We celebrated Clara’s first birthday like it was 1999. The party was a blast and—thanks to your collective anti-rain vibes—the weather even cleared up. Everyone’s virtually invited, so here’s a look at how the living room and the rest of the house were decked out. I made a fabric flag banner for Clara minutes before guests arrived, and some oversized balloons rounded out the decor.
On the opposite wall I hung a paper pendant above the hallway sliders and John taped up Clara’s 52 weekly photos across the fireplace. It became a favorite spot for guests to gather and compare which weekly shot they liked best—it was amazing to see how much she’s grown in a year.
Even though it rained that morning, I was determined to use the patio John worked so hard to build, so I strung up inexpensive balloons to make the outdoor area feel festive. The forecast promised clearing by noon, but it was still misting ten minutes before the party started. Thankfully the mood inside didn’t depend on the weather.
Pssst—see that new privacy fence? John’s been busy. More details once he catches his breath.
The main goal was keeping Clara happy, and she certainly was. We even woke her from a nap when guests started arriving, and she posed for the camera in an adorable Target dress.
Burger, our dog, obliged by wearing curly pink ribbons around his collar for the day. I expected him to rip them off, but he wore them the whole party—such a good big brother.
We moved the kitchen table into the sunroom to create a simple food-and-drink buffet since the kitchen paneling wasn’t the best backdrop. I even used one of Clara’s toy buckets for ice and made a fabric table runner from her weekly photo backdrop fabrics. We also set up a custom fabric backdrop intended for guest photos—though we only managed to grab a handful before the day became a blur.
For food, we kept things simple and meaningful. We ordered five pizzas (much easier than cooking everything ourselves) and labeled each item with a small card explaining why it was special. For example, the pizza card noted that many of John and my casual NYC dates were enjoyed over slices of pizza. We also served chips and salsa that had a sentimental connection—John was eating those chips when I called to say I was in labor.
We included kid-friendly snacks like veggie sticks—Clara literally pointed and said “dis” when we offered choices—so the menu read that she specifically requested them. We also added cinnamon “labor cookies” (an old wives’ tale suggests spices can start labor) with a card explaining John had baked them when the doctor said Clara was ready. They didn’t kick labor into gear, but they were delicious.
About 25 friends and family attended, which felt just right. Clara took a moment away from pizza to flirt with Todd, our brother-in-law and the day’s generous photographer, who snapped many of these candid shots while we hosted.
By mid-afternoon the sun came out and guests migrated to the patio. The giant colorful balloons were a hit with the kids—two eventually popped, which actually helped since adults could quickly pick up the pieces for safety.
We also set up a time capsule station and invited guests to drop notes or small artifacts into a basket for Clara to open on her 18th birthday. The contributions ranged from a newspaper from the day to handwritten well wishes and small mementos that should make for a fun look back in years to come.
Party favors were inexpensive but charming: ice-cream-cone-shaped bubble containers labeled with each child’s name. The kids loved them, and they helped keep the little ones entertained outside while adults mingled indoors.
There was dancing in the carport—some Macarena-style moves kicked off the crowd—and then it was piñata time. The homemade pull-string piñata worked perfectly for the little ones: they tugged strings to release individually wrapped treats like Teddy Grahams and Goldfish. It was a fun, low-drama way to do a piñata for toddlers.
Next came Clara’s smash cake—a tiny cake made for her to dive into and make a glorious mess. She dug right in, smeared icing everywhere, and provided some of the cutest photos I’ve ever seen. She even shared a little icing with us—resulting in an icing-smudged hairdo for me and a cake goatee for John.
After the cake carnage, we brought out three dozen cupcakes from our favorite bakery and encouraged everyone to dig in. The cupcakes were the same variety John and I enjoyed at our wedding, and in a pleasant surprise they cost under $14 for all three dozen—an amazing bulk bargain that saved time and stress.
Outside, kids played with bubbles and balloons while adults relaxed on the patio and in the sunroom where the buffet had been set up. We felt lucky that the weather cooperated and that so many friends and family could join us to celebrate our little bean.
We wrapped up the party with a short year-in-review video John made for Clara and burned to DVD so everyone could watch on the living room TV. As for gifts, I made Clara a quilt she adored, and she received toys, books, and some experiential gifts like a Children’s Museum membership and toddler nature classes. John is building a sandbox to complete her main gifts, and she also got a sweet bath-time bubble blower and a First 100 Words book from a family friend.
All in all it was a joyful day full of food, family, friends, bubbles, balloons, cupcakes, and plenty of laughter. And the family excitement continues—John’s sister Katie is expecting again, so we’ll likely be at another first birthday before we know it. Thanks to everyone who helped make Clara’s day so special.