Rainbow First Birthday Party

Madeleine didn't have her own birthday party. Instead, we chose to celebrate her birthday along with her six PEPS friends, all born within six weeks of each other. Because I was really anxious (in a good way) to craft up a storm, George and I hosted the festivities. 

When we were doing initial planning, one of the clever moms (that's you, Erin!) noticed that there were seven babies and seven colors in ROYGBIV. Thus, the theme was born. In the interest of full disclosure, we substituted pink between red and orange and got rid of indigo (too close to violet). Each "baby" was assigned a color according to birth order, with red being the oldest.

{There are some cute kiddo photos at the bottom of this post, but I'm going to make you wade through the decorations first. You're welcome.}

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Inspired by Misha

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Here are the seven, in reverse age order, last October.

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

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Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

So, yeah, the party was rainbow themed, using as many balloons and buntings as possible. If you ask me, it doesn't get more festive.

{Pssst - Want to know how to make your own bunting? Check out my tutorial.}

About a minute after ROYGBIV was suggested as a theme, another clever mom (that's you, Kelly!) suggested that each kid have a cake of their assigned color for a group cake smash. During said cake smash, the kiddos would have their assigned color of balloon waving behind them.

With just balloons, we had five happy boys and two grumpy girls:

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

I can't speak for the others, but I seriously doubted our ability to pull off this feat, especially after the meltdown that resulted from the babies being dressed in their matching shirts and set down with their balloons. (Oh yeah, this was after six of the seven babies had been through a family portrait session on this reeeeeeeally hot day, too.)

You know what? I was completely wrong! Are these the cutest, happiest babies or what?!

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Madeleine was super into her banana cake with lemon blueberry cream cheese frosting. 

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

The kiddos ate and played in their cakes for quite a while. From there, we moved them toward the water table and hose before wrapping up the celebration with some more play and lounging. It was a fun, fun day despite the heat and a few being ill and jet lagged.

It was an honor to get to host the party, and it is even more of an honor to get to share so much of the parenting journey with our PEPS family. A year ago, I was just getting an email about our group forming in late July. Now, they're an integral part of our local network. (If you're in King County and having a baby...or already have a baby and need a support network, hook up with PEPS.)

Photo Credit: Evantide Photography

Special shout out to Aaron and Meg (of Evantide Photography) for capturing the memories of such a momentous occasion. You guys are the best!