The Armentrouts: Birthday Party

We celebrated Ellie's 1st birthday and so many friends and family members came to the party. In all, we had 22 adults and 9 children packed into our townhouse.

Here is was the menu for our Asian themed luncheon:

Pork dumplings

Beef curry puffs

Chinese pork ribs

Fried rice

Stir fried asparagus

green salad

Yellow cupcakes with chocolate ganache

Yellow cupcakes with cream cheese and coconut frosting

fruit

Homemade sugar cookies decorated as cherry blossoms and edelweiss (I know, not really Asian)

And mochi ice creams, which I forgot to serve.

I was so blessed to have my college friend Jenny fly in from San Diego on Friday morning. I put her to work from the time she landed, and I couldn't have done it without her. She also did a wonderful job documenting the weekend. I was so busy, I was barely able to pick up my camera.

Here are a couple of thoughts I'd like to share about hosting large birthday parties:

1) Buy lots of plastic forks. I got one of those mega "mixed plastic silverwear" packs and am left with tons of knives and spoons

2) Empty out your recycling before the party

3) Don't forget to plan what you're going to feed the birthday girl.

4) Ask guests with babies to bring their own highchairs

5) Don't forget to serve the mochi ice creams, or they'll be calling your name from the freezer for the next couple of weeks - a totally unnecessary temptation.