The 11th Birthday Party - The Outside Birthday Spectacular!

It was definitely a different sort of birthday with covid still wrecking havoc.  I was determined to use it to our advantage and make her eleventh...extra special.  

On her actual birthday she awakened to this. 

Since it was a school day, she zoomed in the morning and assumed she would have to get back on after lunch, but I already told her teacher we had a surprise for her with a friend coming by and wouldn't be there. Amelia had no idea.

She was so excited to have her best buddy over for the entire afternoon. 

She claimed it was the best birthday ever. 

On the following Sunday we had another spectacular day!   We only invited a few kids, asked that everyone wear masks and keep everything outdoors with lots of activities. First up sledding until everyone arrived. 

Then hot cocoa and s'mores!  

How about a game of Marshmallow Stacking ...

and Snowball Toss.

Ordered Pizza and had individual bagged chips and drinks.  No super fancy foods which made it easy for me and since it was different ... they loved it!

Next a game of Hula Hoop Toss.  They got to keep a hula hoop at the end of the day.

Then a very spirited egg hunt with eggs hidden all over.  The golden egg, one for each scattered across a couple acres, enclosed a crisp, cold $5 bill.  They loved it!

Then it was time for the Greedy Gift Grabber.  Five gifts were wrapped in the basket.  The winners of the games earlier assured their spots to be at the end so they could "greedily grab" the gift of another if they wished. The only boy at the party had a surprise at the end (it was his and my secret) ... he could switch any gift with another....obviously a little brother loved this idea!  

At the end of the party though all guests received one of all the gifts in their goody bag with the boy getting his own bag of goodies.  I think they all know they will get all the prizes,  as I always do that, but they love it even though they know the ending!

Time for some ice cream cake and donuts (Amelia's request in lieu of a cake)!  

Lastly, a unicorn piñata smash for some extra candy on their way out.  A bit more sledding too!

For many years I thought a birthday party outside would be great.  Sometimes things just work out ... she claimed it was one of the best parties ever! 

Moose and Belated Valentine's Card

 It seems every March we have an infestation of Moose.

Our Valentine's Day card that I missed posting in "Since Christmas" post.