Vacation is over...Part 2

On Sunday, August 1, it was time for Brooke's party. We got up and got ready, then we headed out to pick up the cakes. (Wait until I get pictures on here, they turned out SO CUTE). After that, we picked up balloons and headed to my brother's house.

My brother and sister-in-law were nice enough to let us use their house for the party. Leslie helped me decorate the kitchen and the screened in patio. It was a beautiful day...sunny and not too hot.

Brooke had a great party! We had meatball sandwiches, buffalo chicken dip, chips, pasta salad, fresh fruit, cake, and ice cream. She got a TON of presents, and she had an absolute blast playing my niece Jenna and my nephew Thad after the party.

She really smashed her little cake, too! She had it in her eyes, in her hair - her entire face was blue because Grover (her favorite character) was on her little cake. It was great to see everyone, and we had a great time.

Out of her gifts, two are very special. The first is a toybox that my Aunt Lisa painted. My mom has bought these wooden toy boxes for all of her grandkids, and she has Lisa paint them. Again, wait until you see pictures! It has seashells on the front, and her name on the top - and the name looks like the beach. It is beautiful, and she will be able to use it even when she's older as a storage chest. And it will always remind her that she started her life in Miami, no matter where we may end up!

The other very, very special gift is a scrapbook that my sister made of Brooke's first year. It has the professional pictures we've had done, as well as pictures of Brooke's party in it. It also has very special (and tear-jerking) messages from important people in Brooke's life - her "Aunt Jacqui," Aunt Kelly, Grandma and Pappy, Nonna and Poppa, and Nana. It is a beautiful book and a fantastic idea.

My parents are shipping some of Brooke's gifts down and will be bringing the rest in October. We appreciate everyone that came to celebrate with us and are very thankful for all of Brooke's presents!