Today Clara and Emma celebrated their first birthday!
Emma was an early bird and made sure to remind Mommy and Daddy that she was up- as she woke up at 5:15. Mommy and Daddy both think it was because she was so excited to be 1! Mommy went to get her and put her in the pack n play in the bedroom and she slept for another hour and a half. Clara and Emma wore their birthday t-shirts and enjoyed a special breakfast of waffles and bananas after their bottle. Mommy even tied a balloon to each of their highchairs- which they loved.
After breakfast, Mommy played with Clara and Emma while Daddy went with Grandpa to the grocery store to get last minute items. After Daddy came back, Clara and Emma got to open some presents - their favorite seems to be the keys that come with a beeper- that they can chew safely! Clara and Emma enjoyed a nice nap and woke up to quite a cloudy view. After lunch of cheese quesadilla and yogurt, Clara and Emma watched the storm come in. Mommy was nervous that the afternoon bbq would have to become a pizza lunch. Both ladies enjoyed a long afternoon nap (well, for them) and rested from 12:30-almost 2. Mommy changed them into their dresses for their party.
Everyone came at 2 ish. Clara and Emma celebrated their first birthday with Mommy and Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Frome, Grandma and Grandpa Gornstein, Aunt Alyssa and Michael, Aunt Sara and Uncle Ilan, Matt, Andrew and Kayla, Susy and Maurice, Liliana and Cousin Lani. Clara immediately warmed up to everyone and Emma seemed a bit overwhelmed by the excitement. She was quite clingy and didnt want to let go of Mommy or Daddy. Mommy and Daddy think that some of the kvetchiness is due to teething, but who knows. Clara and Emma enjoyed showing everyone how they walk with their lion toy, eat snack (rice cakes, yogurt melts, animal crackers and water), and drink beer. Just kidding! They seem to enjoy using Daddy's beer bottle as a teether. Mommy and Daddy loved watching Clara and Emma with their cousins. They all played very nicely together.
Everyone was excited that the disgusting day suddenly turned nice. It was lovely to bbq outside and enjoy a meal with family and friends. Clara and Emma ate hamburger, spinach pancakes and some pasta salad (that Mommy and Grandma made with alphabet letters). Then, it was time for cake. Clara and Emma celebrated their first birthday with a cake that had Elmo and Big Bird cars and Elmo candles. They both were very excited. Mommy was a smidge emotional singing happy birthday, but made it through. Everyone sang to Clara first and then to Emma. As Mommy explained it, most singletons get their own birthday and therefore get their own song, therefore, so should Clara and Emma. Mommy cut small pieces of cake for Clara and Emma and they both stared at it for a few seconds and then went for it. They loved it. In fact, Emma wanted more! After cake, Clara and Emma got to open their presents and asked Mommy to say thank you on their behalf. Aunt Alyssa couldnt wait for them to open her gift- a new Elmo that talks. Mommy is thinkings of getting one for Aunt Alyssa for Hanukah!
While Mommy and Grandma Gornstein changed Clara and Emma to their pjs and gave them their bottle, everyone enjoyed dessert including special cupcakes and cookies Mommy made with the letters "c" and "e."As a party favor (this was the top secret mission), kids received a frisbee with their name and adults were given a flower pot that had two purple (Emma) and two pink (Clara) feet prints. The pots said "Thanks for helping us grow) and had a vine on them. They were filled with soil and seeds (some even started sprouting). These were wrapped in pretty cellophane with ribbon and butterfly stickers. Mommy put a sticker that said "Thanks for coming to our party. Love Clara and Emma." A special shout out to Art in Us for helping with this project.
Mommy is listening to the thunder and watching a storm come in and is very happy that the few hours it was nice was during Clara and Emma's party. Mommy and Daddy are very tired, but not nearly as tired as a year ago :)
Happy Birthday Clara and Emma... and many, many
m
ore. 
m
ore. 
