Z's First Birthday Party

We live in NC so I figured what are the chances that it would rain...well according to the weather report 60% chance of scattered thunderstorms and possible flash flooding, hail and maybe tornadoes...WHAT!  I decided that rain or shine we were going to use the shelter I booked over a month ago, I was going to show off all the decorations I cut, curled, designed, painted and I was going to use all the food that I prepared ahead of time in the fridge.
It turned out to be the best decision.  I was worried that the kids will be bored since we wouldn't set up our yard games...but they sure weren't!

The only thing the rain did was make the streamers so wet we couldn't hang them up and by the end of the party the rest of the paper became damp and wilted and the tape un stuck. 
I was really pleased with my decorations...

DIY cupcake stand, DIY banner, DIY cupcake toppers

A couple people said the puffs were too girly but I liked them.

lily pads cut from foam, Chinese Takeout boxes (to represent the time spent abroad) with frog lollies and cheap plastic frames that can be used again with some of my favorite pictures...It was hard to pick only 12...I figured too many more and it would look like a memorial service.

get it TOADally...and the chocolate pretzels were a big hit.

Zack loved finding sticks and rocks in the puddles...
thank goodness he didn't wonder off the side walk and into the mud.  He did however fall right into a puddle...

Everyone loved watching the children play in the puddles...almost as much and the kids liked splashing.  When it came time to sing happy birthday and eat cupcakes little man wasn't sure what to do...

Now I see some consistency...remember the finger painting fiasco?  Yeah...I had to hold the cupcake for him because he didn't like the frosting on his hands.

I tried to get a picture of the frosting face but this was the best I got:

Zack had an amazing time and so many wonderful friends and family members came to celebrate with us...Tante Lorie won the award for furthest traveled, coming all the way from upstate NY!  Her award...she got to clean my kitchen and wash my dishes. 

We waited until we got home to open gifts because someone was having too much fun walking in the puddles to be bothered with gifts...hey, it's his party he can do what he wants to!

all I hear all day is "ba" (ball)...he may never say another word because frankly why would you need to talk about anything else?

He really wasn't into opening gifts but he sure did enjoy seeing so many new toys!  My evenings went from fishing 10 balls from under the sofas to 165 in just one day (literally...thanks mom). 
Toys are so much more fun now that he sort of understands what to do with them...meanwhile Adam was almost as excited about these toys...much more fun than rattles and lovies!