We celebrated the big boy’s first birthday this past weekend with a Big Boy themed party, paying homage to a Michigan legend, Big Boy restaurant.
A simple burger/fry/mini malt menu fed our crew, and a trail of favorite photos fed our memories.
I’ve always loved planning parties–especially ones for my kids, but I’m loving more the challenge of combining meaningful details with simplicity to create an intimate celebration.
I found Dash’s adorable checkered pants on Etsy to complete his Big Boy look (minus the hamburger tray). He thought a little bruiser on his forehead would go nicely with his outfit, so he arranged a date with the tile floor the day before his party.
More party bits:
I found these cute party favors at the dollar store last week–joke condiment bottles.
Everyone fell for it and dodged the fake mustard string.
Brett’s dad took the cake smashing photos–an event that started with timid little frosting swipes and ended with full blown cake slapping, a bath and a pre-bed sugar buzz. I haven’t seen them all yet but he did send me this one this weekend, and I love it.
So thankful for this year, this boy and this weekend of celebrating him.
Love the theme!! Your parties are always so put together!
aww can not beleive he is one already! happy Birthday!
Loved the Big Boy theme. I live in Traverse City and my mom in Flint area. We met half way at Clare and ate at Big Boy with my 4 year old, whom we were exchanging. Even had a famous hot fudge cake to share. Blessing on your beautiful family.
Leighann Sammons
I love the photo trail idea. My “baby” turns 6 on Friday. I think he would love this 🙂
What a cute theme! I can’t believe he’s one already! Time sure does fly by fast. Happy Birthday!
Kelle,
What an awesome and unique party idea! I laughed out loud when I read about his shiner on the forehead–I’ve never had a special occasion photo of my boy (now 6 foot 2 and 17 years old) without one! My favorite was the year he wore a full Scottish kilt ensemble for Christmas (bought by the grandparents on a trip–they’re Scots) with cap and tassled socks and a black eye! I told everyone “don’t call it a skirt.” LOL!
How has it been a year already?!? Happy happy birthday to Big Boy Dash! Adorable party pics & now I really want chocolate cake for breakfast!
xo
Kate
I know moms don’t pick favorite kids cause there’s too much love, but I can pick favorites and Dash here is definitely mine. I love your other kids but for some reason I just adore this little man. He has the most precious face and smile!! I’ve loved him ever since day one. He reminds me of my son.
Adorable theme!!
Bob’s Big Boy!!! Great resturants, and what a cute theme for a birthday party! Hard to believe it’s alerady been a year. 🙂
Just celebrated a one year old here, as well! Love the theme. As a former Michigander, I remember those checks well!
Sweet, sweet Dashel. What an awesome party and to find those joke bottles at the dollar store?! TOTAL score. I just love it when things come together like that. happy Birthday Dash!
Oh, I am so jealous of those checked pants! Got a big boy party coming up soon so I best be on the lookout for a pair.
Happy birthday, Dash. What a handsome big boy.
You always have the cutest parties for your kids. Love it ~ and Dash’s pants…. too cute!!
Happy Birthday Big Boy!!
xo
oh i love those little malt cups! i will have to google those! now, you KNOW i want to see ivy’s dress up close 🙂 🙂 🙂 betcha don’t get that comment a lot! lol!
happy day dash.
Happy birthday, big boy!! Love you all.
You and your family are so beautiful! Happy Birthday to your little guy!
Oh my, one year already!?! He is so adorable. Happy birthday, Dash!
OMG Kelle, what a great party theme! You just have this…knack! I’m totally jealous.
Happy First Birthday Dash! And many, many more of course! 🙂
Kelle….
That’s right!! February 14th was Dash’s first birthday!! I completely forgot!! Curse my premature short-term memory loss!! ;-}
“A simple burger/fry/mini malt menu fed our crew, and a trail of favorite photos fed our memories.”. I love that!! 😉
“He thought a little bruiser on his forehead would go nicely with his outfit, so he arranged a date with the tile floor the day before his party.”. Crack. Me. Up!! ;-D
“I found these cute party favors at the dollar store last week–joke condiment bottles. Everyone fell for it and dodged the fake mustard string.”. Love!! 😉
Happy, happy, happy birthday, Dash!! Here’s to many, many, many more!! ;-D
–Raelyn
Love this idea! I grew up with a Big Boy Restaurant. The restaurant that replaced Big Boy actually purchased the “mascot” and actually displayed it outside of the restaurant until he was kidnapped. Now returned, he’s back on display. I’ll have to send a picture.
Love your theme and the way you carried it off with clarity, cuteness and simplicity. Beautiful job! Happy birthday to your adorable boy!!
First birthdays…..so special and don’t they come around so fast! I’m glad you all had a great time x
The one pic of the pregnant lady looked just like you. I thought you were trying to let us know something in a sneaky way:) But then there was a shot of you in a different outfit right below. What a fun party! Happy Birthday Dash!
God bless this cute little boy, that we also love so much!!
Time really flies!!
Great party! My second child Margot had her 1st birthday party this weekend as well. I got pretty choked up
during the happy birthday song. As usual ;-)Happy Birthday to your beautiful boy!
