It was a Monster 1st Birthday!!!! 

 I was a new mommy in a new town and the grocery store was my socialization. Have you been there?  Where you go in and smile at everyone hoping you can have some adult conversation. I was at the bakery...probably going to eat my emotions and I saw this adorable monster cake!  I knew in that moment I had to have a monster party for my son's first birthday.  We had also picked up these cute ugly dolls in Seattle Washington and they added a fun touch on the mantle.

I bundled some M&Ms in little bags as favors.  The universal small kid treat...am I right.  I folded scrapbook paper over the little jewelry bags.  I used pinking shears to make the teeth.  Google eyes and Voila!

This Jell-O is a long standing party celebration staple in the Morrill houshold.  It is delicious and so fun to trade out different colors according to the event.  It started at Christmas, but I ran with it.  I posted the recipe below!

 I love when my friends made these banners or signs with all of the first year photos.  The kids change so fast and it is so fun to see it.

I wanted to group the favor with an activity and thought up this fun idea.  So you get a bunch of balloons, because balloons are the highlight of any small child.  Then you draw and color a bunch of eyes, mouths, noses, and details of monster faces.  Then I cut up a bunch of those really sticky double sided foam tapes.  So everything would really stick and be easy for moms and dads. The kids were able to design their own monster balloons to take home.  They turned out so cute!

I also filled a ball pit for the littles.  It was great entertainment while the adults sat and chatted.

I made the monster cupcakes eyes using different candy gummy rings and Dum Dum suckers.  they come in all sorts of flavors now.  I simply pushed the rings over the suckers and then attached the candy eyeballs with icing.

The best part of this party was the monster tummy bug Evan had earlier in the week that my husband and I ended up getting later on party day and then gifting it to all of our guests...It was fabulous.  You know that pediatrician said we were in the clear...now we know.  There is no such thing as in the clear with kids.   We all survived though and it was still a great party.  Again though...sorry everyone. So sorry.

Layered Jell-O Salad Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 3 oz boxes of Cherry Jell-O (or Raspberry)

2 3 oz boxes of Lime Jell-O

1 cup of sugar

2 cups of milk

1 box of Knox Gelatin= you will need 2 packets

1 tsp of vanilla

16 oz of sour cream

tea kettle of boiling water (Microwaving the water does not work as well.)

Cool Whip

Stemmed Cherries Dried on a paper towel

Tip:

Have these items close at hand to make it smoother for yourself.  1 9x13 glass pan nearby.  Lightly spray it with PAM and then wipe out any excess with a paper towel.  Prepare an empty shelf in your fridge.  Have a 2 cup and 1 cup liquid measuring cups ready to go.  You will need 3 large spoons to ladle your liquid Jell-O layers.  You will need 2 medium mixing bowls or 2 large 4 cup liquid measuring cups.  Have paper towel nearby to clean up any spilled liquid to avoid staining your counters.

Directions:

Begin by dissolving 1 packet of cherry Jell-O in one of your mixing bowls using 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.  Gently pour your red jell-o into the 9x13 to set up until it is still a bit sticky but not coming off on your finger.  It needs to be a bit sticky so that it will stick to the next layer.  Otherwise it will all slide apart when you serve it.

Then dissolve one packet of lime jell-o in the other mixing bowl using 1 1/2 cups of boiling water. Set it aside.

For the white layer:  In a medium saucepan heat your two cups of milk and sugar until it is dissolved entirely.  Do not let it boil.  Turn off the stove top.  In the 1 cup liquid measuring cup quickly mix 1/2 cup of cold water with your two packets of Knox Gelatin and immediately whisk it into the milk and sugar mixture.  Add your sour cream and then your vanilla.  You will want to stir this throughout the process to keep it loose enough to layer.

Check your red jell-o in the fridge...when ready use a large serving spoon to gently ladle on a layer of white gelatin.  It should be the same thickness as the red jell-o.  Pay attention to that so you do not run out of white.  Then put your 9x13 back into the fridge to let it set up a bit until it is still a bit sticky but not coming off on your finger.

Dissolve your last packet of cherry jell-o in a clean and dry mixing bowl using 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.

Check your white layer in the fridge...when ready use a large serving spoon to gently ladle on a layer of lime gelatin.  Then put your 9x13 back into the fridge to let it set up a bit until it is still a bit sticky but not coming off on your finger.

Dissolve your last packet of lime jell-o in a clean and dry mixing bowl using 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.

Keep repeating the process until you are done.  Note:  The set time will get shorter as you go because the Jell-o gets closer to setting while resting and the other gets colder in the fridge.  To Serve:  Top with Cool Whip and a Cherry with a stem.  Tip:  Dry your cherries on a paper towel so that their juice is not running all over the Cool Whip.