Saturday was A.'s 3rd Birthday Party. We decided on a hot air balloon theme. The girls are pretty into hot air balloons.
Here is why. One morning, we were having breakfast when a beautiful hot air balloon flew right over our deck, like seriously close enough that the people inside could have heard us if we yelled! We ran outside to look at it, then hopped in the minivan with Daddy and "chased" it as it tried to land several times them finally ended up making an emergency landing on the side of the freeway. We parked, went and talked to the pilot and passengers and even helped them "pack the balloon up." A memorable and fun family experience.
So, for the party, we bought a helium tank (did you know you can get one that fills 30 balloons, for like 20 bucks, balloons included, at places like Costco, Target, and Wal-Mart?) and helped each child make their own "hot air balloon". We let each kid pick their balloon and ribbon colors. I got these fancy Italian cupcake wrappers at Sur La Table that looked like "baskets", and used a hole punch for the side holes, and a meat thermometer to punch the "middle bottom hole" to thread the balloon ribbon through. We used scotch tape to attach the ribbon to the balloon. The children decorated their balloons with colored Sharpies. I asked each child what kind of animal they wanted in their balloon and drew one for them to tape into their basket, and it got to float up and go for a ride. We used tissue paper for the animals so they would be light enough to still "float" in the basket.
Arden's beautifully decorated balloon (and Aunt Courtney serenading Daddy and Sarah.)
Joci's elephant flies high...
and Adelyn decided she wanted an "orange alligator mean thing".
The kids got a "hot air balloon lunch". Pink balloon: ham. White circles are those fancy yummy mozzarella "cheese balls", cut in half so that they will lie flat. Love the "drapey effect" of the mandarin oranges. Maybe halved blueberries next time instead of olives? Bean sprout "strings", a Triscuit for the basket and of course a "Teddy Graham". I basted the "Chinet" plates with blue food-colored water beforehand and let them dry, and it turns out ham sucks the blue food coloring underneath it, out of the plate- that's how I made the "clouds". You could also use cottage cheese or cauliflower or something instead. Courtney had a great suggestion of adding sprinkles for color. We grown-ups had "Minted Lamb Stir Fry" for lunch. It was a good time!
