I'm trying to come up with things that we can do on Maddy's first birthday...I still have over a month, but I want to get to planning as this is a SUPER special day for us!!

I think that we're gonna go with the whole butterfly cake thing (Thanks Tara!...and I'm gonna need your hand through this! :wink: ) and possibly make it themed that way? I don't know...I've never planned a party before! There will just be family there...and only 2 other kids, both under the age of 4....so, I'm looking for ideas on what to do to entertain the kids and adults...and just what to do with the time. I had the idea of printing out coloring pages...making a banner that has Maddy's name on it and having the kids color it for her...I think that would entertain them quite well...but what about everyone else? I'm sorry...I'm just REALLY new to this!!!

ANYTHING would be helpful!! :D

When my son had his first birthday, he was the youngest there. I got bubbles as favors and all th ekids spenyt time blowing bubbles. He also got a sandbox from my sister and they had a great time in that. When is MAddy's birthday? My son's is at the end of May so I usually focus on outdoor toys, and then try to spend most of the party outdoors. PS The butterfly cakes come out SO cute! I did one for my DD's birthday in January. We were indoors for hers and there was a lot of playing and eating!

I think usually people do baby showeresque things for 1st birthday parties like counting out cheerios in a jar and offering a prize for the person who guesses closest to how many cheerios are in the jar, etc. You could look up baby shower game ideas on google maybe?

I have a late May birthday with my first son....we went to a local park and the favors were those little buckets and a sand shovel from walmart...like 3.00 each and I put their sack lunch of a peanut butter sandwhich bites and pretzels and cheerios/dried fruit baggie in the pail and then they played with their shovels and pails at the park sandbox after lunch. Told everyone to bring their own drink. (we did this for birthday number 2)

We actually didn't do anything too structured, just a drop in play thing and the parents got to visit and the children played with toys. I put out child suitable snacks and we finished with cake and ice cream. I also had the parents each fill out a card that said....."my dream for (dd's name) is.." and then I would later put them in a scrapbook.

I also had the parents each fill out a card that said....."my dream for (dd's name) is.." and then I would later put them in a scrapbook.

I really like that idea...I'll have to keep that in mind...

Maddy's birthday is June 22. The thing with being outside, is there really isn't a place to do that...we live in a small apartment without much of a backyard...so, it's going to have to be inside.

There's only going to be 2 kids other than Maddy...and I want to include them, but not make it seem like it's about them ('cause everyone tends to make it that way :roll: ).

This is Maddy's big day....I want to make it super special...

Thanks so much for all your ideas.......keep 'em coming!

I have family members/friends write letters to our son on his birthday with special memories they have of the past year.

I've had picture slideshows made too. My cousin made one for me last year and it turned out so cute. I had "Let them be little" and "I want to be just like you" (Phillips, Craig, and Dean) playing for them.

We decorate the house the night before his birthday after he goes to sleep. I remember the sweet look of amazement on his face when he got up that morning.

My husband takes off work and we enjoy a family day. We usually go to the park, get a snowcone, etc. I make him cupcakes too and we sing to him.

We just had family at his birthday parties and not any little kids so we didn't really have activities. I went to a party once and they had color sheets as you're describing, some random toys out, bubbles, and sidewalk chalk.

Another idea I've seen is have a picture taken of the child at the time they were born, taking a new one every year at the same time. I haven't done this but liked the idea!

I agree, every birthday is super special!

For my son i kept it a theme. It's was a sports theme so you could probably keep it a theme for you dd too. The butterfly cake sounds super cute btw! :D We had some kids at the part and depending on the ages you could keep it simple. I had pin the tail on donkey, hot potatoe and a pinata (not hitting required because it had pull apart strings on it so that way nobody gets hurt and ethan was able to take part in it and pull a string himself :D ). Also passed out bubbles for the kiddos to be entertained out side and some ballons blowed up so they could toss around and stuff. Their are so many games out there you could goggle party games and many websites will come up. Hope that helps. :D

I totally love to organize parties... but for a little help I find that this web site is helpful..
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/pulldown_butterfliesbugs_sf/

This is also a great site... http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/butterfly_party.html


Hope to see pics!

I totally love to organize parties... but for a little help I find that this web site is helpful..
http://familyfun.go.com/parties/holiday/specialfeature/pulldown_butterfliesbugs_sf/

This is also a great site... http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/butterfly_party.html


Hope to see pics!

Hehe, Nici...you know me! Of COURSE you're going to see pictures! :wink:

Hmm...you love organizing parties...hmmm........ :D .....hmmm....... :wink:

The best parties I've ever thrown didn't have any real plans. You got kids coming - so break out the toys! Let them play and hang out with the grown ups :). That's my take!