The Birthday Party

Kelly is hosting another carnival today!

Birthday Parties!

The Ice Cream Parlor Party

Here are a few of the fun, crafty ideas from AE's 3rd Birthday Party:

Invitations- For me, it always starts with the invitation. I go to see what's on sale at and, ta da! I always print our invitations myself--er, we always print our invites--er, OK, The Daddy always prints our invites.

Don't worry: I blurred the photo so I wouldn't be broadcasting our address and phone number to the entire world. Your vision is indeed intact!

Ice Cream Cone Balloons- I fashioned these from poster board and helium-filled balloons.


Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes- I baked cupcakes right into cones; then I iced them to look like ice cream complete with sprinkles and a "cherry". Click HERE for instructions on how to make them. Mine did not turn out like the pictures in the directions, even with a trial run a couple weeks before the party.

The Cake- The cake was iced with cream cheese icing and chocolate fudge filling. It had three layers: one strawberry, one chocolate and one vanilla to look like Neapolitan ice cream when I sliced it open. What a fun surprise! By the way, I always use boxed cake mix. I'm just not that good or adventurous.

Does that look like an ice cream cone?

The Games- The Daddy so graciously ran them for me. Always give this task to the husband. He loves it. Competition, remember!

Pin the Cherry on the Sundae- I used felt fabric to make the "sundae" then I hot glued it all to a poster board. The "cherry" was a wooden thing I found at Hobby Lobby. I stuck Velcro on the back of the cherry so it would stick to the sundae.


Ice Cream Cone Races- The kids had to balance a pom-pom on a real sugar cone and race across the back yard to their parents.


Homemade Ice Cream- I found an ice cream maker on clearance for $15 at Wal-mart. They also sold mixes to make the vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream. Pretty easy! Two gallons of whole milk and a night in with Lou Lou and voila!

We let the kids make their own sundaes with a smorgasbord of toppings OUTSIDE in the yard. My mama didn't raise no fool!

The Daddy holding HJ, Mama and the Birthday Girl

AE's best friend Brodie-a champ in the sprinkles department!

Ann Allen with the Birthday Girl

The Favors-
First find: dollar store candy that lets a kid make his own ice cream cone from gummy cones, ice cream balls, and even sprinkles.
Second find: stickers depicting ice cream and other fun summertime food.
Final find: At Hobby Lobby (my new favorite place), they had the most adorable waffle cone cups with spoons that looked like ice cream cones. The kids used these cups to make their own sundaes.





We had so much fun with all our friends and family who could come celebrate with us! I think it goes without saying that the ice cream sundaes must be constructed and consumed OUTSIDE! We luckily had perfect weather for outdoor events. Watching the kids make their sundaes was the part of the party I most looked forward to. Prizes should have been awarded to AE's friends Brodie and Ann Allen. They were most into the artistry in creating an edible masterpiece!

The Menu-

I forgot to mention the food. We had an assortment of heavy hors d'ouevres:
-Peanuts and Candy Corn
-Goldfish
-Corn Dip with Tortilla Chips
-Grape Jelly Meatballs
-Garlic Dill Dip and Veggies
-Pumpkin Dip with Sliced Apples
-Sausage and Cheese Pastries
-Beer Bread
-My Favorite Punch

Maybe someday I'll start a blog about food...but for now, I'm thinking about our next shindig!

MORE Birthday Party Links:

• Princess Party and Pirate Party
  
  
• HJ's Birthday Brunch
  
  
• HJ Turns Two!
  
  
• Avoiding The "Circus" of the Birthday Party