Indiana Jones Birthday Party (Part II)

 

Decorations & Games:

It was hard to find decorations for Indiana Jones, until we found an American Science & Surplus store by our house. If you are looking for weird science stuff; spiders, fossils, sealed frogs in a bag, or petri dishes, this is the store for you. We decorated the tables with alligators, spiders, snakes, and fossils.

 

  

The best decoration; my son's drawing of Indiana Jones.

 

We had one game, which was to win clues (letters) to find Dr. Jones' cargo box filled with treasure. You had to fish in the snake pit and make a mummy bear to get a clue. No one seemed interested, except my oldest son - who kept asking why no one was trying to get clues. If they received a clue, they taped the letter on a piece of paper where it was numbered. I ended up putting the answer up after I realized no one was going to finish it. The kids had to form a line and hum the Indiana Jones theme song while we marched around the house, then my husband put the cargo box outside and the kids helped themselves to some candy.

 

The $40 snake pit. I thought I could walk into a store and buy a bag of snakes for $10, but most stores don't have snakes and if they do, they have one or two. So we bought a few here and there and then realized we didn't have enough. It seemed everyone was coming home with snakes and soon the pit was full. I put them in a small blow up pool with a hula skirt inside and used a cheap fishing game for this part of the adventure.

 

The clues and antidote, in case you needed some after fishing in the snake pit.

 

Mummy wrapping station.

 

Cargo box found at  Michael's we stained and painted and covered with burlap fabric.

 

Indy's treasure - Goodwill trinkets and lots of candy.

The Cake:

I don't know how long this took because I didn't do it all at once. I bake the cakes the night before, put the tiers together and slowly decorate. I used butter cream frosting and fondant for the ropes. The rocks are M&Ms I found in the bins at Target. I found a picture on line and will post a link when I can find it, but she used fondant over the entire cake. I like how fondant looks, but it doesn't taste good, so I went with frosting.

  
I taught myself how to decorate cakes through trial and error and there were many errors. For years all my cakes would stick in the pan until someone told me to use parchment paper. It's ridiculous to make cakes like this, but I like trying new things and swearing in my kitchen at midnight. When I showed the cake to E, I wanted to hear, "Mommy this is the best birthday cake ever, and you have made my life complete. One day I will start to take a sip of beer when I am underage and I will stop because I will remember the beautiful cake you made for me and I won't want to disappoint you." 

Instead I heard, "It doesn't look like the picture...where is Mutt? Mutt is the new character who was on the motorcycle in the picture of the cake I was trying to follow. Mutt was no longer for sale at Target - I checked four stores - they must have them in some warehouse with all the snakes. 

  
 

I think I am running out of room on this post - can they be too long? Random thoughts; I swore I wouldn't have theme parties when my kids were younger - I didn't want the corporate man telling my children who to worship, that was my job. Now I let them have a theme party if they want - I still enjoy non-commercial themes - pirates or robots, but Indiana Jones was a lot of fun. One little boy told me he couldn't eat the cake because he gave up chocolate for Lent, which I thought was cute. Another told everyone while we were eating that he had diarrhea. Always an adventure.

The end...next party is this summer and the Riddler has escaped from Gotham City Jail...

 

Comments

[bakeandsewblog]

I cant get over how much effort you went to. Everything looks fantastic. You should be helping duffers like me who have no idea what to do at a party!!
Love the cake too

[Hege]

Looks like a fantastic party!

[Kris]

forwarding these posts to my hubby... I want an Indy birthday party this summer, and I want it to be exactly like this.. so there.
(it's freaking awesome!)

[Tilly]

It all looks fantastic, but another party in the summer??? You really are a glutton for punishment - lol!

[The 6 O'Clock Stitch]

Love it all! Will link to this again today and thanks for the Princess party shopping tips! Good thing I've got months to get ready!

[jessica Levitt]

I like swearing in my kitchen at midnight too! And I love the expected/actual response from the kids. It usually goes something like that, doesn't it? Although Aurora has said she wants another monster party this year, so I must have done something right.

Seriously, this looked awesome. I feel I'd better start thinking about stuff for this summer. :)

[Lisa]

Wow, everything is way cute-- especially that cake. Though I think a really good cake singlehandedly stopping underage drinking might be wishful thinking! :)

[Amy S.]

I'm not worthy!....(Bow)...(Bow)..(bow)

[Tracy]

Absolutely amazing. All of it. You rock!

[loretta]

Love your cake! Great job on everything!!

[Visty]

Wow, I am so impressed! You totally rock.

[lina]

Wow. Seriously amazing Anne!

[Crystal]

Really, this is so cool. You are now my party planner hero and I think your kids are sooo lucky to have you.

[Courtney]

Wow - seriously! I think you're being very strategic - more than the cake - these parties are certainly worth a child putting off underage drinking! They totally owe their momma. What kind of party could she throw for 21?

This is a party I would have remembered forever - and if the party details and the child that was a little poop sick - or the one that gave up chocolate for Lent(you always make me laugh) faded from memory - I would remember all the time spent preparing it with my mom.

And really just that I was so super loved to have a mom that did all this for me. Amazing. Congratulations!

[Alexis]

I'm so impressed! Can you come plan my kids' parties?

[Carrie]

Boy I am in awe! You did such an amazing job!

[Paper Dolls for Boys]

bwahahaha- the drinking part cracked me up!

This party was so damn good, seriously impressive.

That cake was magnificent and I lol'd at your kiddo's reaction, so much like what is happening at this house.

Well done!

[urban craft]

So much cuteness. I love it!

[a happier girl]

Please adopt me so I can have birthday parties this cool. Awesome cake. Awesome. And the hats. The perfect hats. So. Cute.

[Patty]

HOW FUN!!! Please invite me to the next shindig at your house. I'll look for clues and eat yoru cake anytime.

[sarah]

that is ammmmmazing. i can never show my son these pictures or he'll feel super, fantastically gypped.

you are my hero.

[krista]

I'm glad I'm not the only mom out there up til midnight, loopy, decorating bday cakes!! I wouldn't have it any other way.....when my son told me he wanted an Indiana Jones cake, I was stumped, but I cannot wait to attempt yours!! It's perfect!!!Wish me luck!!!

[Louise]

Shew, you really give me a run.
People here in SA think I throw great parties.
I have nothing on you.
Wish you had a girl so you could give me great inspiration for my little 3yr Barbie party. I am feeling rather flat right now.

[stefani]

Oh. My. Gosh. You get the Mama of the Year crown, no question.
The party, the gifts, the cake... Good LORD the cake!

You seriously rock, mama!

[jordan]

Whats The Recipie For the cake