Ruthie’s Rodeo Theme Birthday Party

I don’t know why I have such an affinity for rodeo and ranch life, but in my other life I would be a cowgirl. Maybe it started when I was in preschool – the best day of the year was Cowboy and Cowgirl Day. My stick horse and denim was all picked out and ready to go until the morning of…I woke up with the chicken pox. While my illness prevented me from participating, my fascination with life in the country has not wained. Ever since, every rodeo I’ve ever been to I’ve admired the girls who ride the horses with the flags, the subculture, the care of the animals, the worn-in boots and braided hair, the work ethic. I love everything about it!

My First Rodeo Theme Party Invitations

So when I started thinking about Ruth’s first birthday over the summer, it was a no brainer. I knew I wanted a cowboy and cowgirl theme. I don’t remember who threw out rodeo specifically, but it was meant to be!

As I began planning earlier this fall, it was easy to get overwhelmed! I started with the invitation and there were SO many cute designs and ideas. I had a Pinterest inspiration board and an Etsy favorites list. Then, I narrowed down our favorites to set the tone and feel. I love what we landed on for the my first rodeo themed birthday!

Invitations, thank you cards, and buffet cards here.

Rodeo Themed Birthday Party Food

Next, we started brainstorming themed foods. I heavily relied on Pinterest, but once we started making our list, the other ideas came easily to us!

Ranch Water: Topo chico, tequila, and lime juice!

Cowboy Caviar: my mom made this dip with tomatoes, corn, avocado, beans, and more.

Pigs in a Blanket: little sausages with crescent rolls

The Mudhole: two big pots of chili (not pictured)

Dirt Cake: the most DELICIOUS dessert with crushed oreos, whipped cream, pudding mixes, and gummy worms! This was always my birthday cake request when I was a kid!

Tractor Tires, Haystacks, and Cow Patties: Oreos, rice crispy treats, and no bake chocolate/peanut butter cookies!

I also attempted to make a clean version of a smash cake. It ended up being incredibly crumbly so we didn’t use it as a cake, but it was still tasty!

Wild West Outfits

When I saw this dress on Zara I knew it would be perfect for Ruth with little cowboy boots (side note – it is surprisingly difficult to find baby boots! My sisters snagged these from Rhea Lana…they’re originally Walmart!) The dress was even better in person – the embroidered motifs are SO on theme! We found her cowboy hat clip at the Pioneer Woman mercantile. I love that some of our family dressed up for the theme, too!

My First Rodeo Birthday Party Ideas and Cowboy Themed Decor

The flowers are from my favorite shop in town, Buttercup Market. Printing from Bartlesville Print Shop (they did a lot of our wedding paper for us, too.)

I was excited for the opportunity to work with Balloon Boutique Bartlesville for the first time. We kept it simple with a 4 foot arch that coordinated with the colors of Ruth’s invitation. I almost just bought my own DIY kit, but the legit ones just look and feel SO much more luxurious! They were so fun, have provided endless entertainment ever since (even a week later!), and I’ll definitely be using her again!

You may have noticed in the invitation at the top of the post – we requested that donations be made to The Cottage, our pro-life pregnancy center in Bartlesville. We are very tied to the Cottage and love to support them in any way possible, so as we move towards a simpler and more minimal lifestyle in our home (especially with toys, decor, etc.) this was a no brainer for us. Jonathan and I did get her a Kozy Couch, foam bath letters, and a set of Schleich farm animals!

I tried to not go too overboard! After all, we all know the first birthday party is more for the family and friends than it is for the baby! We had so much fun, loved having some of my family in town (they were so helpful getting ready and set up on Saturday morning!), and Ruth loved the excitement! She is the life of the party!

I was surprised by the emotions I felt the day before and day of. Jonathan and I watched all my videos from the birth the night before. We loved getting to relive the experience without having to go through it again. It was an exciting and anticipatory day…not necessarily a sad or sentimental one. I was excited for Ruth! I also felt like it was my own special day, too, even though it wasn’t my own birthday. Knowing that in these moments the year before we were meeting our daughter was so special to reflect on. We are ecstatic about who Ruth is, eager to see who she will become, and thankful. She is the greatest gift!

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