Happy 1st Birthday Party Belle!

We had Belle's first birthday party this past Saturday and it couldn't have gone better!  We were so fortunate to celebrate with so many wonderful friends and family!!  Thank you everyone who made her day so very special and for all your generosity.  We were overwhelmed!  Belle enjoyed playing with some of her friends and trying her first cup cake...even though it was sugar free....still yummy! 

Pictures and updated comments to come later this week!  Okay finally adding pictures from Belle's special birthday party!  She had a little pink "birdie" party and it was adorable.  So bear with my pictures of her little decorations.  We had a cookout with yummy dips, fruits and veggies.  I made her sugar free banana cupcakes with whipped cream icing for her "birthday" cake while the rest of us enjoyed Bri's favorite, Dewey's.  I think they did a great job on the cake!!

Below is the recipe for Belle's first birthday cupcakes....

Sugar free banana cupcakes


2/3 c. banana, mashed

1/2 c. butter, softened

3 lg. eggs

3/4 c. water

2 c. unbleached flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
Beat together mashed banana and soft butter until creamy. Beat in water. In a separate bowl, beat eggs until very foamy. Beat into mixture. Blend in flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Beat until smooth. Stir in walnuts or walnuts and raisins, if desired. Spread batter evenly in cupcake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Icing
Organic Heavy Whipping Cream, Vanilla, red food coloring
Beat whipping cream until it begins to thicken, add one tsp of vanilla and a dash of red food coloring (for the pink coloring)  Beat vanilla and food coloring until whipped.

I pipped the cupcakes the night before, I would recommend storing them in tupperware containers as the color holds better on the icing.

Belle loved them since she really hasn't ever tried sugar!

Preparing for Belle's big day!

Whew!  I did not realize how much work putting together a first birthday party could be!  I think the fact that having a little one and party planning make for late nights the week of the BIG day! It was so much fun to plan for the big day!  Bri and I have so many great memories of the week to cherish over the years.. So much thanks to Grams for all her help, couldn't have done it without you!! 

Labor Day Weekend

We love Labor Day as it means an extra day off of work!  We headed up to the mountains on Saturday for a little relaxation and some great mountain weather.  Belle enjoyed her first "surf and turf" dinner at the club...her Grandpa told her she needed to work hard when gets older to afford her expensive lobster taste.  She absolutely loved it!  She enjoyed her steak and rice too!  We are so happy she is such a great eater!  Thanks Grandpa and Lizzie for a great Labor Day weekend!

Some funny stories to be added later this week!