1st Birthday Party

If you know me, you aren't at all surprised that I've been working on the girls' first birthday party since they were in utero, at least in theory. The theme changed a couple of times, the location wasn't set until a bit closer to the date, but the wheels were turning. For the last several months, planning was tangible - a binder, a clipboard, spreadsheets and lists organized several different ways ... there was even a beautiful color-coded, symbol-laden chart that laid out decorations (down to what confetti went where and which "cooler sign" went on which cooler). The party was to be at a large shelter at the top of beautiful Pine Hill Lakes Park in Mason. Near enough to a playground if kids wanted to play, but far enough away to be secluded. Near to bathrooms, big enough to hold our ever-growing guest list, and - best of all - laid out so perfectly to allow enough seating, girls "center stage", places for food, gifts, favors, playing, etc.

Imagine my frustrationbroken heart upon finding that, after a series of unfortunate events, we would be at a shelter in the bottom of a ravine, down a brutal hill (great for Stroller Fit hill runs and nothing else!), far from the bathrooms and the playground, and - worst of all - with a capacity of 30. For a 130 person party.

The hours that followed were utter chaos. I did VERY well staying put together (to the total surprise of my family ;)), but we were beyond busy. My dad and a few wonderful guys made multiple runs various places including the church to round up tables and chairs (which had to be hauled down and back up previously-mentioned brutal hill). There was surgery performed on table cloths to make them fit round tables. Decorations and food items were nixed due to space (and time) constraints, because while reconfiguring all of this to fit a square peg into a round hole, everything else went wrong, too - broken helium tank valves, not the least of which.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't still feel a twinge of disappointment when I think about what the party was SUPPOSED to be, but I must say it turned out well. And most importantly, we had a wonderful turnout in gorgeous weather, so Avery, Elise, Kyle & I got to catch up with friends and family and celebrate our beautiful girls.

What, you want more of the good details? And pictures? Ok then, you've twisted my arm.

FOUR picnic tables, instead of 15. Yes, we were short ELEVEN.














Cakes & Cupcakes


















The Birthday Girls eating lunch. Note Birthday Bibs! :)














A few decorations














Birthday Shirts














Time for cake!














A series of cake shots... but only scratching the surface! A friend took almost 150 pictures of the girls devouring their cake. Don't worry, I pruned the lot a bit, but there are still a lot of hilarious ones in the Picasa "Birthday Celebrations" album! Worth checking out if you need to smile... You can pretty much pretend you were there (or relive it if you were)! :)

Overall, a success!