1st Birthday Celebrations

AJ's first birthday has come and gone, and like a celebrity she has had 3 days of celebrations. We started on Saturday with a combined birthday and housewarming party, the "public" celebration if you will. Several friends and relatives came to visit, laden with gifts and food. We opened some gifts on the day and partied until the wee small hours. She mostly had a good time, although with the whole stranger anxiety thing still going on even with Jan and Mads, there were some traumatic moments.

We had a big cake made by our local supermarket and she had some fun rubbing it mum's face. Mads was seriously delayed getting in, over 6 hours late, but Mikey V, the trooper, assisted by going to the airport to pick her up. Once AJ was in bed, the adults continued the party playing a fun drinking game called What The F&*K.

Day 2 of the celebrations were supposed to started by waving off some friends on a Jaguar motor tour of Route 66, but talk about a pissup in a brewery, we could have used our MG Owners Club organisation skills to bail them out. 66 Jags were shipped from the UK all the way to Chicago, a feat in and of itself, but there was no plans for a send off, pictures, press, etc, it was just a bunch of people leaving from the hotel parking lot, so we didn't bother. We did continue with our day's plan though, to go to the John Hancock Signature Room Brunch. Always a great treat, this being the 2nd visit, it was excellent and of the views, of course, were fabulous. Addison agreed wholeheartedly as you can see.

They made her a special little cake for the occasion (check the pictures). She was wearing a very cute little dress, with lacy underskirt and everything, a gift from my family on our recent trip to the UK. We ended up doing a little shopping tour of a few shops including Crate & Barrel so that Mads could get her fix. We didn't get home until after 8, so all in all it was a good day out.

Day three, her actual birthday, we opened up the remaining gifts, had a lazy day as it was throwing it down with rain, and went to Wildfire in the evening. Another special cake was made for her!! She loved all of the gifts, when we could get her attention away from the packaging and envelopes. Thanks to all who came to the party and brought gifts, over the next year she will love them all I am sure.

Tons more pictures here and some videos to be edited and uploaded later!