The Birthday Party

Remy's first birthday was extremely important to me. Partly because I wasn't that excited about his actual birth and partly because the first birthday is just such a huge milestone. Although I highly doubt we will have many more birthday parties for him (probably more of a - o we have cake, anyone want to come over?) mostly because I don't like doing parties. But I braced myself and set out to plan a party for him. It was a "small" family only party. Small being almost 30 people. Literally, it was only our parents, grandparents and siblings.
I decided to keep it pretty low-key so I could try to keep the stress level for myself down. I did mostly food that could be prepared ahead and all plastic plates and utensils so I could keep the dish washing down. Somehow it still took me 7 hours the day of to prepare for the party. Not to mention the cleaning I did the day before! I can only imagine how much longer it would have taken to prep if I had actually decorated for the party. I find party decorations to be a waste of money and generally cheesy looking anyways so I opted to have the cake as decoration. Never mind that I minimally decorated his cake. He didn't care anyways, the only pressure I feel is from all of the other mothers who go all out for birthdays.

The Menu:
Chicken and Pasta Salad
Beans with hamburger (the surprise hit of the night)
Cuban Bread
Pineapple
Chocolate Sheet Cake


After getting everything ready for the party I even did my hair, makeup and dressed up a little! I think the last time I dressed up was for my friend Molly's wedding.


The birthday boy informing me that he would please like the camera.

I attempted to take a picture of the setup in the house but there were already people there so I had to try to take it around them.


Very few people sat in the house because it was a perfect evening and we had tables outside too. But did I take a picture of that? Nope!

Here is Remy showing Gracie how to play with his toy properly.

My sister, Tina, and baby Gracie. Tina is expecting her second in September! Another boy for the Asche side.


Anna and Jackson arriving at the party.

Remy's birthday cake. You can probably tell that I agonized over the cake decorations. Or not. I made The Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake.

We had sent out John Deere invitations and so I threw a couple of tractors on top for the cake decorations.

Here is Remy while everyone was singing Happy Birthday to him. He was pretty startled and couldn't figure out what in the world was going on.

Eating his cake - he loved it.

Remy does his best to eat cleanly.

Opening presents - Remy loves books!

Trying to decide if its more important to eat the cheese puff or play with his new gun.

(Public Service Notice: I dislike guns intensely but have resigned myself to the reality that Remy will be surrounded by them for the rest of his life and most likely love them as Nic does.)

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the party and gave Remy such amazing gifts! The party went really well and I know how much fun Nic...er I mean Remy, had.

And to Remy; you are such a fun little boy with so much personality! I cannot wait to see what this next year brings for you!