Saturday, we celebrated Ella’s birthday with our friends. These invitations were sent out to our friends, since our family is pretty far away. ***Disclaimer*** Please note: While planning this party, or any other party, I search blogs and websites. I get ideas, and don’t necessarily remember which sites they came from. So if you happen to see something that you think came from your site and want credit, let me know. I’ll gladly edit my post to add your name in.

The invitations read (most of it was borrowed from another invitation I found, not sure where, though.) :

Polk-a-dots and Little Black Spots

LadyBugs and Tiny Tots

Our “Little Lady” is Turning One

So Fly On Over and Have Some Fun!

The Infestation Will Be Held in Ella’s Garden

(Insert Address)

At (Time) on (Date)

Give us a Buzz at (Phone number)

A Feast Will Be Waiting For All Buggy Friends

So Come Ready To Dive In!

We Hope To Spot You There!

Head Gardeners: Kevin and Brittany

As we were getting ready Jameson got his hand stuck in the candy jar.

He didn’t like the fact that he had to let go of the candy to get his hand out.

We started off by coloring our front windows to look like a flower garden. Jameson was coloring on the back window, and Kevin couldn’t help but draw with us. It was too much fun to not join in.

The dots on the door are little lady bugs I made. They were stuck all over inside the house, also. This was for a game to be played later.

As you came in the front door, this is what you saw… “flowers” lined the wall. (My original plan was to tie them to green “grass” bundles, but the pedals were too heavy and the balloons didn’t float with them on. So we improvised.)

I made some tissue pom poms to fill where extra love was needed. Each child had a hat, which lined the top of the piano. The girls got lady bugs, and the boys got frogs. (The hats were found at Michael’s in the dollar bins.)

The table provided all the treats: candy, cake, cupcakes, soda, juice, and water. I found lots of different vases at thrift stores and filled them with red and black candy: jelly bellies, licorice, raspberry gumdrop candies, cinnamon bears, Swedish fish. I found a bug catcher kit at Michael’s that included the little bug catching net used as a scooper.

We had moved both couches to the family room, providing more space in the living room, and a place for the Dad’s to hang out in the other room. The food was set out on the sideboard and counter tops. We served pulled pork sandwiches, chips, macaroni salad, chicken nuggets, and french fries. I set out our picnic blanket, and all the kids got to eat on the blanket. The parents got to stand or sit where ever with their plates.

After the kids were done eating, they gathered on the blanket for a story. I read this book:

At the end, when all the ladybugs had flown away, instead of turning the page to find the ladybugs, I told the kids they had flown all over the house. I gave them each a bucket and told them to go find all the ladybugs. Once all the ladybugs were found, we played “Put the spot on the Ladybug.” The little kids were just given a dot, the older ones were blind folded, and the oldest got spun first.

Our finished Ladybug… (you can tell we have a lot of right handers)

Once our Ladybug had spots again, it was time for another game. I had leaves for the kids (made from foam) to spread across the floor. Then they each got their hats on.We had 11 ladybugs and 4 frogs. The music played and they flew from leaf to leaf, and then jumped to each leaf. After a few rounds, I took some leaves away. Of course, the ones that didn’t have a leaf were sad, so the next time I took all the leaves. Once all the leaves were collected, and I saw a bunch of sad faces, I told them it was time for cupcakes. That cheered everyone up.

*I did not do winners and prizes, because at this age, if one gets a prize they all want one. I didn’t want any tears shed at the party for not getting a prize, so no games had winners. *

We sang “Happy Birthday” to Ella, and all the kids helped blow out her candle. Then they were each given their cupcakes to eat on the blanket. We had chocolate cake and homemade strawberry ice cream to go with our red and black theme.

Ella was only given a cupcake. She ate enough cake on her actual birthday.

Once the kids were done eating, I sent them outside to look for bugs and play. While all the kids were outside being watched by the Dads, I cleaned up inside. The picnic blanket was shaken outside, and trash picked up. Then I filled their little buckets with the candy that was on the table. After the buckets were filled, I tied a red or black balloon to each bucket. That was their party favor to take home. Once that was all done, the kids came back inside to open presents. Since Ella isn’t so big on opening presents, I let the children that brought the gift open it. That way, they each got to open a gift.

We tried to take a group shot of the kids. This is all that would sit still. While these pictures are being taken, Ella and her friend were sitting on my lap. One of Ella’s gifts was a baby doll, and these two little girls started fighting over it. I was laughing as Ella and Lilah pulled the box back and forth until one hit the other one. Oh, are we in for it.

So if you look, you can see the two little girls on my lap fight over a pink box. Ella received lots of clothes, a baby doll, and a book from friends , and a little kitchen toy from us.

As everyone left, they got to grab a box with a balloon.

A few friends stayed to help clean up. While we cleaned, the kids all sat down for a movie. It’s a good thing we have lots of little chairs, because they all want to sit on one. I was laughing that they were still wearing their hats.

After cleaning, while these children watched a movie, we had a photo shoot happening in the other room.

Jameson ate candy and wore his hat until bed time. After everyone was gone, all of us took a nap. Except Kevin. I think he played computer games. We had an eventful, fun day. We’re so glad to have made such good friends that will celebrate birthdays with us when family is so far away.

Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us!

(The ladybug on the left is an extra I found from our “Find the Ladybug” game. The card and ladybug on the right was made using my new toy… a Silhouette SD. Man, I wish I had that before the party!)

The Thankyou card reads:

I’m one lucky lady to have friends like you

To come celebrate my first birthday and have cake too!

(Insert personal message thanking them for gift)

Bugs and Kisses!

Ella

Those will hopefully get sent out tomorrow. Happy Birthday to our Baby Girl! We love you so much, Ella!