Zoe's First Birthday

It has been so long since I've updated the blog. I've been wanting to but have been so busy with work and planning for the Zoe's party and getting ready for my family's visit the week of Zoe's party.

On Sept 22, we celebrated Zoe's first birthday. The party was scheduled to be at a local park. We chose the park because I figured it would still be warm at the end of Sept. But I was wrong! It rained the day of the party. It didn't rain the few days before and the days after the party but it rained the DAY of the party. So at 8AM - we had to change the location of the party to our home. It was a pretty hectic morning but luckily the family pulled together and we were ready for the 11:30AM party to begin. My dad and Tita Aida, Jason, James (my brothers) and Annie (James' girlfriend) really helped us get the house in order. And John's dad and brother Manuel even picked up the food for us. All of this really helped! (So if you guys are reading this - thank you so much!!!)

Although our home was a little cramped with the 68 guests that came to celebrate...the party still turned out great. I think everyone enjoyed themselves!! We had a magician do a magic/juggling show and make balloon animals for the kids. We also had a caricaturist come and draw cartoons of our guests (that was a big hit)! Some of the drawings turned out so good!!! We had a pinata for the kids and sang happy birthday to my smiling baby!

Here are some pictures from the party:

Here we are (Ethan is too busy playing to pose for a picture) just as the party was starting.

Here are some of our guests enjoying the magic show.

Happy birthday to little Zoe who is obviously enjoying her party!

Zoe had a special cake - without eggs and milk (which she is allergic to). This is the first time she ate cake so she doesn't really know what she is missing. Hopefully she will outgrow the allergy so she can enjoy the sweets her mommy and kuya love so much!

Here are some pictures of Zoe on her actual birthday, Sept 24th. Still exhausted from the party, we decided to eat at dinner at home. But we went out for ice cream and sang happy birthday to Zoe.
Ethan decided that ice cream doesn't always have to be eaten with a spoon!

See her candle? We just got done singing and she is ready to try the ice cream!