Pirate party update

[estepheia]

The party was a resounding success. Out of 8 kids only two were annoying, the rest were enthusiastic all the way. I am utterly exhausted.

First we had cake and everything. One cake looked like a pirate ship under sail. The table cloth was blue, with blue windor color fish pictures on it, plus a few real sea shells, and decorative glass stones.

Hubby was great. He was dressed like a pirate and played the retired pirate captain Roberts who was looking for worthy pirates to inherite his treasure. He even had an improvised parrot on his shoulder (a puppet that's actually a rooster but who cares).

Of course in order to inherit the treasure the kids had to look like pirates, so we went and dressed up, and then the kids needed tattoos (I'd bought dolphin tattoos). Then the pirate captain asked to see their pirates' diplomas. Of course they didn't have any, so they had to pass the pirate's exam. The got a little card with a string to hang round their necks, with 8 disciplines listed:
Singing, Strong Lungs, Rowing, Limping, Making Knots, Drinking, Climbing, and Cleaning.

They had to sing a pirate song, blow up balloons, row (on a long bench, shouting ho-ray at the top of their lungs), jump on one leg (early practice in case they need a wooden leg later), tie a rope, drink a cup of juice or water in one go. for the last two exams we went to the playground - they have a large wooden ship. The kids climbed and balanced around and then they scrubbed the deck with brooms and whatnot. They really enjoyed the scrubbing, btw, they liked that best. After each exam they got their card stamped.

Afterwards Pirate Roberts confessed that he'd forgotten where the treasure was. He had written it down and put the piece of paper in a bottle, but the bottle slipped out of his hand and rolled away.

So we went looking for a message in a bottle. While we searched for it, asking people in the streets whether they'd found a bottle with a piece of paper in it, and while we attracted an amused audience, hubby dug a hole and buried a box full of chocolate gold coins. The bottle (filled with a half burnt parchment, sand and a few shells) was found at the local supermarket (heee). We went back, dug up the treasure and ate hot dog sausages at the playground.
And then the party was over and the kids got picked up.

Hubby and I tidied up already. Our kids are now watching a movie, hopefully winding down a little. We took lots of pictures. Maybe I'll post one tomorrow. :-)

And now I'd kill for a huge portion of French Fries with mayonaise. *sigh*

Comments

[1istener.livejournal.com]

That is brilliant! If I ever have to host a kids' party, I'll be sure to keep these ideas in mind. =)

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I gacked the idea from a book that had witches' exams. We just adapted everything so it fitted the pirate theme.
I think we could have easily amused everybody for another hour or so. :-)

The youngest kids were 5, then there were two seven year-olds and two eight-year-olds. Toyah invited mostly friends of her big sis. It was a strange mix. I expected the older girls to be bored but they all understood that you have to suspend disbelief to have fun. The older ones were more amused even than the younger ones. I had two five year old girls (never know if that needs a dash or not) who were not at all in the mood for dressing up or any of the activities. *sigh* Oh well

Toyah was more than happy with her party. For her it's a very important status symbol - plus she loves getting prezzies, so she's been excited about her party for half a year now.

It's Tina's turn in December. I think I will make it a jewellry party - I will buy tons of beads and make jewellry with the kids. :-)

[deaver.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a truly fun party. The games you played sound great. How cute is it that they loved "swabbing" the deck so much. And I think your husband deserves an award for playing along so well. (would love to see a picture of the "parrot" -haha!)

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Hubby actually conferred with the parrot. He really was very funny. I love my hubby. *beams*

Mr. E really should have been working all day, but for him a happy Victoria (and wife) is top priority. He'll probably work tonight, instead. Poor thing.

[mahaliem.livejournal.com]

That sounds like such an adorable party. Great job! Hope you get a well deserved rest.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

I can't remember the last time I went to sleep before 9 pm, but last night I did... So I got the well deserved rest. Thanks. ;-)
I'm truly glad it's behind me now. Now I have to decide what to do about Tina's party in early January... ;-)

[brujabroom.livejournal.com]

Wow I wished you'd been around when I was young and needed a decent birthday party, sounds like everyone had a rip roaringly good time.

