Ko's 1st Birthday Party

Ko's party was as San Franciscan as a 1st birthday could get. Before the 10 a.m. start time, Ashe, Grandma and Grandpa spent an hour cleaning up trash left behind at the site we had reserved from what looked like a huge party the night before. Better yet, the hosts of the previous day's party were still there. Over by the trees, a half dozen homeless folks had set up camp and it looked as if they were here to stay. We don't mind sharing Golden Gate Park with those less fortunate, but having their trash, shopping carts, and cardboard box village as part of our son's first birthday party was not quite what we had in mind especially since we had reserved and paid for this little piece of the Park 6 months in advance.
A while later, a police cruiser joined the party and all the kids got some "Junior Officer" stickers as we waited for the homeless village to be taken down. Having the police around made for an exciting start to a party that got better and better as the sun came out and the guests arrived. As always, we have Grandma to thank for organizing all the fine details that took the party from good to great. Having worked for years and years with her several generations of "tiny tots", she certainly knows how to throw a party for the little ones and, despite all the entertaining drama, we may find ourselves moving back to tried, tested and true Sutro Park for the next party...