Amelia's 1st friend party

Yesterday was Amelia's first birthday party where she could invite friends over to celebrate with her.
2 hours + 8 five year olds = one tired mama! I think 4 kids would have been better, but Amelia had fun so that's what's important! We had a few activities planned, and still had 45 minutes left over! I guess the activities didn't last as long as I'd hoped. I had visions of smoothly flowing from one event to the next seamlessly, ending perfectly on time with parents swooping in to bring their child home. Not quite the case. (Although ALL the parents arrived right on time to pick up their kids, which was wonderful!)

Here is a sampling of a couple of the party activities. They played musical dress-up game:

 

 

 

 Opened gifts. Here is Amelia and Alex:

 Amelia and Grace:

 Amelia and Sophia:

 Amelia and Lola:

 Amelia and (her boyfriend!?!) Ian:

 Amelia and Avery:

 Amelia and Noah:

 The entire group:

 Pinning the pirate chest to the treasure map:

And the kids decorated their own cupcakes, which served three parts: It was the cake, it was a craft, and it was a parting gift since they decorated two, ate one and brought one home in a cupcake box. I love economizing! Each kid also received a lovely parting gift from the dollar store: a rubber snake for the boys, and a paint your own piggy bank kit for the girls. All in all, Amelia loved her first friend party! We are gearing up for the family party next week on May 6, then Mira gets her shot at a friend party in early June. Throw my and Chris's 11th anniversary in on Saturday and it's a busy month!