Basketball Themed Birthday Party

Well my baby boy turned 4 on Wednesday (okay, not so baby) and we had a basketball ball themed party.  Each year he is very specific about what kind of party he wants and he decided early, it was basketball.

I had my parents bring a box cake from the states because they are hands down the best.  Obvisouly a basketball cake. Last year he had dinosaurs and I was 8 month prego and too lazy to make the cake.  The year before was this one.  So I was happy it was an easy little basketball cake, although I could have done better.

'ans' in French is years, if you were wondering

Can you tell our cool basketball court table cloth? Love it!

We just took paper from my son's Ikea drawing board and laid it across the table and used different shapes and sizes to create the court.  Another idea if you have room is placemats for each kid.  That way they can color on them and take them home. 

Face painting, thanks to grammy.

 Face painting for the kids



Pin the basket in the hoop game

 Try to get the ball in the hoop

Basketball banner, orange baloons, and a basketball hoop to complete the look.

 Everything was done for super inexpensive.  We also made chocolate 'suckers' for the kids in their gift baskets that I am realizing now I forgot to take pics of.  The cake is easy-peesie.  My mom used to make cakes like that for our birthday's every year and I loved it.  So I want to do it for my kids. 

It was my first time hosting a party in French.  It was interesting, but I think I did okay.  I had a friend who was there who is bilingual, so that was helpful.  Oh and I also found out that parents don't stay for parties, they just drop their kids off.  That one threw my for a loop, but worked out for the best because then I didn't have to try to make small talk in another language!

I don't usually do personal posts, and I don't intend to do more, but I thought I would give a shout out to my 4-year-old boy.  He is such a sweet, tender-hearted little boy. I love you Tae!

Love you dude!

Here are some ideas for activities at a basketball party:

1. Have a hoop in your living room (most people do that, right?) or be near an outside court to shoot and play around
2. Print out a picture of each kid so they can autograph it and take it home with them, supastar!
3. For the end of the party while everyone is winding down, have printed coloring pages of the appropriate theme.
4. Pin the (paper)basket in the hoop (as pictured)
5. Any kind of basketball games, who can dribble the longest, freethrow contest, shooting contest
6. Have 'jerseys' made for the kids as they walk in with a number so each friend is a player. You can even go so far as to put their last name. (by jersey I mean something cheap that goes over their heads)
7. Have a professional player stop by. Oh wait, we have that every day! :) lol, I'm a dork, sorry.