Ok, coming up to Sam's first birthday, DH and I have finally decided that we'll celebrate the occasion with a back yard BBQ. The idea occurred to me when I looked out on the freshly mown lawn that DH was watering and noticed that he'd tidied up around the herb pots and the BBQ and things looked pretty decent.

It's December 19th, so we're lucky enough to be able to have his party on his actual birthday, and we figure that if we go for around 5ish, when our back yard is in shade, things will be cool enough and we can make it an early dinner and everyone will pack themselves off pretty early. Birthday boy disappearing for a bath around 7:30-8pm should call things to a natural halt, I think.

Now, what things do I need to consider? I figure if we go for sausages, breadrolls and salads things should be fairly inexpensive. Paper plates and plastic cutlery to save cleaning up and we'll just need to ask people to bring picnic blankets or chairs as we don't have that many.

What am I forgetting? Is it really necessary to do kids party games for a first birthday party? Are lolly bags an absolute must? I have NO idea what to do for a birthday cake... are fancy, fondant-covered masterpieces really necessary? Speaking of, I need to create another birthday cake for Sam for mothers group as well... AAARRGGGGHHHHHHH!!!

Please, put me out of my misery and stop this headless chicken running around in circles... I've been to the grand total of ONE first birthday party in recent memory - I've avoided those of my friends' children as I just couldn't cope with all the infertility dramas and so on...

I want to keep it simple and basic and straightforward and most of all, inexpensive, relaxed and fun... where to from here?

BW