Benjamin's 1st Birthday! (Construction Themed Birthday)

 I put a lot of thought in to how we would celebrate Benjamin's birthday. I wanted to keep it small... but then how big is a one year old's world anyway? So, that's when I thought "What the heck? Let's do 'er up big!". (remembering big also has a budget)

I saw a picture of a cake on Facebook which inspired a construction theme. The decorations were purchased at the dollar store. I spent a few evenings tracing, stenciling and coloring with a large permanent marker --- and wa-lah!

Main living room wall

More homemade construction signs!

Bristol Board with caution tape

The Cake!  Daddy did such a great job decorating.

I was thrilled with how easy this cake is to make. I used a fluted tube pan. The tractors were purchased at the dollar store. Chocolate cookie crumbs over the side - professional steam rolled by Daddy along the cutting board, of course. It's so precious and will hopefully go down in history as one of Mommy's best birthday cakes when 'the kid(s)' grow up.

Birthday boy! Ben

Ben sported a new suit from his Oma and Opa (Grandma & Grandpa on Daddy's side)

Food!!!

  I over think food any time I am entertaining more than two people. One year old children drink milk and every parent has a different idea of what is "good for them" in terms of solids. So I let go of the rules of what should be and went for birthday party food! 

• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Cheese Cubes
• Rainbow Jello cups (how-to blog post coming!)
• Fruit tray
• Hot Dip with chips (for the adults)
• Homemade lemon cupcakes
• THE cake
• Puree organic fruit bags
• Meatballs in the slow cooker (not pictured)

Birthday Party Food - What worked for me

Bad News first - Jello cups were not a hit! Maybe too sweet for one year old children?

Every thing else went really well. Sandwiches were snapped up - easy for the kids to take a bite of and filling. The meatballs were also a hit - something hot and comforting.

The best food item for the kids were the squeeze fruit bags! I think every child had one... especially at that "going to melt down moment" the Mom's grabbed them to keep blood sugar levels up!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!