L Rizzy's First Birthday Party

Blograders:

As the cliche commonly goes, it is very hard to believe that a full year has passed in the life of L Rizzy.  He has certainly experienced quite a lot in his first 12 months complete with traveling and explorations, trails and tribulations, conquests and graduations, and causes and consecrations.  Its difficult to remember  one of the 365 days more than the rest, but certainly his day of birth, the day we moved to Germany,  New Years Eve, and the last day of the first year stick out somewhat.  While 8760 hours sounds like a large amount of time, it is the perception of each individual person just how quickly this time passes.  Being busy and happy seems to have made the clock wind through the 525600 minutes very fast, at times.  While at other times entirely, the 31557600 seconds passed with painful deliberateness that made us feel each and every seconds as if it was a years duration.

L Rizzy's party was scheduled for one week after his real birthday so that Aunt Tee Tee could be involved in the celebration.  We invited Rizzy's playgroup friends and their families as well as some other English speakers that we have hung around during our time here.  We (L Mama) antagonized over the cake portion of the party for several weeks.  While Germany is known for breads and pastries, the taste of said delicatessens is frequently not quite birthday party quality.  At one point we had decided to make our own but with a lack of quality mixes or equipment we abandoned this idea.  Finally, L Mama found a place online that was relatively nearby that advertised making fine, original cupcakes.  After a few emails we had our baker.  When we went to pick them up we were blown away.  The lady was so kind and in broken English told us she had been up until 2 in the morning the night before making them.  You could immediately see the passion and pride she had put into her work.  Transporting them home was a bit nerve-wracking and it did not help to have my wife in my ear with every step to avoid "dropping them and ruining the party and thus the rest of L Rizzy's life."

Once home the guests started arriving.  We were able to order pizza and a snack box online which showed up right on time.  We all ate, had cupcakes, sang happy birthday and imbibed excellent German beer and champagne.  After eating, the boys all went across the street and played with Whipper Snappers and Sparklers that were originally bought for New Years Eve (they turned out to be extensively superfluous on that night of 10 million explosions).  After the party broke up, L Mama, L Rizzy, Aunt Tee Tee and I all walked downtown to get some Italian (When in Rome?) for dinner.  It was an amazingly fun day.  Unfortunately it was Aunt Tee Tee's last day in Leipzig.  The next morning we all said our goodbyes and dropped her off at the airport.  Thankfully she travelled safe home.  It was a wonderful visit that went by way too fast, much like L Rizzy's first year of life.

Nothing but the best decorations

Cupcake farm

Yellow Ducky for L Rizzy

L Riz is excited for his party!

Poker face

Smiley face

The sisters with L Rizzy

Smile cry?

Play time

Hmmm cupcake....

Nasty!

More playing

Beer is baaaddd for you

Walking into town for dinner

Aunt Tee Tee in front of the Opera House

Heading home

Quotouchy:

"It was on my fifth birthday that Papa put his hand on my shoulder and said, "Remember, my son, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one on the end of your arm.:

- Sam Levenson