First birthday: Please help!

Ok we planed on immediate families only. But now the list keeps growing. Many of our friends havent seen the twins yet because i kinda hid them in the first year lol. I worried about diseases blah blah blah. And they were born at 32w1d...So we cant say NO please dont come hahah. The list ends at 25 for now. I thought that the weather would be warm enough so we could have a tent on the back yard. But it will be 35-48 degree on Sat here. So We will have 25 people and us in the house! OMG! Can we fit everybody in??? My house is 2300 square feet, 2 stories. What do you think?

And so far I came up with spagetti with meat balls, bbq ribs, shrimp cooktail, veggies dip, chic on sticks like teriyaki, hambuger, salad, eggrolls, white rice, fried rice (maybe ??), beer, wine, cake. I will buy diary queen ice cream cake for adults. And I will make special cakes for them. lol hopefully I can do that. Do you have any good dishes i can add into my menu? What is your favorite dish? please dont give me something too complicated. I am no good at cooking department.

I really need good ideas for decoration here. I am actually freaked out now. The party is at 5:30 on sat. And my house now is totally a mess. And I have to work today, tomorrow and friday. Please tell me I can pull this off!!!! I think I should start from cleaning my house tonight after the kids go to bed. :woohoo:

TIA! TIA!

 

My house is 1500 square feet...and we had 80 people with a tent(it was October and cold!). I think you can definitely pull it off!

As for the menu, I think you have plenty! Keep it simple! Easier on you! As for decorations, we just did a little things to hang up, nothing crazy. I had some on the table where the food was, a banner hanging, and then balloons for the highchairs.

Enjoy the party!

 

I agree to keep it simple, and yes, I think everyone can easily fit. For our boys' 1st birthday, we did very simple - pizza, fruit and veggie tray, and cake and ice cream. I had to make them special cake because of their soy intolerance, but I didn't cook a single thing.

As far as decorations, keep it simple there, too. Go to Wal-mart or wherever and buy some balloons and a few streamers, plates, cups, napkins, etc. Your kids are too young to really care what you pick, so just pick whatever they have in stock that you like and is easy. :youcandoit:

 

My house is 1100 square feet, maybe. We had 40 people and it was crowded but fun.

I kept it as simple as I possibly could...I did frozen lasagna and garlic bread and asked people to bring different salads. I didn't even do decorations for the girls...all my kids were sick the week leading up to the party so I was too busy to pull anything together. I got them each a helium filled balloon and tied them to their highchairs .

Try not to stress about the details and enjoy the day!!!!

 

I think you have it made! Like everyone else said, keep it all simple and just make sure to take time to enjoy the day

 

I'd cut your planned menu to about a quarter of what you have listed. It's a party, not a Golden Corral. Have two or three things. We've done sandwich and fruit trays and then pizza.

 

Thats exactly what I was thinking. That could be a big reason you are freaking out. You should have plenty of room, the house we lived in when we had our first dd was 2600sqft and wwe had about that many people at her 1st party. SO this is JUST MY OPINION take it for what its worth....

1.Decorations, banner above the doorway or on the wall near the table with the food. Balloons on the highchairs. Colorful plastic plates cups silverware and napkins.

2. WAY to big a menu. Remember people are coming to see the twins and celebrate with them. They are not expecting this big food spread. Keep it simple. If its going to be cold do a pot of chili or veggie soup or potato soup. Do a couple of sandwich trays (I would hit the deli or like subway for those) couple of veggie trays and a couple of fruit trays. The reason I say a couple is purely because of the number of people you are having. You may even want to skip the soup unless you have a place for everyone to sit to eat. You are worried about fitting everyone in the house how are you going to have a place for everyone to sit and eat. The foods you have listed are not finger foods. they will need forks and a place to put their plates down.

Also nix the alcohol. Great for a bbq or grownup party but I wouldn't do it at a babies birthday. Just isn't needed. Do soft drinks and maybe a punch. You may also want coffee to offer the adults with cake. Keep it simple. Plus enough beer and wine for that many people is going to add up to big money.

3. cakes sound fine. but remember you can also do cupcakes for the babies. I am not sure what stores you have around there but here Krogers bakery can do a cupcake that is bigger than a normal one but not the size of a cake. The babies can smash it and smear it but there don't really need a whole cake.

4. Take a deep breath. Clean common areas only. Don't worry about bedrooms or upstairs bathrooms. My biggest fear for you right now is that you are going to be stressed out and running around trying to please all the guests and miss the important part. Its the babies 1st birthday. You don't get that back. That needs and should be the focus.

You will have plenty of years to do big blowout parties with tons of good food and music etc but for their 1st birthday keep it super duper simple. You need to focus on watching them enjoy their cakes and trying to rip open their gifts etc. Not on a huge spread or tons of decorations.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!! Just relax and enjoy.

ETA- if you have kept the twins away from alot of people (like most of us did) then it would be in my opinion even more of a reason to keep the party simple. Yes have the people but don't talk yourself into creating chaos. You are nearing a cranky sleepy time anyway with the time of your party, if the babies have to wait for everyone to eat that full meal you run the risk of them being overly tired and falling apart before cake smashing or gift opening.

Again this is just my opinion, this is how we did our 1st dd's 1st birthday and how we are doing the twins as well.

 

Thanks ladies! I feel much better now hehe. I did clean their play room last night. My cleaning lady will come to help me Friday morning. So I think well be ok

You girls have great ideas. Sanwich and pizza are great. I might just order subway and papajohn hehe. Ok we will have shrimp cocktail, veggies tray, sub and pizza and cake, soda and juicefor the kids. Hehe so basically I won't cook anything.

I have ordered their first year pic poster on snapfish. T should arrive tomorrow. I will only get maybe 2 BD banners and bunch of balloons. My kids love balloons.

Oh yeah I'm good now. I think I will have fun with the kids. Thanks ladies! You girl are awesome!

 

I agree with all PP's.......Keep it simple. Maybe pizza and wings!!! Stuff to snack on -- cheese tray, veggie tray... simple stuff you can buy...

Decorations -- some helium balloons and a nicely decorated food table....looks good to go!!!

I would also not serve alcohol -- it's a 1 yr olds bday party...not an adult party! it's not expected, nor necessary. in fact, to me, (and JMO) seems inappropriate for adults to be drinking around little babies!

It will all go smoothly, don't worry! remember they are there for the babies -- not to see your house or really, to eat food! lol.....some simple snacks and pizza and wings is all you need!

Enjoy!