Pirate Party: Asher's 3rd Birthday Party

**Warning: Photo intensive blog ahead (cause that' just how I roll)...proceed at your own risk!**

This year as Asher's birthday drew near, I debated on what to do.  With two kids I barely have any free time and throwing a party is a lot a work.  Additionally three of the best friends I have made here in Kenosha (along with their kids-Asher's friends) have moved away in the past nine months and I knew that a few of our other friends wouldn't be around or had plans during his birthday, so I wasn't even sure who would be able to come if I threw him a party.  As I thought about this, I started talking to my sister-in-law who was also thinking about an upcoming birthday party for her little guy (my nephew) Caleb who turned 4 at the beginning of June.  As we talked, I randomly suggested that we should just throw a family party together and although we were both kind of joking about it, the more we talked the better the idea sounded.  So, in the end that is what we ended up doing: a combined birthday party for Asher's 3rd and Caleb's 4th birthday with just family (and a very close family friend of theirs).  

I had already been thinking of a few different themes for the party and when we decided to combine our efforts I suggested one of them that I thought would work well for both boys: Pirates (since Asher's favorite TV show, and really the only thing he ever cares to watch, is Jake and the Neverland Pirates).  Erika was game, even though Caleb had said he wanted an "alphabet party" (...neither of us were quite sure what that would have meant, but both thought of telling him we were going to have the letter "Rrrrrr!"...he wasn't amused) and off we went into the land of Pinterest!  :)

The Invitation:

First was the invitation.  Usually, I love to make my own cards for these types of events, but I have been trying to push myself to simplify my life where possible.  I considered making invites but knew it would just stress me out.  My SIL suggested evite.com and when I found this invitation, I was in agreement:

Message from Host: Ahoy Matey!  Ye be invited to Caleb & Asher's Pirate Birthday Party for a Treasure Hunt, some Grub and a Splash in the Sea (weather permitting fun at the splash park) to celebrate their 4th and 3rd birthdays!
-Erika Klingenmaier & Tracy Migrin

The Decorations:

Not only did we go with an emailed invitation, but I also vowed to myself to simplify the decorations.  Now Eric would probably not agree that what I ended up with was "simple", but compared to what I had put myself through the previous two years (1st Birthday / 2nd Birthday), this was simple and my Silhouette Cameo was a BIG help!!

Photo Props, Crocidiles, Food Cards and Ship Sails

Game Signs & Treasure Maps

The food table with the food cards & photo props

The dining table.  I simply used a white table cloth with a brown paper runner.  Then we threw on some skull and cross bones I'd cut from my machine, some candy treasures, some treasure map placemats that Erika had found and other assorted items we had left over from the decorations and treasure boxes.

Behind the table, I used some crinkled brown paper (that was actually in Amazon packages I had gotten earlier in the week for Eric & Asher's birthday presents) along with some crepe paper and balloons.

To add a little more fun, I typed up a "What Be Yer Birate Name?" sheet and gave some labels for everyone to get their own pirate name for the day.  I based the names off a list I found on Pinterest, but rather than using the first letter of our First, Middle and Last names, I did the first and last letter of our first name and first letter of our middle name (because of the 20+ people at the party, there were only about 3 last names total as it was a family party).  My pirate name was "Red Thomas Barnacle" and the birthday boys' names were: "Captain Spike Beard" (Asher) and "Squidlips Jim Tree Gates" (Caleb).

The Guests:
Other than Aaron and Erika's close friend Beckie, the guest list included us and our families: My parents, Erika's parents, Eric's parents and Erika's brother's family.

Avery & Grandma M

Aaron, Gramps M, Caleb's Grandpa (Pops) & Papa K.

Caleb's Aunt Julie & Cousin Eliza

Caleb's Grandma (Nini) & Cousin Christopher

Caleb's Uncle Jim, Auntie Julie & Cousin Christoper

The Treasure Hunt: 
What Pirate Party is complete without a Treasure Hunt?  Since Asher is finally at an age that he can really participate in things and understands the idea of a party in the first place, I really wanted to focus the party on making sure the kids had fun.  After scouring Pinterest during my evening nursing sessions, I came up with six games for the kids to play that I tailored as needed to take the kids on a Neverland journey to their treasure.

I designed and printed these treasure maps for the kids to get and use on our journey.

