A Pirates Life For Me

Kirk's fourth birthday as a big one. We started off the morning with Dan taking Kate to dance. While he waited for her class to get out he took Kirk for a little one on one birthday breakfast. We actually are hoping to start on new tradition of Dan taking one of the kids out to breakfast each Saturday. My Sister's friend's husband does this and it's a great idea. Breakfast is cheap, and it doesn't consume an entire evening. Saturday mornings are usually flexible, and in ensures that the kids some one on one attention from their Dad. This was Kirk's first one. It sounds like there wasn't much talking, he mainly played on the McDonald's toys but at least he had fun. While Dan and the kids were gone in the morning I was busy scrambling to get the final touches done for Kirk's party. The above photo shows what I was working on all night the night before. I made a pirate cake, 36 cup cakes, and decorated the basement. Along with 12 pirate vests, and bandanna's and sashes. I was a busy bee last night. The kids started arriving at 11:00. My Mom and Dad volunteered to come and help with the first half of the party. I had a couple of crafts planned and really needed the extra hands. First the kids made little oceans in a bottle. You fill an empty baby jar half way with mineral oil, then the kids throw in some fish shaped confetti, and then you pour in blue tinted vinegar. This creates blueish bubbles in the jar. My Mom hot glued the lids onto the jars (I didn't want blue vinegar getting everywhere). Next the kids decorated telescopes (a toilet paper roll covered with tinfoil). They put pirate sticker's on them and strung yarn threw it. This was so simple, but the kids really loved making them. Then the kids dressed up like pirates. There were only a few who didn't want to get dressed up, but that was okay. I made pirate bandanna's by cutting black bandanna's in half and gluing on a skull and cross bones to the front. I bought eye patches, and earring's from Walmart. Then I made little black vest's with a red sash. The kid's all looked adorable. I had bought some dollar black eye liner to draw beards, but we didn't have time to do that.Next it was time to eat. I kept the menu simple, pizza, water, and cupcakes. It turned out to be plenty of food. The pizza was a real hit, every single kid ate it. Then Kirk opened his presents. For the remainder of the time we played pirate games which included: don't let the cannon ball (balloon) touch the ground, throw the ball at the pirate picture, sailor sailor pirate (variation on duck, duck, goose), and pass the sea shell. The games were kind of hit and miss. Some of the kids really loved them, others weren't so into them. Last of all we did a pinata, which all of the kids loved. Pinatas are one of those love, hate party activities. I love them because all of the kids have so much fun hitting them. I hate them because I'm always scared to death that someone will get hurt. We used a soft plastic bat, I really didn't think young 3-5 year old's could do to much damage with it, but of course something did go wrong. Our little tiny niece got hit with the pinata. It was something you'd have to see to believe was even possible. The odds of it happening have got to be pretty slim, so of course it happened at our party. Don't worry she's just fine, it didn't even leave any marks. She only cried for a minute, and then continued having fun gathering candy and playing. Were glad that she's just fine, she's one tough little girl. The kids took home their crafts, a treasure chest (brown paper sack with a yellow locked glued to it) with a pirate board book, gold coins, gold bar with candy inside, compass, and pirate stickers. I had high aspirations of a parrot sugar cookie to throw in too, but that idea fell flat around midnight last night. After all of Kirk's friends went home we invited the extended family over for cake and ice cream. Below is an up close photo of the cake. Kirk opened more presents, he got a pirate ship (photo below) that he's been playing with non stop all night. Even Kate has gotten into playing pirates with Kirk.

Overall I think the party was a big success, and I'm very glad that it's over with. Not that it wasn't fun, it was a blast, but for the past several weeks I've had a constant check off list running through my head. I kept worrying about invitations, decorations, party favors, crafts, games and cake ingredients. It's nice to just not worry any of that anymore. I think we are going to start a new birthday tradition of just having a party on the even years. It's perfect because Kirk and Benjamin's birthday's both fall in March, but they'll have off years. I'll only be planning one birthday party each March instead of two. Kate is turning six this year so she will also be on the same year as Kirk. Her birthday is not of several months so I have some good recovery time before it'll start again. Kirk really had a wonderful day. He was so happy and excited for every detail of the party. When ever I'd pick up a little decoration, or pinata he'd gasp and say "Mommy were did you find this", or "Mommy I love this". He's the type of Kid who gets incredible excited over everything. This excitement makes it so rewarding to do fun things for him. He was really so much fun today! I think photo below shows that the party preparations were all worth it. That smile is worth a million bucks! We love you Kirk, I'm glad you had a wonderful day!