The Dr. Seuss Birthday Party

Or, how to inevitably stress yourself out over a two-year-old's birthday, but still have a great time at the end. Dr. Seuss-style.

It would have been cute to have "Thing 1, Thing 2" cupcakes a la Kara's Party Ideas ...

... but my One Fish, Two Fish cupcakes were simple to make and probably tasted just as good! (And I didn't have to worry about melting cotton candy.)

I didn't get my craft together in time ...

... but the kids had fun coloring these simple, free-from-the-Internet coloring pages!

Friends were going to bring a little slide, but it wouldn't fit in their car ...

... and yet, I can't imagine the kids would have had more fun than they had in this car, being pushed around by all the grown-ups.

Our house isn't perfect. Our backyard is sloped. We don't have a fenced-in yard. There are giant dogs barking next door. We don't have enough parking, and live on a very busy road.

A lot of excuses to pay someone big bucks to let me have a little party at their park, or zoo, or inflatable play place.

But for us, this was perfect. The birthday girl had a huge blast. Friends and family came.

As usual, I should have stressed less, spent less money, and breathed a little more. Even with stressing, there's no way I could have done this without the help of my parents, hubby, and sister, and last-minute aid from my in-laws. My dad was cleaning my house all morning while I scurried around (or, well, drank coffee on the sofa in my pajames). My sister learned how to make buttercream. My mom made green eggs, just for me.

It was, in my opinion, pretty dang awesome.

Thanks to everyone who made it happen--especially those who gave advice on my original post!




Making my birthday girl overwhelmed with giggles and fun is definitely a thing I love!

Added to Show Us Your Life Friday at Kelly's Korner. Go here for more planning and ideas: Dr. Seuss Birthday Party.

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Throwing a Dr. Seuss Party

At the risk of giving away all my "secrets" or scaring my parents, I wanted to outline some ideas I've had for Libbie's 2nd Birthday party--Dr. Seuss theme. (Yes, Jill, I know you think I am a little nutso. But last year was SO low-key, I wanted to do something special before baby brother is born.)

1. The theme colors are going to be red and turquoise. I found some adorable turquoise and white polka-dotted stuff on clearance at Target last week. I thought I was being creative and Dr. Seuss-y until I realized that's exactly what Annie's party was. I lust after her party. That is all.

2. I designed this invitation (you get the idea, despite the blurring). It's nothing special, but I liked the font. Libbie loves the Dr. Seuss ABC book, so the wording is a play on that. I printed these out on a bordered paper I bought at Target (turquoise and navy stripes) and mailed them off! Probably the one thing that was simpler than what I did last year.

3. As far as food goes, I think I am planning on Thing 1/Thing 2 cupcakes, cupcakes with one or two Swedish Fish on top for One Fish Two Fish, deviled eggs with green filling, ham biscuits, various candies in Mason jars with lollipops sticking out, a veggie tray, and pretzel rods dipped in chocolate and sprinkles.

4. Stolen again from Annie, I'd like to do some of these Dr. Seuss quotes--probably on the same paper as the invitations--and hang them and streamers from our mulberry tree in the backyard.

 

5. We'll probably just have one long table for people to sit down and eat; I imagine mostly people will wander around the backyard and chase their kids around. But I got this strange idea to line the middle of the table with some of Libbie's shoes and write on the tablecloth "Oh how many feet you meet!" Too weird?


6. On a craft table--because the kids have got to have something to do, right?--I will have supplies and instructions for making Cat in the Hat hats, as well as coloring pages and crayons for younger ones.

7. Friends offered to bring over a little slide, and I will make a "play corner" in one end of the yard with this, perhaps our sand and water table, and some toys strewn about.

8. I'm trying to decide if it would be nuts to somehow get our TV out on the deck and play a Dr. Seuss video, like the newer Horton Hears a Who, or old cartoons like How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This would mean, of course, Mr. V would LET me take our TV outside. Definitely not the (miniscule) flatscreen he bothered me about for years.

9. And for my craziest of ideas, a makeshift photo booth of some sort. I cannot for the life of me find my "inspiration post" for this, so hang in there. All I am contemplating is buying a piece of MDF (flat, skinny wood) and painting it with red and white stripes. Then, place a camera on a table about 4 feet away. People can take pictures in front of the backdrop! What I would REALLY like is a big old painting of the Cat in the Hat on the board ... but I have no artistic skills. None.

10. Help me out! Any other ideas you want to toss out there?

(And for a final note ... tempted to buy this as well)

Added to Top Ten Tuesday at OhAmanda.

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