Red, ONE and Blue first birthday party

This past weekend we celebrated our little man who is about to turn a whole ONE year old.  I decided to go with a red, white and blue theme and have a 4th of July cookout to celebrate. 

We rented tables and chairs and I made centerpieces with little red and blue metal buckets filled with sand, a citronella flag candle and a couple of little American flags with balloons attached to each bucket.  Paxton's chair is at the head of the table with his Birthday Boy party hat and I Am One bib.

The party invitation - via etsy

Brad grilling up the steak and chicken kabobs and the food table behind him.

 Menu:

Veggie cups

Cucumber sandwiches

Grilled teriyaki steak and chicken kabobs with onions, bell peppers and pineapple

Potato salad

Pasta salad with spinach and tomatoes

BBQ chips

Drinks:

Carona

Bud lite lime

Red and blue Jones sodas

Bottled water

White Sangria -  The recipe is just an estimate: 1/2 gallon white wine (I got a big gallon jug and made 2 pitchers), about 1 cup vodka, about 1/2 cup (I added a little more) peach schnapps, sugar (add a little at a time), canned peaches and mandarin oranges (my sister also uses canned pears but I didn't use them this time), some juice from the cans, and I added fresh strawberries and blueberries to match the theme. Mix together in a big pitcher (or 2!) to taste and chill!  Thank you to my sister for the recipe! It turned out really yummy.

Me and the birthday boy! I was going to put all the drinks on that cart behind the table, but it was so hot that most of them except the sangria stayed inside. 

Blurry, dang it, but you get the idea. Drink buckets, Paxton month by month frame, and awesome chalkboard sign via my friend Jessica's etsy shop.

Front door decorations.  Of course there were balloons on the mailbox and a wreath on the door too.

Dessert table treats -

Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla icing and star toppers

Red and blue iced star shaped sugar cookies

Star shaped watermellon

Cake balls - I made these from a recipe I found on Pinterest and they were a big hit!

And of course a smash cake for Pax

I also had strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry ice cream pre scooped in adorable ice cream cups with adorable little spoons that I totally forgot to serve.

 

 

Snack table with popcorn boxes, white fudge pretzels, Twizzlers and Dove chocolates.

Party favors table - A treat box for each kid with sunglasses, tattoos, stickers. Also on the table were bracelets, necklaces, chalk and of course sparklers!

I wish I had gotten a picture with ALL the kids together.  Missing here is 2 year old Reed and 8 week old Shelton.

Pax and his best buddy Zach.

Wish it wasn't blurry, but this boy is always on the move!  This Mudpie diaper cover is from a local shop called Tee Tie Babies Boutique. He also had a matching tie that he wore for his 12 month photo shoot.  I can't wait to share those with you when I get them from the photographer!

 

 Cake time!

 Pax hated his birthday hat, of course. This is the best we could do at getting a picture of the 3 of us!

 Paxton is really not a big fan of cake ... yet.

 Pax clearly does not think it's very funny.

 Pax is so in love with his first girlfriend, Evelyn.

Me and Ashley with our boys that are exactly 2 months apart.

 Pool time!

 We finished off the party with water balloons just in time to get everything cleaned up before a thunderstorm rolled in.  After our guests left Brad and I lit sparklers on the porch in the rain and enjoyed one last glass of sangria.

It was so wonderful getting to celebrate with our Florida friends and neighbors.  I was so happy with the turn out for the party.  Does anyone else have a huge fear that no one will show up to the party?! I think it went great and it felt awesome getting to celebrate our little man with everyone.

If you happen to be throwing a red, white and blue party check out my Pinterest Board for lots of ideas!

Now tomorrow we are off to Maine to celebrate Paxton's ACTUAL birthday, my birthday and the 4th of July.  I am so excited I can hardly stand it.  I wish I could tellaport or time travel and skip the torturous travel day tomorrow, but of course it will be worth it.  Fingers crossed my little monster is good on the flights tomorrow!