Birthday Party Eve

Laithan and Lachlan's party is tomorrow! I can't believe it came so fast. I had a lot to do and took a day of vacation from my full time job to work on their party. It is a good thing I did because I was busy all day. I got a jump last night, filling party favor bags and blowing up the Oriental Trading dinos I bought on Amazon!

Thursday night, I blew up six dinosaurs and hid them in
the laundry room. I can't wait to see Laithan's reaction.

First thing this morning was a quick trip to Children's with Lachlan. He's been having some issues and we got some imagine done. It all checked out okay but poor guy was hungry and tired afterwards. We stopped by my work to pick something up, then to the bank, then to the Dollar Store for a few of the things I had forgotten. I bought all our paper goods for the party, the plates for the cakes, some awesome dino hats, dino books for party favors, and more from there. What a lifesaver. Last, we headed to Walmart for a few of the things missing from my grocery list. 

Once I got home, I went right to work:

A whole lot of fruit and veggies!

I saw this little cutie on Pinterest. I didn't see any instructions just the finished project and I knew I had to try it. They had done it a bit different, cutting the teeth out of the watermelon, but I had noticed while I was cutting strawberries for the fruit salad who much they resembled teeth! Then the spikes (pineapple) were a last minute addition as he was looking a bit bland. Laithan LOVED it. 

The boys loved this little T-Rex head with strawberry teeth!

Then it was time for the cake. I was dreading and looking forward to this for weeks. I knew it was going to take a long time but I was anxious to see if I could pull it off! Laithan requested T-Rex and I decided to make Brachiosaurus for Lachlan as my sketch of him took up the most amount of cake! 

Cut out the shape of a T-Rex from a
9-inch round cake

Now that was surprisingly easy. I was very happy with the way they looked at this stage. But then I started a crumb coat and things got ugly. The cakes were too moist, the frosting too sticky. We're talking box cakes and store bought frosting, people! I'm not a baker! So a little time in the fridge and a whole lot of patience, I got 'em done. Rexxy's leg was a small casualty considering the disaster I had anticipated.

Did a crumb coat. This was a challenge.
Note that Rexxy lost an arm?

I thought for sure I didn't have enough frosting left, but I just made it. I'm very happy with how they turned out! Not bad for my first time. I don't know how I'm going to stomach watching the boys destroy them tomorrow though. I need to take more pictures of my dinos!

Completed cakes!

The cupcakes were easy peasy in comparison. These little dinos fit on top perfect. I got them on Amazon as well for cheap and washed 'em up and stuck them on top. There are 12 with dinos (for the kids) and 12 without. I hope that's plenty!

24 cupcakes, 12 with Dinos on top.

 While I was waiting for cakes to bake, I started cutting dino footprints. I actually freehand drew a footprint and used that as a template for the others. Laithan was amazed. He made me trace his hand as well. He loves footprints. When we take him to Dinosaurs Alive! at King's Island, he is more enthralled by the footprints than anything. 

Someday, Laithan may be a podiatrist. Footprints get him
so excited! He watched me cut out 8 of these suckers!

And now tomorrow, I need to make lemonade, get hot dogs and chili going in the crocks, get my veggie cups assembled, get the table ready, hand the birthday banner, probably cut some more footprints, print labesl and label some water bottles, and probably some more stuff. Luckily, my momma is coming in the morning! 

Now, its off to bed!