Aquabats! Super Birthday Party! TWO!

Aquabats! LET'S GO!

First, who are The Aquabats? I didn't really know until Tristan got into them. They're a really dorky ska-rock band that's been around forever but didn't have much luck until all of a sudden...they did! Now they're famous. MC Bat Commander was in Pretty in Pink for a hot second and then created Yo Gabba Gabba (you know, that show that makes all the babies' eyes swirl); there's Crash McLarson who is SO FUNNY and spoke to Brandon and me on Facebook once (that's right, we're one degree separated from awesomeness via a wall comment!); Bones who is skinny, has an invisible eagle named DUDE and can play guitar behind his head; Jimmy the Robot (because bands need robots); and Ricky Fitness a health nut drummer dude with braces. Still with me? They're from The OC (ORANGE COUNTY, duh) if that explains things better.

This is the story of how I built an Aquabats Super Party for my son's second birthday.

First, you need a lot of blue. Between H&M and the dollar store it was easy to achieve.

You also need some A's. Since the band was broke almost all the time everything is DIY-friendly and they encourage their fans to make their own stuff. ............or so I've heard! I'll have to ask Crash next time we talk.

Aquabats! Family costume!

The A's are very easy to make so here is the tutorial in a nutshell. I just used felt because that's what I had - and initially I made myself a headband, but the morning of the party I thought one on my shirt would look better. Plus I was having hair issues and it wasn't going to be a headband-day (it just wasn't happening!). So I quickly grabbed the black and white felt and cut a black circle, a slightly smaller white circle, and then a black A. I free hand everything but you can use stencils if you want! I like the slightly rustic look (read: crooked and lopsided) and even if I'm following a pattern I wind up making it crooked. I used fabric glue to stick it all together. Tristan's is the only one permanently attached. I loosely stitched the symbols to Brandon's and my shirts in case we want to wear them somewhere non-Batty.

Aquabats! Birthday cake!

Now, onto the cake. I had dreams of building a fondant Lil' Bat dancing in my head. but. I really don't have the ambition to become a Fondontier (I think I made that word up) because I suspect it takes a lot of practice. Instead I found these glow-in-the-dark zombie finger puppets. There is an episode where the Floating Eye of Death (FEOD) is summoned and things get a little hectic and some zombie/mummy chaos ensues. Since I'm doing this on a dime and a time-crunch (have you noticed how crazy this month is?) this is a boxed cake. I know. Fondontiers will recoil in horrror.

BUT! When I posted this very image of the cake on Instagram one of the writers of the show liked it!!!!! He totally clicked that little heart under my picture!

I feel pretty cool about that.

It's white cake mix with blue frosting gel mixed in and some cocoa powder. My original plan was blue velvet made from scratch - now you'll know what direction my mind was moving. Oh, and Tristan made it! I pre-measure everything and he adds it to the bowl. He's very into helping.

White frosting but not around the edges to showcase that fabulous blue. Sprinkles and a light dusting of edible glitter to make it shimmer.

Aquabats! Good Morning! Let's get ready!

Aquabats! Mamma & son!

Aquabats! Papa & dude.

Aquabats! Super Party Decorations!

I got everything at our crazy dollar store. The table cloth, streamers, balloons, plates, cups - even super masks! I made fresh hummus, carrot sticks, string cheese, little burgers (BURGER RAIN!), along with [blue] corn chips.

We had a couple good friends from my preemie group over who are also fellow bloggers: Our Valentine's Day Surprise and half of KateandAly.

It started out like a junior high dance. Each toddler looking everywhere except each other, leaning on parents, pretending to search for sippy cups. Then it exploded. The tiger was in full zoom, dinosaurs and cars went zipping by, and I think I saw some plastic cupcakes take flight. Somehow four shorties had filled the apartment to the brim. We played The Aquabats in the background (of course!) and when  "Poppin' a Wheelie (with my bike)" came on Tristan stood on a chair and rocked out. Two going on twelve.

We had so much fun. Thank you, dear friends, for helping us celebrate a very happy no. 2.

Aquabats! Make a Wish!

Aquabats! Mummy & Me! It's What We Do!

Tristan will officially be two on Tuesday (26 March). We're taking hats to the NICU and visiting one of our favorite nurses...which means I have some more sewing to do! Excited - they're super cute! I'm using a tutorial I found online so I'll show them off on Wednesday...