|
I had written about Jesse's 5th birthday on a previous blog post (my old Just A branch blog) and had not migrated it over to Scratch Mom yet and since it is the next theme on my list, I thought I'd just post it here in all it's original goodness. I know you'll enjoy it all the same. Looking back, the thing that really made this party fun was really getting into character, especially with the games. With young kids, being a fun, dramatic and enthusiastic party host ensures the party will be a hit, so moms and dads, go ahead and ham it up!
|
*Originally posted 7/4/12 *
​So we've had a few birthdays in our house lately. First Jacob turning 2, than Grace made her little debut and next up was Jesse! He has been waiting for this for sometime. A lot of great things go with turning five. You get your booster shots and then you get to go to kindergarten-he is so excited! Not only that but just the other day our little Jester informed us that now he is very smart... "When I was four, well I was a little smart but then when I turned five, well, now I'm very smart and when I turn six I'll be very, very smart"
Of course Caleb couldn't resist, " how smart will you be when you turn 21?"
"Then I'll be very, very, very, very, very, smart" He's got it all figured out!
​So we've had a few birthdays in our house lately. First Jacob turning 2, than Grace made her little debut and next up was Jesse! He has been waiting for this for sometime. A lot of great things go with turning five. You get your booster shots and then you get to go to kindergarten-he is so excited! Not only that but just the other day our little Jester informed us that now he is very smart... "When I was four, well I was a little smart but then when I turned five, well, now I'm very smart and when I turn six I'll be very, very smart"
Of course Caleb couldn't resist, " how smart will you be when you turn 21?"
"Then I'll be very, very, very, very, very, smart" He's got it all figured out!
So we had a little shindig for him and of course (for the second year in a row) it was a cowboy theme because Jesse loves cowboys and being a country boy. He can not wait till we're able to build a new house and have a farm and has already drawn up more than a few pictures of what our little farm should look like. Anyway, we had a fun gathering of all his favorite little buckaroos and some fun games. Here's a few fun ideas, from my own crazy brain, that you could use for your own little one's cowboy themed party...​
"Wanted" Photo Booth
I borrowed my sister in-law's Cricut to decorate a length of parcel/packing paper (comes in a roll for a $1 at Dollar Tree) to create a small backdrop for some fun party pics. Also used a little braided yarn to imitate rope (but only because I couldn't find any twine in the shed). I had Caleb cut out a variety of mustaches and beards and taped them to bamboo skewers for some fun props. I think some of the adults had more fun with it than the kids...
I borrowed my sister in-law's Cricut to decorate a length of parcel/packing paper (comes in a roll for a $1 at Dollar Tree) to create a small backdrop for some fun party pics. Also used a little braided yarn to imitate rope (but only because I couldn't find any twine in the shed). I had Caleb cut out a variety of mustaches and beards and taped them to bamboo skewers for some fun props. I think some of the adults had more fun with it than the kids...
"Wanted" Coloring Sheet
When they were done I handed them each a blank "Wanted" poster to color while waiting for all our guests to arrive. I did something really simple in MS Publisher and didn't save the file but I whipped up a fresh, and free printable to share with you all.
When they were done I handed them each a blank "Wanted" poster to color while waiting for all our guests to arrive. I did something really simple in MS Publisher and didn't save the file but I whipped up a fresh, and free printable to share with you all.
"Moonshine" Outlaw Relay
Alright, now I know you're thinking "moonshine? I thought this was a party for a five year old?" Not to worry , our moonshine was completely innocent. Here is what you will need for the game:
2 Tricycles with baskets or two wagons. I got the baskets at Dollar Tree and zip tied them to the handle bars.
2 Mason jars with "moonshine" - Make the moonshine using water and glitter and a little food coloring if you want. Add the contents of a large glow stick to each jar to give it a bit of a glow-I used green and it was pretty vibrant but didn't glow much as it was diluted by the water and our party was during the day. If you really want it to glow a lot use a large glow stick broken into a smaller pint sized jar and only a tablespoon of water or oil to help coat the jar and you could probably still add a bit of glitter to add to the effect.
A small table - this is your "saloon"
Divide the kids into two teams. Line them up and give each team a jar of "moonshine" to transport in their delivery basket to the saloon. It's a simple relay, really, they are delivering the "moonshine" to the saloon. The next person picks it up from the saloon, and so on till every one has gone. The first team to finish wins. The fun part is the story, make it cute and fun-this is what I told the kids...
Alright, now I know you're thinking "moonshine? I thought this was a party for a five year old?" Not to worry , our moonshine was completely innocent. Here is what you will need for the game:
2 Tricycles with baskets or two wagons. I got the baskets at Dollar Tree and zip tied them to the handle bars.
2 Mason jars with "moonshine" - Make the moonshine using water and glitter and a little food coloring if you want. Add the contents of a large glow stick to each jar to give it a bit of a glow-I used green and it was pretty vibrant but didn't glow much as it was diluted by the water and our party was during the day. If you really want it to glow a lot use a large glow stick broken into a smaller pint sized jar and only a tablespoon of water or oil to help coat the jar and you could probably still add a bit of glitter to add to the effect.
A small table - this is your "saloon"
Divide the kids into two teams. Line them up and give each team a jar of "moonshine" to transport in their delivery basket to the saloon. It's a simple relay, really, they are delivering the "moonshine" to the saloon. The next person picks it up from the saloon, and so on till every one has gone. The first team to finish wins. The fun part is the story, make it cute and fun-this is what I told the kids...
