We threw Luki a birthday party on Saturday. It’s the first time I’ve ever organized a shindig that entailed more than chips and dip, a few pieces of meat on the grill, and an Evite suggesting that guests bring their own beer.

And guess what? It was really fun! Both, the partying and the organizing. Yes, that’s right, I just said that I had fun PLANNING SOMETHING! Seriously you guys, sometimes, I don’t even recognize this new self.

Anyway. Let me show you what I did. Actually, I need to clarify that… let me show you what I did with the help of a bunch of incredible friends and relatives:

The theme for the celebration was Music/The Caribbean/Luki’s Favorite Silly Face/An Explosion of Bright Colors.

Here is the invitation.

It was designed by our friend Juan Miguel Marin. Juan is also responsible for that lovely banner at the top of this blog, and these rockin’ prints in Luki’s room, and well, he also did our wedding invitation, and our baby shower invitation, and basically, he’s our Family’s Personal Graphic Designer, FPGD for short. If your family doesn’t have one, I highly recommend it. Actually, I highly recommend him.

Juan also helped us with the party favors. We gave each child in attendance a tambourine and a mixed CD with some of Luki’s (and our) favorite songs. Our FPGD designed the art on the tambourine and the CD. (For the tambourines, we printed the design onto clear labels and just stuck it on)

The party was held at a shelter in a public park. I had the fantastic idea of hanging bright paper lanterns from the ceiling. I’m full of fantastic ideas, creative concepts, wonderful visions… it’s the executing part that gets me every time. Thankfully, my brother, his engineering degree from Georgia Tech, and his handy friend Isaac were able to make it happen. Lovely, isn’t it?

That bunting in the background? I made it almost entirely by myself. I cut out the triangles, AND the letters, AND glued them together — but then I had to get a friend to help me sew the ribbon on top. You see, I took Home Economics in the eighth grade and on the day the teacher taught us how to sew on a button, I spent the ENTIRE class period trying to put the thread through the needle. The bell rang, and I still hadn’t made it past the first step. I am not crafty. I am not crafty at all. And making 75% of that bunting is seriously one of my greatest accomplishments.

(It’s in Spanish. It means Congratulations Luki)

The cake was made by our friend Aivel and her mom. It tasted even better than it looked. They need to open up their own bakery. And also, Luki needs to marry Aivel’s daughter, that way, as a relative in law, I can have unlimited access to all the pretty cakes I want.

But the best looking part of the party was BY FAR this stylish fella.

Don’t you agree?