Pizza Party Decor

Considering I knew I'd been in my 8th and 9th months of pregnancy during the boys' birthdays this year, we opted to have a joint party a week before Daniel's actual birthdate and a month before Samuel's.  It was challenging coming up with ideas and keeping my creative crazy self under a close watch with constant contractions.  About a month or two before the party, I finally figured out the perfect theme.  Daniel and Samuel really like pizza.  I don't know if it's because we rarely have pizza or what, but they devour it any time they get it!  So, there it was; the best theme for both boys would be a Pizza Party!  I got to work on decorations a long time ago, worried over having a baby, and even post-it noted all the supplies in case I was on bed rest for the party.  However, it has already come and gone, and as Daniel has said all day, "My birthday is over."  :)

The Invitations

We might have spent too much time on these.  :)

However, these allowed the boys to get involved

as they glued the toppings onto every invitation.

Tulle Pom-Poms from the Ceiling

These were put up a WEEK before the party,

and I've never seen Daniel so excited!

The Birthday Banner:

"Topping Off Another Year"

Get it?  Topping?

Samuel's Birthday Shirt

I color-coordinated everything of the boys.

Samuel's shirt, gifts, and cake candles were all green.

Daniel's Birthday Shirt

Everything of Daniel's was red.

The Birthday Favors

I had my mind set on doing aprons for every kid,

until I started having frequent contractions.

SO, I went with gingham pails filled with red Kool-aid,

pizza-flavored goldfish, and Italian ice pops.

Thank You to Our Friends

I made pizza slices for each child

(similar to the invitations) 

that said, "You were such a sweet slice of fun

at our Pizza Party!"

The Gift Table

Please notice the felt pizza set, pizza snacks,

and Italian ice in the "window sill."

They were small gifts to the boys

that were GREAT as decorations.

Table Decorations and Food

We went all out with pizza

and the red/green/white theme.

I hung more pom-poms over the table,

used burlap as table runners,

and wrapped plastic ware in gingham napkins.

We ordered pizzas, and I made a round-about

Mini Fruit Pizza (cookie) bar.

The Boys' Personal Pan Pizza Cakes

The Tower of Pizza Cupcakes

My husband had the bright idea

that I should make the boys' cakes this year.

I was not a fan of the idea until

they were all finished.

The toppings on each yellow cupcake were:

Red Buttercream Frosting (homemade) as sauce

Grated White Chocolate as cheese

Fruit Roll-ups as pepperoni

Green Twizzler Pull N Peels as peppers

Cookie Dough Bites as sausage/olives

The Cutting Boards

I cut out cutting boards from cardstock

and hung them on the back door

leading out to the backyard.

I'm crazy big on details, pregnant or not.  I was so thankful to have had the time and ability to do all of this for the boys.  What a blessing they are to me!

Entertainment Weekly :)

It has become a weekly, actually daily challenge...  that is, entertaining my toddlers.  Up until recently, Samuel was very easily entertained, finding a variety of not-so-interesting items from around the house to play with, while Daniel has constantly needed me to help him stay busy.  I don't mind the challenge; it's just NOT an easy one. 

Daniel loves to be on the go.  He wakes every single morning asking where we're going.  He likes to shop, go to school and begs to be at church, visit family and friends, and simply BE in the van.  If he believes we are headed somewhere, he is the happiest child alive.  However, if he thinks he has to stay at home, he's miserable.  Samuel could honestly care less, but he's going to follow Daniel to the end.  So, whatever Daniel's doing, be it throwing toilet paper into the potty or pretending to be a dog - licking everything in sight, Samuel will more than likely be right in the mess.  I love how their personalities have grown into "going" children.  It gives me hope that one day they'll love to be working and going for their Lord, but as for now, I just haven't been able to keep them entertained for very long.

This morning, for instance, despite all the toys in our home and PBS kids on television, they are running from one side of the living room to the other and landing straight into the couch.  While my couch can only take so much, I wonder if any of you have ideas on what to do on a daily basis to help make the day go by more quickly. 

What do YOU do with your children each day if you've been given the role of stay-at-home mom?  Keep in mind that our children are 2 and 1, and I'm in my 3rd trimester with my third.  I cannot lift and do extremely strenuous activities.