"The lights are out at the saloon and it's dark everywhere because someone stole the moon's shine! You have to get your moonshine to the saloon quick before someone catches you with the stolen "moonshine!"
As the relayed back and forth you can spray silly string for fun - the kids loved it! When they kid's are all done gather them and tell them you've got some bad news..."There are no prizes for the game because (be dramatic) you're all outlaws running around with stolen "moonshine" we have your wanted posters and all! We don't want outlaws at the party so you all have to show us you can be good, hard working, honest cowboys and earn your deputy badge!" This leads into the next game...
As the relayed back and forth you can spray silly string for fun - the kids loved it! When they kid's are all done gather them and tell them you've got some bad news..."There are no prizes for the game because (be dramatic) you're all outlaws running around with stolen "moonshine" we have your wanted posters and all! We don't want outlaws at the party so you all have to show us you can be good, hard working, honest cowboys and earn your deputy badge!" This leads into the next game...
Good Ol' Cowboy Relay
Here's what you will need:
2 Cowboy outfits - you could use anything, oversized western shirt, cowboy boots, Cowboy hats, etc... use as many items or as few as you want. We used 2 Carhart jackets. It's okay if the clothing items are too big for the kids, it's a relay and it adds to the fun and challenge of it all.
2 Lassos - I guess you could use real ones because they are pretty stiff but chances are you don't have any lying around :-) I got two large embroidery hoops for 10 cents each at the Senior Center Thrift Shop and had Caleb wrap rope around them to look like lassos. It worked great and was easy for the kids to toss.
2 Horses - No, not real ones you could use the toy ones that are a horses head on a stick or you could do what I did and have your talented mother draw two horse heads on foam core poster board (Dollar Tree) and affix them to long cardboard rolls (like from wrapping paper rolls)
2 Cows - Again, not real ones. I had my mom draw cut outs of these as well ad stapled them to stakes that I had set up in the yard.
Set up all four things a few yards apart in two lines as each of the stations for the relay in the following order:
Cowboy Outfit, Horses, Lassos, Cows
Here's what you will need:
2 Cowboy outfits - you could use anything, oversized western shirt, cowboy boots, Cowboy hats, etc... use as many items or as few as you want. We used 2 Carhart jackets. It's okay if the clothing items are too big for the kids, it's a relay and it adds to the fun and challenge of it all.
2 Lassos - I guess you could use real ones because they are pretty stiff but chances are you don't have any lying around :-) I got two large embroidery hoops for 10 cents each at the Senior Center Thrift Shop and had Caleb wrap rope around them to look like lassos. It worked great and was easy for the kids to toss.
2 Horses - No, not real ones you could use the toy ones that are a horses head on a stick or you could do what I did and have your talented mother draw two horse heads on foam core poster board (Dollar Tree) and affix them to long cardboard rolls (like from wrapping paper rolls)
2 Cows - Again, not real ones. I had my mom draw cut outs of these as well ad stapled them to stakes that I had set up in the yard.
Set up all four things a few yards apart in two lines as each of the stations for the relay in the following order:
Cowboy Outfit, Horses, Lassos, Cows
Here is what you tell the kids..."To earn your deputy badge you have to prove you're a good cowboy. What does a good cowboy do? Well first you've got to get up early when the rooster crows and put on your work clothes (Cowboy outfit - point to each station as you're explaining this to the kids). Then you've got to get on your horse ( 2nd station) and check things out around the ranch." Again, get into character and be dramatic, the kids will love it and get really into it..."OH NO! The cow got out of the corral! Grab your lasso, Buckaroo, (3rd station) and go rope the cow(4th/final station)!"
After they toss their lasso around the cow head they are finished and the next person goes. Award them with their deputy badge(pack of 6-Dollar Tree) gather them all at the end and affirm to them they are no longer outlaws and that you're glad the "good guys" are here to celebrate with the birthday boy (or girl). The kid's loved the game and were so excited to each get their badges.
Cowboy Hat Cake
One of my favorite things that I get to do as a mom is make birthday cakes for my children. I have purchased cakes at times but if I have time and a specific theme it's just more fun and the boys get so excited to see what their cakes will look like. I love it! This year Jesse's cake was a black Stetson style cowboy hat. It was actually very simple to do. It is simply 2, 6 inch rounds encircled by cupcakes. I cut the tops off the cupcakes so they would be flat instead of rounded, made a tight circle, and heavily frosted them. I also contoured the middle-top of the hat and sides. Pretty simple and easy. ​
One of my favorite things that I get to do as a mom is make birthday cakes for my children. I have purchased cakes at times but if I have time and a specific theme it's just more fun and the boys get so excited to see what their cakes will look like. I love it! This year Jesse's cake was a black Stetson style cowboy hat. It was actually very simple to do. It is simply 2, 6 inch rounds encircled by cupcakes. I cut the tops off the cupcakes so they would be flat instead of rounded, made a tight circle, and heavily frosted them. I also contoured the middle-top of the hat and sides. Pretty simple and easy. ​
Jesse thought it was the coolest cake and we all had a lot of fun celebrating in cowboy fashion with him.
Scratch Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
RSS Feed
