1st birthday-I am clueless!

[alaskajamaica]

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! my son's 1st b-day party is this Sunday... I am still trying to figure out what other foods to serve for the few kids that will come. Something other than hot dogs and pizza etc.

I have very nice adult food, but I want a few options for the kids. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! Bagel bites maybe?


Here is my list

1. Alaskan King Crab Salad
2. Alaskan Smoked Salmon Dip
3. Jamaican Beef Patties
4. Orange Chicken
5. Sub Sandwiches
6. Shot Glass Cheesecakes
7. Cake
8. Cookies
9. Cupcakes

[tmsmalley]

Originally Posted by Spanelli8706 Thanks for posting this! My daughter will be one on June 30th. Unfortunately, we have a huge family, on my side and my husbands. And they are known for their get-togethers. So I feel like I need to be really creative. She loves the water-pools, sprinklers, the bath. So I was thinking a water theme. And she loves Elmo as well...but my husbands brother just did that for their son's 1st birthday, so I'd like to do something different for her. Any advice would be great! Any one else done a water theme? There will most likely only be 3-5 small children, the rest adults. But I'd like to keep it more kid oriented! That's important to me. Thanks!!

We happen to be the proud owners of an Elmo sprinkler. Pick up a couple different ones at Target, hook them to a couple of hoses and let the kids run through them. You can also get some of those little kiddy wading pools for under $10 at this time of year. We got ours last year for about $6. Get a few water guns or super soakers and you're good to go. If they were a bit older I'd suggest water ballons but they sound a little small for broken balloon pieces. Be sure parents know to bring something kids can get wet in and change of clothing and you'll be fine.

Tess

[tmsmalley]

Bagel bites would be good or little sandwiches cut in triangles or shapes (pb&j, tuna, cheese, cream cheese, turkey are all kid approved).

[loladooder99]

Well i understand that you want to make a big deal out of it. But really the first birthday is just for pictures. Most of the time the baby is cranky and doesn't really care much. I just chose a bright colored theme (curious george) for my son had a cake and presents and we took pictures of him with all the stuff and eating cake. You don't want to have the party go to long because the baby could become overstimulated and whine. If you want to send out invites its probably only good for maybe scrapbooking reasons so I would just call. There are a ton of great themes to choose from at walmart. We got my son a cozy coupe and some other fun toys. Good luck.oh ps we did the party at our 2 bedroom townhouse

[alaskajamaica]

Originally Posted by tmsmalley Bagel bites would be good or little sandwiches cut in triangles or shapes (pb&j, tuna, cheese, cream cheese, turkey are all kid approved).

thanks. anything else?

[warcraftbaby]

Ok this is what we have for now. Since transportation/location is such a PITA, we'll probably do my family at my parent's place and have the cake, presents, to-do there. Then the next day or later that day we'll go see his family. Makes it much simpler for us so my husband isn't playing taxi-cab when he should be with his family.

Cake: my mom is making either in the shape of Kon or with him painted on it
Food: we're doing probably a bbq/potluck so easy enough
Invites: I'm probably doing on the computer with a Kon watermark/graphics or maybe just phone calls...I have phone issues tho so I'd actually rather do invites (yep I'm WEIRD)
Decor: BALLOONS! I had forgotten all about balloons! That'll probably be it maybe a homemade banner but wow I'm excited about balloons now lol
Time: eh I'm guessing noonish-going to probably get up early so nap would be earlier so it should work well, before the hot part of the day sets in

And I think I'm going to get her something special for her hair just because (she has long hair, they could see it on the ultrasound.) And I am going to buy some colorful index cards. I'll give everyone a card and have them write something for Rukia for her babybook.

And pics aren't an issue :) I have a digital camera that also does video, my mom has a video camera that does stills, and everyone else will have one I'm sure. I've actually taken a picture of her every. single. day since she was born (except 3 days when I was in the hospital septic and another day when my camera battery fried) so I'm hoping to have that put together for people to look at...but it's probably over 1000 pictures so not sure if it'll be ready lol.

I don't care that she won't remember this. Right now, this is a celebration that one year ago we became a family and that IS important and it's definitely worth celebrating. She'll get to look back on the pics from this day when she's older and see how happy she's made me and my hubby and how she's touched so many people in such a short time. I think that deserves some celebration

[Spanelli8706]

Originally Posted by warcraftbaby I don't care that she won't remember this. Right now, this is a celebration that one year ago we became a family and that IS important and it's definitely worth celebrating. She'll get to look back on the pics from this day when she's older and see how happy she's made me and my hubby and how she's touched so many people in such a short time. I think that deserves some celebration

I completely 100% agree with you! And you guys are definitely helping me think. So here are my thoughts "outloud" (or in typing)...maybe it will help someone else.

We are definitely doing a water theme. A baby sprinkler system/pool thing we got at Target for like $15. The party will be 4ish...since it's sooo hot here. We have a big backyard, so we'll have the party here-it's free. I'm going to make the cakes. I love the octopus cake I saw somewhere here on this website. Maybe that will work out! I have most of the cake stuff already/freebies. Sugar cookies to look like sand dollars. Banana Pudding in sandbuckets-with crumbles of cookies on top-to look like sand. (all of which I have) I have several boxes of free wheat thins- so I was thinking those and a crab dip. For the adults, my husband wants to boil crawfish. Now to ponder decorations.

[cintinative]

My birthday is the 21st! And my son's is the 20th. How fun!

For my first son we did kind of big cake that looked like alphabet blocks (I made it--PM me for info), and I made these little candy holder things that spelled out "happy birthday" and they had little bags with candy in them with little circle tags with pictures of my son on them. I got the ideas from Parents magazine. They have a lot of good birthday ideas. For my second son we did a much more low key celebration--just a cook out and not a lot of decorations. I made a ferris wheel cake (another Parents magazine thing)--it has a ferris wheel made of rice krispies on a cake base.

Honestly I think it is all what you are up for. Don't stress yourself out--your child will not remember this birthday. Just do something special that you will enjoy. Going to a park is a great idea if it won't be too hot. My kids loved a birthday party at a park a friend had. She just had a cake and some drinks and everyone played on the playground. It was simple and easy and my kids loved it.

[cintinative]

Originally Posted by alaskajamaica HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! my son's 1st b-day party is this Sunday... I am still trying to figure out what other foods to serve for the few kids that will come. Something other than hot dogs and pizza etc. I have very nice adult food, but I want a few options for the kids. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! Bagel bites maybe? Here is my list Alaskan King Crab Salad Alaskan Smoked Salmon Dip Jamaican Beef Patties Orange Chicken Sub Sandwiches Shot Glass Cheesecakes Cake Cookies Cupcakes

Fresh fruit plates/salad is always a good choice for kids. Also things like crackers and cubed cheese, pretzels, and carrot sticks.

[keuer72]

My DD just turned a yr old in March. We also needed to keep it simple-cost wise. It was themed butterflies and flowers. All I did was buy pink streamers from Target for $1/2 rolls, and bought pink and purple balloons. I did splurge and bought invitations and a few other decorations at a party place But even with that I didn't spend much. We had her party on a sunday at 1p.

All we had for food was crackers,cheese, pepp. platter, veggie platter, chips n dip, along with fruit punch from dollar store. I made the cake myself, and a small one for her to eat herself. I didn't make an actual meal bc it was gonna be too expensive to feed about 30 ppl (big fam...first grand-baby). I was nervous of how it was gonna go, but it all went great.

I think it's definatly for the parents hehe. I was super excited to celebrate her first bday. Nothing too outragious, just enough to enjoy!