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If clicking on this video doesn't work then try this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLnKbjD4nl8
HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY to our Stella!!!!!!
Stella turned One on Saturday, August 21! On her birthday we threw a carnival birthday party for her and her friends and Everything Was Perfect (um, that is ASIDE FROM THE WEATHER!!!!!!!!!). I suppose it's the mom in me now - because a year ago i would have flipped my lid at the sight of the down pour that happened rather then Not complain about it that day and instead take in the moment with my baby girl on her Very First Birthday! (Oh, but don't you worry the next day i kept saying "why did it have to rain like that, seriously come on!")
But the weather did subside, and the raindrops were wiped off all of the helium balloons to allow them to float up again and the best part - Rain or Shine, Stella and All The Kids Had A Blast and Could Care A Less About The Rain - as long as they could collect their winning tickets at each game station and cash them in at the Prize Tent they were happy!
Thank you so much to all my family and friends for all the help in putting this most fabulous event together - it was ALOT of work and has been planned since Stella was pretty much born, ha ha. Thank you to everyone that traveled both near and far: just take a glance at this list...you guys rock.
• Denver
• Georgia
• Traverse City
• Dayton
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• All of our Toledo pals
• And Farthest Of Them All, ENGLAND!!!
This was such a very special day for Justin and I and for me personally one of my best days ever and most importantly Stella had such a great time, smiling all day and into the evening as we opened up all her birthday presents - which by the way were so awesome! Thank you everyone for making this so very special :)
Now here are allll the Pics and Videos! If i missed anyone, i'm sorry i can only do so much on a day like that!
WATCH THIS IT"S ADORABLE! Her JoNanna was teaching her how to blow our her birthday candle all last week in preparation for her party and the morning of her birthday she showed me over breakfast what a quick learner she is - it's really cute here!
Of clicking on the video doesn't work then try this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8U-yV7Q9SU
First, a special Thank You to Aunt Amy for seriously the best bday invitation ever!! I love it so much.
Stella's Birthday Banner was made her Jeamma (my mom) and her Great Aunt Snookie! The Triangle piece above Stella that says 1st is velro and can be switched out with 2nd, 3rd, etc
Jeamma made Stella's MOST ADORABLE Birthday Dress, the party hat, the fabric peep-toe booties...oh the list goes on and on. Thank you Jeamma your creations are amazing as always Stella is one lucky granddaughter!
Stella's Birthday Cakes (many have asked where i got these...Cherry Lane Bakery out of Rossford, Ohio)
Aunt Amy works at the speed of lightening as she adhered 80 plus Labels onto Stella's Cotton Candy, Thank You Aunt Amy! xoxo - Stella
Stella's Cotton Candy! And boy did she love the taste of that stuff!
The job from hell - Jeamma's idea, make 60 some homemade carmel apples. They were cute though:)
Stella's BIG TOP! (And Justin's shadow that day....little Lola loves Justin - it was very so very sweet.)
All the games!
Aunt Amy and Ter-Bear helping with the party prep!
Cousin Jodi, from Denver and Aunt Janice from Georgia - Stella was so very happy they came!
Uncle Mark from Georgia - who put in hours before the party setting up the Games & Prize Tent. Thank you!!
The Prize Tent and Tonya from Party City - "she's more than just a balloon girl!" THANK YOU Tonya for all your help you are awesome. This girl was just supposed to blow up 200 plus helium balloons but offered to stay and work the Prize Tent when one of my worker bees was held up in traffic, she also informed me later during the party that she took all photos of everything before the party started, like the cake table, etc. Man she is good!
GREAT Grandpa Shorty getting his fotune read by Autum. Thank you Autumn for helping that day!
GREAT Grandma Alice
Brit-Brit. Thank You Britny for all your help with the gifts afterwards!!
The Wade's make it in their VW Bus all the way from Mackinac Island, MI (Da' U.P.)
Aunt Amy, Uncle Todd and his nephew Mac, thanks for helping Mac & Lucas!
Ben and Emilee, whom haven't seen each other since highschool! Emilee thank you so much for being the other Mamma-rattzi at Stella's party and getting shots i could get too, i can always count on you for that task at hand!
