First Birthday! - Manhattan Beach,CA

yes on the booze, yes on evites, and yes to laid baock and easy. Calzones might be way to hot to cook this time of year.

I only remember the 1st bday of 1st kid (I am horrible) we had it at a park, invited the world, had party platters from Costco. And no booze. For favors we had bubbles.

Happy birthday to your baby! It does come quick doesn't it? :)
I love the cute paper invites but forget it.
-Save $ on the stamps and send out the E-vites. Quick and easy. Done.
-Love your food ideas. Be sure to add food the kids can nosh on.
And to add for the adults we usually have:
-carrot sticks (get the mini ones), celery sticks, red pepper strips & ranch
-chips and dip
-mini quiches (froz section in groc store)
-salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips
-spinach dip (in froz section by TGI Fridays)
-lil smokies (for the adults)
-sliders
-bean dip (in pot on stove melt 1 can of chili beans w/1 block of cream cheese.....yummy)
-little bowls of m&m's
-guacamole
-cookies, mini cupcakes (all purchased)
-juice boxes
-bottle water
-beer and wine
- add streamers, balloons and enjoy! :)

Hi congratulations on surviving the first year and of course the little guy's first candle!

It sounds like you know exactly what you want. A laid back party with some adult beverages and kid's activities. Go for it!

If the weather permits, a bbq and swimming sounds fab. Just have a backup rain plan.

As for invites, go with your gut. I personally like paper invites but am accepting that evites are getting more and more common.

Good luck and again congrats.

In all honesty... your son won't remember one bit of it, so have a wonderful backyard BBQ with beer, wine, soda and cake! Have a great time with your friends and celebrate that you made it through the first year!

Invites... I would send paper invites simply because they are more traditional and you can keep it in his scrapbook. If you are inviting 100 people- save on the postage and go paperless. Just close friends and family- cute invites and send them out!

it all sounds like fun ..... it's your party - make it special and dont forget the pictures!!! Afterall - that is what a 1st b-day is all about, right!!
Happy Birthday to your lil guy!!

Congrats! Go for the back yard BBQ, we have always done those for our kids and they are a blast! As far as invites, go with what is easier, we receive both and honestly the online ones are easier to keep track of. The food you have planned sounds great, just keep in mind finger foods too for all the little fingers :) We always have alcohol at our BBQ Birthday Parties, it's never been an issue and it is completely acceptable. Sounds like you have it all together, my only word of advice is to provide a "quiet area". At my DD's first party I provided an area with a blanket on the floor and toys that was out of the way of the party. Some little ones will Need quiet space away from the party noise to regroup or rest. They may even nap a little in this area, some babies need space away from the party during the party. This area was well used by a few of the little attendees at our first party. :) Good Luck

My son's party was so stressful for me because we were going through escrow at the same time! I hope thats not the case for you. :) I could not resist paper photo invites for my son's first birthday but they were a pain! They were late from the printer, I didn't get many RSVPs (but people showed!), and I had to make time to address and stuff them. I sort of wish I'd done an evite and saved myself the trouble.

We served pizza for the kids, roast chicken, carnitas and rice and beans for adults, and salads. I definitely served adult beverages for my guests, I didn't partake unfortunately! Sounds like you've got it figured out! Your party sounds fun!

For my son's 1st I made a bunch of yummy homemade meatballs (baked the day before ) then put them in my roaster oven (or crockpot) with spaghetti sauce - served them up on nice hoagie buns topped with some mozz cheese. Worked out good because my son could eat meatballs at the time!!

We have alcohol at all of our kids parties - they are just back yard get together reunions!

I like traditional invites. Its fun to get something in the mail. Plus I scrapbook (well in my former life) and I like something to put in there (but I guess you could print the evite). For my first's first there were only 2 kids in the family at that point so I only did cupcakes in the park by my house. 2 pm. we had chips and drinks. But no alcohol. I personaly hate it when parents serve alcohol at their kids party. If you can't enjoy your kids without drinking why the heck did you have them. But thats just me. I am all for an easy party though.

I always like evites, because I'm a scatterbrain and tend to lose the paper invitations. I also like seeing who else has been invited, so I don't put my foot in my mouth and mention the party to someone who hasn't been asked. It's also helpful if I want to organize a bigger group gift.

Your food options sound just fine. We normally do something like pizza and then some sides, like fruit, veggies, some chip or cracker-like snacks. I like to make sure to have a good mix of easy finger foods for the kiddos.

I always have alcohol at our parties. Husbands are more likely to come if they know there will be beer. Having an extra parent on hand means that the moms are more able to relax and have fun as well, so it's just more fun for everyone when we serve adult beverages. :)