My sister Alesia and her boyfriend Caleb,needed to look at apartments near here the day before Raemi's party (because they'll be moving here in the Fall for school YAY YAY YAY, I'm sooo thrilled!!!!) and stayed the night with us. They helped get everything ready for the party, which made it so much easier and more fun, too! I've decided that I've decided we should start a tradition of them helping set up every year, though I haven't told them that yet, lol! It was a swim party, but we opened gifts and everything in out apartment, so we decorated it all with an "under the sea" theme! We had really fun (and yum) blue punch that Mike made...and I'd frozen some of Raemi's floating sea toys in an ice ring that we put in it, and we added ice cream that looked like sea foam, it was perfect! And then we served various flavors of goldfish crackers...which was also great because it was something Raemi could eat. And blue and green jello jigglers which Mike and Caleb cut into really cool sea creature shapes! Here's a pic!

Alesia and Caleb (and Mike some too)  hung tons of streamers and fish cutouts in out entryway, and streamers creating a curtain around our kitchen, and to be curtains on our windows and across walls in the living room. it looks soo awesome! I never want to take it down! Here's a pic of Alesia and Caleb with Raemi in front of the entryway.

 

We also set up a backdrop on the stand that I borrowed from a friend, and took pics in front of it! Here's a pic of the GORGEOUS rocking horse my dad made Raemi in front of the backdrop!

 

And a pic of Mike holding the octopus beach ball we got!

 

Oh, and since I'm sure you noticed his beautiful hat, I should note that everyone made their own party hats! Here's a pic of the fun!

 

I also had everyone try to put in order the monthly pics of Raemi with Pooh Bear (which you can see under the "timeline" category at kelleykiddo).  My mom guessed closest with 8 out of 13 correct...some people only got 2 right...they're HARD! I went over after we announced the winner to put them in correct order and had a few switched, and had to look at the master list to get it right!

Here's a pic of my dad and Alesia making their guesses.

 

I also asked everyone to write a note to Raemi for me to put in the digital scrapbook I'm going to make of Raemi's 1st Birthday. Most everyone did, and it's going to be so sweet for Raemi to be able to read them when she gets older!!!

 

Raemi had a great time opening her presents. In fact she had been fussy before then, but opening gifts made her completely happy and she had fun the rest of her party. After gifts we went to the pool and swam while my dad grilled hot dogs for everyone!

Here's a few pics of pool fun!

 

And then we had cupcakes! Raemi really enjoyed hers, but you can see pics of that at kelleykiddo, so I won't re-post them here.

It was such a wonderful first Birthday! And it wore her out, too...lol. She just took a 3 1/2 hour nap!!! And now she and Mike are the other room playing with her really awesome laugh and learn piano, and I'm going to go join them!