This little man to the left turned ONE! on April 30. We celebrated the following weekend with close family and friends. Our immediate family list (Aunts/Uncles/Cousins) for both sides gave us a grand total of 90 guests. Unfortunately, the majority of Dan’s side had a family function, so our list ended up to be around 50 guests. Sunshine and 70* for Owen’s bash, so thankfully we had plenty of room for people to spread out and not feel cramped in our 1,300 square foot colonial. Throwing parties, or hosting any gathering in general has to be one of our favorite things to do. We would have people over all the time if we could. 
We slapped a tent up, and a few tables on friday, a few toys on the lawn and that was it. We like to keep things pretty simple around here. As much as I love looking at extreme themed parties on blogs and Ooo and Ahh at the amazing decor and special touches through out the party – it is just too much work. Or, I am just too cheap/lazy? I keep the decor down to the dessert table (my favorite) and the goodie bags – which I forgot to take pictures of. Our “theme” was nautical, Owen is a water baby to the max. He does major water damage during bath time, and comes out wrinkled as a prune. When it comes to baby pools, it’s just the same. So – nautical was the easiest thing I could think of. The dessert table was filled with homemade goodies I made that day and day prior. And the decor was a cinch to do.
The banner consisted of paint samples from Home Depot – that I cut a simple triangle out for points. Used a hole puncher for each corner on the top and wiggled white string through, knotting at each hole. And there ya go – buying the string cost me $2.99. Life preservor I bought 50% off at a local craft store for $15.00, shouldn’t have purchased it though. I thought it would fit in our front door for the summer but it is too wide…. SO it sits in our sun room for now. The dessert cards were made from cardstock I cut, and glue sticks. Cute Martha Stewart stickers of anchors pulled the look together. Desserts were all made from scratch, and cost no more then $15 to make them all. EXCEPT …. the vegan smash cake.
We ordered the smash cake a week prior to his party, on his birthday, and picked him up a mini vegan cupcake to try on his birthday as well. I have never seen a kid less interested in eating icing and cake. There was hardly any smashing, or tasting for that matter. Everyone laughed as Owen sat there pushing the cake away from him. Brody had no problem standing beside, clapping and singing happy birthday, secretly thinking the party was for him. =) That was the only money spent that was truly wasted for the party, $30 for the cake. This whole blogging world is not something we do in anticipation for people to read it, so we definitely slack on taking pictures of things we do on a daily basis. Thankfully, my sister grabbed us for a quick photo on our front steps while it was still light out. Thank you Aunt Claire!
Oh akward family photo. Owen is sucking frosting out from under his finger nail. Brody appears to be hollering at an attractive girl in the street. Dan, Oh my husband. He’s so handsome, no complaints there! 🙂 And me.. well I am a true woman through and through and am never happy with the way I look. BUT grateful we got one shot of us all together!
Owen – you have added SO much spunk into our lives….. We have had a lot of adjusting, and tons of health – bumps this past year. It took a really long time for us to understand what works for you best, and we could not be any happier to see what a healthy, wild and vivacious little man you are! Happppppy Birthday Owen!
By the way … Happy Mothers Day to all moms out there… mothers, mothers-to-be, and grandmothers! Have a beautiful day!