Sadie's 4th Birthday Party

Having children old enough to help a little with their own birthday party is super cool. I mean, last year I was cutting out a million tiny pieces of paper to turn them into monkeys for Lucas' second birthday. It was tedious and boring doing it all alone. 

This year I asked Sadie, what kind of party do you want? She really didn't get it because she kept saying "Cake and BALLOONS!" So when I asked if she wanted a bug party, she was ecstatic. She's been into bugs for the last year or so. She picks up wood bugs (pill bugs) and lets them crawl all over her hands and feet. She makes homes for them and always puts them back in the grass when she's done. She really isn't scared of any creepy crawly thing unless its a big spider. 

So, bug party it was. No princesses, no barbies (forbidden until she's at least 5). Pinterest has been the best source of party ideas for me. My party board is here if you're interested in some cute party ideas. 

So, I saw some preschool crafts that I used as decor. Here kids, here is paint and some paper plates, please paint them this colour all over. I used child labour to get all the paper bugs painted and once dry, we glued googly eyes on them (bought googly eyes months ago from walmart and boy do they come in handy) and taped them to the walls. 

The tissue paper flowers were strictly my thing, but I had little helpers throwing scraps of tissue in the garbage for me while they watched. $6 bucks for a few different colours of tissue paper that I didn't have already at home was the best money spent on party decor. 

Last minute birthday bunting made with construction paper and a sad dying felt that I should have tested first....

The kids also made the caterpillars for the food labels. They were told to count out 5 pompoms per bug, and a big one for the head. I did the glue so they had to place them on, and then finished them with googly eyes. Googly eyes are the best. 

Pinterest again had good party food ideas for bug birthdays. A few plastic bugs were thrown into the punch for bug juice, and my favourite were the lady bug bites. The chives as antennas really put it over the top. Its good to grow plants some days. I made macarons because it was last minute and I realized I hadn't made any in months. Green apple liquorice was used on their legs, but was a royal pain in the rear because I had to cut it in half length ways with scissors. Sticky stupid mess. It worked, but I'll find better leg candy next time. 

This juice dispenser has been the best investment ever. Costco had them a few years ago. The base has a spot to put ice in so your drink doesn't get diluted when the ice melts. I use it for every party. Walmart has smaller ones and cheaper ones, but I like the base for the ice that mine has.

Other than fiddly macarons (which are always fiddly), everything was really easy. Hotdogs, (caterpillars on a bun) chips + dip, blue punch, butterfly pasta salad (mom brought) and worms and dirt. Worms and dirt was dead easy and the adults loved them. 

It was a family party, no other kids other than my own. Its nice that way, no other tiny children to entertain for hours. They were entertained just with balloons and those curly noise makers and with all the attention. Lucas did well, but everyone was kind enough in getting him small gifts as well. A few weeks prior to the party, Sadie got some presents in the mail from far away relatives. I was excited and told her "look, it has your name on it!" Lucas burst into tears while sadie was jumping around, and he said "MY NAME!" He knew his name was not on those presents. 

We hung out and talked and ate food, and watched the kids. I scheduled the party at 2pm, so it was during their nap time. By 5, everyone left and then at 6 there were tired fights over new toys and such. Lucas had a bath alone to get away from the grump, and by 8:30 they were out for the night. This morning, Sadie was up at 8:30 and Lucas at 9:30 respectively. The signs of a good party. 

I'm totally going to make the kids make their own decor for birthdays after this. Good entertainment during the day. Really good party in my opinion. I think I'll let sadie keep some flowers for her room for a while. They're too pretty to throw out.