Halloween Party

I threw another kids Halloween party this year but I simplified it from last year.  No stress is my new motto (we'll see how long that lasts;) 

My neighbors came over one afternoon and helped us make up invitations.  I printed up the invites then had them tear out paper for hair and eye brows.  Then the kids ran around and passed them out by hand.  My son loved that he got to make the invitations.

I kept the food and decor super simple.  After all of the fun/fancy food last year, the kids didn't eat much so I didn't put much out.  I was going to have a sugar cookie station and let them decorate cookies but when I walked into Sam's Club the day before the party and saw Halloween cupcakes already decorated, with rings on top for $12 I was sold.  Again, it was all about simple this year.  I did make up some fun green foamy punch though.  Big hit.

I put out some toilet paper tubes, google eyes, markers, glue, pipe cleaners and other small things and let the kids create something while we waited for everyone to arrive.

We played a few new games and I recycled some from last year.  We played "witch, witch, ghost" instead of "duck, duck, goose."  Then we played hot potato with a spider.

I made a witch's hat ring toss.  I used a colored foam board for the base.  Then I cut out circles and the tops of the hats from black poster board (you could easily use black party hats for the tops).  I traced a party hat I had to get the pattern.  Then I glued on colored "buckles" and hot glued the hats onto the black circles.  My neighbor had the rings from a game but you could also use pool diving rings to toss.

I bought some ingredients to toss into my cauldron for "witch's brew."

We did the pin the nose on the witch that I made last year.

I filled some recycled jars with candy and had them guess how many there were.

And did a little mummy bowling with our recycled bowling pins.  I taped gauze and google eyes onto them and used a black foam pumpkin for the bowling ball.

I tried to get a group shot.  It was like hearding cats.

I had prizes for the games and sent everyone home with a Halloween ring pop.  I didn't even do goodie bags this time.  And no one cared.  They just like to get together, play games and have a good time.  I need to remember tha more often and not be so worried about creating things "just right" so I have good pictures to blog about!  Lesson learned this year: people just want to have fun.  They don't need you to stress yourself out for that to happen.