Baseball Bash Bonanza

Okay, I confess...I'm sick...my illness...a mixture of OCD and perfectionism.  But the result of said illness are some killer birthday parties for my little man, stock full of minute details and a great theme.  This year it was a baseball theme.  I admit, in the past four years I have usually "picked" the theme, for obvious reasons.  This year and last I did actually ask his opinion, albeit swayed him a tiny bit one way or another because of some creative ideas that might have been floating around in my brain.  I also admit that I had planned to "tone it down" this year.  Insert hubby's eye rolling here.  We were going to have less people (yeah right), less food (come on now) and I would focus mostly on the kids who attended (I swear I meant to do this one!).  Most of those changes didn't happen...we had about 40 people, and will be eating hot dogs and brats for the rest of our lives...but...I think it was quite a successful party.  Now, as I type at this present moment, I have vowed that next year I will not throw him a party at home...I will be smarter, and PAY SOMEONE ELSE to entertain and feed them.  But that is now...who knows what will happen come April or May of next year when I'm off planning again.  Ty has gotten four great parties thus far, and we do have another little angel who will also get four years of parties, so my job is not done...not even a bit.  I have to admit I even have a theme in mind for her 1st birthday (yes I'm sick!!!), since we call her "buggie" I was thinking ladybugs?!?   However, as of now...after a fish party, truck party, diego & baseball theme...I'm done throwing large, themed boy parties.  I hope our little man had a great time!  Here are some highlights:

Baseball Decor

The goodie bags with an example blow-up bat.  Do you think I'd give those kids blow-up bats AT the party...ummmm...no!  The goodie bags had the bat, baseball tattoos, big-league chew and a star-shaped curly straw.

 Table decor - peanuts, popcorn, sunflower seeds & cracker jacks

 My handmade banners

 more table decorations, I decorated with green tablecloths & made a diamond out of athletic tape

 baseball napkins & red, white & blue utensils

 I named every food with a baseball term

 Our "concessions" (more handmade banners, diamonds, baseball termed food...and Granddad at the grill serving up homerun hotdogs, bunt brats & triple-play turkey dogs :))

 Games.  I bought a big blow-up catcher so they could throw balls into the net

 homerun derby

 The best $$ I ever spent...the sports-themed bouncehouse!  It was a hit, even the adults loved it!

 Even the little guys enjoyed some baseball games

 Ty, his friends & his double-layered cookie cake (yum!)

 Make a wish

 candy-filled baseball pinata

 a candy free-for-all

 present opening...he is such a spoiled and loved little guy

 Derrick Rose bulls shirt from Grams & Granddad