Polar Express Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Noelle and Melanie's birthdays!  Noelle will be 4 on Christmas, Melanie turned 6 last Sunday.  For their birthday, we have a Christmas themed party.  We called it the Polar Express Birthday Party, but we played Reindeer Games, so it wasn't theme specific.

When the children showed up, we started with some crafts.  The kids each made a Rudolph hat and a Rudolph ornament.

 Then we divided into 2 groups.  Melanie and the friends her age were one group, Noelle and her friends were the other.  Then it was time for Reindeer Games!  Some of the games were played on the patio.  These games were Reindeer Bingo and Pin the Nose of Rudolph.  We also had a Don't Eat the Reindeer Game, but didn't get to it.  The other games were relay style games played in the back yard.  These games included a 3-legged race and a Rudolph Run.  We also had a Candy Cane Pass Game set up, but once again, didn't get to it.  I guess you could say I over planned the games.  Here are some pictures from the Reindeer Games.

 At first, this group of  3 girls wanted to do the 3-legged race tied to each other.  In the end, it seems that just wasn't meant to be.

 Melanie and Sophia made great partners!

 Check out that nose on Noelle.  She is doing the Rudolph Dash!

 As we were picking up the games, who should appear but Santa Clause!!!  Wow!  What lucky girls!  This was the one thing Noelle has been asking for as a birthday wish for the last few years.  She was so excited she didn't know what to think.

 Here are the birthday girls with their special visitor.

 And the whole group with Santa.  Santa brought them each a sleigh bell as a gift.

 Then Santa had to go back to Mrs. Clause, so we decided to have some cake.  I surprised the girls with this fun Frosty cake.  They were giggling with excitement, which made it all worth it.

 We sang to Noelle first!

 Then added 2 candles and sang to Melanie!

 And then we feasted on cake!

 After dessert, we worked all that sugar off with an Arizona style snowball fight... using tissue paper!  I don't know what happened... but suddenly I became the target.  All these kids were aiming handfuls of "snowballs" at me.  I definitely got my work out running away from them!

 But as you can see...  I didn't win that battle.  I tried to hide behind Brandon, but he decided to hold me down and let them have it!  It was a fun snowball fight!

 After the snowball fight, the girls' opened their gifts.  Then it was time to thank all our friends for coming and say good bye!

We had such a fun time today celebrating the girls' birthdays.  I'm so grateful for all the help I received both planning and executing this party.  It really made all the difference.  

Happy birthday to my beautiful daughters!  We love you both so much!