SEVEN.

the masked man approacheth
(you can just hear the Imperial March, can't you?)

ATTACK!

this picture makes me laugh every time. Jamie...or Bill Cosby?

S turned SEVEN last month and since we eat, sleep and breathe Star Wars around here, how else to celebrate but with a Star Wars party?! S and G dressed as Obi Wan and Yoda and greeted the guests at the bridge of the park with a light saber, which was each guests' party favor.

we then had Jedi Training led by Jedi Master Jamie...

each Jedi was trained in Balance (carrying an egg in a spoon across a narrow ledge), Light Saber Fighting (hitting bubbles a.k.a. "Droids" with their light sabers) and Blaster Target Practice (Nerf gun used to shoot a poster of Darth Vader).

after each Jedi was awarded his certificate, there was a surprise visit by Darth Vader himself (a rather good sport, he was).

a fun time was had by all!

to see photos of the birthday boy at his photo shoot at Sloss, check out my other blog!

Party Time!

each centerpiece featured a picture of the birthday boy at a month during his first year, some colorful dot wrapping paper i found at swoozie's, a square vase filled w/ colorful candy which anchored the balloons. the wooden animals on the vases came from hobby lobby.

the "sign in" table with his invitation and party favors

we carried out the theme w/ 3 round cakes. 2 of which had fondant polka dots and the center one had his initial spelled out in M & M's. saved my self some time by having Costco and Sam's do some of the work for me (bought plain iced cakes and i added the details).

my neighbor works for Southern Living at Home and i scored these cute votive holders from her :) i filled them w/ gum balls. the circus figures are from my 1st bday cake!

more table decor

SMASH cake! from Savage's...

play doh table

party favors!

regardless of all my efforts to make time stand still, my baby's first year flew by with a speed rivaling...well...nothing. never has a year gone by so quickly.
turning one is a big deal and i do love to throw a party! so we celebrated with a Polka Dot Circus "Soiree" with some family and friends. it was a sweet day surrounded by lots of people who love our little guy...and we took LOTS of pictures! so, i'm going to divide it into 2 posts. 1st the details. the 2nd post will, of course, feature the Guest of Honor and his guests!

firstborn

you are six today. what better way to start your first day as a six year old than by having your parents sing happy birthday to you while wearing silly st. patrick's day hats? after that silliness, you had a breakfast of your choosing: green eggs for the holiday of your birth, grits and strawberries! now you are off fishing with Dad. we have a fun filled day planned just for you....fishing, lunch outside on this sunny day, a trip to mcwane, and to the pizza place for dinner. i wonder if we can fit it all in?

last night i looked at you while you were sleeping and my mind went back to the day you were born. the day that i became a mother. the day that changed my life forever. i never knew such love. how those six years have flown and yet at the same time, it seems like just yesterday we brought you home to summerbrook lane.

now you are a big, boisterous, full of energy, front-toothless boy!

you are such a delight.

things i love about you...watching the wheels in your mind turn when daddy and i spell something (when we are trying to keep you and your brothers from knowing what we are talking about) and the light bulb moment that always follows. no more spelling for us! we are going to have to learn conversational italian or something.





the joy you take in learning. your observations of the world that are no match for my thirty-one years.
how you puff with pride when you do the things to help me or your brothers that only a big boy can do!

the high pitched voice that you soothe your baby brother with, the way you peddle with such fury down the bike path on our walks, talking to yourself in your own little world as you charge forward.

how your creative side is coming out more and more. you are really enjoying art. how you always seem to have a song in your heart these days. i love to hear you singing in the back of the van with abandon....like your life depended on it...whether it's three tall trees, hide 'em in your heart, or yellow submarine.


and a million more things...

you are my buddy, my gift, my sweet firstborn.

happy birthday!
i love you so.