A Time To Be Messy

Nyssa. 1987. First birthday.
(Click picture for larger view)

" I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends." ~ Nancie J. Carmody

It is a time honored tradition, the first birthday. This seems to be the one birthday where it is acceptable; no, it is required that the birthday baby get dirty! The parents set a cake with icing and one candle in front of the child. After blowing out the candle, the parents wait with camera poised. At first the birthday boy/girl sits there, eyes glancing between the parents and the cake with a quizzical expression that says, "And am I supposed to play with this?" Mom and Dad will encourage their offspring to go ahead; perhaps even going so far as to place a little hand on the plate, or a tiny finger in the icing. The mental light bulb goes off and little hands take over. Some children may pat the cake, icing flying off into the floor as they giggle; some may rub the cake and icing on their face and a small bite of cake may actually get into the mouth; still others have been known to not use hands at all, but to bury their faces in the icing. Much laughter is involved, no matter the technique. Don't try to deny it parents, you have one of these pictures too, don't you?

Submission for Moody Monday topic "party". (end of post)