The Big John Deere Party!

We had a wonderful little party for the birthday boy today!

The Menu:

• Ham, Turkey, & Roast Beef sandwiches from Subway with all the trimmings


• Veggie tray


• Fruit tray with carmel fruit dip (I made it...recipe from the Laurie's Too cookbook)


• Artichoke dip (also from the Laurie's Too cookbook) with crackers


• Lemon Squares (a recipe from one of our CBS kitchen ladies...will put the recipe on the blog sometime in case anyone wants to make them!)


• Dainty cucumber sandwiches (made by Grandma D)


• Chocolate covered pretzels (brought by Grandma D and Grandpa A)


• Ghiradelli chocolate squares


• And the best chocolate cake EVER with a real John Deere tractor on top, "dirt" (crushed oreos) and corn stalks (made of green tie dyed fruit roll ups) made by the wonderful Julie Marshall!!!! THANK YOU, JULIE!!! It was beautiful AND delicious!! :) And it was a great idea to have a real tractor on top - he will enjoy that in the years to come! :)


• Our beverages were Coke, Diet Coke, DP, Diet DP, Sprite, and bottled water

The Guests:

• Grandma & Grandpa


• Amanda & Dave


• Mary Anna


• Alyssa & Josh


• Granny & Pa


• Kellie, Logan, Caden, & Kayla


• Julie, Gray, and Tess


• Barry, Mickie, Lindsey, & Shelby


• (We were missing Auntie Vicki & Auntie Liesel because they are sick!! Also missing were Auntie Alicia, Uncle Robert, and Cousin James since James is also sick! Mel & Riss couldn't make it because of scheduling! Missed you guys!!)

The Decorations:

• Handmade banners made by me with my Cricut..."Happy 1st Birthday Luke" (for the dining room) and "Welcome" (for the door)
• Green & yellow balloons and a tractor balloon that said "Happy Birthday"
• John Deere streamers

The Agenda:

• Ate the foods listed above


• Watched "The Story of Luke" over and over - made by Auntie Vicki. It is Luke's whole first year in pictures! Makes me cry every time I watch it!! THANK YOU, VICKI!!! I know that was a whole lot of work and a whole lot of time and I REALLY appreciate it. I really wanted to do it but ran out of time! Everyone loved it!! Thanks again!! :)


• Chatted and caught up


• Watched Luke open his presents - he got a vast array of wonderful gifts! He is becoming an old pro at opening gifts! He rips the paper off the boxes pretty fast!


• Watched Luke eat his first birthday cake ever - he loved it just as we thought he would! He took a big chunk of it in his hand and chowed down. Then he got really upset when we tried to clean off his hands because he was still working on the chocolate icing. He would wipe down his high chair with his fingers to get everything he could off of it!!


• Watched Luke ride the John Deere tractor that Granny and Pa brought over - he rode around on it like a big boy (though his legs aren't long enough to reach the pedals yet!). Daddy pushed him around.


• Watched Luke as he was introduced to bubbles! He liked them a lot! :)

Many thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with us!! I know Luke had a good time and enjoyed getting to see everyone!! :)

Vicki, Liesel, Alicia, Robert, James, Mel & Riss - we really missed you guys!!!