As I shared in my previous blog, here one of the reason why Caleb and I go home for a vacation was to celebrate his first birthday. It wasn't grand but rather preferred to be intimate. Why?
- The husband isn't here and I felt it wasn't that the celebration was incomplete. Not to mention organizing a party alone without your partner was a challenge.
- Caleb will only turn one and doesn't have a core memory about it. Not that he could enjoy .
- Lastly, since my siblings and I had our own family we seldom go home together. So why spend this time entertaining guests if we could just focus on ourselves? Serves like a reunion.
How's the party then? The preparation?
For the food, it was my older sister and her husband who purchased most of the ingredients. They are both working in Iloilo and it was quite cheaper. If I am the one to do so, that would be too tiring as I need to bring my son with me. For unavailable ingredients, it was our younger brother who did the shopping.
The food.
We bought meat, chicken and pork. If our Father was well, for sure he would cook his special recipe. Whole chicken in pineapple, thus since he is still recovering that time it was my brother-in-law who took over. Literally no help from me even slicing a piece of onion.
For the viand, we had sarciado and estofado and of course the well known dish for Ilonggo;
The KBL (Kadyos (beans), Baboy (pork) and Langka (jackfruit.)
This is one of my favorites and one that I am looking forward to eating.
For the kids and to symbolize long life, we had Spaghetti.
I also add a bowl of candies and chocolates for desserts.
Birthday Cake? had it ordered by a local entrepreneur recommended by a colleague. It comes with a dozen cupcakes and she actually designed it to my likings. Taste was okay as well as the price.
Yet, one of my sisters also brought a cake for him.
The Decoration
Seems none of us are good in this area . First it was my nieces and younger brother who were preparing. They finished it around midnight but when I woke up the next day, balloons were on the floor. It didn't stick well on the wall. Leaving me no choice but to do it on my own .
I was the one who chose the designs and brought them from Shoppee.
I wasn't that satisfied honestly but I already tried my best. Promised, you will have a better backdrop on your second birthday Caleb .
The Party
We had a few visitors that my parents invited living near our house. It would be awkward not to tell them right? LOL, besides they are the one running errands from time to time for my parents.
Few shots during the birthday, Caleb with his cousins. See how scared his older cousin was while holding him? afraid that he might slip from his hands and drop on the floor.
Here he is standing for a while just for the picture taking. At least he cooperates .
The party went well and honestly I love it like this. The last time we had at home was when my Father turned seventy. It was so tiring as it seemed we entertained the whole barangay excluding our relatives.
At least this time we had plenty of time to catch up.
And the day ended with some of the family member enjoying Karaoke.