First Birthday Party

We had a VERY big event this weekend. Our little man turned 1! We had a teddy bear picnic party to celebrate and it was so much fun! I had a ball planning and decorating for the party. Ellis loves stuffed animals. They can almost always prompt a smile from him.  My very talented sister Ashley designed this invitation:

 Since our house can't comfortably accommodate 41 people, we had two birthday parties. It sounds like we invited the whole neighborhood, but that was just immediate family!

I used my birthday wreath made out of 400 balloons that Ashley showed me how to make.

The kindergarten teacher in me came out. Teaching morning and afternoon classes I always wanted to ensure that they afternoon kids never felt like they were getting the leftovers. I felt the same way with the two parties, I didn't want anyone to feel that they were getting the leftovers.

Thus I completely over baked and we are up to our eyeballs in birthday cake. But it worked! My dad asked when the next party started which was a real good sign because he was in the second party. 

Rice crispy bears - this was a great idea in my head - not so much in reality.

Ted's mom let us borrow big bear for the party. We are going to have a hard time giving it back. Ellis LOVES big bear, he wrestles him, hugs him and body slams him then does it all again two minutes later.

These bears were on the back porch all ready to PAR-TY. Also ready if someone forgot their stuffed animal.

 
These are the goody bags. "Thank you BEARY much for helping celebrate my first birthday." They had a color by number, Teddy bear tattoos, stickers, teddy grahams, cinnamon bears and cheese puffs.

 The invitation told people to bring a stuffed animal and we did two activities with them. We used a sheet, had the kids and adults holding edges of the sheet and launched the animals into the air. The best part was when Grace got on the sheet and wanted to be launched herself so Ted, Jill and Grandma started to swing her around. We also had a bear dance. I heard the cutest song EVER. It tells you different things to do with the stuff animals.

Ellis was my teddy bear. This was during the part of the song that said, "Put it on your head and walk around the room, walk around the room, walk around the room." This song has been in my head since the party. LOVE IT! Everyone joined in this song, sisters, parents, nieces and nephews.

Watching the teddy bear dance. Ashley used baby Brooklyn as a bear until she got too heavy, Allison also used Baby Eva as a teddy bear.

CAKE TIME!!!

We sang Happy Birthday using this cake, then we used the ole' bait and switch on him and we let have Ellis this cake to himself and he did not disappoint! He tore off a leg and went to town.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

That's my boy!!! This was SUCH a fun party. Our family was so supportive, generous and wonderful and we are so grateful we all live close. Tyler, my brother couldn't make it, but he would to have had to travel 255 miles so we were not really expecting him to come. Parties are a lot of work, but it was SO worth it!