the party

so we came up with this great plan to have hyde's birthday party coincide with the sure-victory bronco game on saturday following his actual birthday. the party would, of course, be donned in deep blue and orange and we would celebrate with cake and presents during a light-hearted halftime where the broncos were 14 points ahead of their failing opponents, unable to offer any sort of challenge for our unstoppable, manning-led team at mile high stadium. it was a sure shot. high fives all around. happy kids, happy fans, happy sugar-filled, present-spoiled little boy who has no clue what's happening or why people are singing and staring at him, happy day. in the bag.

or... just a pipe dream. 

we did in fact, plan the party to occur during the game, and went with the bronco theme. i mean, obviously... it took place at my parent's house who had hung blue balloons over the presents, prepared some delicious game/party food, and invited some other family members to join in the festivities. all started out well...

hyde's second nap of the day fell just after the end of the first quarter of the game, so we put him down, allowing his little body to prep for the immense celebration that he would be faced with shortly after waking up. he slept right through half time, where the broncos were not 14 points ahead, but were in fact, tied at 14s with the ravens. not a stellar start, but we're a second half team. we can get it done. and we will celebrate hyde's birthday after the team has sealed the deal and the game is over. we will still be super revved up then.

he woke up minutes into the fourth quarter where we found ourselves still on the edge of our seats for a close game that should have been won by now. however, after three and half hours filled with big mistakes, poor play calling, shanked field goals, and way too many penalties, we headed into overtime and the birthday party celebration was put on hold once again.

30 minutes later, into the second quarter of OT, it was over. and with our heads hanging low, we lit the little football candles atop hyde's blue and orange frosted cake, sang with sorrow in our voices, and agreed to return two of his presents - a little bronco outfit and a football. okay, it wasn't that  bad. but the whole theme did seem sort of silly and obsolete after having watched our broncos give the game away and planning the party around a sure win. whoops.

nevertheless, we still sang and smiled and clapped for hyde, overjoyed at his charming, happy little self, and let him soak up the attention that comes with being a birthday boy for the first time. he smiled and clapped right back at us and reveled in the giant piece of cake placed before him that was destroyed within seconds. that is, by far, the funnest part of one year old birthdays, no? watching them dive into that frosting and cake uninhibited, and just letting them go wild! makes for really great photos.

despite the bronco loss, we had a wonderful time enjoying each other's company and the chance to celebrate hyde's first year of life together.

beth now asks me everyday when her party is... "mom, where's my birthday? but i can't find it...!" it's so funny and cute. and even though we've told her that it's in march and that she has to go to sleep lots of times before it's her turn, she still asks me each morning as we're getting dressed, "mom, is it my party now?" to which i reply, "nope beth, not yet. not for a long time" and usually draws the response of "yeah, my birthday's in march. but i can't find it. we need to find my party..."

we're still working on what march means... :)