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I told you a few weeks ago I’d be sharing some of the themed kids parties we did for our boys over the years. We started with a Pirate themed party and next I’d like to give you some ideas if you’re planning a Farm Party.
Let me remind you, and ask for your grace, regarding the quality of the pictures. My kids are in 10th and 12th grades right now. These pictures were taken many years ago, and scanned from scrapbooks. Funny thing…when I look at my teenagers today, I still see the little boys in these pictures. (Pause for sentimental mom moment)
Farm Party Invitations
We typed up simple invitations with a picture of a cow and some hay with the title, “Old Mc—– Had a Birthday! E-I-E-I-O” Funny, I remember a couple of kids showing up disappointed that we didn’t have real pigs and chicks. I might re-word that part. Maybe saying, “Be sure to dress for farm life…it can get messy”… or something like that. (I learned my lesson with a Construction Party when one little girl showed up in her party dress and we were going to be painting and building. After that, I always put clothing suggestions in invitations.)
Farm Fun and Games
Red plastic table cloths taped in place created a ‘barn’ out of our round picnic table. We also had a rocking horse on springs that we brought out for the kids to ride. I was sure to get a picture of each guest on the horse, complete with bandana and hat. We sent them out in the thank you notes.
We started out in the backyard with free play time with the swing set, the ‘barn’ and the horse rides.
After awhile, Farmer Dad came out with a giant bag of ‘pigs’ (pink balloons) that the kids needed to help him rustle up. He dumped out the bag and told the kids to gather them into the barn. We heard a lot “This is too easy”…until a giant wind came through and then they really had to run to chase the ‘pigs’ down.
After they were all in the barn (under the picnic table), Farmer Dad enlisted the kids help to return them to the bag. A spontaneous “Pop the pigs” somehow began, which ended up bursting the bag and scattering the ‘pigs’ again. They had just as much fun rustling the pigs a second time!
Food and Favors
All the hungry farmers came in the house for some grub and were not disappointed.
Chocolate cupcakes, frosted in pink, topped with a pink frosted marshmallow nose made perfect little piggies. I used brown M&Ms for the eyes and chocolate chips for the nostrils. Extra cake batter got baked up in a pie plate and frosted with chocolate frosting and chocolate chips. It made a perfect mud pit for our pigs. A green table cloth and green Easter grass completed our farmyard table.
We served chocolate ice cream (mud) from a plastic bucket with a shovel. Each guest also had their own pail and shovel at their place to take home as a favor.
After gift opening, we brought the kids back outside to play until moms and dads arrived. And yes, even though this was like 10 years ago…I remember being SO thankful that the weather was good! Being able to let the kids run around outside makes birthday parties so much less stressful, in my experience.
Am I the only one who used my kids’ birthday parties as my creative outlet? Construction parties, pirate parties, farm parties, secret agent spy parties… If you’re in that season of parenting – enjoy it! When they’re teenagers pig cupcakes aren’t on their wish list. 😉
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