Round 1st birthday

For Big Boy's first birthday I did a "round" theme. Mostly balls, but also balloons and bubbles. This was really my first party planning adventure. I think it went great, but I didn't take any pictures! We had 2 parties, one with friends and another with family. We had round food: jello pinwheels (one of my mom's favorite kid's snack), crackers, meat and cheese (cut into circles), fruit (cut with a melon baller) and lots of cake! I used a round cake pan I bought at Michael's to make the smash cake. For one party I made a #1 pool ball (solid yellow) and for the other I made a beach ball. We had lots of balls for the kids to play with including a ball pit I made in a cheap plastic kiddie pool. We also had a pin the tail on the pig (he was a very round pig). The birthday boy had lots of fun and so did everyone else.

Jello Pinwheels: 2 small or 1 large box jello, 1 c warm water, 3 c mini or 24 large marshmallows. Oil a 9x13" pan. Stir warm water into jello in a large microwave safe bowl and microwave on high 2 min. Stir until dissolved. Add marshmallows and microwave on high another 1 1/2 mins. Stir until marshmallows are melted. Pour into pan and refrigerate 45 mins. Loosen edges with a spatula and roll length-wise. Slice into pinwheels and serve.

I try

My mother was a crafty woman. She once made a Jericho city that kids could stand in while others marched around until the walls fell down, out of a cardboard box! She ran a mid-week children's bible study, wrote *almost* every one of my Dad's children sermon's for 20 years, raised 6 children, taught special education, scrapbooked and did it all very cheaply. My mom passed away at 55 years old, when I was 22. Her grandkids (9 at that time, 11 now) were her everything. She never got to meet my kids but I try to give them a glimpse of what it would have been like if she was still here. I try to help them learn everyday and I try to make it fun. I try to be crafty and I am cheap (that I definitely got from her)! I love holidays and birthdays and parties. Any excuse to get together with loved ones and make it fun for everyone. I have borrowed many ideas from others on the internet who are much more *crafty* than me. I wanted to share what I've done so maybe others can borrow ideas and share with your kids. Spend time with them, teach them, love on them, pass on what others have taught you. Like I try to do with things my mom taught me. I try.