Carnival Party Part I - Photo Booth

As I mentioned in the previous post, we celebrated Ethan's 4th birthday with a carnival extravaganza!  I have been planning this party since last year when Ethan and I decided we were going to have a carnival for his 4th birthday - yes last year is what I wrote :)

I saw Anders Ruff's adorable carnival printables featured on their blog.  I have been in love with the blue/red color combo for a while and have always loved anything vintage.  I loved shabby chic before it was chic :)  I knew that their printables would fit the party perfectly.  ...And then...I found just as adorable printables from Dimple Prints that also matched the party theme and had to have those too!  Yes, I am a printable addict.  The first step is admitting...

I realize carnival parties are all over the place these days - hosting one probably won't get me featured on the big party websites.  I've come to terms with that - I really wanted to have a party that celebrated Ethan and his sweet, kind, warm heart.  So, a fun, (perhaps over the top) carnival party it was.  And let me tell you, it was!!!  When he looked at me with his dimpled grin and gave me the thumbs up, I knew I did good :) 

Given that this party was all about fun and the kids, I wanted to start this week of posts with one of the most fun things from the party - the Photo Booth.  The photo booth set the tone for the party - fun, whimsical and silly.  The kids had a blast dressing up for the camera and hamming it up.  I'll list the sources at the end of the post, but I'm sorry to say I do not remember where I found the red polka dot fabric. 

Hand held photo booth props - Little Retreats

Carnival photo booth props - Target dollar aisle

Photo frames - Hobby Lobby clearance aisle

Ring Leader Stand Up - Oriental Trading

Photo Booth Banner - Charmed Beginnings

Balloons - Oh Goodie Designs

Ethan and Grace's shirts - Izzy B Designs

Clown noses - Oriental Trading

Thank you for looking!  Next up - the Prize Table :)

Sneak Peak of our Carnival Party

Oh I am exhausted!  Yesterday was Ethan's 4th Birthday Carnival Extravaganza!  What a day!  I have so much to share and don't know where to start.  So today I am going to share a sneak peak of each of the "areas" of the party. 

Later this week I'll give you the details, vendors and lots more pics of the great fun.  I have to say, this party was SO much fun!  I know there are a ton of carnival parties out there and for good reason - what a great way to celebrate a child's party - fun for the kids and the kids at heart!  Here is a quick peak at some of Ethan's Carnival Fun!

The Birthday Boy

Photo Booth

Prizes

Sweets Table

Nacho Bar

Fun and Games

Decorations

 Can't wait to share with you all the details, including the fabulous vendors later this week! 

A boy and his tractor...

I think I may have mentioned in a post or two that we are so fortunate to have a professional photographer in the family.  My Aunt Debbie is one of the best in these parts.  Check out her work here:  Debbie Daanen Photography.  She recently hired on one of the best up and coming photographers as well, Ashley Schmit.  Needless to say, my walls are full supported by lots and lots of pictures!  I can not say enough how blessed we are.

As most moms out there know, it is much easier coming up with cute, adorable ideas for little girls' pictures.  Grace has had all the cute ones - the petti skirt, the ballet pictures, the tea party pictures.  But when it comes to little boys, the ideas are just not as many, and usually not as cute.

This year however, I scored!  My family has had a Ford tractor in the family for over 70 years.  My great grandfather owned the tractor when he had a small farm.  He passed it on to my Papa Pat who then passed it on to my Uncle Jamie, Debbie's husband.  That tractor is really part of our family. Some of my fondest memories of my Papa Pat is him driving that tractor. 

So, as I lay awake wondering what I could do for Ethan's 4 year pictures this year, it hit me - the tractor!  And let me tell you, I think the tractor may have found it's way to the next generation.  Ethan was so excited to be on that tractor.  It probably helped that my Uncle Jamie let him drive it down the driveway to where Aunt Debbie wanted it for the pictures.  All the way down the driveway, he was yelling, "Yee Haw!  Ya Hoo!"  He LOVED it.  And, it meant so much to me that Ethan had his picture with his Great Great Grandpa's tractor.  I know my Papa Pat was smiling down that day!

Debbie graciously allowed me to share a few of the pictures on Buckets of Grace.  If you have a chance, check out her work, and if you are in the area, give her a call. 

Photo by:  Debbie Daanen Photography

Photo by:  Debbie Daanen Photography

This one is my FAVORITE!  That grin and that twinkle in his eye is SO Ethan!

Only two weeks to go until my baby turns four.  I better get to losing that baby weight.  I'm thinking by the time he starts pre-school, I can't be claiming it as baby weight :)  Enjoy your weekend!

Buckets of New News...

