The lady turned 1. We celebrated.

So this is what frosting tastes like.
We marked Elise's 1st birthday Saturday with the traditional party -- with some twists. They involved eating no cake, a child fighting a head cold, some of the adults playing musical chairs (no, the punch wasn't spiked) and an observation that the grandpas maybe should consult with each other before gifting furniture.
What kind of party was this, anyway?
A pretty good one, I think. I asked Elise what she thought of it, but she had a mouthful of vanilla buttercream frosting, so couldn't answer me.
We decided to hold off on the circus-themed party with live animals and a blow-up playground until her 2nd birthday, and instead forced the family and friends to squeeze into our living room for food and presents.
Having learned to unwrap gifts at Christmas, Elise was an old hand when it came to opening her presents. Everyone was plenty generous, and she bagged some decent loot for a 1-year-old.
She got some help from cousins Randy and Jacob as she opened their gift.


Anni and I gave her kind of an unusual gift -- and the closest thing she'll get to a real dog at the house, at least for several years.
My parents have a collie, Nikko, who is as fond of Elise as she is of Nikko.
Well, Anni and I had decided to get Elise a hand puppet, and as we were looking for one we happened to find a collie puppet. Perfect gift. It's about as realistic as you can get while still being able to shove your hand up a hole in the puppet's ... well, you get the point.
Anyway, the puppy puppet was a hit. It doesn't have a name yet, so I guess we'll take suggestions. And, no, Lassie is not an original name.



The funniest moment came when the grandpas each brought in one last gift.
Turns out each had refinished and stained or painted a rocking chair for Elise. And both chairs were adorned with Elise's name on the back. Frankly, at the rate things were going, I'm surprised they didn't wear the same shirt to the party.
Great gifts, though. And each has some history -- the chairs, I mean, not the grandpas.
The rockers were put to immediate use, as Elise got some help from Avery, daughter of pals Dan and Erin.



Anni decided that instead of making a cake, she would make a slew of cupcakes, each topped with fruit because, well, Elise would eat fruit all day long if she could and, really, who doesn't like fresh berries in March in Minnesota?
Elise, who was fighting a head cold that day, as evidenced by her expression in the next photo, got some help blowing out her candle from cousin Randy.




This was Elise's first experience with frosted cupcakes. Needless to say, they got along pretty well. She was curious at first, but I think the photos give you a pretty good idea of how things progressed. (Note: In the third photo, she is gesturing for more. We see this often -- a child with food literally falling out of her mouth as she asks for more.)





Anyway, if this gets any longer I might as well just start writing about her 2nd birthday, so I'll wrap it up, adding only a big thanks from Anni and I to everyone who came and to those who sent birthday wishes.