Erin is turning (gulp) 9 next week and we hosted a Safari Party to celebrate. I am certain that you will look at the photos and think "Wow there are a lot of kids there" believe me that is what we were thinking as well. But hey it is 2 1/2 hours out of our life and you can get through just about anything if you know there is a bottle of wine chilling for you to enjoy when it is all over. The day got off to a great start with Dave rolling in at 7am from an overnight flight from Brazil.
This year we booked Jennifer and Party Safari to bring her menagerie of friends to entertain the kids. It was amazing we went from absolute chaos with 16 kids playing tag in the basement to revered silence as they were gathered in a circle in the living room. Jennifer and her daughter Shaun delivered an amazing, informative presentation on the different animals. And lets talk creatures – my kids were in absolute heaven – snakes, turtles, treefrogs, lizards, a chinchilla, a hedgehog and so many more!
I can't express how cool it is that I have two girls that were fighting over who was having the reptile birthday party. Don't get me wrong they are still girls who like princesses and pink stuff but they love animals, snakes and lizards so much more. This is Good.
Erin thanked and thanked and thanked us. She was so happy – I love it when you are able to make their vision come to life.
Olive and Pickle the treefrogs.
A tarp on the floor – just in case. 😉
Timbit the hedgehog – soooo adorable.
If red touches yellow you're a dead fellow if red touches black you're ok Jack. ….. How to distinguish between a coral snake and a milk snake.
I had a difficult time trying to find a matching themed cake. So I asked my good friend Julie to create an animal cake for me.
Little Chinchillas.
A girlie Creature Cake – how awesome – complete with chocolate red banded turtles.
Fondant snakes hung in the greenery. I think this one was sneaking up on the chinchillas.
The corn snake – imagine my dismay when I discovered that they actually ARE found around here.
Chico the chinchilla – an absolute favourite. Everyone had to be super quiet because he has big ears and would be nervous.
Ted the Monitor Lizard – surprise, surprise this is the animal that Caitlyn choose to get her photo taken with.
Erin went for the Cuddly Chinchilla – Happy Birthday Erin.
Yep – 16 kids around the table for birthday cake.
Erin loved her cake and was SO surprised. I had taken her to the grocery store to pick out her cake. She thought she was getting one of the traditional princess ones. …..sneaky mom.