Wow, just wow!! I love everything about your parties. I love how special you make your guests feel, how special you make your kids feel. There’s no doubt that when I’m a mom I’ll aspire to be just like you 😉
Big Boy note, I’ve always loved those restaurants!! My grandpa brought back a Big Boy figurine once when he was on a trip and I’ve been infatuated ever since. This was such a trip down memory lane. Thank you for letting us share in Dash’s special day, Kelle!
I love that you did a Big Boy birthday party – that is hilarious and amazing, plus it was so beautifully executed. I really want a chocolate malt now. (:
your parties are always the best! in a Pinterest-overwhelmed world its so cool to see something genuinely unique, simple, and oh so special!
Happy birthday to Dash! How can he be one already? I said the same thing about my oldest who turned 25 on Saturday. How could she? I was that age when I had her. I know everyone says it, but time really does fly by.
Happy Birthday Dash! Have lots of fun being a big 1 year old boy! I love Dash’s outfit, so cute. He looks so much like you Kelle.
Great party theme idea! xo
I’ve been waiting for this post! Happy Birthday Dash! I can’t believe a whole year has gone by already. Love watching your mama experience having a son. 🙂 I’m getting to do it too with a son just months behind you. He makes me smile. Love you!
I can’t help but notice Dash’s first birthday party is nothing like your daughter’s. Third child perhaps? Or is it because Dash is a boy? Not one pic of you and him together, or of the family. No paragraph after paragraph of your hopes and dreams for him, just that you “celebrated him” 🙁
kelle it’s ridiculous how cute he is. i cannot believe a year’s already gone by! happy birthday, dash! xoxo
My 2nd child had much smaller parties than her big sister. It’s not for lack of effort on my part, it’s just that people don’t make the same effort to be there for them. It looks like she put the effort in but not that many people came. At first I was sad for my little girl but afterward I realized that the people who really truly loved her were still there and that’s what mattered.
What a great idea!! All the pictures look great; seems like everyone enjoyed themselves! Happy birthday to the little man 🙂
Cute party theme! Happy birthday, Dash!
What a beautiful party,my baby will turn 1 in april and i’m planning to do a vintage toys party.Love the colors,you always inspire me.
What an adorable theme! Glad it was so much fun ~ Happy 1st Birthday to little Dash! We were in Naples last week. OMG…You are so lucky to live there! What a beautiful city. Six more inches of Michigan snow tonight – Ugh!
Absolutely adorable. Happy birthday Dash!! He just seems like such a sweet, sweet little guy. Reminds me of my son. 🙂
He is ADORABLE!! The two pictures by the garage door…absolutely adorable! Happy Birthday little guy!
Happy Birthday, Big Boy! 🙂 I can’t believe he’s already 1! xo from Michigan 🙂
Happy Birthday Little Man!
Hope you were able to get some generational pictures with Brett, his Dad and Dash. Family is the good stuff.
Master party planner… And could he be any cuter!! Loved this so much. Our town had that BIG boy.. Good times;)
Hi Kelle,
I was super excited to see your post this morning. This weekend we are having our little guy’s first birthday party. Guess what! We are having a cheeseburger birthday! We have the same cheeseburger piggy bank. Ours is more of a bbq theme with plates, etc., that I picked up at the end of last summer on clearance.
We have family coming in from MI (I’m a Michigander, too. Actually I grew up in Jonesville. My college boyfriend went to Spring Arbor College about the same time you did. I spent a lot of time there! Very small world.)
I’ve meant to comment on about a million of your posts, but today seemed like the day. Happy birthday to our little men. Aren’t they the best?!
Love, Kristin
Happy 1st Birthday 🙂 He is the cutest ever !
Happy Birthday to cute baby, very beautiful pictures.
social network plan
you sure know how to throw a party! how quickly the first year goes!!!
xo
Delia
dressesanddirt.blogspot.com
Happy Birthday Dash!
You have grown so fast and are one handsome “BIG BOY”, and Kelle Happy Birth Day to you also, what an awesome Mother you are and Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely darling! Will have to remember that idea for a new grandbaby! Dash couldn’t be cuter!
Just cannot handle how cute your parties are, always. Inspiring! Happy birthday to sweet Dash — can’t believe he’s really one.
Love the party theme! You did a great job!
Oh, Kelle! I so love him. I really do.
Happy 1st year to all 🙂
Here in the South, Big Boy was the mascot for Shoney’s, and I.Loved.Him when I was a toddler. To this day, I still (somewhere) have a Big Boy piggy bank. Such a cute party, and Happy 1st Birthday to Dash! (That year went by in a hurry, didn’t it??)
Adorable party idea!!! Love the big boy theme. Happy birthday to your little man!
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Kelly! I read your book last summer and it was the most inspiring read I think I have read thus far. I am in my early 20’s just out of college. No kids yet. But I found your book so relatable to even just everyday life. The way you write has a way of inspiring me in just my everyday life. I had a family friend who recently had a baby girl who was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome unexpectedly. They too were caught so off guard when their world was thrown for an unexpected loop. I automatically thought of you when I heard their story and how your sister had talked about how you would have a secret. The secret of knowing what life is really about and what true happiness looks like. I plan to give your book to this new mom when the time is right because I think the way you chronicle this roller coaster of life is wonderful. So thank you for being an inspiration to me as I continue to learn and grow through this beautiful life. Thank you.
Any chance you’d share the etsy seller you got the pants for your son from?
Thanks! Amanda