Birthday Boy

On Saturday evening March 1 we held Elliot's first birthday bash at Mom and Dad Witmer's house. And what a bash it was. Nearly 30 people showed up to help Elliot celebrate. Sylvia spent the morning and afternoon decorating the house, baking cakes and preparing for supper and by 5 we were ready to go. Family and friends helped with the food and we enjoyed some of Elliot's favorites for supper such as sloppy joes, cheese curls, macaroni, oranges, and a relish tray. For dessert we had ice cream and of course, cake. Following a Rhodes tradition, Elliot had a special personal cake which Sylvia decorated to look like a basketball and which he was allowed to destroy in the process of eating chunks of it. This was quite amusing as Elliot began reaching for the cake cautiously eyeing Sylvia and I for approval the entire time. Realizing that there were no prohibitions regarding the eating method for this particular meal, he dove in with gusto, smearing hands, face and ears with icing and plunging fistfuls of carrot cake into his mouth. We all got quite a laugh at his expense, although he was laughing and enjoying himself immensely as well. After changing clothes, he moved on to the gifts and cards which he unwrapped with assistance from the cousins. Elliot had so much fun on this evening that he didn't go to bed until nearly two hours after his normal bedtime. Thanks to all who helped us celebrate with your attendance and with love and birthday wishes from afar.