Lilly's First Birthday

So I have a confession to make...my second child is definitely suffering from "second child syndrome".  I really want to try hard and make sure that Lilly has as much attention as her big sister had.  I am failing!  When Lainey turned one, it was a huge to do!  I think I probably started planning her birthday party when she was about two months old...not so much for Lilly.  Sure I had an idea of what Lilly's theme would be, but that was about as far as I got until about three weeks before (and really I only got it together enough then to send out invitations).  Seeing as life these days is jam packed (coupled with the fact that Lainey had such a big birthday party this year), I decided to try out an "open house" theme for Lilly's party.  My idea was that people could come and go as they please, get their picture taken with Santa, have some milk and cookies, and be on their way.  I must admit-it went pretty well!  I think everyone had a great time, and I was a lot less stressed!  So less stressed in fact that I did not get one single picture of the milk and cookies set up :( (See what I mean...second child syndrome!) 

the invite thrown together in like 2.5 seconds--love me some free clipart!

Santa, his elf, and the birthday girl

The best Santa around a.k.a. Crunkle Jake

So nice to have family close for birthdays now!

Lilly's BFF, Hadley--Lilly did not want to smile for ANYTHING this day!

This picture cracks me up!  Lilly's boyfriend, Crosley, was trying to lean in for some lovin', Lilly is looking at him like he's crazy, and Hadley's staring off in to space! :)

He was such a good Santa!

This would be the only picture I got of the decorations.  Pathetic, I know!

Lilly's party was especially fun for me because it was a great gathering of people from all aspects of our life.  I couldn't help but sit back and thank God for all of the awesome people He has put in our lives here and the fact that my parents and brother and sister-in-law are able to be around for so many big things in our lives now.  Feeling very blessed lately!