1. Aw Coconuts!

"Bowl with the coconut and knock down the pins to get your treasure map!"

First we had "Aw Coconuts" to get a treasure map like Cubby.

I used some Jake & the Neverland Pirates bowling pins that Asher already had and centered them between 2x4's to use as bumpers for the coconut (aka bowling ball).  Once the kids knocked down the pins, they each got their own treasure map (shown above).

2. Walk the Plank

"Walk the plank past Tic Toc Croc and his friends if you dare to prove your pirate worth and join the crew!"

Next the kids had to "Walk the Plank" to join the pirate crew.  Once they safely made is through the swamp, the kids were given compasses, eye patches and pirate tattoos to officially be part of the crew!

Here, the water is a blue tarp and the plank is a 2x4 for the kids to balance on.  The crocodile heads I made with my Silhouette Cameo by tracing an online image I found.

3. Catch of the Day

"When you're part of the crew, you have to pitch in and do your part.  Go fishing to get some grub for your journey ahead!"

After the kids walked the plank, they next had to go fishing to get some food (what else, but Goldfish crackers?) for their journey.

I came up with this game on my own as I reminisced playing as a kid at my hometown's annual Memorial Day carnival.  There was always a fishing game that you always won a prize and it was my favorite (probably because I couldn't lose).  For this game, we just hung a sheet across the swing set and then I tied a string and clothes pin to Asher's play fishing pole.  My brother played the fish and clipped the Goldfish onto the line so the kids could reel them in!

4. Ring Around the Sword

"Toss a ringer and get your sword!"

Once the kids had their food for the rest of the hunt, we headed to site #4 where the kids just had to get a ring around Jake's Sword to win a[n inflatable] sword of their own!

All this game required was a sword and some rings.  Erika found some rings for a water game at Walmart and I found directions to make Jake's Forever Sword online and then just enlarged them.

5. Pixie Dust Punch

"Find the Pixie Dust to get some Pixie Dust of your very own!"

The second to last stop on our treasure hunt was to get some Pixie Dust like Izzy.  The kids each had to punch through one color until they found pixie dust (glitter).  Then they were prized with some pixie dust of their own (Pixy Stix).

For this game, all the credit goes to my brother.  Originally, I had thought that we would put glitter in balloons and have the kids pop them until they found glitter, but Erika said that a couple of her kids were not fans of popping balloons, so we had to think of something else.  I came up with this option instead but was thinking of a much simpler way to build it (simply screwing the cups to a board and covering the tops with tissue paper and a rubber band), but what Aaron came up with was much better...although time intensive.  It turned out great, I just felt bad that our miscommunication had resulted in him spending so much time (& money for a hole saw) on it!

6. Buried Treasure

"Beat Captain Hook to 'The Spot' and find your buried treasure!"

Finally, the last stop on our journey was at the 'X'..."The Spot" to search for buried treasure!

This game was pretty simple to put together as well.  Aaron and Erika got 5 large bins which he filled with leftover sand from their sandbox and then we buried treasure in each one for all five kids to find.  (In this picture Hudson & Micah were both very interested in what I was doing as they followed me around from site to site as I set up the games and had to inspect everything I put out!).  For the treasure, each of the kids got a JatNP puzzle and a treasure box filled with one can of play doh, some jewels & jewelry (aka Mardis Gras beads, a candy necklace and candy bracelet, a glow-in-the-dark bracelet and a flashing LED animal ring), some gold doubloons and gold bars and nuggets.

So now that you know what lay ahead for our little pirates, here are some pictures of them on The Hunt...

1. Aw Coconuts!

Caleb

Asher

Asher was a bit nervous to try out the coconut bowling, but once he did, he got a Strike!

Micah

Eliza

Hudson

Love the smile on Hudson in this picture...he is quite pleased with himself!  It's a good thing that we saved him for last though, because the coconut didn't survive his turn...he was a bit rough (typical 18mo!)

2. Walk the Plank

Hudson...apparently decided he'd just try to swim across! :)

Now part of the pirate crew: The kids getting their compasses, eye patches & tattoos.  Arrrrr!!

One cute little pirate!

Avery decided to give it a try too!

3. Catch of the Day

Caleb fishing while Asher & Micah look on from behind.

Asher, Caleb & Micah filling up on fish before the next game.

