Rainbow Fish Birthday Party

I'll grant that "Rainbow Fish" is a bit random for a  party theme, but it was the best way I could see to combine the odd assortment of  things we thought up for my daughters's joint birthday party.

Things like this super easy but fun aquarium cake (inspired by Cakes and Cukes)

an Ocean Punchbowl (once upon the time there were fish in there, but they sank and were never seen again).

Rainbow bell peppers and dip (and of course, Pepperidge Farms rainbow goldfish fit right in there; so we had to have those as well)

Fish Straws (these gummy fish worked great for the cake and straws)

Rainbow doorways (If you've been following me for a while you'll remember our jumping through a rainbow day)

A bubble pond

Underwater artwork decorations.  Each guest to the party drew a picture of fish or an underwater creature to give to my daughters in lieu of presents (no more toys!! :)

Fishing game with waterbeads and marbles (more about this later)

Fishing hats for coloring party favors.  I traced the fish onto each hat using the easy method I wrote about this summer.  The googly eyes were affixed with Jewel It glue.  Each guest got to color their fish with regular markers.  Every time they go through the wash, the hats can be colored all over again.

I'm really a fan of using hats as party favors, by the way.  It makes for such a cute group picture to commemorate the party.

and my personal favorite, rainbow streamers on the ceiling fans.  The picture doesn't do justice to how fun it is to stand in the middle of a rainbow swirling all around you.  (Just be careful where and how you affix the streamers or it quickly becomes a tangled mess!)

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A 25 cent Birthday

You are looking at the entirety of our birthday presents to M for her 4th birthday this year.  There was a part of me that felt like a bad parent for only spending a quarter in the clearance aisle, but then seeing the enjoyment she derived from bopping those yo-yo globe balloons (which she had never seen before) made it feel like the right choice.

Sometimes simple pleasures are best- and more easily enjoyed when they aren't crowded.

Have you ever opted for a simple gift to a child and then been glad you did? What did you give? 

Birthday Balloons Wreath

I really enjoyed the mindlessness of making this wreath. It kind of "made itself" one evening while my husband and I watched a movie. Now I have something cheery to hang on the door every time there's a birthday in the house!

Supplies:

Large straw wreath (with plastic still on so that it won't shed)
About 142 balloons
Florist pins

Birthday Prank

Since my daughter's birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks, I've had birthday party planning on my mind. That put me in remembrance of a fun memory from years ago.

When I was a teenager, my aunt, siblings and mother collaborated to play a birthday trick on me. They cut two sponges into the shape of a double layer cake and frosted the thing with real, chocolate frosting. They handed me a knife to cut the cake- which of course, turned out to be an impossible task. My siblings' eruption into laughter I think was my final clue that this was no ordinary cake.

Birthday Eve

Tomorrow is my birthday, which, in my family, has always meant that today is Katey-eve. (kind of like Christmas eve- only for birthdays). I think it's a great tradition- spreads out the fun and anticipation of a birthday (children love anticipation).

We never really did anything special in my family growing up for birthday eves, but it was fun anyway to call them that. I think I might try to come up with a birthday eve tradition for our family, but I haven't thought of anything yet. Any ideas?

A very merry unbirthday...

Does your family have a long space of time during the year when nobody has a birthday? Here's something to break up the monotony of everyday life: throw a surprise unbirthday party!