kids camping party ideas & printables

purchase this camping party invitation printable here.

school's almost out and my little ones are already gearing up to camp out in the backyard!! benji is getting old enough to enjoy hiking, going on nature walks, and even loves listening to spooky stories. (scooby do is on repeat these days, whether i like it or not.) thanks to his mountain man dad, my boys are learning about explorers and the great outdoors. since benji is nearly done with kindergarten, i started imagining up some fun traditions to help swing in the season of summer! my sister has a shaving cream slip n' slide party in her backyard. another mom loves pelting the kids with water balloons at the bus stop for a sneak attack water fight! i also like the outdoor movie idea of cozying up under the stars. i'm dreaming up a special cousins camp out, a perfect way to celebrate the summer, teach my kids the joys of the outdoors and give my siblings the night off.

throwing a casual (and often, spontaneous) party that focuses on the kiddos is key; no birthday cake or presents or too much decor to worry about, just pure fun designed with kids in mind. benji loves making lists and schedules, so i usually let him help me dream up our events. anticipation is half the fun. here's to happy campers!!


our brainstorming came up with these camp out party ideas...

flashlight fun / sleeping bag sack races / s'more brownies / daytime scavenger hunt / glowstick tag / dot to dot constellation games / nature walk / pajama dance off / lantern-lit bracelet looming / make your own trail mix / camper camper bear (instead of duck duck goose), paint wooden snakes (available on amazon.com) / mix up kool-aid bug juice / rope tug o' war / eat ants on a log, oreo mud pies, cheetos (fire flames) and mini hot dogs / nerf gun bullseye target practice / battery-operated candles / spooky stories...



find this camping party printable invitation in my shop! a scavenger hunt printable is also part of your purchase. please note: if you're not keen on hosting a sleepover, there is also a blank camping invitation included for you to write in your own information; whether it be for a family reunion, a scouts meeting, a group hike, a couples shower or a late-over for friends! customize this printable to suit your needs. 

valentine's at our house

this month we hosted a sweet n' salty february fiesta and a cousins cupcake party. (avengers included.) today we got to take cupcakes & valentines to preschool. it felt a little like a badge of honor carrying those funfetti cupcakes in. like, welcome to the club. (i can't help but think of the millions of moms frosting cupcakes and telling their kids not to double dip their spatulas!) i never met a valentine i didn't love. enjoy celebrating and spreading the love.

 happy valentine's day.

autumn brunch in the backyard

wedded bliss / lucy & robbie

a month ago dan's darling niece lucy was married for eternity in the salt lake LDS temple. i've loved getting to know her and watch her grow up while i've been a part of this family. (she was just a tiny blonde kid when we were married!!) these two lovebirds graduated from college this spring and are headed to UCLA this fall. i love that lucy is a brain and a beauty too. she and dan can talk books and philosophy for hours. (i've always thought she had dan's eyes too. though–in this family–everyone seems to inherit those giant dark chocolate pudding eyes.) she seemed to be such a cool, collected, calm bride; enjoying her day as much as her guests did. their garden wedding celebration was simply gorgeous. 

my favorite details //
+ stacked vintage books, cranes and flowers as simple centerpieces.
+ the origami cranes! lucy and friends folded a thousand white cranes for her big day!
+ i loved seeing them swooping, strung and perched throughout the party.
+ the beautiful outdoor setting complete with a croquet set for the kids!
+ an ice cream cart full of dazzling choices. (i scream. you scream. we all scream.) 
+ two wedding cakes baked by her two sisters.
+ best tradition (and homemade cakes!) ever.
+ lucy's beautiful wedding gown and happy, happy smile.

view the much better shots of lucy and robbie on michelle lehnardt's photography blog. she captured them so perfectly. here are their formal photos (sooo lovely) and bright and sunny engagement shots.

p.s. remember this? lucy's little sister sophie dreamed up this alice in wonderland party.

a couples shower / a backyard BBQ

the hot air balloon invite is one of my favorites and works for so many events (i just whipped out another version for a friend hosting a baby shower). this invitation is a 5x7 flat with clover green envelopes. i love using a colored envelope for parties, to help it pop out of the mailbox. i came across the green and gray theme after a stroll through crate & barrel one afternoon (so garden lush and fresh!). i was excited to design something vintage, classic and cheerful for this couples shower. the hot air balloon motif came in mind since these soon-to-be newlyweds are headed off on big adventures come fall. my niece lucy has found her perfect match. hurrah.

sarah, my sister-in-law was co-hostess and made the whole party come together with green and white serving platters, a fun mad-libs activity, lime green picture frames for favors and even divvied up food assignments for me. i've decided this is the only way to host a party: don't prepare any of the food! thanks to everyone who came!
 
we set out the couple's favorite sweets on an old baby changing table (freshly painted) and placed gifts on the lower shelves and in a nearby wagon. to go along with the hot air balloon theme, we featured different quotes about love in frames for party guests to take home. the vases of pink roses were a last minute obvious idea–since they were in full bloom on the bush backyard–i couldn't help but scatter them around.


to get the party rolling, everyone filled out a mad-libs questionnaire about the couple. later we bound the copies together as a quick take-home gift for the couple. i love the picture of lucy's great-grandmother bernice filling out advice for the couple! she is definitely the wisest among us. we also played a raucous game of $25,000 pyramid, my personal favorite party game to customize. (my family gets reeled into playing one of my made up games at almost every family function. lucky them.) here is an action shot of me and my belly playing an awful version of vanna white. everyone was a good sport to play along.


after the game, sarah's ice cream sandwiches put everyone in a good mood before departing. new love is the best excuse for a celebration. congrats, lucy and robbie!

marshmallows + moustaches / a perfect summer party

my friend elizabeth (the darling moustached brunette) hosted her own birthday party the other night; featuring marshmallows and moustaches. when we arrived, she handed me her eyeliner pen and divulged, there is no better way to make people let their guard down than painting silly moustaches on their faces. she was right. it was a very fun and laid back event. it was a pretty perfect party theme, for all ages. too bad i have no photos of the awesome handlebar moustache dan sketched above my lip.

psst.. elizabeth made the chocolate moustaches herself. find a similar mold right here.