Happy Birthday, Sam!

We celebrated Sam's happy birthday on Saturday. One day I'll throw a party and not be in total scurry mode beforehand. I act as if our guests are coming in with the white glove test, evidenced by the cabinet dusting and wood polishing prior to the party. But once I tie the balloons to the mailbox to let everyone {our 7 neighbors} know that we are celebrating, it all becomes worth it.

I chose a red wagon theme for Sam's party. For a good part of the year I had been planning on doing snips, snails, and puppy dog tails but changed my mind when I couldn't get the right size red wagon outfit for next year {hangsheadinshame}. The theme was very general and I didn't do anything extra or pin worthy. I just thought it was a cute little boy theme.

As always, Sweet Birdie's Nest did the invitations and also a banner this year. They sent along the sign on the tricycle as a surprise. The tricycle seemed like a more classic approach than our off-road version wagon.

Mrs. Kitchen, who has done all my cakes for everything and 2 of Avery's, did the main cake.

We had to wake Sam up from his nap, but he was a happy boy watching the guests arrive.

Sam really could have cared less about his presents. He wanted to roll his fire truck back and forth. I shouldn't have been surprised; Avery got some ribbon early into the gifts at her first birthday and didn't touch another gift after that. At this party though? She was as excited as if it were her special day.

She and her good buddy Camden helped Sam open his presents. This picture tells it all. The girls are checking it all out and Sam's eye has probably been caught by something dangerous.

He got some really nice things from our wonderful family and friends, and he is enjoying them even if he didn't care to open them.

After gifts it was time for cake. Camden's mom Anna made a beautiful, yummy cake just for Sam to smash up. If you're local, check our her Facebook page for Lovin' From the Oven. I cut into it for him to get him started. He mainly did a lot of playing. Luckily we salvaged some for us.

I managed to get no pictures of of our buddies Emerson, Barker, and Cade, and none of our family and friends. I'm trying to be more in the moment and less behind the camera, so they are all there in our memory. We all enjoyed some yummy food and then the bigger kids played in the playroom. It was after 5:30 p.m. before everyone left, and we had two tired, hungry kids.

Sam is so fortunate to have so many people who love him and who were willing to celebrate his special day with us. We all deserved a grand celebration after all it took to get him here safely, and it was a wonderful afternoon. We of course had 2 big holes with Yaya and Poppa not being with us. My mom never seemed too aware that she was missing Christmas, but she certainly knew she was missing Sam's first birthday. She would have been the first one in the door and the last one out, more than likely after our traditional after-party pizza dinner. It is an odd feeling to have a heavy heart on a special day, but we know that we have traded this party for many more of Avery's and Sam's parties in the future. And even though I posted on Instagram that we'd be hitting up Chuck E Cheese next year, it wouldn't involve balloons on the mailbox, so of course that's out.