First Birthday “Round-Up” Party!

I tossed around several ideas for Wyatt’s first birthday party theme, but the second that the thought of a cowboy theme came up, I knew that was what I wanted to do.  Here are some pictures of the invitations, decorations, and food for Wyatt’s First Birthday Round-Up!

Invitations:  I made them myself with a blank card set and my scrapbooking software.

1. I ordered a reprint of a 1950’s children’s book to use as a guestbook – guests wrote Wyatt a birthday message on the inside.

2. I made “Cowboy” Coffee Cupcakes and Root Beer Float Cupcakes, and I baked them in mason jars – I made the tags and tied them to the jars with raffia.

3. I made the “Happy Birthday” banner with burlap and cowboy fabric, then stenciled the letters onto it.

4.  I strung the balloons up with a needle and thread.

5.  Ordered the birthday cake from King Soopers.

6. Root Beer Float station.

7. Monthly picture banner – I used string and mini clothespins to hang up Wyatt’s monthly pictures.  It was a great way for everyone to see how much he’s grown during his first year.

8. We served coffee, and I made the sign that says “Coffee – strong enough to float a horseshoe.”  Derek had all my signs and tags laminated for me.

9.  Wyatt’s highchair, with a sign that says “This seat is reserved for the Birthday Cowboy, Wyatt!”

10.  Guest book station, and I also put out a stuffed bear that Derek bought for me while I was in labor.  I had a picture of Wyatt as a newborn with the bear that I displayed for comparison.  He was barely bigger than that teddy bear!

11.  Chili and cornbread for dinner.

12.  Birthday Boy shirt from Target (on clearance last summer).

13.  Tied the balloons up with thread – so much better than trying to use tape!

The links are either to recipes, or to some of the ideas that we modified or used for our party.

Overall, I’m really happy with the way everything turned out – I gathered everything gradually over the last six months, so it didn’t hurt my wallet much; I had a lot of fun making the banners and signs and putting everything together; the mason jars, rafia, and twine I’ll use for other projects in the future, so the extra won’t go to waste; and the decorations aren’t specific to a first birthday, so I can keep all the decorations and do another cowboy-themed party a few years down the road!