• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
A Mothership Down
  • Baby Sleep
    • The 4 Month Sleep Regression SUCKS!
    • Sleep Training Our 7 Month Old: What Were We Waiting For?
    • Should You Ever Wake a Sleeping Baby?
    • Improve Naps at Daycare
    • How to Make Nap Transitions As Smooth As Possible
  • Parenting
  • Reading
  • Kids Science
    • 5 Minute Fizzy Fun Jar
    • Liquid Density Experiment: Color Explosion in a Jar
    • Water Suspension Science Experiment for Kids
    • Lava Layers! Liquid Density Science Experiment
    • 10 Quick + Simple STEM Activities for Kindergarten
  • Babywearing
  • Recommendations
  • about
    • Who Am I?
    • New Visitors
    • Awards
    • Work With Me
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Baby Sleep
    • The 4 Month Sleep Regression SUCKS!
    • Sleep Training Our 7 Month Old: What Were We Waiting For?
    • Should You Ever Wake a Sleeping Baby?
    • Improve Naps at Daycare
    • How to Make Nap Transitions As Smooth As Possible
  • Parenting
  • Reading
  • Kids Science
    • 5 Minute Fizzy Fun Jar
    • Liquid Density Experiment: Color Explosion in a Jar
    • Water Suspension Science Experiment for Kids
    • Lava Layers! Liquid Density Science Experiment
    • 10 Quick + Simple STEM Activities for Kindergarten
  • Babywearing
  • Recommendations
  • about
    • Who Am I?
    • New Visitors
    • Awards
    • Work With Me
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosure Policy
×
You are here: Home / All Posts / Party Like It’s Your Birthday!

Party Like It’s Your Birthday!

Published October 13, 2014. Last updated November 16, 2019 by Liz. This post may contain affiliate links.

IMG_0493

Yesterday we had a small family birthday party for Nolan. Now you may recall the complete lack of domesticity that I typically bring to the (literal) table when hosting events. I covered this lack of skill in some detail in the post How to Host Like a Boss (Disclaimer: I Have No Idea). Well friends, this past weekend I was put to the test with the big first birthday, and I think we came out on top. I won’t go into detail because I don’t want to brag, BUT I did manage to put together an entire crock pot meal before Brian even woke up! Sure that entailed me dumping a chicken breast and can of pineapple into a pot and hitting a button that says “High Heat,” but let’s not split hairs. #winning

Leading up to Nolan’s birthday I *briefly* considered looking up some crafty ideas on Pinterest. Luckily I quickly came to my senses and realized that Party City was a far more reasonable option, and much more suited to my lifestyle of laziness.

(Please note that the adorable elephants hanging down from the blue plate in the photo below are in fact homemade, but not by me. Nope, my sister-in-law Sue pocketed those suckers from a much more Pinterest-ing party that she recently attended and handed them off to me. There is a lesson here: If you are not crafty yourself but you do have the gift of sticky fingers and an amply sized handbag, you can score yourself enough precious homemade cutouts to pass as crafty).

IMG_0396

A Party City banner and a few party hats and I’d say we have ourselves a winner! Oh yeah, and sandwiches. Lots of sandwiches.

We did splurge on a pretty kick-ass cake.

IMG_0413

Which looked awesome all over Nolan.

IMG_0499

IMG_0497

IMG_0495

Party Like It's Your Birthday

IMG_0470

Nolan with Papa and Michelle

IMG_0487

IMG_0458

Nolan with Grandma and Grandpa

Nolan was actually strangely delicate with his cake, not at all in the spirit of reckless abandon/gluttony toward food that I’ve tried to instill in him. He seems to be taking after his father here. Brian is a super slow eater and what I would consider an overly thorough chewer. But that’s just me.

IMG_0492

After the cake we opened some gifts, and Brian took hold of my camera. I did not enjoy the results. But for your entertainment I’ve included a few shots capturing my “expressive face” as I opened presents. The expressions below are candid, which I feel like I should point out because it looks like I’m mugging for the camera. I’m not. In fact, there were at least 6 other similar shots of me. WTF Liz? Get your face together!

