2nd Annual Back to School Bash

I had so much fun last year throwing a "Back to School" party that we decided to make it an annual event! This year was even more fun than last year!

We had 25 kids this year, and the party lasted for 2 hours. When the kids arrived I had them do some "homework," which were fun worksheets. Then we turned their "homework" into paper airplanes and had flying contests off the back deck. I told them that this was the ONLY time they are allowed to turn their homework into airplanes! :)

Then we had a craft time. First we made some bead keychains, to hang on their backpacks. The bead pattern I used looked like a pencil. The littlest kids had a hard time, so the adults helped them. It was a bit hard to come up with ideas for the party that would be fun for kids that were 4, but also for kids that were 11! I'm so grateful to my friends that stayed to help out!

Next, the kids made noodle necklaces and wrote letters to give to their teacher on the first day of school.

After craft time, the kids had a "sack snack" on the back deck. Each bag had a juicebox, bag of chips and grapes.

And then it was time for the real fun to begin! Each kid was given a plate with 5 fruit snacks. The adults went around with whip cream and buried the fruit snacks. On the count of three, each of the kids had to use their mouth (but NO hands!) to find the fruit snacks. I was surprised that even most of the little kids went at it and got all messy! Lindsey and Holland Morrison were the only ones that didn't want to play the game. Lindsey immediately threw her plate in the garbage, without even finding the fruit snacks with her fingers. Holland stared at her plate for a few minutes and pondered how she was going to get the snacks without causing a mess. Afterward when I asked Lindsey why she was so afraid to get messy, she replied, "Because I'm like Sharpay. I just like to look pretty all the time and stay clean!"

Super-clean Holland

The kids spent the next hour on the homemade slip-n-slide, and having a sponge war with the bubbles in the kiddy pool. Even Brenda and I got in on the action!

Poor Brenda is destined to be the "Slip-n-Slide" lady at every fun event!

After a while, I took the extra whip cream down and sprayed the kids! It made a huge mess, but the kids loved it and started asking to have it sprayed directly into their mouths!

Some of my awesome friends who stayed to help me with the party: Meredith, Brenda, Buffy and Heather!

I can't wait to do it again next year!