The Helfer Family: James’ Bug Birthday Party

We celebrated James’ 2nd birthday with a bug themed backyard party. He has a serious love for bugs that he didn’t inherit from his Mommy. I find myself hoping time after time that he doesn’t get stung or bitten by a bug. Not simply because it would be painful, but that I think it would really hurt his feelings.

I ordered the invitations from Etsy, while adding a few of my own touches. I printed the invitations at home, which helped us to stay on budget.

One of the best things about the bug theme is that most of my decorations included dirt, twigs and twine. To anchor my food labels, I rounded up some mason jars and filled them with some soil and twigs. I tried putting fake bugs in them, but just couldn’t stand the creepy crawlies on the food table.

We enjoyed Caterpillar Kabobs

Ants on a Log

Chicken Salad Snail Shells

Leafy Green Spinach Dip

Sausage Roly Polies (Mammy serving them fresh out of the oven!)

And Spider Web Cookies! {I was pleased with the look of these, but I made them entirely too thick.}

I also made some cupcakes and marshmallow pops (bug bites). I used burlap as table cloths and tied the ends with twine. I strung a banner with twine, as well. If only I could theme all birthday parties around twine. It’s cheap, easy and one spool is never ending…

I served “Sweet Nectar Tea” and water with lemon for the adults.

We had a wheel barrel of Capri Suns for the kiddos.

Inside we had a banner hanging for the birthday boy.

Cousin Harper bravely let us borrow his bouncy house. I think he was happy to have it at the party. :)

While cousin Olivia stayed away from those crazy boys.

Last year’s Rubber Ducky party had several play stations, but it seemed like all the kids cared about was the bouncy house. So this year, all we had was the bouncy house and a sandbox filled with fake bugs. I never intended on having so few bugs at a bug party, but the more I saw them, the more they grossed me out! Disliking bugs must be innate in girls.

James’ preschool had an outbreak of Hand Foot Mouth Disease the week of his birthday. So most of his class canceled the day before. We appreciate their responsible parents, but we missed our friends! The attendees did a good job of making up for the fun, though!

{Whose kid is that on the left? Diving head first…}

Boys and their wheels.

My hungry little caterpillar.

As usual, the marshmallow pops were gobbled up. They never get old.

Which is exactly why I made mini cupcakes. To send these kids home on only a slight sugar high.

We sang Happy Birthday to the two year old, and then played The Beatles Yer Birthday as the kiddies ate their cupcakes.

James had been requesting candles. I was just happy no one ended up in the emergency room.

…sneak-attack when no one is looking…

As some kids ate cupcakes, Callie tried to figure out how bugs had taken bites out of her napkin…

There were goodies for each little guest to take home. I had to warn the moms that there were a few fake bugs in the bug catchers. As well as gummy worms, ladybug bubbles, candy, and squishy frogs.