Kids Safari Birthday Party

It has become a tradition that every year I surprise the kids with a themed birthday party.  Charley looks forward now to guessing what the theme will be.  This year, it was animal themed.  I was so fortunate to have Mom and Dad here the week before the party, to help plan and prep!

Here is a party tour.   ;)

 We asked guests to bring donations to Defenders of Wildlife in leiu of gifts, so upon arrival was a donation jar, and a basket of animals.  Each guest was to choose one to adopt.  These were the inspiration for the party.  When I taught high school, my students held various fundraisers to raise money to adopt animals through Defenders, and we decorated my classroom with them.  A few years after I'd moved away, one of my sweet students, Zoe Barton, boxed them all up and mailed them to me!  There were 15 in all!

 Collar station - to give their new animals a collar and name tag.

 Vet station, to give it a checkup.

 Grooming shop.

 Feed station - in case their animals needed some snacks to take home.

 I tried my hand at face painting.  They mostly looked like they had colored blobs when they left.

 Photo booth, complete with safari vest, hat, and binoculars.

 Mom not only took all of these photos, she brought all of these authentic African themed chatchkies (sp?) to dress everything up.  They really got them on their trip to Africa years ago.

 

The kids in their annual birthday shirts, a la Nana.

 The guests arrive!

 Grandpa drove down for the day too!