a halloween party for the books

Yesterday, we got the party season started with a Halloween party at Vao's house. I first met Vao when we danced together at PCC way back when and she's been my dear friend ever since. She just moved here from Texas and I am SO excited that we now live close enough to hang out. She invited us over to her house for what I thought was gonna be a small kine Halloween playdate. . . but it turned out to be like, the bombest Halloween party ever. Seriously, Martha's got nothin' on this girl. She prepared so well and all the kids had so much fun. Even though it's going to take forever, I want to record every detail so I can use her great ideas next year. he he


They started out with pumpkins! Each kid had their own to decorate and instead of knives or paint (too messy) they had a bajillion different foam stickers to put on their pumpkins. The kids loved it and the moms were very pleased with the cleanup.


When Vao said we'd be playing games, I was slightly wary of the idea of organized games for such young kids. BUT she made them all simple and short so they understood it and never got bored. Malia LOVED it! The first was a Ghost Race - they had to keep a white balloon (with a ghost face) on their plate while running races - and then Pumpkin Ring Toss - Malia didn't get any of her rings on the pumpkins but she sure celebrated like she had.


After, they played Pin the Sticker on the Skeletons Head (random, huh, but they loved it) and Find the Scary Critter - the kids had to unroll a bundle of toilet paper until they found different little insects in the bundle (again, very random - but they LOVED it!)


Then, we went outside! The kids had a Pumpkin Toss (just a blanket and soft pumpkin - so easy!) and a Mummy Making. Tali made a very good mummy.


They played Musical Mats (with Halloween music, of course) and then my favorite game of the day - Monsters Gonna Get YOu . . . I think it was just an excuse for the moms to spray the kids and each other with silly string . . .

But we all loved it! ha ha

The games worked up quite an appetite. We went back inside for the lunch of champions - Pizza, fresh fruit, Capri Sun and CUPCAKES! YuM!!


This was my favorite idea of the whole day - caramel apple lollipops! Instead of dipping the whole apple into caramel - messy and too much for kids to finish - she used a melon scooper to get little apple balls, stuck them on lollipop sticks then dipped them in caramel! So smart, huh! There was also sprinkles and nuts to roll on if desired. It was super yummy and VERY easy to clean up. We finished the party with a pumpkin pinata. Someone please teach that poor little girl how to hold a bat.

Whew! A day full of fun and laughs. . . AND great ideas to one day duplicate. ha ha Thanks Vao!!!
Love these girls! - me, Muimui, Tali, Lene, Vao

Happy Halloween!!