Ideas for Combined Grandma's 85Th/baby's 1St Birthday Party

I think that any family get-together is fun for a one-year-old, especially if there is cake and balloons. So, I wouldn't worry too much about that. I would try to get some photos of grandma when she was close to one...and make some poster signs with a message of "You've come a long way baby" and a 2nd poster with a current photo of your son, saying "You've got a long way to go." And be sure to take lots of photos at the party of the 2 of them together...blowing out the candles, grandma feeding grandson a bite of cake....parties can get so hectic that you forget to save those precious once-in-a-lifetime memories on film!

I love the idea of a combo party, as long as you're not inviting your son's playgroup or anything. You want to keep the focus on both of them, not on a group of adorable 1 year olds.

The only idea that came to mind was, when it's time to have the cake, have each of them at opposing "heads" of the table. Your grandmother can have a large cake (to share with everyone), with lots of candles... and your son can have a small cake or cupcake, with a single candle. I would make sure that there are cameras faced in both directions, so again, they're sharing the spotlight.

When it comes to gifts, you might consider "sharing" the opening stage. ie your grandmother can help your son open gifts and read cards.

Gifts for someone of your grandmother's age can be difficult. Other than the obvious that you know she loves (favorite sweets, perfume, lotions, etc.) you might consider memorabilia-type stuff. A photo album that you put together with pictures from various stages of her life and the people she loves... An issue from an old magazine (life, ladies home journal, etc.) from either the year she was born or one of her teen or early twenty's years (she'd probably relate to the later ones more - maybe the year she turned 18 or 21). Often you can find these at half-price books or on ebay.

When my grandmother turned 80 last year, I put together a book of 80 years in review, with old ads, prices of what stuff cost 60, 70, 80 years ago, old photos of movie stars, what was invented over the decades, etc., along with photos of her and her family. I bound it with the plastic spiral stuff they do at Kinkos, and set a few copies out at her party. It was a real hit with the older generation, and a conversation starter between the generations.

Good luck!

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C., I combined my 1st son's 1st birthday party with his Dad's Mother's birthday, she wasn't 85 (don't know if your grandmother has a special diet) I baked him a small square cake & her a much larger one, I took them to Albertson's and paid a small fee for them to frost & decorate, which we used her favorite color of blue for flowers and names, he got the same except he had the big #1 Candle on there and that was plenty of excitement for him as far as the cakes. We fixed her favorite food (a brisket, potato salad, baked beans) we could easily give him something else. They took turns opening gifts and it was like everyone was watching them celebrate Christmas by themselves, he sat right beside her. She was so proud that we included her, she was delighted with the whole thing. We still had the balloons but none of the noise makers that would make her nervous. Needless to say he didn't remember his 1st birthday but the pictures from that birthday meant more to him than any of his other birthdays and even more so after she passed away. We didn't have to do much of anything special just the fact that we combined the birthdays meant the world to her. I'm sure this great group of Mama's will have more creative ideas for you (not my strong suit)but making it as stress free as possible for you, so you can enjoy your sons 1st birthday & your grandma's 85th (What a blessing) is probably the most important thing. Best of Luck and I'm hoping it will turn out wonderful.

Do you have any pictures of your grandmother when she was 1 year old? I thought maybe you could have fun with the party and celebrate her life at your sons age and maybe progress with pictures of her through the years. Frame them and have them on the table as the center piece with fabric or netting or tuille and ribbons with votive candles. Or if that is too feminine, still have framed pictures of both of the on the table and one large cake done in soft blues and pinks with their names on it and 1 candle on the left for him and the 8 and 5 candles for her on the right. Then do napkins in a generic pattern, etc. I'm sure you could go with this idea and ad some of your own and make it very special. He will only remember the pictures, not the actual day-but she will always remember how special it was.

