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Friday, June 29, 2012

An Alligator Swamp Party!

We celebrated our sweet Ben’s 6th birthday today. Please excuse me while I crawl into the fetal position and cry for a few minutes.

OK. I’m back… let’s talk about the party. I turned Ben loose on a kids’ party idea website last month (what was I thinking?!) and he decided that he wanted an “Alligator Swamp Party”. You might think that I was thrilled with this theme, given my South Louisiana Cajun heritage, but I must admit that I have not watched a single episode of Swamp People. I was a little bit lost in the beginning. Thanks to Pinterest, things were back on track pretty quickly!

We are so excited that our new neighborhood has a pool, and it also has a covered picnic area adjacent to the pool that residents can reserve. Swamp theme + 100 degree June weather = Pool Party!

 Once we had the location and theme set, I got to work on the invitations. Ben loved them! :)
Ben 6th Invite

His party ended up being pretty small (a drawback of having a birthday near the 4th of July – everyone always seems to be out of town). Regardless, he had a blast swimming with his friends and eating lots of yummy food and treats.
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Happy Birthday, Benji!
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The birthday banner
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For this party, I just planned the food around the swamp theme. There really wasn’t anything else to plan because we just played (and played and played and played) in the pool!

We had potato chips, watermelon, chocolate covered strawberries, grape ka-bobs, lime jell-o, dirt cake, green Hawaiian punch, and swamp dogs (aka hot dogs).
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The birthday cake had a swamp scene complete with a tree stump, cattails, a frog, a snake, and an alligator.


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 For favors, Ben and I made some homemade gak using this recipe. We put it in little push pop containers with a little wrapper that said “Enjoy some swamp slime!”

 
I was able to snag one picture with my two (when they came by to scout the food table).
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Two of my favorite guys, ready for a swim.
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After a quick bite to eat, it was splash time. They played HARD until it was time for cake. In fact, Ithink this was the first party where I’ve had to initiate cake time – normally they’re bugging me about it from the time the festivities start! Hooray for parties at the pool!
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 Cheetohs + swimming = best day ever!
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I love how Noah’s shirt rides up his belly like Pooh Bear.
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I picked up this cute ring toss alligator game on Amazon. They boys tossed rings for a bit. Then they wrestled the gator and rode him around the pool a lot!
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Then Brian decided they should try to toss rings at Ben.


Nice cannon ball, Jonhenry!
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Splashing around with Tanner
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Gracie usually sticks to the kiddie pool, but her little inner tube gave her the confidence she needed to jump into the deep swamp waters!
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Checking for gators…
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 Ready….
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set…
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 JUMP!!!
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All that jumping & swimming was hard work – so it was nice to be able to join Sweetie for a relaxing float.
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Paw Paw was in charge of keeping Noah from drowning. Sometimes he was more successful than others.
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Thankfully Noah’s bestie, Rylan was around to cheer him up!
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Brian had a friend to play with, too. :)
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I was finally able to drag the boys out of the pool for cake. Brian & Randy miraculously lit the candles (despite the crazy strong breeze), and we sang to Ben.
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Ben did a great job blowing out his SIX candles (while JH gobbled a gator tail in the background.)
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Before his friends left, they each gave Ben a sweet gift. Jonhenry was showing him how to work the little basketball game that he gave Ben. Such concentration.
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Tanner, JH & Ben trying to warm up – it was chilly outside of the pool.
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Ben had a great time with his buddies! The boys all played so well together and really tired themselves OUT! I’m guessing that Ben will be requesting lots of pool parties in the future.
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Once again, I can’t believe my BABY is SIX!!! Didn’t he just look like this?
Ben's 1st picture

Happy Birthday, Benji Bear!

21 comments:

  1. I came across this page on google, and i have to ask were did you find the cute party invations? Planning a swamp bithday party also and can not find any invite any where. Thanks for your help in advance.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the sweet compliment! I actually made it myself in Publisher. Give me your email and I'll send you the file. :)

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  2. LOVE your invitation!! Did you make it or did you have it printed by a company. Doing a swamp party for my nephew and I'm looking for ideas. Come across your site. Neat ideas. Thanks :)

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    1. Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much - I made the invite myself. I think I still have the file somewhere. I can email it to you if you want it. :)

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    2. Wonderful!! You did a AWESOME job on it!! If you do have the file I would love to have it. My email is jaskew174@gmail.com! Thanks :)

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  3. Where did you find your images for all of the decorations and invitations? I love what you did. I'm planning a "Swamp/Alligator" party for daughters 6th birthday coming up and it hard to find the perfect images.

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    1. Hi Shelly

      Give me your email and I'll send you some links and explain how I made it. :)

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    2. Awesome, thanks. :)
      smccarron1381@gmail.com

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  4. Hi I am planning a swamp party and I too LOVE your invitation! I can't find anything swampyish anywhere to match our theme! Would you be willing to email me the file as well? I can even pay you for it.. :) My email is denisematwood@yahoo.com I realize this is quite a few months after your post..but I'm hoping it's something you still have. I'm stumped with what to do for this party. lol Either way THANKS for sharring your party ideas..they were all fabulous!

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  5. My son is turning 6 and loves swamp people. I didn't know where to start but I found your blog and. U saved me! Where did u find the push up holders for the party favors? Me email is hnester83@AOL.com thanks!!

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    Replies
    1. I also sent this to your email, but here is the link for the push pops: http://www.amazon.com/Push-Pop-Containers-Clear-Plastic/dp/B005GWN1VC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1361561318&sr=8-4&keywords=push+pop+containers

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  6. I love all the printable food tags, how to??!! I'm kinda computer illiterate.
    Thanks.
    Sarahbevistaylor@hotmail.com

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  7. Hi, would you send me the food tags too please! They look great! Thanks so much!
    Christina
    barlowca@msn.com

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  8. Hello, can you please send me the food tags? thanks!
    glov3@aol.com

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  9. what did you use in the "eyes" of the jelly swamp monster? are those chocolate chips in the marshmallows?

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  10. I know this is such a loooong time since our party - would you be willing to send an electronic copy of your food labels please!

    sooo adorable!

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  11. Hi! Could you please send me the food tags? I love the gator ade one. Ashleymelber@ymail.com Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Sorry - these files were lost long ago on an old computer! :(

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  12. I had been to an alligator swamp party once and that was truly a wonderful experience. That party was kind of a musical one and that is why the host organized it at best home studios NYC. It was such a great fun and till that time I also wish to plan a party like that.

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  13. All of your party decorations are perfect! We are having an alligator-themed wedding shower for a friend. (She loves gators!) Will you tell me where you got your labels (like on the water dispenser)? THANK YOU!!!

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