After lots of celebrating with our family and friends, we had one final party to celebrate Romy and Piper. I honestly never thought I’d have a big first birthday party for my kids, because as everyone says, “They’ll never remember it.” But it just felt like there was so much to celebrate this year – our nurses and doctors from the NICU who cared for Romy and Piper in their first three months of life, our friends who are family who supported us with dinners and favors and visits, and the fact that Romy and Piper are thriving and growing beyond all of my expectations. So, we threw a party ;).

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

         First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

The Place

Zoomars Petting Zoo

We had the party at Zoomars Petting Zoo and you guys – it’s so magical! I couldn’t believe a place like that existed in Orange County! Zoomars is located in the historic area of San Juan Capistrano, which is so cute in itself if you’ve never been. We had a huge private area reserved for the party, with picnic tables and the cutest ambiance and buildings and backgrounds for photo ops. Pictures don’t really do it justice, but you know I’ll share them anyway ;). Just through the gate from where we had the party is the rest of Zoomars where there are so many activities for kids. There’s a petting zoo with tons of animals you can pet and feed – pigs, sheep, goats, cows, guinea pigs, bunnies, chickens & roosters, llamas, alpacas, and even an emu! There are horses and ponies to ride, a train for the kids to ride, a giant corn box, a place for kids to mine for gems, and a big playground.

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday 

Romy and Piper have been working on their animal sounds – they know what cows, sheep, and pigs say – so I was SO excited to show them real live cows, sheep and pigs!! They LOVED the animals!

All in all, I was really, really happy we picked Zoomars. The staff was incredible – so laid back and easy to work with. Like I said before – I just can’t believe a place like this exists in Orange County! So chill, so affordable, and so much space and activities for the kids! You can find more info here to book parties, or here to just visit the spot for a fun day with your own family/kids.

The Food

Pie Not

Since we scheduled the party in the morning I wanted to serve breakfast foods, and the first thing I thought of having was Pie Not. It’s a spot in Costa Mesa we love that serves Aussie meat pies, and I thought it was perfect for our cowgirl theme ;). So much breakfast food can be sweet and I love savory, so I loooove their savory pies. We had Sag Rolls, Veggie Pies, and Vegan Pastries (Indian spiced chickpeas with potato, carrot, butternut squash & cauliflower).

We also had coffee, waters, juice boxes for the kids, and cold-pressed fruit and veggie pouches for the babies. My mom and I mad a quick breakfast casserole with hash browns, sausage, eggs, and cheese. We had bagels with cream cheese, tons of fruit, and of course desserts.

For the desserts, we stuck with the cowgirl farm theme and did a big cake, little cakes for each girl, pig cake pops, and cowgirl boot sugar cookies.

The Decor

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

The Flower Stand

I’m obsessed with The Flower Stand in Laguna Beach, and have actually ordered from them so much that I now consider the owner a dear friend. She’s an amazing human, only 23 years old and SO talented both creatively and in her business. She picked the most beautiful flowers for the girls and now I’m just staring at them as I write this and wishing I could keep them forever.

Witty Bash

All of the balloons and the paper goods (paper plates, cups, & napkins) came from Witty Bash. I always wonder where people get the cool stuff – the neutral colors we all love instead of the cheesy bright ones. Well, I figured out Witty Bash has it all. Their prices are great and the stuff is so cute.  They also sent the balloons, along with instructions to make our own balloon installation. I was skeptical at first, but my friend Carly and my Dad helped throw it together right before the party and it turned out beautiful! I’ll have to do another post and share how ;). Check Witty Bash out here and here.

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

Jesi Haack Design

My friend Jesi runs an amazing design business. She couldn’t make it to the party, but she sent these macrame pink rope and denim…garlands? She had them in her studio and they fit perfectly (her studio is magic and so is she).

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

The Girls (the Guests of Honor!)

Romy and Piper genuinely had so much fun! They were champs because the party was during their morning nap. They got tired for a minute but then powered through, I was so proud. They were so good with all of the people, got super serious about their cake and cowgirl hats, and LOVED seeing the animals. We played their favorite music (Kacey Musgraves album “Pageant Material” – they’re obsessed). They weren’t quite old enough for the pony rides, but we got to watch our friends do them and will for sure take them back as soon as they are!

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday  First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday   First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

High chairs are the Ovo from Micuna – we love it!!

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday 

Romy

I turned on their favorite song when they started eating their cake, and Romy got so excited she knocked her cake off the highchair! I just scooped half of it back up and she kept eating ;).

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

Piper

Piper’s face the first time she saw a llama was something I will never forget! It was almost like she was imitating the llama!

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthdayFirst Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday  First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

The Party

We had so many good friends come (I wish I had pictures of them all) and then of course some of our favorite people from Hoag and CHOC! My parents even flew in from Seattle. My parents got to meet a lot of our friends and kept commenting to us afterwards what an amazing crew we have down here. We sure know it!

The Outfits

Just in case you wanted to know, I’ll link our outfits below ;).

First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday First Birthday Party Ideas | Cowgirl \ Farm theme first birthday

Blake: White Tee | Brown Pants | Shoes | Glasses 

Jen: Blue Dress | White Sneakers

Romy & Piper: White Eyelet Bubble Onesies | Moccasins | Cowgirl Hats – I bought these at the Orange County Fair and they have LOVED them, which is what inspired the theme for this whole party! That, and their love of animals and animal sounds.

xx

Jen

***Photos by my good friend Carly Campbell. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Carly!!!