A couple of weeks ago, we got to travel to my niece Claire's 10th birthday party. I thought she had the most clever birthday party--a chocolate party! What girl--from 10...to er, well...41--doesn't LOVE chocolate?
I thought my sister planned a perfect party: Just the right mix of planned games and free play, low-key, and FUN!
Here is the birthday girl and her brother, and some mighty excited cousins to help her celebrate!
Yes, that's also the food table--chocolate chip cookie "cake," chocolate cupcakes, white chocolate popcorn. YUM.
This my new favorite way to hold a party: At a church gym! My sister's church has the most amazing kids' gym. Lots of space for the kids to run around, and nobody spills red Koolaid on the carpet. That is called a win-win.
This was the first game the girls played--Pass the candy over and under. The best part? The winners got to head to the Candy Store to choose 3 prizes.
What is the Candy Store?
This was my FAVORITE part of the chocolate party!!! Um, yeah, I pretended to win a few games, myself. I admit it. And I also must admit...I really really miss that Candy Store. I sure wish I had one of those Reeses right now. *Sigh*
Wanna see it up close? Translation: Want me to TORTURE YOU???
I'm sorry. That's just plain mean of me, isn't it? Which one makes your mouth water?
Every time a girl won a game, she got to pick 3 more of her favorites to put in her party favor bag. There were enough games that every girl went home with pretty full bags.
I thought this Chocolate Candy Bar Scramble game was BRILLIANT. Okay, so I typed it up. But, I must be honest with you...there were 2 mistakes that I found on the day of the party. I fixed one with a pen before the party...and one of the kids found the other one during the game. Can you find it? I guess I'm not so brilliant after all...
This game was FUN. Mystery Chocolate Guess. You may have played a similar game at a baby shower...except the candy would be presented inside tiny baby diapers. Note: I do not condone this game at baby showers. I don't want to sniff brown stuff inside a diaper. But, on a paper plate at a birthday party? Good, old fashioned FUN. Oh, I got 'em all right. Earned myself a Reeses...or two...or...
This game made me GIGGLE the most. It is called: Find the M&Ms! Except you can't use your hands. You must find the M&Ms by licking away the whipped cream. This game is also called: How much MORE can you HYPE UP the darling children??? Needless to say, the girls LOVED this game!
Well, there's the birthday girl and her sweet youngest cousin. Isn't he DARLING? I can't believe I didn't get a picture of his big sister--she is a DOLL!
The birthday party crew. Claire really has a very sweet group of friends.
Happy Birthday, sweet Claire! We sure do love you!
