The Batman\Barn Baby Party

A week ago today, we hosted family and friends at our house to celebrate Cade's birthday. As the birthday boy's current obsession is Batman and our entertainment would be a little petting zoo, the Batman\Barn Baby party theme was born! And with some help from Mike's talented cousin, our guest received this fantastic invite:

Hysterical, right?

As always, we could not have pulled off this event without my parents. My Mom did a crazy amount of crafting, provided lots of help to me planning the details along the way, made an awesome cake (which you'll see later) and just helped with anything needed. My Dad attacked any task we gave him and was an awesome help. Not to mention, they also help to host...got to chat with my guests and move the party events along while I was running around everywhere. I can't thank them enough!

Here are a few things we did to make this party one of a kind:

Batman Decorated Drinks
The water bottle stickers said Cade's 3rd Birthday

My Mom made a cape for each of the kids to wear at the party and take home. Big hit!

Mike drew out this great skyline that said "Happy Birthday Cade"
that all the kids got to help decorate as they arrived for the party.

I made a little photo booth opportunity for the kids with the birthday theme.
Unfortunately, the only folks that I think used this were the first arrivals I was able to
personally inform as to what that little set up was all about.

Since our kids are still too young for drop off birthday parties, I figure if the parents have to come, they should enjoy themselves too! It was a true family party event. Our group of friends and our families enjoyed it as much as the kids (at least that's what I've been told). Supply the right beverages, cute animals, food, cake and happy kids....what else would you want?

Libby and Cade

Me and My Boys
(At my request, my Mom also made a cape for me...isn't she the best?)

Libby and Cici
Cici, as usual, wanted to be in the mix. The little girls were begging to hold him.
So it was a happy surprise for them to learn they would be holding all kinds of animals that day.

The invite list consisted of Mike's family, my parents (of course) and our local friends that have kids Cade's age. We haven't really gotten to know any of the kids in Cade's preschool class yet, so his friends are Dylan's friends siblings.

Dylan's Friend Chris
He had a play date with Dylan at the end of this week.
He was wearing his cape when he arrived.
Apparently he thinks it's the best thing he's ever gotten! Cute.

Molly, Libby and Cade

Cade's Friend Charlie (Chris's Brother)

Mackenzie - Dylan's Friend

Arden, Cade's Friend (Mackenzie's Little Sister)

Caroline, Cade's Friend (Libby's Little Sister)

Our Friend Alex (Dylan's Friend Isabella's Little Brother)

Alex and His Mom Eleni

Other than coloring the skyline, I had a couple of other activities for the kids outside the main entertainment. One activity was decorating balloons like farm animals with stickers. Some of the kids really liked that. No kid said no to taking some of the extra balloons home. We also had a batman game that we were apparently having too much fun to get around too.

Molly Decorating a Cow Balloon

If you've read about any of the kids' birthday parties on this blog, then you no doubt remember how awesome my Mom is at cake creation. As usual, she did not disappoint this year. Not only did the cake look great, it tasted delicious too!

Batman and His Barn Babies

Edible decor included starburst ears\beaks\noses, M&M eyes, marshmallow wool, chocolate batman emblems, graham cracker roof, cupcake silo and pretzel doors. Delicious!

The big entertainment was the animals, of course. The Barn Babies did a great job (both the company that ran it and the animals). They sat the kids down for a rules presentation then started wrapping up babies and handing them out to the kids. There were also 3 pens. One had 2 puppies, one a pig and the other a diapered goat! Cade thought that the goat wearing a diaper was hysterical!

All the kids were so sweet and gentle with the animals. It was absolutely precious to see. I was surrounded by such a ridiculous amount of cuteness it was almost overwhelming.

Birthday Boy's First Choice to Hold - A Kitten

They were rocking these kittens like little babies. Too adorable.

Arden Getting Kisses From the Puppies

3 Cute Girls, 3 Cute Baby Animals - See! Extreme Cuteness!
Libby, Molly and Isabella with Bunnies and Kitten

Charlie with Bunny

Neighbor Mikey with Baby Bunny

Emily With Tootsie the Pig

The pig was a bit hit. She was such a sweetheart! If you sat criss cross applesauce, she would come snuggle in your lap. She loved snuggling so much that she wouldn't let you get up willingly. The 2 people that were working the party would have to come remove her so that you could get up.

Jacob, Corwin and Emily with Tootsie

Pipaw with a Bunny

They also brought this chicken whose name was Sweetie.
She had really cool markings and plumage and was sweet as her name suggested.

Cade with Sweetie

Auntie Maureen with the Pups

Cade with Bunny

Cade's Bud Ethan (Molly's Younger Brother) with Bunny

Ahhhh! Isabella with Bunny

Mike and His Parents with Bunnies

Cade and the Goat

Tootsie liked to smell your armpit before she settled in to snuggle.
Molly and Dylan both giggled a lot at that.

Cade wouldn't go in the pen to see Tootsie without me. Once I was in with the boys,
they both loved brushing her and petting her. I liked snuggling her.

Being the birthday boy, Cade got an opportunity to walk the goat!

And so did I!

Goat Hugs

I think Uncle Jim would have taken Tootsie home if he could have.
Once the kids had mostly lost interest, Jim took over and had a great time snuggling.

After the animals left, it was time for cake and ice cream! At this point, I felt that true chaos ensued because I was grossly not prepared for cake time. Thanks to those closer to the kitchen, we managed to get knives and ice cream scoopers to serve and then dole out plates, forks, spoons and napkins as quickly as possible.

Look at that happy birthday boy face!

Blowing Out the Candles

Everyone Digging In

We waited until after our friends had left to open presents. There was too much fun to be had to stop for that. At a few of the friends' requests, we took pictures and videos to send of Cade opening their gifts. And, the same as when he opened presents on his actual birthday, Cade was really excited to open each and every gift....lots of gasps, wows and smiles!

The Skyline Creation

I had been working so furiously and crazy for days\weeks to make this party special for Cade and his guests. It's so exhausting but so rewarding. I loved making his party great for him and enjoyable for our friends and family. After a little clean up that night and the next day, I was more than content to sit back, breath a little and have a mellow day. Mellow, that is, until the drama that was the Patriots winning the Superbowl at the last minute. What a game that was!