Maddie's 1st birthday!

Somehow a whole year has passed already, and Madeline is officially 1! We had a little party to celebrate on Saturday, and invited a few of the neighbor families we've met, a few old friends and family. Thank goodness we're now living in a house that has multiple spaces to entertain in, as it was one hot day, almost too hot to play outside.

It's really fun that we've met so many people with 3 year olds and babies right around Maddie's age. She and Joseph had lots of fun playing with their own friends. Ben and Kristin made the long trek from Lee's Summit with their daughter, Emerson, who will be 1 in just a few days as well!

When I realized we should have a party, and parties are more fun with themes, the first thing that popped into my head as one of Madeline's favorite things was ice cream. So I went all out on her ice cream themed birthday... thanks to Pinterest!

I made these ruffled ice cream cones to hang on the chandelier, and baked cupcakes inside ice cream cones. The kids thought those were great! We also had a bunch of different flavors of ice cream and toppings, along with a traditional cake.  I apparently forgot to take a picture, but made ice cream cone cake pops as party favors that were so adorable! I was really excited how they turned out.

While I wasn't going to complain about a lunchtime party with nothing but sugar, I figured we should also have some real lunch food as well - so there were party sandwiches, chips, and fresh fruit in waffle bowls, of course.

I also found a picture of these adorable ice cream cone party hats online, so I finished making them late Friday night.

Maddie's second smash cake... the first attempt turned out awful and not picture worthy. It ended up in the trash (there was so much cake floating around the kitchen this week, I didn't feel compelled to save it and eat it!)

Papa came by after dropping Nana off at the airport. She was on her way out to New York to meet the newest cousin, who will hopefully be born tomorrow!

Scotty B rocking the party hat as no one else could.

Maddie was much more dainty with the smash cake than I thought she would. After we sung happy birthday, I put out the big cake and ice cream for everyone to eat, and while she enjoyed having the attention on her, she really wanted her own ice cream cone instead of the cake. I shouldn't have been surprised at all.

 She never really smashed the cake, just ate bits and pieces and started rubbing lots into her hair.
Mason sat quietly the whole time, eating his lunch and then going to town on his ice cream cone cupcake.

Maddie's true personality came out after I took the bulk of the cake away. She was hamming it up for people and laughing a ton. Turns out, she enjoys birthday parties! :)

After cake and ice cream, Joseph insisted on opening Maddie's gifts. For her. It took some convincing to get him to back off and let her take a turn.

 Although she seemed to miss having help, she figured it out pretty quickly.

Mimi and Papa