Happy First Birthday Party, Molly! (May 16)

Molly turns 1 year old on the 19th, but I held a birthday party for her this morning at the hotel in Vung Tau.

The Menu:

Salsa and Baguette

Cha Gia (Vietnamese spring rolls)

Cheese and crackers

Fruit plate

Chocolate chip cookies

Birthday cake

Iced tea

The Venue:

The patio on the roof of the hotel

The party was quite nice, but it's much harder to be a good hostess with a baby in your arms! In fact, I was an awful hostess, but I just told my guests to help themselves.

Thuy and her husband Thanh arrived with a birthday cake decorated beautifully! It had Happy Birthday Minh Sanh, March 16, 2010 written on it in Vietnamese, and there was a water buffalo made out of icing on it! (Molly was born in the year of the water buffalo in the Vietnamese calendar) Unfortunately, the writing had started to melt before they got here, but I didn't mind. Thuy is a teacher from the orphanage. She has become a very good friend to me, and she and Molly are very close.
Sadly, none of the other people from the orphanage were able to come, but we will visit them again soon.
I had also ordered a BIG birthday cake, so I'll take it down to the lobby later and share it with everyone. My instructions to have 'Happy 1st Birthday Molly' written on it didn't happen, but it looks really good anyways.

Loan came with a family from Quebec that had just picked up their daughter from Tra Vinh orphanage. She also brought Ms Hue, the woman who schedules and completes our adoption ceremonies here in Vung Tau. She came with her daughter and husband. It was kind of scary to meet her, as it feels like my life is in her hands, but she is very nice. I think she will be scheduling our adoption ceremony this week.
The other guests were 2 other families from France, both with their little girls, newly adopted from Vung Tau 1 orphanage, and Gina, the woman who runs this hotel.
The generousity of the guests was amazing! Molly was given many beautiful dresses and some stuffed animal toys.
We are truly blessed!