On Cloud ONE

It’s the natural progression of life. As each minute tick-tocks by and each calendar page turns, the moment grows closer. I think it always means so much more to a mama, at least in the early years and especially for the big ONE…. this day we celebrate birth, and life and the changing of all of our lives, together. For a sentimental heart, it means a time to celebrate that heart stretching to envelope a whole other life, with all the joy and pain that stretching can bring. After just twelve months of life, I have no idea if he understood what this day entailed or the reason behind any of our celebrations, but one thing I do know, he enjoyed his day. And we certainly enjoyed him. 

For awhile I knew the smash cake and party for our sweet Skye was going to be all about the big blue, fluffy skies above us… and so it was set, a sky party, full of shades of cerulean and clouds of white fluff. And then life happened, life with three kids, and trips away and friends in town when we were home, life with doctor visits and sick little ones, life with school and end-of-year parties… and this sky party? Well it never did get planned. That is until a week before his big day. Friends asked me what I was doing, and I would just answer with a quiet, “I don’t know yet.” With seven days before the day we were to celebrate him, my husband rallied behind me knowing that as crazy as it might be to throw a party for a first year birthday… it is something I love to do. And after realizing that it was pretty much too late to order party supplies or a cake from our favorite bakery, we had a week of sky party DIY in front of us… which worked out well and super economical for us.

So, a DIY party we did! With a text to friends asking if anyone knew someone with a cotton candy machine, which was secured within hours, the rest of our Skylar’s little sky party followed. From our DIY mini cloud piñatas, to the confetti popcorn and popcorn boxes we printed, folded and glued (free download of that for your here!), to the clouds of white cotton holding up cotton candy for all the kiddies to the clouds hanging in the tree for his smash cake photos… and the smash cake itself, it was all done in just a few days and with lots of scissors and glue (in front of the Lifetime movie channel of course). I’m not the only one with the weird craft night + Lifetime movie combination obsession, right?

It was a beautifully special day, to celebrate one very special year of life for the sweet little boy that’s added a whole new dimension of life and love to our family. With Skylar, the sky is the limit, cliched, yes… but oh so true.

We held the party at a nearby park, because for one, that meant that I didn’t have to clean my house. Both before the party and also after it. And two? Built in children’s activities! We were short on time, so I couldn’t see some of my ideas come to life like a create-an-airplane-out-of-boxes-and-paint activity station, but having a great playground with swings and climbing toys at the party location takes care of any I’m-bored moments.

Besides the playground, we had one sort-of planned activity where we took the theme of “sky” and created a passport so the kids could soar on an adventure through the park on a little scavenger hunt. 

As for the smash cake, we created a cloud filled nook in the shade of a tree and let Skylar go to town on his very own cloud filled cake. And by go to town, I mean he stuck a few toes in it and then he was done. Since he’s such a great eater, lover of food and not afraid of getting dirty, I was sure he would rip into the cake with gusto! The best laid plans, right? He wasn’t feeling it so much that day, and so a little cake-toeing and frosting licking was what was in the cards for us. And that is totally okay by me.

After a bit of cleanup and some major water balloon fights, with cloud white balloons of course, everyone had a great time relaxing together. I couldn’t be more grateful for the sweet friends in our lives that love our children. To love my children is one of the greatest acts of kindness a friend can give, it certainly touches a mother’s heart.

And I couldn’t write about his very special first birthday and leave out photos of the annual (for all of our kids) pancake breakfast!

 Happy first birthday, sweet Skye! You are so loved, to the moon and back.

xo