Harry Potter Birthday Party - Epic Level Achieved!

Harry Potter has been an obsession of Rae's for the last year. I have to admit I never read the books, but when she started reading them and showing all signs on obsession, Mik and I agreed that we could either be participants or mere spectators. Given my previous Halloween post... you guessed it. We choose to be participants and enjoy the obsession with her while we could. 

She tuned the big 10 this year. I am not sure how many more theme parties she will allow this mom to host, but we decided if this was the last we would try and go out with a bang. She wanted a Harry Potter party and this is a little glimpse into our interpretation.

When the kids arrived, they were broken into houses using a sorting hat. Yes.. we got it to talk with the help of two cell phones (one tucked into the hat) and a quick footed Mik that made a quick getaway. Yes... we are nerdy enough that that the two of us practiced this before hand and he worked on his 'sorting hat voice'.

We held the party at the park. Because Mik insisted on having a full Tri Wizard Tournament and he needed the whole park to make this happen. The Pavilion was decorated using my old school hot glue and felt tricks. We had a table for each house. On the table was house flags for them to cheer on their houses, sashes (so we didn't forget who was in what house) and a house shield ring.

 The tournament was a huge success. Mik had it all planed out, kept a board with house times and we had the kids running, chasing and hunting things for quite a while. We wore them out... which I owed the parents since I fed them so much candy and sugar!

Before the kids got to it.

I was told I was off on the colors for potions. But she agreed not to tell anyone else.

 We also had a potion class. They got to pick what their magical potion did. We heard everything from '6 lives' to 'I can run through anything'. It was a huge mess... and a huge success in the fun category.

Then there was the Honey Dukes table. Maybe this is where I went overboard. Yes I did collect all those jars just for this (but I am reusing them and will show how in a future post). We had everything from Ice Mice to Acid Pops. This kids had a great time trying everything... and it was easy to pack them up a bad as a party favor.

The most important part was the Rae confirmed that we did reach 'epic level' party status. She has a memory and Mik and I got to be kids again while we schemed and planned the whole party togehter.

Rae got a Bertie Bott's Centipede flavored bean. Yuck!

 Here is to making memories and being a part of the adventure of their childhoods! 

Nikki

What is your favorite party memory? Mine was when I was 15. My mom planned a huge Halloween party for me. She even got my aunt to come and pretend to read our palms. I will never forget it. I guess those memories are what makes me want to create them for Rae. I just hope she has the same warm fuzzies when she is an adult and recalls her childhood.

Halloween Surprise

All three of us

Right now Rae is reading Harry Potter and is obsessed with all things Potter. She is currently on the fourth book and would be further but grounding her from leisure reading is our biggest tool the the parenting tool box. I know it seems crazy but this girl can go without video games and TV for weeks without even noticing, but take reading away (except for school assignments) and she is on task to win back her privileges and get her 'act cleaned up' as she puts it. 

Mik helped me make my robe (extra husband points for him)

So this year Rae wanted to be Herminone of course. I was super on board with this since I think she is a amazing female character for little girls. I will support her being a strong female in anyway that I can.

She was giddy with excitement about her costume. But the real surprise was that Mik and I were dressing up with her. She had absolutely no idea that we were dressing up let alone as Harry Potter characters. We decided to surprise her by picking her up from school on Halloween, fully dressed as Harry Potter and Professor Magonagal. The other kids got a kick out of our costumes and were excited to see parents dressed up when they came out of school. But the best part was when Rae saw us. She came running towards us and gave us the biggest hugs she could.

Best part.. no make up needed!

Rae was so excited and just said over and over 'Thank you so much for this experience' and 'This means so much to me!'. But best of all was when she sat in the back seat of the car with full contentment on her face just shaking her head and grinning a grin that was nothing short of pure happiness.

Rae still having fun after all the trick-or-treating

She is nine right now and I know that in just a few years her parents showing up to school fully dressed will not be the best day of her life rather it would be horrifying. Until then I will keep dressing up, snugging and soaking up every minute I have as her momma.