‘Around the World in 80 Days’ Birthday Party for A8

Today we celebrated A’s eighth birthday.  We had decided to throw an ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ birthday party (of course!).  The plan for the day was a Cheerio breakfast, opening presents with Granny in tow, pop to town to buy a watch with Grandad and Granny in Ireland’s birthday money, and then spent the afternoon partaaaying!

Here’s the morning in pictures:-

Opening cards:

Opening presents:

We had adopted a Tiger for her, which she was so happy about.  She’s holding the tiger she received in her adoption pack during a cuddle with Granny:

I had been trying to organise the party over the weekend, which didn’t quite feel like enough time.  However that was all I had as I had been focusing my attention on our ‘Around London in 8 Destinations’ for the final trip up to London last Wednesday and also Gary’s birthday beach day last Thursday.  I wasn’t sure I would get it finished, but I managed due to the not inconsiderable help from Leah.  Leah has girls the same age as A and B, and we have been holding the younger ones parties with them in attendance since what seems like forever.  The girls all get on so well, the parties are always a success just on account of the company!

The ‘Around the World’ party was to begin with an ‘Around the Village in 80 Minutes’ task based activity.  Gary made up four riddles which the girls had to decipher to find out their next destination.  Once they reached their destination, they needed to complete a task in order to be awarded the treasure.  The treasure consisted of various things they would be needing throughout the afternoon.  I created bags for each destination containing everything required to do the task.

The first bag contained the first clue, which was to take them to the village pond:

Their task was to circumnavigate the pond with their partner (each of the girls had been paired up with one of my older children and Gary), so I included scarves to use to tie their feet together.  This task would win them a small travel themed sweetie box for their pick ‘n’ mix later on:

Gary was in charge of all the activities around the village and so did not take many photos as he needed to also participate as B5’s partner.  He did manage to get one of Thomas and Charlotte with their respective partners:

The next clue took them to the park where they were required to use the Polaroid and photo props and take some photos of each other to pop into the going home bags (guests) and pin on their notice board (A and B):

The Polaroids didn’t come out great, but the girls did the task with ease:

The penultimate clue guided them to the football pitch where they had to play ball and on each turn they had to draw the different legs of the journey that Phileas Fogg took.  Once completed they would receive a pop corn box to enable them to eat some pop corn whilst watching the film:

I had made dots and numbered them, the girls simply had to join them up, ending up with globe which showed the circumnavigation route Fogg, Passepartoute and Fix took around the world:

And the final clue brought them to the local coffee shop where they met Leah and I to drink some ice-cream strawberry milkshakes and open their crackers, which I had hand made for just this occasion:

Inside each cracker had a token which would allow them to play one game at the local ten pin bowling alley:

Once the milk shakes were finished we left for bowling:

The bowling was so much fun and everyone played really well, even Charlotte and I, who are not usually recognised for our bowling skills:

B5 had a particularly cute way of rolling her ball towards the pins.  I’m not exactly certain it could be called bowling though….

Once we had finished bowling, it was back to ours for pizza and movie with some pick ‘n’ mix and popcorn thrown in.  Leah and I had got the place slightly decorated, whilst Gary had been taking the children around the village:

I made a happy birthday banner from old maps and letters:

And was pretty happy with the outcome.  So happy in fact, I may very well keep it for use at other birthdays:

We put together a pop corn station using a lovely old leather suit case as a ‘table’:

Pretty, no?

And a pick ‘n’ mix station, where we also showcased Leah’s incredible hand made cake:

Did I mention she made it all. by. herself.?

Isn’t it amazing?

Seriously, Leah, we were bowled over by the talent and hours which must have gone into making it.  Thank you so much!

We popped 8 candles on, turned off the lights and sang a happy birthday to our gorgeous eight year old:

She begged to cut it herself.  With a diagonal cut right through the cake…

Thank you so much to Gary, Leah, our older children and Leah’s two girls for making this (and I quote) ‘the best birthday ever’ for little A8.  We love you all very much and are so grateful to have you in our lives.