Spin in for Some Fun!

You're Invited to spin in for some fun as our little Gabriel turns one!
To celebrate my little Gabers TURNING the big ONE we threw him a precious pinwheel themed party.

I can't believe that my little baby, pictured above, is already TURNING one. The first year really WHIRLED by!

In the above photo he is patiently awaiting for his party guests to arrive - poor guy was trapped in his chair while mommy and daddy ran around finishing all of the details.

Pinwheel themed Save the Dates, Invites, and Thank You cards were designed to coordinate with the pinwheel theme.

Guests were greeted by whirling yardwhirls lining the sidewalk and a pinwheel wreath on the door. Personalized pinwheels included the phrase 'Gabriel is turning one!' on the quadrants.

Traditional and double peony pinwheels in the party colors of green, light blue, turquoise, grey, and chocolate brown were scattered around to make our home more festive.

Custom pinwheels were also stuck into white tin buckets filled with freshly grown wheat grass.

Several memo boards were scattered around the dining area featuring our favorite photos of Gabe throughout his first year. Party pennants were strung to add to the atmosphere.

The above memo board features 11 photos of Gabe - each one taken on the third of each month at exactly 12:08 pm (his official birth date). All photos were taken in the same rocker in his nursery and were posed with Mr. Bear. As Gabe grew bigger throughout the year the bear magically grew smaller. (I borrowed this idea from Laura.)

Food items included easy to eat items including pinwheel sandwiches and twirly antipasto pasta salad.

All 20 guests were offered fun party hats from our Pennant and Party Hat Tower. Guests drank their lime-aid (with blueberries for a blue touch) from green and white striped paper straws. The custom flags helped everyone keep track of their drinks throughout the afternoon.

Instead of cake, key lime cupcakes with key lime cream cheese icing were served. And yes, the personalized pinwheel cupcake toppers actually whirl!

As you can tell, Gabe enjoyed his yummy cupcake!

And best of all - he had a great time with all of his Aunties, Uncles, and Cousins.

After the party, it occurred to me that my little guy is really not that little anymore and I started to think back on all of our great memories from the past year. Thinking back on all of his firsts brought a few tears to my eyes. I know that there are many more great moments ahead, but the past year has also been very bittersweet. I love you my funny little honey bun!

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For more photos and larger view of any of the above click here.

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Pinwheels, Party Hats, Pennants, Banners, and Invites - Pinwhirls

Striped Straws and Pennants - Pebbles in My Pocket

Tie and Suspender Onesie - BK Chic Boutique

Wheat Grass - Genesis Wheatgrass

How to Throw the Perfect First Birthday Party

Your child’s first birthday party is a special occasion! Here’s how to make the day fun for baby and guests.

First Birthday Party Tips

Keep your guest list small. Of course your child’s first birthday is a big deal. And of course you want to invite a hundred people to share the day with you. But think about trimming your list in order to make the day happier for the birthday girl or boy. At 12 months, some children experience anxiety around strangers or become upset in the midst of too much activity and noise.

Pick a kid-friendly time. Schedule your child’s birthday party at a time of day when he or she is likely to be awake and happy. Schedule the party during nap time, and things are likely to turn sour. Parties should probably only last 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Choose age-appropriate party activities. A group of one year olds probably won’t appreciate anything too elaborate. Think of ways to keep festivities fun but simple. Plush toys, sandboxes, and sing-alongs can be a good choice. Save the clowns for later, as people in costumes can be a little disconcerting for youngsters.

Birthday Party Hats

Serve finger foods for children. Having snacks on hand can help keep hungry children from getting cranky. However, avoid any foods that could present a choking hazard like grapes, small candies, and nuts.

First Birthday Party Checklist

• Set the venue
• Order and send out party invitations and purchase corresponding thank you notes
• Plan and prepare appetizers, food and/or drinks
• Order birthday cake or cupcakes, candle and pinwhirl toppers
• Choose a birthday banner
• Select plates, napkins, cups, and utensils that go with your party theme
• Order party hats for each guest
• Select games or activities
• Find coordinating party favors
• Mail thank you notes to guests