First Birthday Party

Typical me, I tried to do too much in too little time, so I wasn’t quite done when Ivo’s family showed up a little bit early. So, no pictures of the decorated room, and just one of the food.

Photo from Leo’s camera

On the table you can see the cake (sugarless except for the icing), eggplant turnovers, tortellini skewers (with fresh mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and olives), Christmas cookies and the beginning of a fruit platter that never got going with fresh pepernoten in the middle (those I bought). You don’t see the homemade cheese crackers. Coming later were artichoke toasties (sort of like tarts, but with a bread crust) and eggplant and olive truffles. I also made a dip for a veggie platter that didn’t make it out either. But as it was it was more than sufficient.

The cake:

Photo from Leo’s camera

Liam contemplating the opening of his first present:

Photo from Leo’s camera

And playing with the second:

Photo from Leo’s camera

And going back to playing with the car – he really, really loves it.

Liam with Ivo’s uncle Joost.

Photo from Leo’s camera

Bringing the cake. We sang both “Lang zal je leven” and “Happy Birthday”.

Photo from Leo’s camera

The three of us. Liam really wants the cake.

So, he gets some.

Quite literally stuffing his face.

Our neighbours’ kids, age 6 and 4 – two of the sweetest kids ever. They really like Liam and play well with him. They’re another bilingual family – mother is German and father is Surinamese – so they’re being raised in German and Dutch.

And playing with Eloise. Liam doesn’t mind at all that she’s in his chair and using his bib etc. He’s just having fun playing with her father!

Leo was taking a video, so at some point there may be video posted after some editing. It was a really, really nice party, some neighbours, some friends of Ivo’s and of mine and Ivo’s parents and aunts and uncles. It was a nice mix of people and there was some good conversation as well. Liam was cheerful throughout, completely not bothered by many people being here – he actually loves it. And we’ll be eating leftovers for a while.