Garden Party Groovin' & Growin'

Last week, Pop Pop sent me an email in the lead up to Vera's Garden party.  He said, you really should listen to the old song "Garden Party" by Ricki Nelson (see lyrics and link to song here).  He wrote, "It is a good song, you should play it at Vera's party."

Of course I waited till this morning to get Jocelyn to download it.  We did and I love it!  It totally fit our party!

There is a great line that goes like this:

"But it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can't please everyone, so ya got to please yourself"

Well, I am not sure about everyone, but today's party I pleased myself!  And I hope I pleased Vera!  It was all for her and she seemed to have a great time!

It worked out in the end: the weather, the food, the guests, the theme!  Thinking about it now, I am so happy!  I often write about how happy things make my kids-but today I got to say, I worked my butt off kaleidoscoping around and with a ton of chaos trying to make something amazing and beautiful for my awesome little girl-and it was, and I am happy.  I could not have done it without a ton of help from a lot of my family and friends-whether it was people lending me folding chairs, taking pictures, bringing salads, playing with the kids, smiling, showing up, blessing us or CLEANING UP!  I hope you all know who you are-I love you and you made today great.

THANK YOU!
The highlights from my kaleidoscope of today's pretty terrific garden party:

(1) the naming ceremony: Vera was awesome, and so was Rabbi Toby.  Vera actually was reading and following along in the Rabbi's prayer book. She drank real wine from a real Kiddush cup (from my bat mitzvah).  She was wrapped in a talit. And at the end of the whole thing, we kissed her and said Amen.  She got down on the floor, stood on her own two feet, wobbled over to Nana who was sitting just steps away and gave herself a big smile, Nana a big hug and then clapped.  Like I said, my Vera knows and grows!  Right in front of our eyes!

(2) the dirt bar:  we had a dirt bar!  (inspired by a number of ideas I have seen on Pinterest) I had flowers pots filled with seeds (M&Ms), beans (jelly beans), bugs (gummy), worms (gummy), butterflies and caterpillars (lolly pops), flowers (sugar cupcake toppers), flower stakes (pretzel rods) and a bucket of dirt (crushed oreos and chocolate cake).  Each kid got a flower pot and went at it.  Really you just need to look at the pics.  Kids and candy in a planting simulation experience-WOW!

(3) Vera eating her cake:  she was so happy eating with no bib, with her own spoon sitting on Mama's lap!  Totally what first birthdays are about!

(4) GG being here to see Vera get her Hebrew name, Vered, which means Rose:  It was a really big trip for GG (my grandma and Vera's great grandma)  (I wrote about GG here)  She is very tired but she made it to this party.  Her 7th great grandchild turning one.  This makes me very happy.  She wasn't at the party the entire time as she needed to rest.  But there were certain moments, you could see GG being happy and in those moments she was beautiful.

(5) post party dinner with kids outside: about 5pm both kids were hungry so we sat down just us three and they ate. not sure why, but it was good-very good.  The weather was perfect and the party was over-all was good!

Hi Rabbi!  I like your bling!

Hey Mama!  I want a yarmulke too!

And I want to read the prayers too!

Really, I want to read them!

Big brother and Nana watching!

getting my blessing!

Vera takes a walk and a bow!

Cake Time!!

DIRT BAR!!!!

My name is Jonah and I want the worms!

As many as possible please, my dirt needs to be aerated!

GG looking good!  In her spot by the window!  She loves to watch out the window-and so does Vera!

It's my party and I am eating (and loving) my cake!  When is the next party mom?