Vintage Picnic Birthday Party

About five weeks ago I was talking with Jellyfish about his soon to be here birthday, and was re-checking with him what he wanted to do. Originally I had told him I wasn't going to throw a birthday party since he had a big one last year (that somehow I never really posted about), but that I wanted to keep it just for us. At the time he said he wanted to go for  a picnic - which I thought was pretty cool.

Fast forward till the end of August. He still held to the picnic idea. But there was more. This almost five year old knew what he wanted. A caravan. Made of cardboard. Like the Jeep that Daddy had made the year before. Actually, he asked for an Airstream caravan (Which he didn't get because the effort of getting the cardboard rounded in 3D was more effort than we wanted to expend).

Waiting to go outside...

 
During the morning of the party the kids played vintage games. Bean bag toss, sack races, and egg and spoon races. We substituted golf balls for the eggs since they are about the same weight. Prizes were items such as Kazoo's, little pinwheel hair clips, vintage matchbox cars and vintage style candy for the team games. There were hula hoops for young and old to play with, and a game of Boules for the adults. The majority of the time though they spent playing in the caravan.

The food was served in picnic baskets. I gathered the picnic baskets that I already had, and took a trip to the local oppy (thrift store) to gather a few more. Cleaned them up and filled them with quiche, gourmet sandwiches (which my hunky hubs made on the day), various salads, and scones that my SIL made. Ooh were they good! :) Once filled, we put the picnic baskets in the middle of the picnic rugs (we asked everyone to bring a rug), and the sharing of baskets and time began!

On a table set with vintage linens (the yellow gingham was thrifted) were caramel popcorn, pecan pie, two types of Oreo truffles (OK, well they weren't exactly vintage, but the two older boys had a blast helping me make them a couple of days before the party - we just stored them in the freezer till party day) watermelon, strawberries, vintage jars of candy, gluten and dairy free brownies and orange cake, and vintage Vacola preserve bottles that were my Mum's filled with pin wheels for the kids to play with/take home.

 The cake was a numeral 5, topped with cloudburst frosting, and strawberries and mint, which Jellyfish had asked for months before hand, and kept asking for.

He ended the official party with gift opening, and then he handed out the pinwheels to all the children and sugar crunch Caravan biscuits to everyone as they were leaving. Tired does not begin to describe how I felt - but it was totally worth it!

Happy Birthday my gorgeous five year old! You are amazing, and it is such an adventure watching you grow, learn, love and explore.  We love you so much!!!

P.S. Stay tuned for more Vintage Picnic Birthday details!

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