Evie’s Cactus Themed First Birthday Party

A Cactus Themed First Birthday Party

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was supposed to be family and friends, a pool party, and burgers, but as all gatherings in our household, it became so much more. I love to host a great party, and if ever there was a reason throw a party, my daughter’s first birthday was it! I love decorating and party planning almost as much as I love taking pictures, so I may have gotten a little carried away. From the invitation, to the cactus cups and straws, to the homemade party favors, most of the decor and cactus-themed items were made by me, and I LOVED doing it! I included lots of macrame and mint green and baby pink colored items, mixed with lots of fresh greenery, succulents, cactus, and flowers. Crafted Baked Goods also did an amazing job of bringing my cactus cookies and smash cake design to life!

We had such a fun day celebrating our baby girl with friends and family. Of course, not everything went as planned…Evie was not in a great mood when it came time to sing Happy Birthday, and did not want to be bothered with a smash cake. (See the photo below for grumpy faces while in her highchair) BUT, after a nap and some dinner, she was ready to smash some cake…in mommy’s face. The cake was delicious, and I think there still may be some lodged in my nostrils. (Seriously, I could smell cake for the next 12 hours, even after bathing.) We ended the evening with a dip in the pool to get all of the frosting off of us. I am so grateful for my family and friends’ generosity, and for all the help from my mom and my parents’ hospitality, allowing me to use their beautiful backyard for Evie’s pool party! Evie’s grandparents even came all the way from Texas to celebrate with their granddaughter! It was such a special day that we will never forget!