Face Check

After Nolan went to bed, we had a little party of our own. This is what Moms Gone Wild would look like, if that was a thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTc01AAwPWo&feature=youtu.be

Ok, just kidding. This video was really from my friend Ben’s 30th birthday party on Saturday. Ben is like a brother to me except for the part where we have different parents. I’ve known him since he was born, or as I once awkwardly said at a family function, “since he was conceived.” Um, no Liz, you were not there for that. But I did grow up next door to his family, and he is like my little brother. I love Ben. Happy 30th Benjo!

And Happy First Birthday Party to my little Nolie!

IMG_0476

 

Filed Under: All Posts, Parenting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lynda

    October 13, 2014 at 11:11 am

    Love Nolan’s pose in the black and white pic. Great fun! You did good. This reader wants to know if you served chicken and pineapple sandwiches.

    Reply
    • Liz

      October 13, 2014 at 2:17 pm

      Lynda, I did have the buns for some chicken and pineapple sandwiches but I neglected to put them out. And people don’t like to eat sandwiches without buns. I’m still working out the kinks in this whole hosting thing.

      Reply
  2. Jen W

    October 13, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Happy birthday to Nolan! He has a great cake face! Also, I have a suggestion to help you. I used to have a terrible gift face, but I also have parents who take pictures of every gift we open at Christmas. I quickly learned that you either smile through the whole gift opening or say something positive the second you tear off the last bit of paper like, “I am so excited to see what thid is!” It’s hard to say the word excited with a bland face. It has saved me! Try that or tell Brian to hold off on pictures until you hold the gift up and say cheese. Action shots not necessary.

    Reply
    • Liz

      October 13, 2014 at 11:47 am

      Haha Jen I love this! Thanks for the tip. The thing is, I actually AM excited in these photos! The present I was opening was awesome! I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But I think it would be a riot to try out your technique anyway 🙂

      Reply
  3. Momma C

    October 13, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    In retrospect you should have added your dancing technique with Nolie’s at his party. He has really fancy footwork and does the best “jump” ever.
    2 great parties in 2 weeks….watch out Martha, here you come!

    Reply
    • Liz

      October 13, 2014 at 2:19 pm

      Oh that’s a really good point Mom! Nolie does have amazing dancing feet for a kid who can’t walk.

      Reply
  4. Mer

    October 13, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    Liz… the picture of your party spread looks 100% stolen off of Pinterest… I’m 200% impressed! We had a pool party for K’s first birthday and I too opted for the “lazy” way… or, what I like to call the “whatever comes up in an Amazon search for ‘1st birthday party decorations’ that qualifies for Prime shipping” way. Turns out, everyone has fun as long as there’s an adorable baby smashing cake on his/her face and available booze. It looks like you guys had a great time and, as far as I’m concerned, there’s a tie for “best photo face” between your candid shots and Nolan’s cake smash shots 😉 Congrats!

    Reply
    • Liz

      October 13, 2014 at 2:18 pm

      Exactly Mer, booze and a cake to smash is all you need! Although I am pleased that you think my photo looks Pinterest-worthy. It is literally one banner and some party hats. I’ll take it though, Pinterest-beggars can’t be choosers.

      Reply
  5. Kiley

    October 13, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    Soooooo cute. Happy birthday, Nolan!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to the Mothership!

Hi! I'm Liz, mom to 3 young kids. Like all of you, I have tons of free time on my hands to ponder the complexities of motherhood. Ok I have almost no time, these kids are taking me down. I write this blog to find camaraderie with the rest of you in the trenches. Welcome! Read More…

SEARCH

Popular Posts

The 50 Best Books for Toddlers

The 50 Best Books for Toddlers

I'm Glad We Knew

It Was an Early Loss. But I’m Glad We Knew.

mom and son

To The Parents Who Don’t Feel Like They Can Get It All Done

sleeping baby

In The Nursery, Where Time Stands Stills

Footer

Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Privacy Policy

You can find our Privacy Policy here.

Copyright © 2023 A Mothership Down on the Foodie Pro Theme