You both deserve a gold medal for effort. I'm sure the kids in years to come will look back with only the fondest of memories, what a wonderful gift you gave them this day.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Gold medal? Nuh. My children were happy, and those who visit us regularly were happy too, that's what counts. I like happy children.
When I was a kid there were no themed birthday parties... so I've never actually experienced one first hand, but there are books that can help with such parties. What amazes me is the amount of prep time these books assume the mothers to have....

Most excellent.

[spiralleds.livejournal.com]

Makes me wish I could have been there and played too.

Singing, Strong Lungs, Rowing, Limping, Making Knots, Drinking, Climbing, and Cleaning.

What? No learning to curse like a pirate portion of the exam?

[flaming-muse.livejournal.com]

What an excellent party!

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm glad it's over. The whole thing has been looming over my head for weeks now.

[lordshiva.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what my son's pirate birthday party was like, with the "becoming a pirate" business, except they had to seek out clues to where the treasure was buried. Then when they found it they discovered it was being guarded by real live pirates! (some college friends of mine dressed as pirates.) The kid pirates had to defeat the big pirates and drive them away from the treasure. When you see a bunch of crazed seven year olds charging at you with plastic swords it's best to run for your life.

The treasure was awesome, I had a cool old chest and I worked in a costume shop, so I bought all these broken necklaces and strings of fake pearls and a real tiara that was missing rhinestones. Plus lots of chocolate gold coins, gold chains that kind of thing. It was the most fun party ever. My son's twenty now, and he has friends that were there and still talk about it as the best party ever.

Your kids will definitely remember this one!

[makd.livejournal.com]

Only 2 kids were really annoying?

Whoa.....


make that a small cuarenta y tres to celebrate; forget about the fries and mayo.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

What's a cuarenta?
Actually, I put the kids to bed at nine, crawled into bed and slept till now, without dinner. it's a quarter to six now. *Yawn*
Woke to a stupid dream about missing a train, with my gran in tow, who's been dead for years... Odd.

Anyway, there's always at least one kid who won't cooperate, who tells you they don't like the cake, or who tell you that there are no more pirates, who refuse to dress up (and how weird is that?) and who are high maintanance. *shrug*
I sometimes think I hate other people's children, but that's not really true. Tina has quite a few friends who I really like and who are smart and good natured. Whatever. I'm just glad the party is behind me and I can focus on other things.
*gobbles down leftover ravioli for breakfast*

[mefnord.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'd have loved to be part of that party!

But mostly I wanted to tell you that I really admire how you're handling the whole plagiarism situation... I didn't comment before, since the whole kerfuffle went right past my head, me being no part of the community - and I felt that there were enough feelings hurt and that a relative stranger didn't need to add her voice to the chorus of damnation and confusion and... anyway, I think you are doing an excellent job, especially with the keeping a levelled head and an open mind towards the offender. Kudos!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

What a fun party you and Mr. E came up with. Those children will have happy memories for years to come.
Hands you a nice plate of pomme frit.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Heee. Pommes Frites. Yum. Thank you.
It's cake day again today - we go to a friend's b-day party. At least hubby made cooked breakfast, i.e. bacon and eggs with baked beans on toast.

The pommes will have to wait till tomorrow. *sigh*

Man, I fell into bed at 9 pm last night!!! Woke up at 5.30 am this morning. Have wasted most of today on making another pirate cake (we still had the sails, so I thought what the heck) and on investigating the plagiarism case. Grrrrr.

I spent hours searching communities for posts from her, and looking at her (slow) archive. Seems she's taking the stories down just now....

This is a pain in the neck. I'd rather write more Dealing. Or, maybe my post-NFA fic. Baaah.