Meadow Turns One

We are having a birthday party for Meadow at the cottage with our family, but I thought we should celebrate her real birthday as well. I sent out an informal invite on Facebook letting people know we were going to go to Como Park if anyone wanted to join. 

We decided on a potluck, which meant we had some cooking to do.

Meadow was sleeping in really late so I came in her room with the card to wake her up. My grandma sent Meadow a birthday card that has Minnie Mouse singing Happy Birthday.

I'm not sure if that card was cute or really annoying.

I made a cookie cake for the adults. Or I should say Scott made it and I decorated it.

I usually put out two options for clothing and let Meadow decide what she wants to wear. She has a shirt with balloons on it that I thought would be cute and a fancy dress. She choose the balloon shirt.

Before we got her dressed, she decided to run around in her birthday suit.

We let Meadow open one gift before her party. The newly painted rocking horse.

Since it was Sunday we wanted to squeeze in a stop at the Minneapolis Farmers Market.

We picked up a few things we needed for our picnic plus some things for her party at the cottage.

We were making bahn mis and spring rolls  for the get together. We stopped by our local asian market Good Deal and picked up rice noodles. They didn't have demibaguettes unfortunately.

We also got a few broccoli and kale plants at the market to fill in the areas that didn't grow in our garden.

While Meadow napped we prepped the spring rolls.

I had already baked tofu and cut veggies the night before.

Brooke was nice enough to help me prep the spring rolls.

On the way to Como Park we stopped by Sun Foods on University Avenue for the baguettes.

Being that it was a Sunday I was worried we weren't going to get a picnic spot. We arrived early so we could let our guests know where we were going to be. Parking was horrible, but there were plenty of open picnic tables.

I really doubt that Como Park has enough parking for the Zoo, Como Town and the picnic areas.

We lounged about while our friends found parking spots.

It was super windy so we had to improvise keeping everything from blowing away.

Meadow actually wore her knitted crown for awhile.

Davin, Dora and baby Doralyce apparently had the least trouble finding a parking spot. I can't believe how small baby Dora is.

Or that Meadow was ever that small.

A few people had arrived so we started eating.

Once Brian showed up we decided it was time for sandwiches.

Meadow wanted a whole spring roll for herself.

I had to give bahn mi making instructions for everyone. I think they were a hit.

Not everyone responded to our Facebook invite so I was happy many people showed up.

Then it was time for cake. I made Meadow a banana blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting. I used a shortcake pan and put cherries in the middle. Meadow went for the cherries first.

I think little Madeline only ate the frosting on her cookie cake.

She loved her little cake.

Then it was time to open gifts. I wasn't expecting her to get any and almost everyone brought something.

Cevonne and JT got Meadow a baby doll and stroller. I wonder if she's going to be confused since we've always used an Ergo instead of a stroller.

She also got an airplane, sand toys, bubbles and a 4th of July headband.

Little Alex wanted some sand toys too.

Then it was time to clean up and head over to the zoo.

It was hard to stay together with everyone.

Every so often we'd run back into some of our friends. We worried we had lost JT, Cevonne and Madeline after they went to the zoo early.

I always find the Como Zoo to be a bit depressing. We typically go in the dead of winter. It was really fun on a warm summer day.

Haag went all Dippin Dots on us.

This is the last time we will be at Como Park with Cevonne and Jose as they are moving to Austin, Texas this summer.

I'm going to miss drinking all of his home brews and spending lazy Sundays with these three.

Cooling off in the mister. Maybe we can take Meadow to Como Town for her second birthday.

Brian won Meadow a whale from a claw machine. Sadly she dropped it on the way to the car and when we went back to look for it it was gone. Some lucky kid must have gotten it.

Back at home Meadow opened the rest of her gifts from us. Bundt cake sand toys, a Meadow sized chair, a float for swimming and a zig-zag toy.

Not a bad first birthday and the lucky duck gets another party next week.

Then it was bath time for the birthday girl. I don't think I'll ever forget this day. Her birth seems like forever ago, yet I can't believe she's a year old. 

After Meadow went to bed I worked on planning Meadow's next party.

I told you she was lucky.