Ashlyn's First Birthday

Finally getting this posted!

What a huge success this party was.  I did not do all of the things that I had originally planned but I don't think the party could have been any better.  Ashlyn had such a great time.  The girl was smiling and laughing the entire time.  Even at the end of the party, after almost everyone had left, she was still playing and laughing through all of the yawns and eye rubbing.

The hall we rented was perfect.  It was big enough that I didn't feel like people were bouncing into each other, which was great since we had about 70 people come!  We had pink table clothes, and pink first birthday center pieces.  We had tray after tray of food and a huge birthday cake. 

The food consisted of deli meats for sandwiches, bologna and cheese trays, fruit trays, veggie trays, chips and pretzels, macaroni salad and a big crock pot of hot dogs.  The cake was purchased at our local grocery store.  I was a bit disappointed at first because the colors of the cake were nothing like what was pictured.  There wasn't anything I could do when I picked it up, though, so there was no use getting upset over it.  It tasted just fine!

As a thank you to our guests, we made rice crispy treats in the shape of a one and dipped them in pink chocolate.  Well, we had about half in the shape of a one and the rest in squares.  Cutting the ones got old!

I didn't take a ton of pictures because I was way too busy talking to everyone and keeping Baby Girl busy!  I can't believe the amount of gifts this girl got and I wish I had taken a picture of the gift table.  It's amazing to me how many people came to show how much they love our little girl.  I am so thankful for these people who want to share in this special time in our lives.

The invitation front and back



She didn't have any interest in her gift when she first woke up.  She went right for my Hallmark Snowmen and started playing with them!

 

I had to coax her to the gift but she still didnt' have much interest in opening it.

 

Daddy took Baby Girl to church with him while my Mom and I took all of the food and decorations to the hall.  We set everything up and had a few other helpers show up before the party started.  Again, i didn't get any pictures of the food or any of the tables but I did get a lot of pictures of Baby Girl smashing her cake!  Well, I had to smash her hands into the cake but once I did, she kept eating the icing!

 

 

 

She smashed some cake in her friend Anthony's face.  We joked that she was practicing for their wedding!  Daddy didn't think that was funny.

 

Then we stripped her down and cleaned her in the sink.  She wasn't too messy but she did have cake in her hair so that was a little gross. 

 

And then she opened a few gifts

 

Some more cute pictures 

 

It was a ton of work but it was so worth.  Next year we will just have a very small get together of immediate family.  I think we will be doing that for the next few years!!  My husband and I agreed that we will have bigger parties for more milestone parties and keep the rest low key. 

 

Stay tuned for Baby Girl's 12 month check up post!