wow! where did a year go? we had a great party on the 29th because grandma & grandpa had to leave on the 30th (actual birth-day). my mom said it was the first virtual party she ever attended (you'll see in the pictures). this is a lot of pictures but i just couldn't narrow it down further. heehee.
mathias helps grate carrots for the carrot cake:

birthday table, including packing for kenya which was ongoing up until the party started. yay for the dollar store! all party items for $1:

mathias also blew up all the balloons (sadly, no picture of that) which dominic went crazy for as soon as he saw them:

"hey look! there's tante meech, omi, opa & auntie melissa!"

yup, extended family also attended the party, via skype (where were their party hats?):

"i think i'll start with this one..."

dominic needed help opening gifts...



"can i just play with the balloons?"


mathias also loved the balloons...

"hey guys, look! i got a space heater! score!"

virtual guests:

more virtual guests (can you spot the photographer?):

the setup for the cake...

noisemakers (that didn't make noise):

the funniest thing was how dominic cried and cried when the hat was put on his head. afterwards he would cry if someone would just show him a hat.

ah the cake eating... dominic LOVED the carrot cake (just like papa and grandpa) and sadly did not make too big of a mess. but he did eat one and a half pieces!!! i guess he was hungry and all that sugar was an unusual treat.

(click to enlarge)
party animals:

(click any picture to enlarge)