I was originally just going to do a small gathering of family, but since I tried so hard to conceive him, and it took so dang long, I want to make a big celebration of it! So I will be inviting friends and family, decorating and having some sort of activities.

What did you do for your child's first birthday if you threw a party? Any other suggestions for activities or food?

If any of you will be in AZ in June, you are invited to come! It may be bearable heat wise

For activities I was thinking since most of the kids will be young (like, under 7), I would just put the sprinkler on Maybe get a slip n slide? lol

[~*sierra*~]

sounds like a great idea! love the sprinkler idea, i have tons of memories as a kid of jumping thru it. i know a bunch of people did special cupcakes and those were really cute.

i wish i could come! i usually go to phoenix once a year, but i dont think we are even going this year

awh, phooey that would be cool if you came. I too have fond memories of sprinklers

[midnight_starr]

I broke my leg once on a slip n slide (just wanted to put that out there )

For food, I say do it in the afternoon and just have snack food like cake and chips!!!

Kids also love pinatas!!!

[SandKmommy]

For Seamus' First birthday (middle of July) we went to the lake/park. We thew a Hawaiian themed party and had normal "picnicy" type foods; macaroni salad, veggie tray, I think sandwiches(Ill have to look at the pictures, this was almost 4yrs ago and I forget), and soda then his cake. Everyone got lay's and such and the older kids (like 11+) went to the lake to swim and the younger ones just stayed in the gate. I have pictures if you'd like

[ShannonMVT]

Sprinklers are good, pinatas are fun, def you have to have a smash cake for Jack! A lot of people go with a "theme" I'm still thinking on what Matthew's will be. For example my niece's 3 y.o. party was a safari theme and all the kids had safari hats and they decorated with green crepe paper and stuffed animals that were from "the jungle" and of course the cake was decorated safari theme.
You can make it as easy or as elaborate as you like.

Really Aimee? That stinks! How did it happen? I am imagining you going on a slip and slide downhill, and flying into a tree or something

A pinata are a great idea! I can get a good one here too.


Justine I would love to see pics, that party sounds cool!

Yeah Shannon a smash cake is a must! I was thinking of a giant cupcake since I think those are badass.

I was also thinking whether I needed a theme. At least a color theme to be sure. He really likes orange. I am excited since at least I have enough time to plan it!

[midnight_starr]

Originally Posted by MomToJack

Really Aimee? That stinks! How did it happen? I am imagining you going on a slip and slide downhill, and flying into a tree or something

hahahaha
Well we kind of added soap to it to make it more slippery I was basically walking on it and slipped and bam cracked my leg in two places!! That was a miserable summer

awh that does sound awful. My DH was in a cast pretty much all through junior high. He broke his arm, then his leg, then busted his ankle.

[SandKmommy]

oh ya it was hotdogs and hamburgers we served
















For Kieran's (since hers is just about 2mo away) we are doing a Tea Party/Cupcake theme
Her big cake will be made out of cupcakes, I'm sure her smash cake will be the same as Seamus' but white (its the free 1st bday cake that Albertsons/Walmart/Safeway give)
We will have mini tuna sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, and peanut butter ones
A veggie tray made by me again
Chips and dips
Juice, Tea and Soda for drinks
I dont think there will be many games as most the kids going won't be old enough to do much.

[Trannyfromtheuk]

We just had the family around. Mia had her own lil cake and i got one that i could cut up and serve to guests x

[Mars]

My relatives and the ILs came over and we just had a few eats and drinks. I used water balloons to decorate the tables and then my nieces and nephews had fun with those.

[LisanAndy]

With Taylor I made cupcakes and ordered pizza and it was real casual with family

[Resi]

Check out Etsy for cute birthday themes. I don't like the themes in party type stores. I went with an owl theme for Oliver's first bday. I made cupcakes and bought a big cake too. I got cupcake toppers on etsy along with a lot of other little things.

[~*sierra*~]

cute pics justine! love the cake!

and resi the owl them sounds soooo cute!

[ScottishBrit]

Ya after I Looked online at all the party stores I wasn't "into" the stuff they had. With Cambria's party It was "Flower's". I made The Cupcakes and her smash cake which she never touched. I made the balloons look like flower's and hung up 1 pic of her per month to show everyone how she's grown. We got a bouncy house that was a hit and had casual food we got from Costco. Sandwiches, Salad's, Fruit, chips, etc...Ill show you some pic's...I did get a lot of Idea's off Martha Stewart's website.

[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

Yay! Glad you're doing a big party!

Reid's theme was "Rock Star" Here are some pics. I made the cake and am SO PROUD considering I am seriously baking challenged.



Bubble machine was a big hit with Reid and Summer (the only other 1 year old there! hehe)


This was at Summer's party.....coolers of beer are also a big hit

Your parties look fantastic! These are great ideas.

Amy, the one year olds liked the bounce house? We have a huge backyard and I would so get one if they are age appropriate!

[Chelnae6]

I'm a big fan of the inflatable things like Amy has in her pics but i dont know how a 1 year old will do in it. Miki was scared of those until she was like 2, didnt like the unstable ground.

As long as everybody is sliding and not walking on the slip n slide, no legs should be broken... (sorry you broke your leg though Aimee)

And I love the monthly timeline of pics too Amy.

I really like those monthly timeline pics too. I am debating between cake or cupcakes.