Dayton's 3rd Birthday Party

Dayton had a FABULOUS 3rd Birthday Party on Saturday! For this post, be prepared for pictures and pictures of this party because Dayton's loving grandparents, aunts, and uncles, could not be here and we don't want them to miss anything. But I think there were only two times in the whole evening that my kids even looked at the camera because they were so overjoyed with everything else going on.

Dayton, Daphne, Susie, Paisley, and Mia all played a Dora game (that I had been preparing for a month!). It was NOT a girly Dora game, though (right, honey?). The guest list was exclusive due to the many preparations made for each child. My mom made backpacks for the kids to wear, and I put 'tools' in the backpacks for the obstacles along our journey (I had prepared the obstacles in different rooms of our house).

Dayton and Daphne's backpacks

I made this map for the kids to follow
Lake, Tunnel, Party House

The kids pulled out their maps to see where to go first

Daphne and Dayton intently listening to where we were headed

First stop: the Lake
In our basement

First the kids helped a family of ducks get to the lake.

Then we needed a way to get across the lake, so everyone pulled a numbered stepping stone out of their backpacks so we could follow the numbers across the lake. They also pulled out noise-makers to scare crocodiles away.

Stepping Stones to cross the LakeThe kids kept blowing their party noise-makers to make
sure crocodiles would stay away while we were there.

On our way up the stairs to the next room!

Next stop: the Tunnel

The tunnel was in the kids' room. From their backpacks, the kids pulled out small flashlights and glow-sticks so they could see where they were going in the completely dark room (windows were covered with black paper).

The kids found Boots hidden in the tunnel
and decided to bring him to the party with us.

The Boots that I printed and laminated
(instead of buying one!) The tunnel fell apart as Susie and Dayton
decided to poke their heads up in the middle.
Daphne loved playing with her flashlight.

Daphne shining her flashlight right in her eye

This picture makes me laugh

Swiper the Fox made an appearance in the tunnel; he was trying to swipe our flashlights. So the kids chanted "Swiper no swiping!" at him and he went away. But as we were leaving the room, Dayton wanted Swiper to come to his party, too. How thoughtful.

Final stop: Party House!
Here the kids had to shake the balloons to
find which ones were hiding bouncy balls.

Then we popped the balloons to keep the balls

Finally everyone got a present for making it to the party

Uncle Joe helping Dayton open his spinning light globe

I discovered that Derrick has a hidden talent: he can make balloon shapes! He made a few dogs and swords for the party. The swords were the most popular. Our friend Dave was such a trooper entertaining the kids and letting them all fight him.
After a dinner of soft-tacos, fruit salad, layered jello mold (by the way, Dayton's ENTIRE dinner was jello, and later cupcakes), and a superb spinach salad (for which I will post the recipe later since it was so highly sought after at the party), it was finally time for cake.

Dayton's Boots, Diego, and Dora Birthday Cake

I LOVE this picture of Dayton waiting while we sang to him

The cake took Dayton 3 blows- 1 for each candle

Opening presents- Dayton went for the biggest one first

His wonderful gifts from his family and friends This microphone later kept him very entertained and hyper

Dayton made a "stage" out of my treadmill in the basement.

He walked back and forth along the treadmill
while he sang many of the songs he knows.
He's a performer!

Derrick's favorite part of the evening:
Setting up Dayton's new soccer net
Derrick LOVES soccer, and has been wanting a net for Dayton

Michelle's favorite part of the evening:
Two of our exclusive guests (that I hadn't seen in a few months) told me that I look really skinny and appear to have been losing weight! I don't think I have, and I've been VERY inconsistent about exercising- even going a few empty weeks at a time, but OH MAN do I feel good now!!! I told Derrick that means I can start eating whatever I want. But I don't mean to detract from the immense gratification that I felt as I saw how much the kids loved the game.

Dayton and Daphne's favorite parts of the evening:
I could not even guess. They both loved every part of this birthday party- the friends, the game, the cake, and the presents.



Credit for this party idea ENTIRELY goes to Mary Hassell, my good friend from Provo, UT. She did this party months ago for her daughter, and I thought it was the neatest thing I'd ever seen, so I copied it exactly (except some adjustments for a boy). Mary- you're amazing. Thank you. All my time and efforts were COMPLETELY worth it, and I'd do it again. I'm hoping you have another wonderful party for Hannah next year that I can copy for Dayton's 4th birthday!!!