Owen turned five last week and Gavin turned two last month. To celebrate, we held a small birthday party for the two brothers. Owen wanted a paper plane party and Gavin didn't object; so, paper planes it was!
We let Owen invite six friends (five + one to grow on) and included their siblings (you know, Gavin's friends, Gavin had a lot of say in this party, you see). Honestly, though, Owen loves his little brother SOOOO much that he really wanted to share the party with him even though it meant that Owen couldn't invite all of his friends. So, Gavin was certainly very much considered. And, the party was mighty cute. Owen came up with all of the games and most of the decoration ideas all by his little, then four year old, self. I just helped make it all happen!
The guests of honor in their paper airplane birthday shirts.
Propeller Pops made from a tutorial I found on Pinterest.
In-flight snacks! We bagged animal crackers, peanuts, pretzels, and goldfish to snack on!
The cake table.
The VIP section! I did a Brie en Croute and had mixers for the VIPs (Very Important Parents).
Owen LOVING his party! Miss Kate and Miss Anna were helping the kiddos make paper planes at the craft table!
Gavin's party room was buzzing with activity --all the babies and the parents gathered in this tiny room!
We cut holes out of a B&W Paris poster to throw planes through.
Gavin coming to check out "Owen's party room" and feeling a little overwhelmed.
The paper plane flying contest.
Pin the Propeller on the Plane.
The craft. We painted die cut planes, glued them on blue card stock, added some cotton clouds. Call it a craft.
Owen's runway! The object of the game was to land the plane at the end -- I think they did just that!
We sang to Owen. He loved it for the first time in the history of his birthday parties.
Little Liam was feeling a bit left out. Since he turned 3 1/2 on Dec 29th, we celebrated that. He got 3 candles and a 1/2 candle. And we sang. He was a happy middle brother after that!
We did not, however, sing to Gavers. I have to admit I was very surprised. He acts like a three year old. He does just about anything his brothers do. But, he got nervous. So, we let the kids dig into their cupcakes.
I didn't follow Emily Post's advice -- I let Owen open his gifts during his party. He loves picking out gifts for his friends. Hates leaving parties without his gift being opened by them. And, he really, really, really wanted to open them. I figured we opened gifts at our parties when I was little and survived....so, why not live on the edge. Now, I may end up needing reminders of what our friends and family gave the guys as I wasn't there with pen and paper....maybe that is the problem Emily Post has with the process :-/
Okay. So, this last "game" was totally, 100%, completely Owen's idea and the only idea that I totally, 100%, completely thought he could a) not pull off or b) would get to shy to even try. But, he was determined. Owen decided that since we decorated the favor bags to look like luggage, the kiddos should experience baggage claim. He wanted to slide the bags down the stairs. And, by golly, he did. The didn't all arrive in-tact. Some got a little shaken, some items fell, some got a bit damaged, and a few made it right where they were intended. But, hey, that's no different from real baggage claim, right?
So much fun!!!!!
