Mae's Birthday

For Mae's first birthday we had a nice little party. I try to make the birthday special by doing things they birthday kid wants to do. Since Mae couldn't really tell me :), we played it by ear. We frosted and decorated her birthday cake that morning, and I had decorated the house the night before. Then we went to the park for a picnic lunch, and played on the playground. She's such an active little girl she loved it. There was this HUGE dog walking around, I was afraid it was going to eat me, so imagine the view from Mae and Nia's angle! Mae sooo loves dogs though, pretty much any animal, and wasn't afraid.
Then we stopped by our favorite ice-cream/dairy shop, G"S dairy, and got some gorilla munch ice cream to go along with the theme. (boot's banana cake) It's banana flavored ice cream with oreo cookies mixed in. For the cake I made a banana cake and found some banana flavoring to add to the buttercream frosting. I know, I know, a little overkill, huh? :) I found a four-layer cake pan set at D.I. for $1, so thats why you've been seeing all these layer cakes popping up on birthdays. I loved it, because I was able to pop off the top layer for Mae's smash cake! Perfect size!










We had Leland and Lindsey over for dinner and our friends the Dyers over for cake and ice cream. I think Mae was starting to realize something different was going on, and seemed to enjoy her day. Thanks for everyone who could come, and we love you sweetest Mae!!







I made her a little photo book with pictures of her and her family. I'm trying to get pictures of her with everyone. We need a picture of her with Grandpa Montez and Grandma Betty, and a few others still, but she loves it! How sad that we don't have those yet?? I've gotta do better!