Tuesday, May 31, 2011

ZZ's first Birthday Party

I know this post is over a month late, but I've been having troubles uploading pictures to blogger lately. SORRY!




Our sweet little Princess Zeegan turned one, and we threw a luau to celebrate...

Thinking it owuld help me be more on top of things and better prepared the day of, I decided to schedule the Luau for 3 in the afternoon. It was a great plan really, except for one thing... Everything that could go wrong, pretty much did go wrong:
1st- the Wind! It was soooo windy! We went and set it all up first thing the morning of, and when we came back out, everything had blown over and away. It was bad! Over half the decorations weren't useable, We couldn't use the bouncy house because with the wind as bad as it was; it just wasn't safe, We had to have people holding the canopies down throughout the entire party, and at one point a whole tray of steak got blown off the table onto the ground... Plus, the wind made everything cold. I hate being cold.
2nd-The dancers; I didn't plan games for the party, because we were having a bunch of dancers that were gonna do a great show and cover the entertainment factor, unfortunately most of the dancers weren't able to make it to the party, and the dancers that didn't show up, were the dancers with the music for the show. So even though I had Seth's wonderful sisters there to dance and their amazing outfits, incredible talent, and speakers huge enough to blast the music... they weren't able to do any of the hip-shaking tahitian amazing dancing, because we didn't have their music or half their group... sad! But they did do a couple slower dances which was nice to have! Thank goodness!!!
3rd- ZZ was a grump! She's usually the happiest little lady, especially when she's getting attention, but for some odd reason she was grumping at everyone!

But; Despite the horrible wind, and having to re-do everything last minute, and therefore starting an hour late. Despite not having games or entertainment. Despite the guest of honor being grumpy... The party really was fun!
1st- because the food was amazing! Grampa Freddy and Daddy Seth really outdid themselves. Grampa Freddy cooked a whole pig and enough chop suey to feed an army! Seth made his fabulous Terriyaki chicken and tri-tip steak. I made a couple salads and about a billion trays of different types of fruit.
2nd- Because we had fun people there! Luckily our friends and family members are all pretty understanding and were great about our lack of organization and timeliness.
Grammy Purcell was basically the behind the scenes runner of this party. Everything that did work out; worked out well, and it was because of her! She made all the last minutes trips to the grocery store, she made all the fun gift packs for the kids to take home with them. She figured out the new decorations when the original ones were all blowing away, she was doing everything, and doing it with a smile... Thank you Kylene!

All the kids LOVED the snow-cones... they were the biggest hit of the party, except for maybe the pig head (yes, that's right- I said "pig head"... read on.)


The cake that Tricia Bunker made for ZZ to dig into was SOOOOO cute! She did an amazing job!

Even though Uncle Sammy had work, he ran over to spend time with his favorite little niece! He kinda had to, they share a birthday...


Here's that pig head I was telling you about: Jonah ate a piece of it's ear, and toward the end of the party, all the kids started giving it kisses (I know, right?!!: gag-worthy!!!)
(windy, wind, wind, wind...)

Grampa Freddy went and got a HUGE Hawaiian Paradise cake to share with all of ZZ's friends at the party... SO YUMMY! I could rave about this cake all day, but I kind of already did that in the post from her blessing (10 months or so ago...).






All the kids were BIG helpers in opening the presents. Which was a good thing, because ZZ wasn't interested in opening them. But she LOVED what was inside them!
Only problem with having so many helpers is that I have no idea which present came from whom. Oopsies!




In the end the kids found ways to entertain themselves, and all the adults were able to sit around and visit, so it's okay the entertainment didn't work out like I'd planned.
(Not sure why this is underlined, and why I can't turn the underline off)



Once the kiddos got bored of the hula hoops and rope, they took to kissing the pig and playing with it's face and teeth... gross!


After the party I think Seth and I were both dead tired; because we both seriously killed over on the couch while the kids played with all ZZ's new toys!
Zeegan is one now and we're so glad we've had her in our family for a whole year. We were glad to be able to celebrate her existence with friends and family, and we're so happy so many people love our little princess!
Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!

3 comments:

Yerkes family said...

Cute! You don't need my help planning parties!

Christa said...

ok...chubby baby girl in a hula skirt and top= way to dang cute! I wish we could have come. it looks like so much fun!!

Amy Miller said...

Juli, you are amazing!!!! Can I be more like you?!? Please?!?! Also, you guys are so cute!