ozzie celebrated his 4th birthday party with a cowboy theme on a real working farm. just like every other party i host, i love to introduce the theme with the invitations. after finding the perfect cowboy font online, i made these invitations and wrap around mailing labels myself then printed them at my local printing shop. i added red envelopes and was happy with how they turned out.
the little farm at windwater was the perfect setting for his 4th birthday party. the farm owners gave us full access to the farm allowing the kids to feed the ducks, bunnies, chickens, horses, pigs, goats and sheep. the peacocks happily (and noisily) wandered the farm welcoming our guests. inside the barn, kids held and fed the bunnies and guinea pigs and visited with the horses. these two extremely patient horses gave each child a horse back ride (or three, some took a few extra rides and the owners happily obliged) and posed for a perfect photo opportunity. there were tractor rides, horse shoes and a bull lasso game.
just like olivia's first birthday, this was a pinterest inspired diy birthday party. i made ozzie a felt applique t-shirt of a sheriff star with the number four on it. the tables were covered in gingham clothes with center pieces of mason jars filled with white daisies that I wrapped with burlap, bandannas, and twine. my friend lent me antique horse shoes that i laid next to the centerpieces and on the buffet table. each child's place setting had a straw cowboy hat, a red bandanna and sheriff star pin waiting for them to put on while enjoying the party.
everyone ate from the "chuck wagon menu" on aluminum dishes just like real cowboys. i wrapped forks, knives and spoons in napkins with gingham ribbon. lunch was a buffet of pulled pork sliders with coleslaw, potato salad, fruit salad, hot dogs and chips for the kids, cupcakes and cowboy lassos (licorice). The "watering hole" provided cold drinks to cool off from the sun. i used my silhouette to cut the cup cake toppers of the little cowboy silhouettes and sheriff stars. on a side note, the silhouette is in my opinion the best crafting tool available. i actually made all of the paper banners, signs, die cuts, etc with this awesome machine!
The barn was the perfect place to hang the burlap happy birthday bunting. i made paper mustaches on a stick and my sweet friend brooke provided sheriff stars, pistols and other cowboy photo booth props from her etsy shop little retreats that i scattered on the tables for kids to grab. guests were sent home with a bag of "happy trails mix" as a party favor along with their cowboy gear.
ozzie is such a happy boy, celebrating his birthday is always a joy and every year i find myself reflecting on how much he has grown. this year i am particularly proud of the young man he is turning into. his care and compassion for his little sister, his desire to cooperate and be helpful, and his ever curious mind with never ending questions fills me with an overwhelming amount of love while completely fascinating me at the same time. children are truly amazing, wonderful little creatures from God. my cup runneth over.
