ARMY BOOT CAMP PARTY 2010

This year was Liam's 9th birthday and he wanted to go to an outdoor adventure park.

But me being me I wanted to have the boys back for food and fun at our house afterwards.
(This could be adapted for a girlie party by using pink camouflage, so cute!)

INVITATIONS

Too come soon!!!

COSTUMES

This year was real easy on everyone as Ashcroft park provided the camouflage jumpsuits for the kids, which they thought were fab.

Also gave them black and green face paints to camouflage their faces, a piece of camouflage fabric to tie around their heads, Arnie style.

And when they were split into teams a torn strip of red or blue fabric to be tied around the upper arm to determine which team they were on.

SETTING THE MOOD

YET TO COME!!!

DECORATIONS

I printed off poster for Briton wants you army recruitment posters and also Uncle Sam posters too.
Union Jake flags and U.S flags. (can also be strung together as bunting laminate if to used outside)
 these army themed papers can be used for a multitude of things.

BANNERS



I printed off this free army birthday banner
from http://www.fun-pinata-party-ideas.com/

WATER BOTTLE LABELS

I removed the original water bottle label and printed off free camouflage paper

and placed a sticker with each child's name so they would not get mixed up.

PAPER CUP LABELS

This was a last minute thought and next time it wouldn't be left until midnight and I would print the name labels off and not hand write them but it saved me going threw lots of paper cups.
Also I only had alittle camouflage paper left.

FOOD & DRINK

Liam had requested hot dogs so, as he was the birthday boy, that is what they had.

For desert they made their own ice cream sundaes (not very soldier like but never mind)
They had ice cream, squirty cream, raspberry sauce, sprinkles, chocolate flakes, smarties and they loved ever minute of it. They couldn't eat all they had made but that doesn't matter.

CUPCAKES & BISCUITS

I don't know if you can see but I decided to put they little green Toy Story soldiers onto of some cakes and again some camouflage cake picks on others. The boys all went for the toy soldier ones.

P.S I cheat and buy ready made cakes from the local bakery and decorate them myself, I don't think it matters and it leaves me time to sort out the decorations and games.

BIRTHDAY CAKE

Due to the fact that we went camping the week before the party and then I was back at work straight after we had a not very exciting shop bought cake this year.
This is what I wanted, BUT in green (Liam wouldn't have been too happy with a pink cake)
I would have one layer and no beads

GAMES & ACTIVITIES

MEDAL OF HONOUR

On arrival back home I gave each boy the same medals which I had printed off and stuck them onto double sided sticky tape. The object of the game was to secretly remove others medals without them noticing, throughout the afternoon. If the other soldier felt them removing their medal the had to give it back and also one of their medals (this is where the honour bit came in). Who ever had the  most medals at the end of the day was the winner. This caused all sorts of fun and a some sulky boys LOL.

SCAVENGER HUNT

The soldiers had to first find the laminated cards (a small clip art picture of a soldier) hidden around the garden, the run back to base with the morse code dots and dashes on them and decipher the letter, from the list on the table. when they had all letters they had to unscramble the letters which would lead them to their goody bags.

Which I had hidden up in the apple tree at the end of the garden.


More fun and games to come!!!!!


WATER BALLOON WAR

The backyard was decorated with camo nets and lots of random things to hide with buckets of filled water balloons behind each. And off to war they went.


OBSTACLE COURSE

Carrying homemade riffles, the boys had to:
 climb the slide ladders and slide down
run through tires (fun inflatable pool tyres from the pound shop)
across a balance beam (a plank of wood on breeze blocks)
crawl under a camo net (or a pop up tunnel will do)
weave in and out of a row of swim foam noodles stood up right in buckets of sand
crawl under a table filled with black balloons (bombs)


RESCUE THE WOUNDED SOLDIER

Split them into the red and blue teams,
select one in each team to be the injured party.
get them to wrap the injured soldier using one full loo roll.
then they must carry the wounded soldier back home on a stretcher (a large beach towel)
first team home wins


CAPTURE THE FLAG

Place red and blue flags at two far corners of garden, you stand with your back to them between these flags.
 The soldiers creep up whilst your back is turned, but have to freeze when you turn around,
if you catch them moving they are out. first team to get their flag wins.


