Before I begin with the party, I have to give a quick shout out to this pinspiring idea. We've started the tradition a few years back to have balloons outside the kiddos doors on the morning of their birthdays. It is so much fun to watch their little faces light up when they see the balloons. Last year, Jake played with his balloons for over a week. He even took baths with them. I also got the idea to interview Jake each year on his birthday, starting at 3. The questions from this pin are perfect and will grow with him. We audio recorded him answering the questions because his voice is so sweet and I could not do his responses justice on paper, they were too cute!
Like every 3 year old boy, Jake LOVES the movie Cars (and Cars 2 of course). So, I got to pinning and WOW did I find some awesome ideas! I'll make this post short and sweet because there are LOTS of pictures to caption. I'm not really into organized activities at parties. I like to provide creative things for kids to do as they choose then sit back and enjoy the fun. It also gives me more time to socialize with guests. Don't you hate it when you go to a party and the host is too busy to chat? I mean, why have a party if you can't have any fun, right?
Here's this week's TBT dedicated to my favorite almost 4 year old (tomorrow is the big day!).
While the hubby was away for his reserve duty, I spent my evenings (my kids go to bed at 7pm which gave me lots of time) making these. It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. The kids had a blast with this at the party.
My wonderful sister offered her house for the party (since we live so far out of town and our temporary house was so tiny).
Party Room Set-Up
Pre-Party:
So we drove in the night before (hiding all the party supplies) and surprised Jake the morning of his party with a Cars fun land.
His excitement was infectious! Even I had to get in on the action!
We also got a piece of plywood and sketched McQueen (using proportions to make him exactly like his toy... take that disbelieving math students, you do use proportions in real life!).
Activities:
My super handy hubby made this Kiddy Car Wash Sprinkler (also a Pinspired idea, check out my post here) for the kids to run the box cars through.
Even though he is a super cool high school student, my nephew even joined the action and had a great time running around dressed as a car with Jake.
Bean bag toss game... not as big a hit, but the kids still played with this.
Even if they didn't play with it the way it was intended.
Pit Stop, and you are part of the crew. The second favorite activity.
Go fishing with Matter. The Matter photos we glued onto cardboard and had a magnet attached to a piece of twine that could pick up the car parts. I bought half a yard of cars fabric and cut out a few cars, sewed a blue felt piece to the back with a washer and piece of cardboard in between. It's super easy, and I am NOT a seamstress.
Through the entire party, we had Cars, then Cars 2 playing in the background.
Jake was so excited about his McQueen, he didn't even take him off to watch the movie!
How adorable is this? And how awesome is my nephew?!?! My kids are so lucky have have such great cousins.
For the Babies
Food:
Treat table:
Stoplight Fruit Skewers
How cool is my sister-in-law?!? She made the adorable stoplight brownies!
Motor Oil
Organic Fuel
Anti-Freeze (Blue Hawaiian Punch)
I guess we didn't get pictures of the food table. It had a sign with Flo that said Flo's Cafe. We served pizza, salad, and veggie dip sticks in a small cup of ranch dressing.
More Random Themed Fun:
Party Hats - Purchased online (don't remember where, but Google it, they will pop right up)
When you are entertaining kids, you need to have a sanitation station.
I have to give credit to me awesomely talented sister for doing this free hand to welcome everyone to the party.
The hubby and I wore shirts my sister made that said "Pit Crew". Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of that though. Isn't is amazing how having kids makes you forget to take selfies?
Everyone got a thank you note signed by Jake that said: "Thank you for making Jake's birthday happier than a tornado in a trailer park!" ~Matter (Cars)
The kids got goodie bags with a toy car from the dollar store, Cars stickers from Walmart, crayons, and a coloring book that was printed from one of my pins. Check out my board. Please share your awesome ideas in the comments!
Jake's 2nd Birthday - Under the Sea Theme at the Jump Yard in North Royalton, OH
Pinspiration: Indoor Fish Pond
As I mentioned in the Indoor Fish Pond post, my son LOVED all things of the sea. We read Swimmy daily and his favorite toys were the sea creatures that came along with the book that I purchased from Learning Connections. Being out of town and not having a big enough house to entertain, once again, we had to travel to Cleveland for Jake's birthday.
This year, we tried to simplify by taking the party to the Jump Yard. It was a blast! The kids loved it, I got to decorate the tables with sea creatures, and best of all, no clean-up! It still made me sad and I more than make up for my withdraw for his third birthday as you read above.
But, I did want to share the few little things I did do to make this party themed and special. The tables were decorated with all of our fish toys and small fish bowls that were used at my sister's wedding a few months earlier. They had Jake's sea creatures in them along with a few small koosh balls. Each kid got a goodie bag with a few koosh balls, plastic sea creatures, and an adorable sea creature puzzle that I found at the dollar store (3 for a dollar!).
I really got in to the cake this year, mostly because it was the only thing I could bring to the Jump Yard. So, here is a picture of the cake.
Jelly beans for "candy colored rocks" from Swimmy of course, sweet goldfish, sour octopus, green Twizlers Pull and Peels for seaweed, and crushed graham crackers for sand. I also took cuties and stuck a toothpick with a sail on it for boats.
We also had cupcakes. Jake of course would only eat the candy on top.
I highly recommend an inflatables place for kids birthday parties.
Let's hear it for my awesome nephew again!
And one of my awesome nieces who also checked her pre-teen card at the door to have fun with my little guy.
It really was a great day for him.
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