Parents Who Loved Cracker Barrel as Kids Throw Son a 'Chester Barrel' Themed 1st Birthday Party (Exclusive)

Cracker Barrel has some true-blue fans in the Rays.

The Austin-based family of three recently celebrated as their son, Chester, turned 1! The milestone moment was cause for a gathering of family and friends, and they knew just the theme for the occasion.

“When we started planning Chester’s first birthday, the theme was an easy choice — pancakes have been his favorite food since he started solids! We also have a deep love for Cracker Barrel, making it a perfect blend of nostalgia and joy," mom Brooke Ray tells PEOPLE.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Woman's Butter-Themed Birthday Party Goes Viral for 'Wildly Indulgent' Treats (Exclusive)

"It’s a place that has always felt like home to us, whether we’re road-tripping to Mississippi or stopping after a long flight back home. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate our little one than with a theme that’s both meaningful and delicious."

Both Brooke and her husband have special ties to Cracker Barrel that date back to their own childhoods.

"I grew up going to Cracker Barrel on Sundays after church with my grandmother and always requested her to try to replicate the dumplings. My husband, too, always ordered them as a child," Brooke says.

"When the two of us lived in California, we began making it a tradition to make a pitstop in Sacramento on the way to skiing in Tahoe. Now, we’re excited to pass this tradition down to Chester."

The theme shined through in a Cracker Barrel-style photo wall backdrop, filled with different shots from the birthday boy's first year. Guests enjoyed a pancake bar that also included tiny personalized syrup bottles.

Chester wore a sweater with different breakfast items embroidered across the chest. He was even treated to a birthday cake that was shaped like a stack of pancakes from Cracker Barrel.

The proud parents "know this is just the beginning of many more Cracker Barrel memories with him," Brooke says.

Not only did Cracker Barrel gift Chester his own peg game, the syrup, biscuit and dumpling mixes and tic-tac-toe boards, but they also sent the newly minted 1-year-old his own mini rocking chair.

"The party was so special because it truly reflected Chester’s happy, easygoing personality. From the pancake stacks to the cozy, nostalgic feel of Cracker Barrel, it felt like a celebration of not just his first year, but of all the love and memories our family has built together," Brooke shares.

"It was really special to see our loved ones gathered around, enjoying a meal that feels like home," she adds. "We can’t wait to teach Chester how to play the peg game as he grows up — it’ll be such a sweet reminder of the memories we made at his first birthday party.”

Read the original article on People