The Halloween in July Party

Sawyer has never had a formal birthday party. This year we found something simple to pull off: A Halloween in July Party.

The invitations had pictures like this:



and everyone was told to come in costume for a mix of spooky and patriotic fun.










First, we decorated our trick or treat bags with sparkly star stickers...:







Then we sang songs...






and read The Night of the Paper Bag Monsters.




After that, we painted our own Paper Bag Monsters...:








While Connor, naturally, played video games in the middle of the party and drew a crowd...:



We ate a goldfish cracker snack....:







And played a game of Monster Bedtime!..... :











We built Playdough Monsters...:
















Then it was time to go outside for Trick or Treating...:






We managed to get them to put down their trick or treat candy long enough to sing Happy Birthday and get cupcakes (which Patrick baked and decorated himself.) Because we still had playdough monsters on the table, I thought it wouldn't be too messy to let them eat on the rug. I was mistaken...:






In a controversial move, we followed Miss Manners' suggestion to open gifts after the party. Mostly because we didn't have time and because I was worried about crowd control with 14 preschoolers doing nothing but watching someone else open presents for 10 minutes:






Sawyer received so many thoughtful gifts:




In the evening, Ric and I took Annalyn and Sawyer over to Aunt Terri's to teach Terri and Matt Puerto Rico while the kids played with new toys and watched Anastasia. Terri made some d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s baked ziti with chicken. Matt's lovely younger sister was also in attendance:









Very full day.