As is always the case with babies… time flew far too quickly and Mr. Rockwell recently turned one. Aimée shared a fun rocket worksheet last week that hinted at the party theme we chose, and you might remember the teacher appreciation door I whipped together two days after Rockwell’s party? Well today I’m excited to share all the party pictures.
We often call Rockwell, “Rocket” or “Rocket Man.” I really wish you could see the looks on people’s face when Modette introduces her little brother as, “Rocket Man.” She does this EVERY time someone asks her his name. She says it very seriously with a completely straight face. Their reaction is always a very bewildered, “What?” at which time she repeats a little slower, “Rocket Man.” Then the person always looks at me wondering if I really did name my child Rocket Man. Sometimes I explain; sometimes I don’t.
Obviously I didn’t have to think very hard to decide that a space themed birthday party was in order for Rocket Man’s first birthday. Let’s start with my favorite part — the Rocket Ship High Chair that was made by covering our favorite high chair with tin foil. I cut fringe from orange tissue paper to wrap around the high chair’s tray and covered a pointy party hat with more foil for the birthday boy to wear. We hung this star background behind it all.
HOW TO MAKE A MOON CAKE: This easy moon birthday cake takes very little decorating skill. I first baked the cake in a metal mixing bowl then inverted it onto a cooling rack. I covered the cooled cake in white frosting. Then I went back over with more white and some light gray frosting, using a butter knife, spoon, and glass cups in various sizes to dollop and add swirls and craters.
Since the tradition in our family is to give the birthday baby the cake whole, I prepared cupcakes for the rest of us to enjoy. Superdad drew this little rocket to go on Rockwell’s baby announcements, and I thought it would be fun to re-purpose it as cupcake toppers on his first birthday. Download the pack of free printables including cupcake toppers.
I think the 3…2…1 of a rocket countdown is perfect for a first birthday. I’ve included this Rocket poster (without Rockwell’s name, of course) in our free printables pack.
Also inspired by his baby announcement, I had originally planned to track down blue butcher paper and draw chalk stars all over it to create our backdrop. When I ran out of time I remembered this darling star background from my friend Melanie at Caravan Shoppe, and it worked out perfectly.
Actually the star pattern came in handy to make all sorts of decor. I printed out the large format engineering print (measuring 36×48 inches) to be the backdrop, but then I printed a bunch of copies of the same pattern on an 8.5×11 to make a bunting for my fireplace, to wrap water bottles and even to line the caked stands. The green felt garland is a leftover from the Dinosaur Party thanks to Land of Nod.
To make things more space-y, I used lots of foil to cover several serving pieces and party hats. I ordered a bunch of metal slinkys, which I hung from a light fixture and also let the kids play with.
Our family loves Shaved Ice so we offered aptly named MeteorIce to our party guests. Also since some day we might own a shave ice shack somewhere, I’m totally calling dibs on the name MeteorIce — I’d paint the whole thing inside and out to look like space. Wouldn’t that be fun?
Last but not least was the fortune-telling game that we’ve taken to playing at our kid’s first birthday parties. It is inspired by Korean tradition, and we played it at Modette’s first birthday too.
TO PLAY: Gather five or six objects that represent careers or at Modette’s party we used objects to represent places she’d go because that matched the theme better. During the party have guests write down on a chalkboard (or on slips of paper collected in jars) what career they think baby will choose. Then set out all the objects an equal distance from baby, and let him or her go. They will of course crawl towards all the fun looking objects, and the first one he or she picks to play with reveals the future, or not. Regardless it is a great activity for a first birthday, where a crowd of all ages yields a challenge for most party games this activity has been fun for all.
After thinking long and hard about choosing the keyboard (representing a programmer, which was Mom’s choice), Mr. Rockwell grabbed the gavel and held it high in the air. Looks like he’ll be an attorney just like Superdad.
Download the Rocket Man Party Free Printable Pack
Bettijo Bridges
Administrator at Paging Supermom
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I am copying this. Your son is so cute!
I love it, especially the game. What a great idea. I’m sharing this on FB since it’s so cute.