Pirate Party {Jack's 5th Birthday}

Ahoy mateys!

Alas Captain Jack's 5th Birthday is like a mere corsair that has sailed off into the sunset. I think it was yo ho, oh so successful! Jack will certainly ne'er be forgettin' it. I've also heard from a few of the attendee's parents that their scallywags wouldn't surrender their cutlass at bedtime and were threatening to make siblings walk the plank, so I think it was fun had by all!

The invites from Tiny Prints.

We rented out the Chickee Hut {a thatched roof shelter designed to resemble an authentic Seminole Indian building} at the FSU Reservation at Lake Bradford.The pirate ship cake was {no, not home baked} purchased from Publix bakery.

I did, however, make the pirate oreo cookie pops and cake pops {that unfortunately melted under the high heat} and received as a gift a very cute Happy Everything Platter and with personalized pirate ship attachment {thank you Linley and Coton Colors}.

Each of the swashbucklers received loot bags filled with personalized sashes, bandannas {sewn and embroidered by my mom}, a compass, earring, eye patch and cutlass.

Jack even let little sister Paige in on the fun!

It isn't a party without Pirate's Booty, games {the bean bag toss game was built and painted by my mom and dad}, pirate ship beach balls from Pottery Barn Kids and plenty o' swimming...

good cake, good company, good loot...

and a treasure box filled {also made by my parents} with gold and silver {chocolate} pieces and jeweled ring {lollipops} for each pirate to take home the booty.

Here are a few more details for entertaining seafaring scoundrels:

Food: Gold Nuggets {cheese cubes}, fruit served on bamboo skewers, veggies "swords" served in clear cups with ranch dip in the bottom and Pirate's Booty {1 oz. bags ordered from Amazon}
Decor: Red and white table cloths from Target $4 each, empty {or drink} Mississippi Mud beer bottles {they look like old whiskey jugs} and remove labels, clean and fill with red and white flowers for centerpieces, red, black and white balloons, pirate flag bunting from Target, pirate sign and compasses from Hobby Lobby, red and white sand pales purchased for a $1 each from Michael's.

Favors: Make or purchase pirate gear for the scallywags to play dress up - check Oriental Trading or Century Novelty

Drinks: Mini A&W Root Beer and Pirate's Punch {fruit punch juice boxes}
Treasure Chest: Transform an ordinary box from Michael's into Davy Jones' locker with stain, a little beating up, brass nails, bronze handles and an old-fashioned lock and fill with Hershey's gold and silver nuggets, Rolos, gold and silver coins {from World Market} and jewel tone ring pops
Games: Bomb the Ship (Other ideas: Treasure Hunt, Walk the Plank, Pin the X on the Map)
Music to set the mood: Yo Ho Ho {A Pirate's Life for Me}, The Sailor's Hornpipe, Wipeout, Jump In Line {Shake Senora}, Limbo, The Pirate Song (Jack's personal fav), Don't Worry Be Happy, A Pirate Looks at Forty, Day O', Stir it Up, Hot Hot Hot, Ornioco Flow, A Little Bit of Riddim, The Jolly Roger, Jammin', The Tide is High, Under the Sea, Shiver Me Timbers, Sloop John B, Sea Cruise, Beyond the Sea, Big Ship, Kiss the Girl, He's a Pirate {theme song from Pirates of the Caribbean}

And a few more photos of the merriment.

Happy Birthday {again} Captain Jack. I hope it was as memorable for you as it was for me!