My World… In My Own Words

After
months of preparing for this big event for our dear little Gio, the day
has finally come! Clad in their western outfits, friends and family
trekked over to the DPC Place Bldg. in Pasong Tamo extension to
celebrate our little Gio’s first birthday.

Geo and I are very
happy with the turnout. The mood was so festive! We are so glad we
finally decided on the Cowboy Elmo theme. Gio loves Elmo and the cowboy
theme gave us lots of gimmick options.

A few days before the
party, I made a WANTED photo booth using a big box. We figured that the
kids (and adults) would have a blast having their photos taken in the
booth. =) The kids enjoyed playing in the box, especially Enzo who
later on turned the photo booth into a puppet theater. One of our
younger guests, baby BJ, almost tore the box apart while having his
photo taken. The poor kid was probably wondering what the heck he was
doing in the box hehehe.

We set up an art corner to keep the
kids busy. We had them dress up a "naked" Elmo as a cowboy using
assorted art materials like art paper, sequins, beads, yarn, markers,
crayons. And at the end of the party, we awarded ARTIST OF THE DAY
certificates to the 4 best works made by Troy, Chloe, Raine and Hannah.
We chose 2 works from the 2-4 y/o age bracket and another 2 works from
the 5-8 y/o age bracket.

For our prize/loot centerpiece, we had
a big stuffed horse which made galloping sounds when tapped on the
rear. Elmo rode Mr. Horsey of course. I really intended to sew some
cowboy clothes for Elmo, but I ran out of time. Cowboy Elmo and his
trusty Horsey were surrounded with a gamut of kiddie stuff: coloring
books, activity books, cartoon drinking cups, and toys which Geo and I
carefully selected for the game prizes and balloon burst treats. We
gave away 5 small Elmo stuff toys to the lucky kids who got the RED
balloons in the balloon burst. Many kids (and adults too hehehe) had
their eye on the Elmo stuff toys. They were practically begging us to
give them one. But of course, we didn’t tell anyone the secret that
they’d have to get red balloons in the balloon burst in order to take
home Elmo. Funny thing—Gio got one red balloon with the help of his
yaya. So we took home one of the Elmo stuff toys hehehe. He didn’t want
to let go of it anymore. Who would want to let go of such a cuddly
little Elmo!

The hosts kept everyone happy with fun games,
balloon twisting and magic tricks. Geo and I even got victimized in
joining one of the games where we had to spell with our butts. We
gamely swished our tushies, of course, much to the audience’s
amusement. Oh, to be a parent! LOL

Food was courtesy of Alba
catering. I especially enjoyed the choco fountain mmmmmm!!!! I hardly
got to eat decently (we parents rarely get to do so at our kids’
parties, huh?). But I’m pretty sure everyone enjoyed the buffet, food
carts and choco fountain. =) In addition to the pasta, garlic fried
chicken, barbeque spare ribs, fish fillet and veggies served at the
buffet, we had pizza and squid balls carts set up at the veranda (no
cooking was allowed inside the party hall). Then, to beat the summer
heat, we asked Manong Sorbetes (hehehe that’s not his name, that’s just
what I call him) to set up an ice cream cart inside the party hall. His
ice cream was a hit, of course. =)

The kids each took home slim
water bottles with Elmo school kits and stickers inside. The water
bottles were Daddy Geo’s idea. We were thinking of putting together a
loot bag with sherrif badges and other western-themed toys and
trinkets. But alas, it was tough finding cowboy stuff so we had to
think of something else. Geo figured it would be nice to give the kids
water bottles since cowboys need to fuel up on drinks, right? And so we
found these cute water bottles with straws. The pink and blue colors
for girls and boys was unintentional. The supplier only had these two
colors. We wanted all blue ones, but they didn’t have enough. So we
ended up getting pink and blue ones.

Since they were too little
to appreciate the drinking bottles, the babies aged one and below each
received soft sesame street-themed balls for them to enjoy during play
time =). Meanwhile, the mommies, titas and grannies all got Cowboy
recipe booklets courtesy of moi. =) Now they can cook up cowboy pizzas,
salsa, cowboy beans and rice, and western style bbq sauce right in
their own homes!

And where was the birthday boy amidst all the
festivity? Gio was a very charming celebrant, smiling away throughout
the party. He mingled with guests, especially the kids. He table-hopped
with Daddy, Mommy and Ela. He ate lots of pasta and ice cream, and he
clocked in lots of time riding his red rocking Horsey which we brought
along to add to the Western ambiance.

We were all poofed by the
end of the 3 hour affair, but our hearts were happy. We had just thrown
another fun-filled party for our kids =) So, just how many of these do
I expect to plan for int he next few years? LOL If it were up to me and
if I had free reign on moolah, I’d throw throw theme parties every year
until they are 16! HEHEHEHE Do I hear Daddy Geo objecting? hahahah