Birthday Bonanza!

We had G's birthday party last weekend. Twenty or so people in our TINY (I mean tiny) house. It was snug. Poor dude only napped about an hour so we were teetering on the verge of a meltdown all day. Thankfully, there were lots of distractions.
One year old birthday parties are tricky. I mean, honestly, who are they really for? The kid doesn't care. So I tried to keep it as low key as possible. Early dinner, presents, cake, done. I tried to keep it as simple and inexpensive as possible, and I think I succeeded, less insisting on making the cake from scratch (but it was worth it!). Here's the menu and the links to the recipes:
Pulled pork on onion buns with coleslaw
Baked beans (from a can - seriously, why make them from scratch when the canned are so good?)
Potato Salad (family recipe, below)
Fruit Plate - thanks to my sis in law who brought a lovely plate full of melon and berries - yum!
Carrot Cake - this cake was super moist and delicious. I doubled the recipe and did two layers.

Here is the potato salad recipe. I will try to guess at the measurements - I don't think we've ever written it down.

Carter Family Potato Salad

10 boiled (till fork tender) and peeled russet potatoes, diced
10 hard boiled eggs, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup chopped pickles
1 cup mayonnaise (my mom uses Miracle Whip - I refuse!)
1/4 cup yellow mustard
splash pickle juice
celery salt, pepper and salt to taste
paprika to garnish

In bottom of very large bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, and seasonings. Add potatoes, eggs, celery and pickles. Toss. Refrigerate a few hours before serving. Put a little paprika on top to make it pretty.

That's it. Simple and wonderful. A word of advice - mix your beans and potato salad. I have no idea why, but it's SO good.

Next year, I promise to do the out of hand birthday party, complete with the bouncy house, ball pit and magician...who am I kidding? I hyperventilate in Chuck-E-Cheese. We'll have to play it by ear.