[Guatemom]

Hello, forum pals. I really need your suggestions on this:
Connor turns 3 in July (I can't believe it); we have had his last 2 parties at a park under a shelter, which have been wonderful. It's on the riverfront and just gorgeous. Plus, it's free! Anyway, Since he's at a curious age, as are his cousins and daycare-mates, I'd like to do a party-theme this year that will incorporate some Guat culture or something to celebrate a Guatemalan tradition, etc. We do start all our celebrations with a thank you and prayer for his birthmom, esp his birthday (which I usually cry all the way thru, but hey). Any advice? Again, most of the kids will be in the 3-4 year age group. Any crafts in mind? Goodie bags?

[DPline]

We did Guatemalan food for my son's second birthday. If you want some receipe ideas, do a search for 'chicken stew' and you should find quite a few threads with receipes. We also did a pinata. Since he was still really little, we weren't to the goodie bag stage yet, so not sure what to suggest there other than if you can find those colorful hacky sack balls you can buy in Guatemala. My kids love those.

Good luck!

[Quesita]

I am NOT artsy craftsy I'm afraid. But some silly ideas occur to me.

Spider monkeys! (or any stuffed monkey with really long arms) They remind me of the Peten! Jaguars too!

Volcanoes? Ummmm... not the artsy craftsy type, but is there some sort of way to build volcanoes out of mud or something else that might be fun? Maybe even set it up with a pump on the inside so that it splurts red stuff? The moms can all hate you when their kids come home really dirty.

Some sort of a game that involves building pyramids out of blocks? You know, big square at the bottem, smaller square on top, even smaller square on top, etc. They could work in teams and everyone could get prizes for the fastest pyramid, the neatest pyramid, the tallest, etc.

Ummm... anything chocolate! Indigenous to the Americas! Bananas too! Are they too little to eat corn on the cob? You could roast it in the park.

Drumming? Make everyone else in the park hate you.

Anything to do with stars or planets... the Mayans were great astronomers.

Probably not a very helpful list, but thinking of stuff was a fun exercise.

[Guatemom]

These help! It's a lot more than what I had to start with. We already do the pinata; but the others will certainly give me a starting point, thanks a bunch!!

[coatess1]

Note on the pinata-
Did you notice the LARGE pinatas in Guatemala????
They are so cool.

Well last week we were in a Latina Grocery store- they are becoming more common- depending where you live. They had these great large authentic pinata's for sale. They also sold different candy you could fill it with.

[Guatemom]

Ahh! Coatess1--you're a genius!!! I never thought to visit a Latino grocery store!!! I'm really excited now, thanks!

[jjsmom2b]

Hi,

My daughter turned one in March and I wanted to do some sort of Guatemalan theme too. Since there were several older children there (ages 3-4), we also had a pinata and it was definitely the hit of the party!!! For the cake, I made a maraca cake (I will attach a picture). I also had an ice cream bar, which has nothing to do with the Guatemalan theme, but the kids loved it! I just gave each of the kids a bowl of ice cream (outside on the picnic table!) and had several different toppings that they could choose from to make their own sundaes (chocolate syrup, sprinkles, nuts, marshmallows, etc). It was a lot of fun!

Janel

[mskristyk]

WOW, look at that cake - you did a fabulous job!

[Guatemom]

Wow, Jane!! How awesome! I love the cake, and the sundae idea is really cool. It would be a big hit since we'll be outside and right smack in the middle of July-it's usually up in the 90's here at that point. Great ideas! I knew you guys would come thru,

[SaraAvaandLileesMama]

Speaking of volvanoes my son turned 10 last year in
MAy and then I took him to Guatemala to visit his sisters. But anyway his Grandma made him a volvanoe cake. He loved it!!! Now he wants one every year.
He is absolutely facinated in volcanoes too! I took him for his 2nd trip in April and he took about 30 pictures of the volcanoes in Antigua.

[coatess1]

Janel
that is one great cake!!!!! I am off to start a new thread-please post the picture again in my cake thread.

Guatemom-9 months in this process, Dh and I are nuts with the waiting, so wondering around the Bodego Latina-made us feel like we were back in Guatemala!! Have fun!

[msdice]

Caleb turned two this year and we have done this for both parties.

Tres Leches Cake (this year I also served make your own sundaes)

Homemade Pinata (labor of love)

Sparklers/poppers (since fireworks are a part of every celebration in Guatemala and we live in a development, I opted for sparklers as a replacement)


You could make tamales or find some marimba music.

[DPline]

Just had to say, everyone had some brilliant ideas! I am going to save this thread for future reference. LOVE the cake jjsmom2b!

[Mary Mulcahy]

I did a party for Danny when he turned three too.
We had Chicken, rice, beans, raddish salad and tres leche cake. You can also use worry dolls for napkin holders and the guests can take them home. YOu can also give each kid a hack sack ball or a small bag. Many of the things I bought on line at mayan traditions and the profits go to help those in Guatemala.

We also had a pinata.

Google the recipes and also Mayan traditions has some lovely things for under 5.00.

Nice to see you post, best from Danny and Ricco
Mary

[Lauren57]

My son who is almost 4 1/2 went to a birthday party recently where the craft project was worry dolls made with clothespins. The hostess had a bunch of wooden clothespins, felt, yarn, markers, glue sticks etc, and each child was able to decorate their own "worry dolls". She told the children about the tradition. Even though the worry dolls did not look "authentic" it was still a fun craft.

Lauren, Mom to Michael home 1/2004