4. Ring Around the Sword

5. Pixie Dust Punch

Avery enjoying some of the Goldfish too!

6. Buried Treasure

Asher & Eric checking out his loot.

The Lull:

When the Treasure Hunt was over, everyone enjoyed some time to simply visit and/or play while we got the food ready for dinner.

Aaron working on dinner.

The Food:
The dinner included a pretty simple spread of Jewel Salad & Fruit Swords, Octopus Veggies, Cannonballs (cheese puffs), Ocean Jello (blue jello with Swedish fish), Seashell Pasta Salad, Gold Doubloon Mac & Cheese, Jolly Roger Pirate Ships (hamburgers) and Bucky Pirate Ships (brats).  For drinks we had Ocean Spray (water) and Jungle Juice (juice-Hugs barrels for the kids/pop-for the adults).  Finally for dessert we had Pirate Treasure (assorted pirate-y candies), Nutter Butter Crocodiles, Rice Krispie bars (thanks to Grandma M) and an awesome Pirate Ship Cake that Erika decided to take on (& turned out great!).

The Jewel Salad and Cannonballs, with the Octupus Veggies and Fruit Swords in the background.

Seashell Pasta Salad, Ocean Jello & Gold Doubloon Mac & Cheese

Bucky & Jolly Roger Pirate Ships

The Cake: All credit goes to Erika (I was just going to make some very simple cupcakes)!!  It turned out awesome!

Nutter Butter Crocodiles

Aaron & Mom enjoying their dinner.

Hudson: This boy can eat!...he is so well known for taking food that when Asher was eating his cake later this evening and Hudson came over, Asher was sure to slide his cake away from the little food thief!

The kids table!

Asher loves food too...maybe not quite as much as Hudson, but not far off!  He is also a very slow eater, as he gets distracted by everything going on around him.  For quite a while after everyone else was done eating, Asher sat at this table and continued to pick at his food.  Since we couldn't continue the party with cake or presents before the birthday boy was finished, we waited, visited and played...It drove Micah CRAZY!

Avery & his due date buddy Christopher.  These two were due on the same day, but Christopher came 4 days early and Avery came 5 days late!

When Asher was finally done with his dinner, and everyone had had some time for their stomachs to settle, Erika brought out the cake.  The kids had a good time taking a few pictures with the photo props and then Caleb and Asher soaked up the attention as they were serenaded with Happy Birthday!

Cubby or Caleb?

Izzy & Cubby

We tried to get "Jake" to join Izzy and Cubby for a picture...you can see how well that went...

The birthday boys!

I loved watching Asher's face as everyone sang to him.  He obviously enjoyed the attention and the song!

Asher blew out his candles with one swift blow, I couldn't even catch it on camera!

Video: Happy Birthday!

Family photo with the birthday boy.

Captain Caleb and his shipmates Cubby and (baby) Jake...or Jacqueline?  ;)

Love Caleb's wink in this picture!

A Jolly Crew!  The other birthday boy's family picture.

Caleb & his Croc.

Arrrrr!!!  Me and my little pirate.

My shipmate!

Asher enjoying his cake!

Avery loving Grandma's Pirate Treasure.

Avery loving on Grandma.

Asher & Grandma M

The Loot:
Finally, the party ended with a table full of pirate blunder!  Thankfully though, these gifts were not stolen, but graciously given and Asher and Caleb got quite the haul!

Asher with his new Karaoke machine from Grandma and Papa K

Curious George Matching Game

Walkie Talkies!

Asher at the moment he realized what was in the gift: A Jake & the Neverland Pirates Duplos set!

A Velociraptor!

The ship couldn't wait until we got home...for Asher OR his Daddy!

The ship shoots cannon too!

Captain Hudson!

So, that was our Pirate Party and I thought it was pretty great.  Of all the parties I've thrown so far, I think this one was my favorite, because it was the first one that was focused less on food and decorations and more on the kids having fun (because Asher is finally at an age old enough to appreciate it).  Although they threatened rain all day, the rain did hold off at least until all the games were done so we could enjoy the backyard adventure.  The rest of the time was spent inside, but we didn't let the rain ruin the day.  We had an awesome time visiting, eating and playing, but the best part for me was watching the looks of wonder, excitement and pure joy on my little guy's face as he enjoyed his third birthday party!  I love that little man!  <3