First Birthday Party Theme
Garden Games
Party Plans
Since my daughter's b'day is August, I wanted the party to be outdoors.
We have a very small botanical garden near my house - it's only about a 1/4 long and stretches along the harbor. I was able to get a park permit for the open field. The blooming flowers and harbor view was all the decorations I needed.
For invites, I took a photo of my daughter at the garden with a sun bonnet and turned it into a photo invite
I invited some cousins, a good friend whose daughter is 2 days younger and the kids from our family day care. So there was a mix of kids -- a few under 1 and a few that were 2 and 3.
There were 8 kids altogether plus their parents and our family (grandparents and 2 aunts/uncles) .
I spread some blankets on the grass so babies could sit, crawl and filled the blankets with baby-friendly musical instruments I ordered through Oriental Trading Co. (Instruments were favors kids could keep)
We got big sheets of paper and individual crayons and stickers for the older kids to make some pictures. (Crayons and stickers were favors kids could keep)
I had about 10 balls in different sizes that the kids chased around the field.
We had a radio with kids CDs.
Food: mini-cupcakes for wee ones and regular cupcakes for adults.
Water and juice.
Craisins and goldfish for little snacks.
We were there for 3 hours total - people came in and out -- in the morning since all the party goers had to nap.
It was really relaxed and easy -- but if it had rained I don't know what I would have done.
Lessons Learned
- More thematic - I would have liked to do something more with the flower theme.
- Introductions for parents -- the parents didn't know each other that well and it was tough to mingle while chasing babies and toddlers.
