It's finally here! What an exciting day today, as we hosted Jaden's First Birthday Party!! After way too much time planning, Jaden had a great day at his Caterpillar Birthday BBQ!
My mom and I spent all day Saturday baking a caterpillar cake, cupcakes, making Jello cups, ants on a log, shopping for food, and making treat boxes! I've come to the conclusion that a first birthday party is really more for the parents, than for the 1 year old! I don't even think Jaden had a clue what was going on!
Our good friends, Michelle & Kelly, offer to let us have Jaden's party in their backyard. They have an enormous sized yard, compared to our tiny patch of grass, so we decided it would give the kids more room to run around and play. It was a great idea, but did take a lot more work to drive there and clean, set up, decorate and then have to transport all the food, clean up and load everything back up in the truck to get back home! It was a pretty exhausting weekend, but all for a special occasion!
The kids had a great time playing in the dirt, blowing bubbles and sound horns and riding bikes/cars. Equally, the adults had a good time BBQing, visiting, having a beer and enjoying a nice 80 degree day in Vegas!
We decorated the party with a primary colored Caterpillar theme which included a homemade caterpillar cake, lots of red, blue, yellow and green balloons, streamers and table decorations. We also did little bug themed cookie boxes as favors. Andy spent most of his time grilling up some delicious chicken and sausage to go with the other salads and dishes.
Cake time! Jaden was just amazed when everyone was standing around his highchair singing to him! And even more amazed when a whole cake was put down in front of him! He made a dent in the cake, but wasn't as interested in it as Alyssa was. And if you know Jaden, he doesn't like to be confined for very long, so he was done with the cake time and ready to get back into the dirt!!
We attempted a few times to open gifts, but again, Jaden was interested in sitting still to open presents. He just wanted to play with the paper and climb on the gifts. I guess this is the beginning of the difference between a boy and a girl! All in all, Alyssa ended up opening Jaden's gifts back at home that night!
I must say, after an exhausting hot, BBQing day, we ended the day with a long soak in the bath and an early bedtime! Thank you everyone for joining us in celebrating this special occasion and for all the great gifts and toys you chose for Jaden!
Jaden, squinting in the sun, but not too sure about all these people starring at him!
Jaden's personal caterpillar cake!
Caterpillar cake and worm cupcakes we made!
Jaden and CK playing (CK was born an hour after Jaden!) 
Playing in the dirt!
Not sure why everyone is standing around singing! 
Mmmmm cake!
Grandparents enjoying lunch!
Jaden still playing in cake!
The end result!
Playing in the sprinkler = easy clean up!
Opening a present - Jaden not interested!
Daddy, Uncle Charlie and Jaden relaxing after a long party!
Jaden's idea of opening a present!
Birthday boy!
Yay! I love the presents when they're open!