Lindsay - so good to visit with you, Thank you for planning your trip from England back home around Stella's 1st Bday party, you are awesome!
Denny and his kids, Logan & Breckelle
The Wambos
The Vissers - sorry didn't get a pick of the baby or Julie!
The Huss's
Stella's baby friend, Davis and my good mommy friend Jill and her hubby Jeff, who by the way is being such a gentleman with that umbrella!
Jill and I in the Funhouse Mirror! Ter-Bear's creation, i think it was one of the best things there, hilarious!
Sarah, Isaac and Alizah
Cousin Raymon & Dova's daughter, Jacqueline and some worker bees, Mac and Autumn
More "worker bees": Cousin Kelsey, her boyfriend Nick and friend Jocelyn. THANK YOU for all your help!
Cousin Jeremy from Dayton with kids Alec, Hannah and Madison. Thanks for your help Alec!
Jenny and Vince, from Cinci.
Great Aunt Joyce - Thank you so much for blowing up all of those helium balloons!
Sterling, Asa and Stella. BTW Stella was loving this photo canvas banner thingy
Jeamma - THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING - YOU MADE THIS PARTY UNFORGETTABLE and i appreciate it so mcuh mom!
Damien, thanks for making the drive from Cleveland for Stella's bash! Great seeing you! btw - for a single dude, you certainly know how to pick out a super duper cute outfit for a bday gift!
Dress Up Clothes - had to keep them inside due to the rain, but that didn't stop Lola & Kelsey...
...or Ter-Bear!
...or Aaron (Lola's daddy)
oh, looky here - it's Lola with Justin. Imagine that!
STELLA balloons!
Party is over...oh but it is just begining, TIME FOR STELLA TO OPEN HER GIFTS and make her "Costume Change" for the evening, ha ha - bloomers and kimono style shirt made by....but of course, Jeamma!!
If clicking on this video doesn't work try this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHhXRaj_hKo
JoNanna and Grampy brought in an adorable red wagon adorned with tons of red balloons and gifts inside it - can't wait to get her in that for a stroll at The Toledo Zoo some day!
Walking Riding Wooden Elephant is from Jeamma and Ter-Bear, so cool
Every gift was so great but i simply can't show them all so i'm going to show the handmade and custom ones here...
Her momma, yours truly, knitted her this poncho and the button that holds it together is from my grandmother, Stella's sewing collection. The tote bag was made by a local artist who i happened to come across at a summer art fair - she does beautiful work of life-size elephants, she is awesome even personally delivered it to my house, Thank You Elyse! You can check out her work here http://www.elyseosborne.com/site/Portfolio/Portfolio.html and the little doll is a "Baby Stella" doll.
Jeamma made this adorable dress and matching bandana headband. And check it out, on the back side of the dress the elephant has a real tail! This elephant is based on the one Stella has in her nursery, in her paintings. Love it Jeamme can't wait till this fits her, Thank you!
Emilee made these super cute dresses - the cowboy fabric was used in her daughter, Lola's nursery and the circus fabric was especially hunted down by her for Miss Stella - Love them, you did a great job Emilee, Thank you! P.S. She is has a hot pink bow with white polka dots that matches that fabric perfect! P.S.S i loved how you gift wrapped these in the popcorn cups! P.S.S. Stella hopes these are not the last of your handmade dresses that she sees, Hint Hint!
Cousin Jodi and Great Aunt Janice gave her the cutest custom book about a Circus and check out the pages in it! Love this so much, Thanks!
Stella received her first annual "Birthday Book" from her momma and daddy. This will be a tradition i hope to carry through each birthday for her, a book that has "Stella" in the title. I've already found tons for future bdays.
One of the birthday books i was on a hunt for but could not locate even online was this one from the U.K., my friend Lindsay who came all the way from England to overlap her visit home with Stella's bday party suprised me with the book! Thank you!
Stella was going strong still at 10:00 pm the night of her party and super excited to open her gifts
And lastly, just chilling and playing after a VERY BIG AND EXCITING BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!
Thank you again everyone - i love all my gifts and i love you!
XOXO,
Stella Jane Clark
