the birthday dilemma

Mom and Aunt Kris showing off their party planning results.

Sloane's first birthday is just over a month away. What to do, what to do? We went over the top for Tagg's first birthday...I blame Mom and Aunt Kris. They are way better party hostesses than me. We had balloons, a fish theme, a handmade fruit centerpiece, oodles of presents. matching tablecloths, napkins and plates with a fancy ribbon wrap on the drink glasses, delicious food up the wazzoo. Oh, and a blow-up waterslide.

And let's not even start with the presents. I found a cool playset at Costco, the last one, pre-assembled, so I bought the thing for like 1500 bucks and made Scott come down and pick it up. It was awesome, over the top, and Tagg wouldn't really enjoy for another year, but who cares! You should have seen us driving this sucker home...we both ducked under every street light, just in case. It was bigger than the duelie!

Know how to get a huge pre-assembled playset off a truck, over a 6-foot fence and into your yard? Mormons. Our neighbor and his guys were so awesome (or they just wanted out of church) - about 10 of them came over on Sunday in their suits and ties (it's July, mind you, and about a hundred degrees) and they hucked that thing over the fence and had it in place in about 5 minutes. Awesome! It was like a Mormon barn raising but with a playyard. That's the kind of stuff makes you want to join the church.

For the cake, we got a huge sheet cake for one party (Oh, did I mention we had not one but TWO parties? One for the fam and one for the friends when Tami and her little boy who is about Tagg's age were in town) and a mini Nothing Bundt Cake for Tagg to destroy during his first indoctrination into the lovely, delectable, undeniable world of artificially good sweets. Serious business.

So now I think we need to do something similar for Sloane because second kids always kind of get screwed on that stuff, right. Your parents went nuts, rented Disneyland, and bought you a Ferrari for your first birthday so your little brother got a stale cupcake with a used candle. Yeah, we can't go there. I mean sure, she's only one and she'll never know but I will.  Plus, I think as the oldest kid in my family I have a little guilt about my sibs' suckier birthday parties. So it's on...

I've got her first birthday photos set. Just need to decide what she's going to wear and what the "props" are - big cake? huge lollipop? giant balloon? why are all of my options oversized? Freud? Anyone? Whatever...Our photographer, Jodi, is amazing so I'm not worried about that. She'll make it awesome!

Any ideas on a birthday theme for walking, climbing, adventurous, full-tooth-grill, absolutely brilliant, adorable one-year-old girl? Maybe something monkey, jungle-y...? Mom, Aunt Kris...HELLLPPP!!!