The Mane Event (Planning the Party)

If you didn't know it, I am quite the planner.  I love getting to use my creative talents.  When I taught Kindergarten, I loved getting parties together, decorating my classroom, and coming up with incredible ideas for everyday lessons.  So, when Daniel's first birthday party was quickly approaching (4 months ago), I let my mind run WILD with ideas, and I finally decided on a lion theme.  Who would have thought lions would be so difficult?!  I couldn't find anything lion-themed, other than some adorable baby shower decorations that I adored!  So, I used them as the decor and created the rest.  Here are just a few of the decorations and ideas I incorporated into Daniel's Mane Event!

This is the invitation I created using Photoshop.  I had them printed on 5x7 photo paper on Shutterfly.

I was given the amazing idea to save at least one item/decoration from every party throughout my child's life and reuse them each year, so as you can guess, this "Birthday Banner" will be a staple at all of Daniel's future parties!  I have seen this done at many parties and decided to create my own!

This was the gift table prior to guests arriving.  It gives you an idea of what the decor was, lions and polka dots.  I found the inflatable lion at a consignment sale and knew it was the perfect centerpiece.  I also displayed Daniel's newborn, 3, 6, 9, and 12 month pictures and used the same cardstock from the birthday banner to create labels for each picture.

I loved the favors!  We used clear acrylic boxes, raffia ribbon, and animal crackers for each one.  I also made small labels that said:  "We're not LION when we say, You've made this a special birthday!"  I attached more cardstock to the basket to give it a "ferocious" look!

The food table was decorated with more lions and polka dotted napkins, plates, etc.  I also had Daniel's 1 year pictures taken in his birthday shirt (which was created by a good friend of mine) and used the picture as a starting point to the food.  The lion is actually named, "Manely"; he is a bubble-blower which was a huge hit with our little guest cubs.

 Here Daniel is playing with Manely (the bubble blower), Daddy, and Grandpa.  The bubbles were such a hit!

I had cut out sandwiches in the shape of crowns (get it?) and gave guests 3 different sandwich options.  Orange toothpicks, of course, and the "King of the Jungle" dessert plates.

The cake/cupcakes helped set the lion/polka dot tone!  My sweet friend, Lori, used Daniel's napkins to create a 2-tier white cake and 24 chocolate cupcakes, which included spelling out Daniel's name.

The centerpieces for each table were small baskets with "Rules from the Birthday King" on them.  Each basket was filled with colored 4x6 cardstock, pens, and a game sheet called "Daniel, Now and Later."  I also included either a plush lion or lion picture frame at each table to hold the orange, yellow, and brown balloons.  Guests wrote sweet messages to Daniel on the cardstock.  The game was one in which guests had to decide which things Daniel is doing now or will be doing later, and in case of a tie, the bonus question was to guess the time at which Daniel was born.  The winner received a box of Now and Later candy!

The "Crazy Coloring" table

The "Wild Game" table

Daniel's birthday bib 

He ate his cake in it, and it cleverly included a washcloth as the candle!

After eating cake, Daniel changed into his Birthday Shirt designed specifically for him by Maggie Moo's Mom.  All of the planning fell perfectly into place!

I'm All Planned Out

And in about 13 hours, we'll finally see how it all turns out...

Daniel's 1st birthday party is today!

Maybe that's not anything spectacular to many people, but as a mom, who's a big-time planner, a teensy bit over-zealous, and a whole lotta excited, I cannot tell you what celebrating my son's first birthday means to me.  It's more than just a party; it truly is a celebration of the gift God has given us - Daniel Benjamin.

After miscarrying our first child, getting pregnant with Daniel was such a blessing.  I can remember when my due date seemed so far away, and yet in a few days, that same strong-willed, energetic baby in the womb will be turning one.  It is an honor I cannot put into words.

So, with all the time and energy I've had in me, I've spent a good three months or so planning this party, and though I'm about tired of planning, I know that once this day is over, I'll look back and wonder where all the time has gone.  Before long and Lord willing, my sweet baby will be a boy who's almost a man, and that's surreal to me at this point.  However, it's reality.  I just want to savor each moment today...  From buying gallons of ice cream and purchasing balloons to smashing cake and opening precious gifts, I do not want to take one second of Daniel's big day for granted...  because - let's be honest - it's my big day too!