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Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Party Pics

As promised, here is the party recap. On Sunday, Amelia celebrated turning a year old with 50 of her closest friends and family at a local Korean restaurant. Not too bad for a one year old, right? We did our best to honor her Korean heritage by incorporating some Korean traditions as well as the typical American traditions. In Korea, no other birthday is as celebrated as the first birthday so in honor of Amelia's country of birth, we celebrated in a big way! Creating a Dol table is a special Korean tradition that we shared with our guests. The parents of the birthday child set up an elaborate table to honor the child. A variety of foods such as fruit, candy, and rice cakes are piled high into towers. In traditional times, the higher the towers stood, the more prosperous the family.

Also on this table, is a tray containing a variety of items. Each item is representative of something that could potentially play a role in Amelia's future. Amelia will study the items on the tray, and her future is predicted according to which item she touches first. Amelia studied the items for quite a while and eventually grabbed a spool of thread. According to tradition, choosing the thread means that Amelia will live a long life! This fortune telling ritual is known as the Doljabee event.

We are so thankful for all of our amazingly supportive friends and family. Amelia is loved beyond measure by so many people, and it was an honor to host this party for our little princess. Thank you to everyone who came out to help us celebrate!

Amelia dressed in her hanbok and ready to participate in the Doljabee event

Amelia's Dol table

Studying the items on her tray

Amelia needed some help blowing out her candles so Graham came to her rescue. If you look closely, you can see Amelia clutching her pink spool of thread.

Yes, that's Graham digging into Amelia's birthday cake. Amelia wanted NOTHING to do with getting her hands messy in the frosting. She happily eats cake and frosting when fed, but she'd rather do without a treat than have to touch it!

Taking a break from opening gifts. I love how she's wearing ribbons on her neck, a new backpack, and several new hair accessories...all at the same time!

My treasures!

1 comments:

ChanSoon said...

Dear Amelia,

Happy DOL birthday to you, Amelia!
You're too little to be aware now, but you have to know that this occasion is very special for you: It's not only because it's your first birthday, but also this party was so thoughtfully and so lovingly planned and arranged by your mom. She researched on her own what the traditional Korean DOL party is like and she creatively, so adoringly, put the DOL Table with food towers and "Doljabee" items. The room was also charmingly decorated by your parents. Amelia, when you grow up old enough and see all the pictures of your DOL party, you will realize again how special your parents are. You will have a long prosperous life as you have selected the spool of thread. You will always live in love; no other parents can show more than they pour out over you.
Happy Birthday, happy and prosperous life for you,

Grandma and Grandpa Olson