Talk about a whirlwind!
I remember getting up in the morning and cooking breakfast for everyone, including the inlaws. I remember trying to give Baby Bug a bath against her wishes. I remember DH driving me crazy because he couldn’t decide which shirt to wear (that was the only decision he had to make in this whole thing and he couldn’t even do that by himself!).
Everything else is a blur.
It’s amazing how much time you spend planning and shopping and organizing, only to have it over before you know it. I wish I had taken more photos but it’s hard to be host and photographer at the same time.
Here are some of the moments that I was able to record:
These are the centerpieces that I finally finished that morning. Talk about cutting it close!

The ballroom was a little smaller than I imagined but we were able to squeeze in 200 people for a room designed for 160.

The reception table where people signed-in and got their goody bags.

The Amazing Bubble show where she made a huge bubble around Girlie Girl . . .

. . . and me. It didn’t work the first couple of times and I must say I wasn’t too happy that bubble solution kept getting all over my silk dry-clean only blouse and in my hair! Helloooooo . . . what was she thinking?

Here is a very short video of one of the contests that was held . . .
DH and Girlie Girl competing in the Toilet Paper Mummy Race.

Unfortunately, they won. Why “unfortunately”? Look at what the prize was . . .

We had to keep half of that 9 foot dragon sticking out the car window on the way home from the party!
I forgot to take a photo of the make-your-own ice cream bar and buffet line but here are the leftover food that they let us take home . . . kalua pig, lau lau, chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon, teriyaki chicken, macaroni salad, pineapple, and haupia.
I know Baby Bug won’t remember a thing but she truly did enjoy herself. She was running around with all the kids, laughing and smiling at everyone. That made it all worth while.















32 Comments on “A Birthday in Review”
4:53 am
OOOOoooooooh!! I wish I coulda been there!! Looks like ya’ll had fun!!
4:56 am
Wow, awesome party! Can’t wait to see her wedding reception!
Happy Birthday! Glad she had a good time!
5:53 am
oh wow wow wow wow. I want bubbles for my next birthday
8:43 am
now I’m hungry for that pig!!! I miss that stuff. I should look up a recipe for it…but then who has the time or room to roast an entire pig?
When my DH can’t pick a shirt…I get DD to do it for him. LOL that’ll teach him!!!
Glad it was fun.
re: duct tape uses…I hear you can make a decent strapless bra with it (you get rid of most of the stickiness with a towel first!)
12:56 pm
Holy COW!!!! That was some party!!!! I am sure you are glad it is over!
1:51 pm
looks like one heck of a party
1:54 pm
Wow! That all looks great! Her sister will remember it for sure!
Tell me, is this the tradition in Hawaii to have big birthday parties like this or are you just the party planner extraordinaire?!
ICL
** Yes, almost everyone here has a pretty big 1st birthday celebration. I have no idea why since the child won’t remember a thing! LOL!
2:02 pm
Looks and sounds like a great party. Glad it went well for you.
2:46 pm
WOW! My kids want that clown for their parties! Seeing as we live in Ohio, I think they’ll have to make do with me, though. Looks like a really fun day! Will you plan my birthday party, too? LOL!
2:51 pm
Wow! That is the most amazing birthday spread I have ever seen. You can tell how important family is to a person through their celebrations, and there is no doubt how you feel concerning your’s.
Happy Birthday, Baby Bug!
3:25 pm
now thats a party
3:51 pm
Wow! Looks like Baby Bug had a wonderful party!
Those centerpieces are gorgeous. Glad everyone had lots of fun and the food looks so good.
Happy Birthday Baby Bug!
4:20 pm
Looked like a great partee!! And glad everything turned out great! I can’t believe you had that many people. I can’t even handle 70 in one place. Happy B-day Baby Bug!
4:48 pm
Wow, and I thought the party I had when Ashlyn turned 1 was quite a shindig for a 1 year old. I bet you’re still tired! What a mom!
6:43 pm
OMG!! You went all out! I’m so impressed…it all looks so beautiful. You deserve a good long rest!
9:05 pm
It looked beautiful. Is this common to have such large parties? I’ve never seen such a huge party for a 1st birthday. Girlie Girl looks so adorable in the bubble!!!! Great pictures
** Yes it is. It’s kind of expected.
9:59 pm
So fun. I want the bubble thing for my next party!!
** Just don’t wear anything that needs to be dry cleaned! LOL!
10:30 pm
Oh my gosh!! That looks like a blast! I wanted to throw a fun big bash for my son, however he wants his at McDonalds lol
** You don’t know how lucky you are! LOL!
4:05 am
What fun. And you are so cute. It looks like such a blast. That prize cracks me up! I can just imagine the spectacle!
4:40 am
I finally got a chance to watch the video…DID you notice that the clown squashed the tp roll on the right hand side so that girl wouldn’t win?
check the video. he slides the rolls on and at one point in the stalling he smushes the right hand roll.
the girl who won’s roll continued to spin when she pulled it, but the right hand girl’s roll stopped when she stopped pulling.
Did he fix each race?
** That is too funny! I didn’t notice him doing that but I can understand why. The girl on the right (the one who didn’t win) is his daughter. I guess it would have been more strange if she did win. Afterall, she can get balloons from him anytime! You are so observant!
3:50 pm
Wait. You don’t typically keep a 9-foot inflatable dragon in your car at all times?
[clearing her throat and not making eye contact] Yeah…I don’t, either.
4:32 pm
Wow! What a party! I think if it were expected of me to have thrown a huge party like this for my kids’ first birthdays, I would now be known as the Lamest Mom around! I am NOT known for throwing great parties, with the sole exception being my own wedding. THAT was a great party.
Thanks for sharing the photos. I think they look great!
6:06 pm
I thought I was brave for having a party for 30 people… OMG! You so seriously are my hero LG! Looks like you did an amazing job, and the center pieces are gorgeous! I love the TP vidoe, “don’t stop to wipe” LOL!
3:33 am
Awesome Sista! Happy Birthday Baby Bug! May you have many, many more and keep driving Mommy pupule. Nah, nah, just joking. Looks like alot of fun!
We are combining all the kids birthday and taking them to Disneyland in April. Then I am flying home with my family. Whoohoo! Hawai’i no ka oe!
5:28 pm
Amazing party. I am so thankful its not expected of me, here! Norah’s birthday party is this Saturday…and I thought I went all out…please! You’ll probably laugh when you see how tiny it is in comparison to Baby Bug’s bash! Even so, I’ve had so much fun planning and shopping, and making all the little goodies to make it special. Birthdays are so much fun!
** It really doesn’t matter how big or small the party is. Just as long as everyone has a great time!
1:57 am
Wow what a party!! I am glad it was a success
5:31 am
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12:50 am
How fun!!!! Looks like it was a blast, and the food looks soooo yummy. And so fun to see you and your beautiful family.
Here via CoFL
1:15 am
It looks like quite the party. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun!! It is amazing how much time and energy goes into to planning something that is over in a flash.
Here via the carnival of family life.
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