1st Birthday Celebration

We decided that the girls would get two birthday celebrations each year because being born the day after Christmas messes up birthday events just a bit.  Here are some things we took in to consideration when making this decision:

1. No one wants to buy more presents or go to a party the day after Christmas
2. They'll never get to celebrate at school/bring in a treat
3. Inviting school friends to a birthday party during Christmas break might not be that easy

As an elementary teacher, I know the excitement of having your birthday celebrated at school.  I also know how much I looked forward to my birthday and Christmas as a child.  Having them back-to-back probably isn't ideal.  Lots of families travel around the holidays, so getting a group of school-friends over for a party could be difficult.  Luckily, our girls have an extra day to celebrate.  Being released from the hospital was quite the accomplishment so why not use that day to celebrate their birthday with extended family and friends?  Of course, we will still celebrate as a family of four on their actual birth date, but it seems to make sense that they get two different celebrations.  They are twins, after all.

The 1st birthday is a pretty big deal, so you can bet I've been planning their party for some time.  I was perusing Pinterest one day and came across a rainbow themed occasion.  I knew immediately that this was the theme for us.  If you ask me, there is no better way to celebrate their release from Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital than with a rainbow party.  We are thankful to each of our guests for bringing a piece of fruit to be added to a basket that was sent to the NICU staff as a token of our appreciation for all that they did for our family.

I've been crafting, baking, sewing, shopping, planning this event for a couple of months.  Here is how it turned out:

Sign on our front door

Rainbow walkway. The wind destroyed this :(

Rainbow Room #1

Centerpieces

Rainbow Room #2

More Rainbows

Rainbow cake and dessert

Rainbow ice cream cups (Scoop into cupcake liners and freeze ahead of time...Pinterest is amazing)

Rainbow Food

Fruit Kabobs

Rainbow Veggies (couldn't figure out blue)

Another Pinterest idea

Rainbow outfits (never got a good picture, but this will have to do)

We had a great time celebrating with family and friends.  Here are a few memorable moments:

Family

Friends

Ava digging in to her cake

Mia covered in cake

Uncle Phil and Mia

Funniest present came from Ava's Godparents.  Her onesie says, "I have the best Godparents".  Her sister's onesie says, "She has the best Godparents".  Phil and Emily vs David and Mary continues...good thing we think they are equally great. 

 Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey over the last 14 months.  We truly appreciate all you do for us.