Classic Toys are the Best! {Birthday Fun}

Although Hudson's birthday party with all of our friends is not until Saturday, we couldn't let his actual birthDAY go by without a little family celebration. We invited the grandparents for cake & ice cream and had the best time watching him devour his very first cake! Click collage to see it bigger.

I decided to go with a "classic toys" theme and use the bright colors and simple shapes as inspiration. This was perfect since I had everything on hand and could pull toys from his nursery to use as decorations. So other than the balloons and the wooden letter blocks this was a zero cost party!!! Just goes to show you that you don't have to spend a lot of money to make a big impact...you just have to be creative!

A "few" more pictures...because when it comes to pictures, MORE IS MORE :)

The birthday boy! I think Hudson has the sweetest smile ever in this picture and I love that he still looks "baby" in all his chubby glory. Of course, I couldn't let his special day go by without making a few of my fun birthday hats. Next to cake, party hats are a necessity in my book when it comes to children's birthday parties. I love how bright and fun these turned out to be! You'll be seeing these fun little plates again (with a little twist) at his Dr. Seuss party this weekend, but here I mixed them up with some leftover cups from the Halloween carnival we
co-hosted last Fall for a bright, cheery look. I found the paper plates at Target shortly after Hudson was born and fell in love with the colorful dots and retro design. Ditto for the napkins, except they came from the Michael's $1 bin. I bought several packages of both not knowing for sure what I would do with them but knowing they would come in handy soon enough...and they did!

These fun little wooden whistles were leftover party favors from Grace's 1st birthday! Aren't they sweet? I was so happy I was able to work them in for Hudson's 1st birthday - I'm sentimental like that :) The cake - a yummy triple chocolate fudge layer cake with vanilla buttercream icing. Not perfect by any means but made with love to celebrate my sweet boy's first year. The little wooden toys were Hudson's first set of "boy toys" given to him by our close friends The Blakeley's. I love classic toys like that and I love that Lance's best friend gave them to our son. I made a twin 6 inch "smash cake" for Hudson, this time french vanilla (saving chocolate for his party this weekend). What to do with all that extra batter after making his mini cake...well, CUPCAKES of course! Confetti sprinkles = HAPPY! A little peek at the fun table. A little birthday hat meltdown. Hot, tired baby + Birthday hat = Grumpy Baby (did I mention the heat index registered 110° and I could only get our house cooled down to 80°?) Take the hat off and suddenly we're HAPPY once again! Add a fun little whistle and you can sneak that hat if you're quick ;) Hanging out with Mimi & Pop Taking a little break with Noonie A certain little someone couldn't resist the candy jar ;) Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You!
Happy Birthday dear Hudson,
Happy Birthday to You! Make a wish! Cake Time! There's that silly hat again...but that's okay I've got more important things to worry about. Thanks sissie! Who knew birthday parties were so much fun?
I'm having the BEST time! Aunt Lexi made it just in time to see me make a big mess! Talking Daddy into just one more bite! So messy but Oh, so Happy! What? Don't all birthday parties include a bath mid-party??? Time for presents! I'm ready to go! Beep, Beep! All of a sudden someone was VERY interested in "sharing" :) Happy 1st Birthday, Hudson! ...and here's to many more!