Brace yourselves for an utter inundation of cute.

Name: Anna

Relationship: Niece

Aliases: Anna (like ‘on-a’), Anna Belle, Anna Banana

Specialties: walks up to six steps at a time, has dance moves like James Brown, wins any heart with a smile

She hales from the land of the Amazon, Pelé, and Caipirinhas.  She has two passports, and probably more frequent flier miles than me.  And on this particular day, everyone came together to celebrate her first birthday!  I’m gonna kick things off right with this…  Don’t worry, Nonna keeps her floors cleaner than a surgical instrument.

Do you remember taking baths in a sink?  I actually do.  I guess I was alright with it.  Until all the guys in the frat came in, and then things got awkward.  At least nobody took pictures!  Sorry Anna in 16 years, how could I resist?

Later that afternoon, almost all of Lea’s family came over.  (Connie’s and Tim’s family couldn’t make it…More on them later. It’s good news.)  We started the festivities with some rough housing in the basement.

Meet Gage.

He wanted to hog-tie Grandpa.

So Grandpa gave him a wedgie he won’t soon forget.  These are important lessons…

And here’s Gage’s mom, Heidi (also Lea’s cousin and Matron of Honor).  Hey, I know that girl.  It’s the birthday girl!  I have to say – she looks just like her daddy in this picture.

The big kids weren’t any less rowdy.  The Prohaska side of Lea’s family is where she gets all of her rowdiness.  Though, it doesn’t usually creep out in her until later at night when she gets so tired she almost becomes delusional and loses control of her body and mind.  It’s terrifying and hilarious.  And I blame these people!

Judi let me help with dinner.  She got two of the biggest pork loins I’ve ever seen in my life, and she coated them in creole spices.  I thought it was bang on, but a few people (i.e., everyone) commented that it was a tad spicy for their taste. 🙂 Well done, Jud’!

The centerpiece was fresh picked from Judi’s wonder garden. Can you believe these things?  They’re magnificent.

Ah yeah.  Various “salads” and freshly grilled meat.  I’m back home now.

While the ladies were busy on clean up…

…We were all in anticipation of Anna’s birthday cake!  They just laid it out on a table in the middle of the room and said, “wait.”  Wait?!  It’s birthday cake.  This is a party.  I want my cake, and I want to eat it too!

OK. I’ll wait for both an American (English) and Brazilian (Portuguese) rendition of “Happy Birthday”!

The Brazilian version is actually a bit more catchy.  I think it was Anna’s preference.  Sorry America.

And what comes after birthday cake?  Sugar fight!

Oh, guys… Who brought out the wet willies?  That’s disgusting.

Well, that’s pretty much a complete birthday party, if you ask me.  Can’t wait ’til tomorrow when I get to show off Anna’s future modeling potential.

Cheers