It has been a while since I posted last...and for good reason...  Things have been a changin' here at our house.  Despite all of the awful things that have been happening here in Wisconsin since February, some guardian angel has been watching over us...  I am very fortunate that I was given an opportunity to take my job paying career in a new direction.  I started a new job this week.  As a result, I may not be posting as much but hope to continue to do the things I love, which include party plan and blog...  I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason - we may not like it, but it does.  So, I am embracing this change and challenge and looking forward to the new opportunities.

Speaking of change... As of today, I officially have a 2nd grader!  I've seen all the cute printables out there for back-to-school pics.  They are adorable!!!  However, I had to stick with my traditional blackboard for our back-to-school pictures.  Every year, I take Grace's picture in front of the front door so we can see from the beginning of school to the end of school and from school year to school year just how much she has grown.  The 9 month difference is truly remarkable.

 

1st Grade - 2010-11                                   2nd Grade - 2011-12

Grace insisted on picking out her own back-to-school outfit this year.  I came to terms with my control-freak nature and reconciled not being able to pick out some adorable matchy-matchy outfit from Gymboree and relented.  Sometimes letting them grow up is hard to do.  Grace picked out her own outfit and insisted on her first pair of skinny jeans from Gap.  Little did we know when we bought the outfit in July that it would be 90 degrees in Wisconsin on September 1st.  Despite the hot temps, Grace insisted on wearing those skinny jeans.  I was afraid she'd pass out from the jeans being tight, but add on the heat and I was really worried :)  So, I made her pack a pair of shorts in case she felt like she was going to pass out in the middle of gym class.  She refused to give in though and wore them all day...

Ethan starts pre-school next week, so no fancy outfit for him.  He had to go with his Packer shirt to support a Packer victory tonight.  He'll wear his "handsome" shirt next week he tells me.  So here is to a great school year, new beginnings and new opportunities.  May you all have a great year!

Summer Party - "Park" Style

We hosted our friends for a fun summer party - for the adult crowd this time.  The theme was trailer park/redneck/whatever you want to come as, but just have fun.  And fun we had!!!  All of our friends put so much time and effort into their costumes and "accessories."  This party was an absolute blast!!!    Here are pics of the food, decor and fun.  I'll try to include details

Food

Our menu would not earn us any spot on any Food Network Show, that's for sure.  We served hot dogs, spaghettios, mac and cheese, beef jerky, bologna and cheese sandwiches on Wonder Bread, pork rinds, Cheetos, spam, chips and beer dip and a few other appetizing dishes.  I served most of the food using ice cream pails, cool whip containers and butter containers.  I used leftover plates and napkins from other events and used paper towels.  It screamed class!  Here are a few pics of the Hostess Cake and the sandwiches.

Drinks

This party was the perfect venue for cheap, but tasty drinks.  I made Wap, served really cheap beer like PBR, Natural Light and Red Dog.  We also had Boone's Farm.  To make the drinks taste extra yummy, I made Redneck Wine Glasses using Kerr jars, candlesticks from the dollar store and epoxy glue.

Favors

I found candy cigarettes and lovely ash trays from the dollar store.  Everyone seemed to appreciate the lost childhood favorite!

Decorations

Pink flamingos seemed to say it all for the party.  I found some in the dollar aisle at Target and also from Oriental Trading Co.

My husband made this sign and I painted it for the front yard.  He then decided the lawn needed a little dressing up with the items from our garage :)

Nascar posters also were put to use to class up the place.  I found an entire box of them on eBay for a really good deal.  The guns came from the dollar store.  The orange and black signs were from Shopko.

Much to our neighbors' dislike, my husband let the grass grow out the week before the party and then decided to cut a few strips and leave the lawn mower sit in the front yard.  It was a great added touch.

Wisconsin recently passed a very "liberal" concealed weapon carry law.  This has caused a significant amount of for-profit companies to descend on Wisconsin promoting their concealed carry classes.  I found these signs for the party - they seemed to fit the theme a little too well!

Photo Booth Backdrop

The centerpiece to this photo backdrop was the garland deer I found at Fleet Farm at the end of Christmas.  It was a perfect fit!  I used camo covering, made my own lineup height measure and reused the racing banners from Ethan's Cars party.  I found the cardboard deer at Dick's Sporting Goods. 

I put together some photo booth props - hillbilly teeth, plastic flowers, trucker hats, a mullet wig, some racing flags and a shot gun.  I also had tattoos for those who came without.

The crowning jewel of the party was our neighbor's RV.  It was so perfect for the party and was quite the conversation piece.  I had to give it it's own address :)

This party was really a lot of fun.  Thanks to all of our friends for coming out, playing along and having such a great time!  I'm looking forward to more summer fun!