Ava's 1st Birthday Party

What a beautiful day for a birthday party – 74 degrees and sunny. The party was from 1-3 p.m. at the Vander Laan Room at Hager Park in Jenison. When we booked the room last November and this was the only date that was available. I didn’t even think about it being Memorial Day. Because of that, we lost some family and friends that had previous plans. We had Jimmy John’s, pasta salad, chips, pickles, cookies, baked beans and a TON of candy. Thank you to everyone for coming and for the wonderful gifts for Ava (and those that brought gifts for Grace too). We are truly blessed. Everything turned out great and hope that everyone had a good time too! Grace and Ava had such a good time that they both fell right asleep when we got home.
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I wanted to make the cake myself, but was pretty scared since I haven’t had much practice. I think they turned out good. The bottom two layers are triple chocolate and the top layer is vanilla. All had Oreo filling with butter cream icing. I haven’t perfected fondant, so in order to make the smooth dots, I used Starbursts and Tootsie Rolls.

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Here is the cake Ava got to smash.

A top view of the other cake I made

Side view

Notice the red tongue from a sucker. She had many of those during the day to keep occupied

My pretty little birthday girl!

A view of the cake table

The cake for the guests

Ava's cake she got to smash

Another view of the cake table

food table

Excited that all the people were showing up

Mommy and Gracie

Grandma and Ava. Nicholas was trying to get in all the pictures.

My little girls is one!

Daddy and Ava

Eating her lunch

Grace even had some presents to open. How sweet! She absolutely loved it.

Present time!

More presents for Grace

What a sweet face

The start of the sucker!

Ava was getting fussy, so Grandma O'Keefe knew just what to do - a sucker! For whatever reason, she always flips it around and eats the stick.

Carter! What a cutie!

Notice her painted toenails!

A Mickey present. Aunt Lindsey, Uncle Andy and Carter sure do know what Grace likes

Everyone wanted Bub to help take the presents out the boxes. Notice all the other kids are more excited about it than Ava!

Walking with Aunt Teri

Jackson and the pig racer

Carter trying to sneak the Cabbage Patch Kid

Ava, the new monkey, Grandma O'Keefe and Grandma Schab

Ava and Grandma O'Keefe

Cake Time!

Started out slow

Then she started smashing

Then Grandpa Schab put the crown on her head and she got frosting in her eyes. She was done!

This picture says it all

The aftermath

Daddy giving her a tub in the park's sink

Sitting with Uncle David. She liked him because he looks like Bub

A lady at the party next door brought over some cotton candy.