You're Invited to a Pirate Birthday Party Matey!

If you are like me, having a kiddo born in the midst of summer, you know what I mean when I say it is really tough trying to schedule summer trips, movies, playdates,... as well as a Birthday party in the midst of summer heat!

We have tried the backyard party...one year we were rained out, another year it was inside and the kids made the mess of the century not to mention I spent a bundle on BINGO prizes that the kids didn't really care for! What to do?

This year we came up with the perfect party and for pennies as well. Since my son is a pirate aficionado, he insisted on a pirate party. Now there were plenty of Pirates of the Caribbean items on the market, but we wanted to add to the flair and show his own style as well. He wanted a pirate party and I wanted something that would take the heat of a summer's day in the Midwest. We mixed the two and came up with a pirate pool party at our local pool.

We discovered http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/kid-birthday-cards.html, a site where we could make our own pirate party invitations. We downloaded the pirate birthday party invitation onto Microsoft publisher and using a neat calligraphy font, added the party invitation. These we sent out about 2 weeks before the party. These were a big hit with the parents and compliments were made over and over when they called to RSVP!

The party was simple when it came to planning. The package we had (and most pools have something similar) was a package for up to 15 guests, which included pizza, pop and a birthday cake which included entrance to the pool and the reserve of a party place for 2 hours. This was a great deal in many ways, not only was it all in one neat package thus saving me the wear and tear of planning, purchasing and preparing food for the party. But the entertainment was taken care of as well, no party games to plan and no schedule to keep. The kids were in the pool for the entire time of the party, except for when they ate and the time flew!

If you wish to play a game, you can always make kids "walk the plank" with two lines of masking tape (remove when party has ended and dispose of correctly please) representing a plank. To make this into a party team game use two planks and have the kids race down the plank., grab booty from a bucket and race back to the beginning again relay style. There will be much filching of booty and giggles galore but that's the fun of it...it doesn't matter who wins, but that everyone has fun!

The only party decoration I purchased (crepe paper being a no no around the pool area) was a Pirate theme sign placed in a flower pot to stabilize it, salt water taffy, skull and crossbones candy and Pirates of the Caribbean gummies. This candy was used in the party treat bags and also was placed in two buckets on the main table for the kids to munch on! Simple as everything, but a real hit with all the kids! Add to that some glittery mardi gras beads found on clearance and we had booty fit for a pirate of the seven seas!

This party from start to finish including the thank you notes was a no brainer to plan, simple to cart around and a huge hit for the kids. It was one of those parties that came together without a hitch but yet will be one my son will remember for years! So, if you have a pirate in your house who wants a pirate party fit for Jack Sparrow, check out your local pool for party prices and be prepared to hit the seven seas....and set sail for fun and adventure pirate style!