FAVOUR BAGS & FAVOURS

As Liam's birthday is in the summer holidays, and I  thought the boys are getting to old for little knack toys. I bought them each a camouflage water bottle for the new school year with a sweets inside. I also printed of some individual dog tags for each. (saying ie.  Sam Thanks for coming from Liam) punch a hole and they were attached with a caribeena clip.

THANK YOU NOTES

The thank you notes were yet again a photo memento of the day, a group photo in their camouflage jumpsuits for all children who attended. For people who sent Liam cards and presents a photo of just Liam, in gear.

Or each guest and birthday child could posed for individual pictures in front of a large flag.
They all were to stand at attention and salute for the photos.

CAMPING / BEACH FUN

This is our inflatable tent!

It is a Karsten Tent and so easy to put up.

This is the only reason as a single mum, we can camp, I can put it up alone.

It has been tested to force 12 gale winds, which is great as two years ago in Dorset our tent poles were snapped like twigs and we had to come home after less than 24 hours.

It stood up well in Norfolk this year as other tents were crushed by the wind around us one night.

Karsten Dealers - Camping Travel Store

I will post some pics of our fun trips fossil hunting in Dorset and boating on the Norfolk Broads soon.

DORSET - LYCHETT MINSTER

These are some of the games I downloaded as we were  very short on space to take games, but needed something incase the good old british weather let us down.

So I download these and we used white and milk chocolate drops and sweets as counters.

So much yummy fun!

Connect four - tbc

Domino's - tbc

Draughts - http://www.family-games-treasurehouse.com/basic_chess_rules.html

And here's the rest for you to check out

Battleships - momsminivan.com

Dots and Dashes - http://www.momsminivan.com/printables.html

Snakes and Ladders - http://www.fun-free-party-games.com/traditional-games/traditional-board-games-snakes-and-ladders.html

Ludo - http://www.fun-free-party-games.com/

Yahtzee - http://www.centralconnector.com/

Hangman - http://www.todaysparent.com/

Noughts and Crosses - http://www.momsminivan.com/ 

There are lot's more ideas on all these websites and they are fab and free.

And here are some pics.

Skipping Stones in Kimmeridge Bay - I can't do it!

Large fossil on Lyme Regis Beach - Too big to take home mind!

Sandcastle Bowling - Cranford Cliffs

Liam's Drippy Sand Palace - Swange Bay

I just had to share this

The Bucket And Spade Tree - Lulworth cove/Durdle's Door

Of course we did all the normal stuff too - build sandcastles, buried Liam neck deep in the sand, body boarding, cards, ball games, frisbee etc

And on the way home we called in at Stonehenge.

Phew! I should have needed a holiday when we got home after all that. LOL

We had a fantastic time.

DUST IF YOU MUST

I wanted to share this poem that has been pinned to my fridge for so many years now,

(and my excuse for not doing my housework. LOL)

DUST IF YOU MUST

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better

To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?


Dust if you must, but there's not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.


Dust if you must, but the world's out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.


Dust if you must, but bear in mind,
Old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go (and go you must)
You, yourself, will make more dust.

Remember, a house becomes a home when you can write
"I love you" on the furniture.....

 
 

 

I don't know who wrote it but it's a daily reminder of life is too short, so go out and enjoy it.
So now we are home after another camping trip.

Have fun with your family!!!

Vonnie

x

Well We're Back!

We had a great time, and the weather was pretty good, just one bad day (we have even got a tan!). Well the tent stayed up and the car didn't break down, so no disasters this time. The traffic was really bad coming home, took over 7 hours! It was Friday the 13th. Anyway have to unpack the car and have loads of washing to do, so I will sort all that out then, I will get posting our photo's for you to share.

Car Packed And Ready To Go

Well the car is packed. and all I can say is it's a good job there's only to of us, as there is no more room for anyone else! Have sorted lots of outdoor activities and indoor (just in case). It doesn't have to be hot and sunny just dry will do, so we can get out and about. Must say last time we went down to Dorset we spent less than 24hrs there. Force 10 gale winds snapped the poles on the tent and everything was soaked so we had to come home, so dry and NO wind would be great. Also last year coming back from Cornwall the alternator went on the car, thank goodness for the AA. Anyway will share all, when we return. Hi De Hi campers!