YO HO HO AND A BUCKET FULL OF FUN!

Jens turned the big ONE today!  A year ago today he was born at 5:44pm and weighed in at a whopping 9.5lbs and 21inches long and now my baby isn't  a baby anymore :(.  He is our ever smiling, sweet, bashful, sensitive little man always curious and very attentive of his surroundings.  Here are his favorites:

Food: EVERYTHING it'd be easier to put his dislikes- uncooked tomatoes and avacados

Activity: Walking and playing with any form of water

Book: Pat the Bunny

Other loves: balls, balloons, bubbles, cars

Current phrases: Mami, Daddy, So (sophie), Weee!, Ba (this is for ball, bottle, and bubbles), No

We've had a wonderful first year with him in our family and looking forward to watching him grow for many more years!  We love you Bubbs!

Last Saturday we threw him an early birthday party and the theme was Pirates, thanks for everyone that was able to come and celebrate with us and those that weren't, we know you were with us in thought.

The invite made by my FABULOUS sister-in-law according to my specifications:

The Cake made with marshmallow fondant and normal frosting

Cake Pops- the Beached Buccaneers

 Getting Dressed for the Party

 The Decor and Food,  Menu consisted of Landlubber Patties (hamburgers), Dead Man Fingers (Hot Dogs), Crocodile Blood (watermelon drink) and Spring Water, Tropical Mango Salad, Seaweed Spread (Spinach Artichoke Dip), Sword Skewers (toothpicks w/cheese), cannon balls (melon balls), and Golden Treasure Quinoa.

 Kid's table

 Made the pirate flag with Sophie and Jens.

 I made the sign below for when the guests arrived they had to get their treat bag: "Avast Ye Mateys! Before we start the party each wee pirate be needing a loot bag.  Keep it safe for it will hold all ye booty savvy? Inside ye will find a eyepatch, spy glass, and horn, everything a pirate be needing for a successful treasure hunt."

Games- we played Musical Islands (like musical chairs) the pictures below were all pirate themed and were laminated then black duct taped onto craft foam.  I also made a "pirate themed" playlist on my ipod for the game and background ambiance during the party.

 Jens cheering for the other kids after he got out, what a good host. :)

Walk the plank

 Watch out for the crocodiles!

 After you made it across the plank there was treasure waiting for the survivors to pick up consisting of party beads and gold coins.

 Pop the Cannon Ball- we filled up black balloons with water and each kid had to try and pop one in order to get their next prize, candy necklaces.  Sophie REALLY liked this one and took it upon herself to get the "cannons" for the guests even if it meant her getting a little wet.

The last game was Picture Treasure Hunt- I had taken pictures of things around our yard for this game and gave the kids the starting picture then they had to go as a group to find the next picture, that would lead to the next spot.  The final picture lead to our peach tree that had this waiting for them, we filled the pinata too full that it was too bottom heavy to hang so Cory ended up holding it but it still worked great!

 Finding the first clue

 after this clue it went to Sophie's playhouse and then to our hammock then to a few of our trees and porch swing on the front yard, looped to our driveway and then back to the backyard.

Guests:

Cake Time:

 Getting a little help from daddy, Sophie, and Mamama to blow out the candle

 Amazingly he was very dainty at first eating his cake

 Then he dug in

 And shared with Daddy

 Tried to share with Mami but mami didn't want a messy face

 We love you Mr. Jens- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR WONDERFUL BOY!