B Day Party at the Laboratory

This weekend was Brandon's 4th birthday party which was held at the newly opened Laboratory Art Studio in Wat Tyler Park which is run by my little Sister. In addition to running art classes, part of her business model is to organise and run children's birthday party's. Since the studio only opened one month ago Brandon's party was to be the first in what will hopefully turn out to be a great business venture for Lisa. For the Laboratory's first kids party we certainly did not let her have an easy time and it was a proper case of baptism of fire given that there was something like 14 kids plus adults there!!! But I have to say the party was a major success and Brandon thoroughly enjoyed himself. The 2 hour event really flew by but everyone (even the parents) seemed to be having a great time.

 

The party started with some arts and crafts where all the children got to make a pencil racing car. They started by colouring a car template and then cutting out the shapes. Then it was stamping the wheels and inserting pencils to make the axles. Next was to assembly the car and glue all of the parts together. Finally it was time to bling the cars with all kinds of decorations including eyes, feathers, pipe cleaners, stick on letters etc.etc. The kids all did a great job and had some really stunning car models to take home with them after the event.

 

 

Spikey haired Brandon getting stuck into his model car.

The bodywork is on the chassis and Brandon gets some help from Auntie Lisa.

Joshua and Zac working hard on the other table.

The parents did not just stand around and had to help the kids cut and glue etc.

Brandon starting to bling his car up and looking for some small eyes to glue on.

The 40 mins allocated for the crafts absolutely flew by and then it was off for stage 2 of the parts which involved all the kiddies having a 30 min wide on the Wat Tyler mini locomotive. This was a big hit with the kids despite the near freezing temperatures. The parents seemed to equally like this part of the party as it gave them 30 mins to sit back in the Lab with a coffee and cake whilst the children were entertained on the train.

Joshua, Zac, Brandon and Thomas ride the last carriage. Their strategy was that once the engine turned at the other end, then they would be at the front of the train.

Brandon was very happy on the train. Zac looks a little cold!

And off they go...........

If only British rail could be as organised and timely as Brandon's party!

Off they go for the second half of the train ride doing a loop down the other end of Wat Tyler.

Can you spot Auntie Chris with the boys third cousin Leyla-Grace.

Once the kiddies returned from the train we figured it was time to let them all settle down for some food and drink whilst they thawed out from the brisk winters day. Brandon did not eat any of his nice Lightning McQueen cake that we bought for his birthday as he just does not seem to like that sort of cake. So for his party we kept it very simple and got a basic Cadbury button chocolate cake which we decorated with Disney Cars, a number 4 sparkler, a firework candle and 4 normal candles.

The cake firework candle seemed to go on, and on, and on, and on.........

By now Brandon is getting pretty good at blowing out candles.

You can just about make out the number 4 sparkler which decorated his cake.

All the kiddies tucking into their little Hot Wheels lunch boxes which Tina made up the night before.

After the food was done it was time to clear the tables out of the way and make space for a few games such as pass the parcel. But before that we hung up Brandon's Monster Jam pinata and let all of the kiddies grab hold of a pull string. After the count of 3 the floor was smothered with sweets and the carnage began,

3-2-1-pull...............

Absolute mayhem as the kiddies all scramble around picking up hand fulls of sweets.

The day was so full on that Brandon did not get to open any of his presents until a day later. But it was well worth the wait as he got some amazing presents and was a very happy little boy. Expectations are now high for his 5th birthday next year, but I am not sure how we can top his 4th. 

Brandon with his named Hot Wheels t-shirt which Max and Sam got him.

How about this for a birthday present collection - and this was just from his party (nothing from family and friends).

So a big thanks to Lisa and David for making Brandon's fourth birthday so special and sorry for making your first party at the Lab a challenging one!