...watermelon...

 ...watermelon party...

(WARNING: collage overload)

Last weekend we celebrated Mabel's first birthday!

We planned to have a little backyard bbq but the weather took a turn for the worse 

so we had to move the party inside.

(which was a bummer because I thought our balloon chain,

which was quite the labor of love, looked much cuter outside!)  

the menu:
 teriyaki chicken & pineapple kebabs
dill potato salad
watermelon slices
sparkling watermelon lemonade
watermelon cupcakes

Thanks to my brother-in-law Bryan for helping Nate grill!

Mabel had a blast playing with her friends and family!

...

I debated whether or not to give Mabel a cupcake. 

The traditionalist in me said "cupcake!" but then I started thinking,

if Mabel could talk and make a request for her birthday dessert

I totally know what she would say:

"WATERMELON!"

Her favorite treat.

So we gave her the biggest piece of watermelon

she has ever seen and she went to town.

sweet, slippery, slimy, and sticky

(and really cute to boot!)

 .Present LOVE.

I think my favorite part of the day was watching Mabel open presents.

She really took time to look at each little gift.

She would kiss and hug each present AND card - is that the cutest thing or what?

Happy Birthday Mabel!

and Many More!