Avery's Third Fiesta

After weeks and weeks of rainy rain rain, we finally got a little sunshine just in time for Avery and Faith's third birthday party last weekend. The beautiful, crisp weather set the perfect scene for our outdoor fiesta.

A few weeks ago, Kris and I found our invitations on Tiny Prints and just had to have them.

Unfortunately, they didn't show up until a couple of days before the party, so we had to send out e-vites.
Boo.
Boo, boo, boo.
BOOOOOOO.

Because we paid for them, I'm putting them on the blog.

Here's what they looked like.
Mostly. Give or take some info.

Cute, huh?

Too bad no one saw the actual invitations.
Boo. Boo, Boo, Booooo.

Anyway ---
Kris and I loved the little Dora on the invitation so much that we decided to dress the girls in matching felt appliqued t-shirts.

I couldn't leave Little Charlie out, so I made a Boots shirt for him.


We decorated the park gazebo with tissue pom poms, paper chains and mexican banners in light and dark pinks, orange, lime green, and turquoise.

The paper flowers that Kris and I created turned out really cute!

And it only cost us 4 hours, around 55 cents per flower, and a few grey hairs from the stress of trying to keep our kiddos distracted while we worked.
Worth it.



Our special guest, Dora, arrived 30 minutes into the party.

As she walked across the lawn, the kids literally RAN to hug her.

Avery was a little shy, but thrilled that Dora was at her party.

After greeting Dora, the kids were each given a backpack for a special adventure.

Faith's momma, Kris, and I ordered white backpacks from Discount School Supply.

Kris dyed the backpacks purple for the girls and orange for the boys. Then she hot-glued felt for the eyes, eyebrows, and mouth.

How cute did they turn out?!
(Was it worth the purple fingers and cramping hands, Kris?)


After the kids were given their backpacks, we gathered everybody around Dora for their "Big Adventure".

Each of the kid's little backpacks contained a few things to help with an "Adventure" with Dora.

FYI: I searched all over the internet for different Dora party ideas and came across the following activity here. It was a huge hit with the kiddos.

Dora opened her backpack, took out her map, and showed the kids the three destinations for their "Big Adventure".



Then, Dora told the kids to take their Spy Scopes out of their backpacks to help them look for "Cupcake Mountain" (the playground slide).

After their climb over Cupcake Mountain, Dora led the kids across the Silly Snake Pit (plastic snakes on the grass)

Finally, they made their way to the big surprise (a wrapped box under a tree).

Dora told the kids to take the whistles out of their backpacks to wake up the sleepy bear on top of the present.

Then they all opened the present to reveal The Big Surprise: A pinata!

We took the Pinata to a tree and let the kids take turns hitting it.

After the Big Adventure, everybody had nachos from the nacho bar.

Then, it was time for CUPCAKES!


and presents!



The BIrthday girls had a blast partying with Dora.

Now it's time to start planning Charlie's 1st birthday celebration NEXT MONTH!