Madeline's Celebration (and the sad story of our camera)

We celebrated Madeline's birthday in grand style at Nan and Grandpa's house. On a very warm, sunny afternoon, we were joined by Aunt Caroline and Uncle Craig, and Aunt Marie, Uncle Kevin, and baby Nora. We celebrated with gifts and food (lots of food!) and laughter.

Kathleen had been talking all week about the present she wanted to give to Baby Madeline: a balloon. That morning she and Daddy went to the store and picked out an enormous, pink, "Happy Birthday Princess" balloon. Kathleen very sweetly gave it to Madeline at the party. Of course, Kathleen spent the rest of the week playing with it herself! I'm not sure Madeline even got close to it once the party was over.

Kathleen was much more excited about the presents than Madeline, although Madeline was genuinely happy with some new playthings. The shopping cart from Nan and Grandpa was a hit with both girls, and toys from aunts and uncles and Mama and Daddy made ensured that there was plenty to do! Kathleen helped Madeline unwrap for a bit, but then we set her up with a big garbage bag, and she was quite pleased with her "cleaning-up job."

We all enjoyed pizza for supper (we went with the low-key celebration) and coconut cupcakes for dessert. Madeline posed with her one candle and made a predictable mess with her birthday cupcake. And then, before a big day was too big, she was shuttled off for a bath and to her bed. She was a darling and very well-behaved birthday girl!

Here's the sad thing about Madeline's birthday, though. We took turns snapping photos of the celebration, and we'd captured lots of great moments. If only I'd uploaded and blogged them than evening, because a few days later, the camera disappeared. We've looked everywhere we can think of, but we simply can't find it. The camera is gone. Yes, the "new" camera Daddy got for us the day we moved out of our house in Hawaii. The one I've had for just about a month. It's missing, along with the photographs of my sweet little girl's first birthday. We've also lost photographs of our new house (we've seen it, we just can't move in yet), and of the girls playing in the pool at Nan and Grandpa's, and lots of other things. We keep hoping it will turn up, but so far we've had no luck. Rats!