I asked Addie what type of birthday party she wanted this year.
Her answer: a
volcanologist party.
Considering some of her classmates were a bit afraid of her erupting volcano that she took for share one day, I decided that might not be the best theme to center a party around.
So I started pitching the
science experiments theme. To her. To Paul. And to a few friends.
The unanimous decision:
go for it.
Except what I didn't know at the time was that we would have to switch the day from Saturday to Sunday, and we'd be leaving town for the 3 days prior to the party.
So I literally planned for weeks. And weeks. And researched. And found
inspiration and more
inspiration.
Ordered supplies. Decided on party favors using these
test tubes and adding our own experiment using
UV beads.
Had a blast with Addie experimenting with the experiments. Nixed some. Added some.
Created invitations and tags with a
digital scrapbooking kit.
And created a 5 page spreadsheet containing experiments, supplies, to do, to buy, to make, to create...and when I could eat, breathe, and sleep. All the details!
With the exception of it being 85 degrees and one of the littles refusing to let me put her down, I think it
went off without a hitch might could be considered a success! But
only because I had some of the best help
ever! From friends who let me bounce ideas off of them to friends who helped the day of the party...
...to my wonderful mom and aunt and my most amazing husband, who always encourages me in these endeavors even though he knows he'll be neck deep in it with me! Seriously, it took a village!
My only regret? That I couldn't take more pictures! This little one had had enough traveling, change, and sugar but not enough food or sleep over the past few days. And she didn't go much farther than this if she wasn't in my arms!
Most parties I found online did experiments as a group, but with friends and siblings, we had over 20 kiddos. I knew keeping 20 kiddos attention and explaining everything as a group probably wouldn't work well. So we set up 6 experiment stations. There were 4 kiddos in each group, a parent with each child, a helper at most of the tables...
and instructions for each experiment.
Everyone had
safety glasses and a
lab coat with a
scientist name tag. They got a bag to put their experiments and favors in as they rotated tables.
Each new station brought on a new experiment, and my favorite part was watching their eyes light up...
...when they
created science!
They had a blast!
Color Mixing, one of Addie's favorites, where we used
non staining primary color tablets to explore making colors. I created "place mats" with a place for each cup to help guide them. They used the primary colors to create at least 3 other colors.
It's Snowing, straight from Steve Spangler. This amazing instant snow polymer rapidly expands from a teasooon of powder into a cup of snow. Then the kids got to play with it in our sand/water table and take some home too!
Lemon Suds was a combination of the Birthday Balloons/Erupting Volcano but with lemon juice instead of vinegar. The kids got to squeeze their own lemons (and add bottled lemon juice to make enough) and then add it to baking soda. They created a bubbling cup of lemon suds!
Ocean in a Bottle was probably the least successful. I used smaller bottles, and I think the separation of the water and oil would have been much more obvious in a larger 20oz type bottle. My mom and aunt prefilled the bottles with vegetable oil and let the kids add the water with a funnel up to a line we drew. They added a
color tablet and sea creature and then taped it shut for safe keeping!
Buoyancy: sink or float I had my doubts about this one (and apparently some of the kiddos did too!), but this was another one of Addie's favorites! The kids counted out 12 paper clips and wadded them into a ball of precut aluminum foil. When they placed it in the water, you can guess what happened. But then they made a little
boat from a second piece of foil, carefully put it in the water, and counted out 12 paper clips into it. And it floated! Addie's favorite part was adding as many paperclips as she could (many more than 12!) until her boat filled with water and sank!
Birthday Balloons, one where we had to promise the kids nothing would hurt them!
We used empty mt. dew bottles that they added vinegar to (a line I'd drawn on the bottle). I had prefilled the balloons with baking soda. They carefully attached them to the bottle and then all together raised the balloons to let the powder fall in. Their eyes got so big as the balloons expanded! I love how Addie's friend is looking up at Paul in the last picture. He was so sweet explaining the experiment to them!
I think one of the favorite experiments we did was at the end. Of course we had to erupt
Addie's volcano. She and most of her friends
loved that (after i promised everyone that no one could get hurt!). But the
mentos and diet coke were a
huge hit! i didnt even bother to take a picture of the diet coke geyser, but check out the kids faces!
After that, we grabbed some cool drinks, snacks and created our own cupcakes! (undecorated publix cupcakes my aunt went and bought at the very last minute because mine kept overflowing in the oven an hour before the party. crisis averted!).
I am always reminded at these things how blessed we are to have such sweet friends. I love these two girls so much, and I think they might love each other too!
I couldn't not include these pictures of Audrey Kate. This little girl played and played and played all afternoon. I've never seen her so dirty and so happy! She rolled with the punches and enjoyed herself! And I'm so thankful for my mom; she finally pried Anne Perry out of my arms before i passed out from the heat and went inside and fed her! She was
much happier then!
one of my most favorite things about Addie's party was that she agreed to ask for no gifts but instead have everyone bring dog and/or cat food for one of our local humane shelters. We delivered them Monday, and I can't wait to share
pictures from that!
this is the only picture i got of just the birthday girl. and it might not even count as a picture because she was moving so quickly! but she sure was cute in her special
pink birthday glasses!
Addieboo, I think one of the greatest compliments on your 4th birthday party came from one of your friends:
that was the coolest birthday party ever! But the smile on your face and the excitement in your voice was all I needed to know it was worth it!
Happy 4th Birthday Addieboo! We love you!
