THE birthday party

If a picture says a 1000 words, I don't really need to write much about Dutch's 1st birthday PARTY. We had good company, good food, and patio misters to help with the heat! 

 

 

 

To give you a few details:
I made the invitations from a free template from ontobaby.com.  I narrowed down the photo to just one but I maybe did 2 or 3 different invitations and I sent them in the post-because I like getting real mail. I doubt that I will hand make birthday invitations again because they took way too much time and cost way more than they should have :)

  

 

I wanted some sort of cute...cheap decoration for the table and the shade tent. SO once I found beach balls, that was my color and my theme.  Obviously Dutch (and Bart for that matter) didn't care about decorations. I did this for me and the few guests that noticed. Loved them!

 

 

 

 

I love the little flag banners-aka buntings, that are all over pinterest, so I bought the paper and started cutting. Hours and hours and hours later, I had buntings to my hearts content.  (I saved these, so every other birthday party I may do, for the rest of my life- I'm going to use these).

 



 

 

 

One of my favorite things that I did- I mean, that I commissioned and BART made, was the DUTCH subway art.  Bart put his stats, plus some of his favorite things and our saying over the last 12 months.  I love it and now I need to frame it for his bedroom.  I may commission Bart to do this for all our future children's 1st birthday's :)

 



 

The food was great-in my opinion and SIMPLE.  Sandwiches, chips, fruit, veggies drinks and a dessert buffet.  For the labels, I had lifesavers in baby food jars.

All homemade treats! Thanks to my mom for bringing/making stuff for fruit pizza, Kathy for her snickerdoodles and Hillary for her chocolate cupcakes with butter cream frosting.

 

 

These are the before and during photos! We are so glad that everyone would drive down to be with us and celebrate Mr. Dutch.

 

The kids loved playing in the patio misters and I think it helped cool things off a bit. The real saving grace was all the shade from the trees.

 



 

I have a confession. I've only been to one other 1 year old party beside Dutch's and it was 3 years ago.  I didn't take a gift.  I didn't think to take a gift. I didn't know I was supposed to take a gift (Sorry Holly).  So, when people showed up with gifts, I didn't really know what to think or say. Everyone was very kind. Dutch got great toys, balls, books, bath toys and clothes. We are very lucky/spoiled.

 

 

 

Well, if you have made it this far, I applaud you. Dutch loved the party, the people, the attention and the fun. Thanks.