Sorry I haven't read through the other responses however, what I did for my Mother's 72nd birthday and my son's 1st birthday was.. I went to a professional cake decorator with a photo I had combined the pixel's together of two photos to make one of my Mum and one of my son.. they copied this onto a paperlike substance that can't touch fat/icing. I made the cake with a butter icing center and sides and slid the paper photo onto the cake. It looked fabulous, everyone couldn't believe it & you can eat it. If you would like to see a photo to get an idea of what I am talking about please email me. As for the party we had a large Sunday lunch (30 peolpe) most were adults - our friends to celebrate the occasions. It was great!!

I think that that is a wonderful idea. No matter what you do grandmother would love it. It is like combining the old with new. Just keep it simple and tasteful. Have lots of balloons for your son gear more toward your grandmother because your son wont remember it.

It's always fun to make a connection with birth years... like if she was born in 1925- that was the year Chrysler was created- you could have classic models set out for her and a note about the creation- and toy cars for your son.... my grandma and I are 2 days apart and she was born the same year Mickey Mouse was created so it was fun to have a classic Mickey decor party once, everyone loves Mickey... Good Luck.

C.,

As a child who grew up with my Dad's birthday on the 4th, my closest Uncle's birthday on the 5th, and my birthday on the 6th, we always had a joint family party. I loved it! Sharing my special day with my wonderful Daddy and one of my favorite Uncle's is so special! Since we moved away from home when I was 9, I miss sharing that time every year with my Uncle (my Dad and I still share a family party). As for friends, my very best friend from infancy was born 6 days after me. Until we moved, our parents always threw us a joint grand bash with all of our friends. I have such special memories of those times with my family and my best friend, those times are a special connection that I have with people that I love with all my heart. Everyone had their own cake and their moment to shine taking turns unwrapping presents. I never felt cheated, rather I shared a very special time, with very special people and made wonderful memories.

Hi C.:

I did this when my grandma turned 90 - I took my favorite portrait of her and had it copied onto t-shirts. She loved it.

Do you have a picture of your grandmother and son together? Maybe the children could wear the t-shirts. You could also have the picture put on top of the cake (bakeries know how to do this).

Have fun!

I am only saying this because you said any suggestions would be appreciated. I would separate the parties. I would do two separate parties or do a birthday party for your son and then go out to dinner after the party for your grandmother's birthday. I think you would end up being much happier that way. I know that is what I would do. Some people might say that it's a wonderful way to celebrate life young and old, etc., but I think that both of the ages one and 85 are also too important to be combined, I think they each desserve their own special celebration. If you really want to do them together, then do the party for your one year old at your house for some time and after the party go to a nearby restaurant for granny's dinner.

My Grandma and I were 3 days apart - and my mother suprised my grandmother with a suprise party after my 7th birthday party -- after my friends left, the family stayed. My grandmother was very surprised (my mother always held HUGE birthday parties for me (over 50 people) - so you could see that my grandma was suprised that there was more excitement that evening (... just an idea for the future).

I would suggest catering the decorations to your grandma. Perhpas you could have a special cupcake, or small cake, with your baby's favorite character on it. Your son will be oblivious to everything else, and will just enjoy the excitement of the gathering (perhaps a special helium balloono on his chair, too). He really won't even remember it -- but it will provide so many warm memories for your grandmother. Just make her happy -- and everyone will be filled with joy. How exciting it will be for her to celebrate with her great-grandchild. I wish any of my grandparents could have had that blessed opportunity.

Congratulations on all the joy your family will be celebrating!

S.

How about 85 balloons in grandma's favorite color and one special baby balloon?

What a great idea! I say your theme should be 'tree' like a family tree. Do a gaint cut out of a tree trunk and limbs and let all the family members drip their hands in paint and make their hands the leaves and they can write under it who they are etc... So i say 'go green' for the party. We did something similar in the fall with falling leaves and fall colors but you can use spring colors and think of all the wonderful things in bloom....including the 85 year old grandmother. Use flower pots, seed pack invites, umbrellas and buckets, wheel barrows, etc... Maybe the kids/adults could all plant a flower in a planting tray as a take home gift and a way to remember a great day.