Happy First Year to Robert De Filippis Branch

On August 25th Bobby turned the big one.  On August 24th Bobby invited over all his besties for his birthday party.  Kate, through her own imagination and the virtual wonders of Pinterest, devised, designed, and did-up a construction themed birthday party.  She did a fantastic job and I am sure Bobby will remember his first big celebration. 

It was a hot, muggy day with rain in the forecast.  Of course, given the laws that govern the universe, the rain held off until everything was set up on our outside patio and the first guests arrived, and then the drops came.  We moved everything inside, but just temporarily as the rain subsided and we were able to do a half inside, half outside party.  It was still hot, it was still muggy, but it was a fantastic day for some hard hats, lots of construction trucks, and great people (young and old). 

Happy Birthday Bobby Branch!  

Here are some pictures from his party.  

Here is Kate's cake/cupcake construction zone - with the trucks movie Oreo dirt around a new construction site here in China (the only thing we need for that would be the skyscraper cranes that dot the Shanghai skyline). 

Another view of the cake. 

A close up of a cupcake and a star candle. 

The crushed Oreo dirt and debris.

The 7 Layer dip station with tortilla chips in the back of the CAT dumptruck. 

Some decorations around the patio

Another view (set up perfectly before the rain). 

Hummus and more tortilla trucks.

Food for the kids - apple slices, pb 1/4 sandwiches and cheese cubes, plus some Cheerios in cups.  The CAT digger is there for help. 

Here's the set up before guests arrive. 

A view of our patio party space from the dying grass spot (a methane leak) in the back of our apartment

Kate printed up all of Bobby's 1-11 pics, plus some bonus ones (minus month 10 which we can not find, but presume is in a suitcase somewhere...one day) 

Bobby gets ready for the party with his hard hat - all baby guests got a hard hat when they arrived.  Unfortunately, I think the longest one stayed on a head was but a few minutes.  Bobby's lasted about 7 seconds, just long enough to snap this shot with mom. 

Here we go - Bobby's chocolate construction cake arrives as we sing happy birthday.  He has no idea what messy, gooey goodness he is about to get into. 

Bobby thinks, "what is this amazingness that my parents have been keeping from me for the past 12 monthts"

He contemplates his next move. 

And that next move is just to wipe the cake and chocolate all over his face.  Yum! 

Here we try to help him get it into his mouth.  No such luck, but a wonderful moment of cake eating for Bobby and everyone watching (until the clean up - which involved a hose).