping through the party. Wouldn't you know, 1 1/2 hrs later (and 45 minutes into the party) she was still sleeping! So we ended up having to wake her up so she wouldn't miss her party. She knew how to make a GRAND entrance to her 1st party already. Everyone was there to see her arrive.

Some teenagers from our youth group were great sports and dressed up like clowns and face painted for us! Thanks Alexandra, Isabella, & Victoria!

There were so many fun games.

We had TIGHTROPE WALKING &

RING TOSS

The DUCK POND

Playing the water was more fun than the actual game!

The LION ROAR

The kids went all out for this!

The SLIPPERY BANANA

Marilaura won even though she didn't know what she was doing!

I had been looking forward to Riley's eating her first birthday cake since she was born. I haven't given her any sweets just to make the moment extra special! I couldn't wait for her to experience the taste of chocolate, to make a huge mess, and to have great pictures from the moment. Some moms I have talked to said their child didn't even touch there cake and I would say "That won't be Riley! She will dig right in just like she does with everything else!" Oh boy was I wrong! When we first sat the cake in front of her she stuck her finger right in the icing and then licked it off her finger. And then she did it again and again. That is all she did though. She definitely liked the icing but did not even touch the cake! The mess she made was no where near what I had hoped. That girl is always surprising me!