ARGH, IT'S AN AWESOME PIRATE PARTY!

It happened. Captain Madison and Pirate Noah and 18 of their merry crew celebrated their six and three year old birthdays with a pirate party in May. And here are the fabulous pictures (thanks to big sister Kelly and Nanna) of the event that was.

It was amaze-balls. It really was.

Having two boys who were born two days apart (and three years) just screams a big combined do, and then we're done for the year. (According to my husband, that's more than enough parties for every two years.)

Madison welcomed his friends out the front and marched them all in. I just loved how the kids used their imagination to look so pirate-y.

First up was fighting with Jolly Roger (my step-dad. And yes, Roger is his real name!). The kids had to fight off the bloody larakin, aka Papa. Then tug-o-war, walk the plank (option for blindfolding or not), and the egg race relay.

 

The big finale was the treasure hunt. Visiting Hangman's Cove, the pirate's lair, the haunted forest, and treasure cave all for the hidden treasure. (I'm so glad we have a lovely garden to go roaming in.) There were clues, some gold (in the form of edible chocolate), and the kids were riveted looking for that treasure!

Eventually the treasure chest was found (I'm not joking, it took a long time to find!), full of mini treasure chests for each child to take home.

The food. How did I ever organise a party before the existence of Pinterest? Seriously? In days gone by, I was an events coordinator. Organising events came right out of your head, because the internet isn't what it is now. But I'd go back to it in an instant with the resources now on hand for all things pretty and some outright amazing ideas. All the fabulous ideas of food just spurred on the imagination to go the next step. All the Pinterest inspiration and credits for this party is found here.

Oh, and if you want to look super organised, you get your step daughter to take a photo just minutes before the guests arrive, when things are looking their tidiest. I didn't plan it that way, but the timing was perfect! I look like a SuperMum! (And yes, it is all smoke and mirrors!)

The kids are still young, and because parents usually stay for the duration of the party, shouldn't there be food for the big guests too? When I'm at a lunchtime party, I never know if I should eat the food from the party table. Shouldn't there be a written decorum on this. Because I just never know. I don't think these parents should be left hungry, you know? So, I had two tables: the kitchen bench with coffe/tea/chocolate, orange flourless cake, fruit, spinach cob (yes, one of those ones that were big in the 90s), and well... food so the grown ups didn't miss out.

And then for the kidlets. For all things ocean and pirate-y, I made the following:

1. Sea slime. Lime green jelly with jelly snakes on top.
2. Pirate ship eggs. Hard boiled eggs with a toothpick and that plastic cheese (these were a winner!)
3. Octopus in the dip. One red capsicum in french onion dip. Black olives pinned as eyes.
4. Cannonballs & bullets. Well, maltesers make the best cannonballs. And bullets? Need I say more?
5. Sea lice lamingtons. These were white chocolate lamingtons. (I promise to share the recipe thanks to Women's Weekly.)
6. Chocolate sail masts. Grissini sticks dipped in dark and milk chocolate, and then drizzled with white chocolate.
7. Rainbow fish skewer swords. Fruit skewers in rainbow colours arranged on a flat platter in a rainbow shape.
8. Pirate cupcakes. I made everything, except the cupcakes. These were made by a gorgeous friend of a friend who also so happens to have her own cake making business called "Sweet Expectations Melbourne". You can visit her on Facebook here. They really were amazing, and a reasonable price too!

And just a gazillion more photographs below, because I am an over sharer. (Plus, my family overseas wouldn't mind some more pictures!)

By the way, no matter how prepared you are, nothing really prepares you for the after party exhaustion. It's overwhelming. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it's all the adrenaline and then the collapse at the end.

In my view (and the look on the boys' faces), it was worth every little bit.

Oh, here's our professional photographer, who also so happens to look hot in a pirate outfit (and with her dad)...

Do you do parties in a big way, or prefer the understated party?