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Autumn Harvest Party - 3yr - Pumpkin Pickin'

Oct 2003

Patti in Mt. Olive, Mississippi 39119 - U.S.A.

Honorable Mention

Pumpkin Pickin’ Party

Title:  Morgan's Pumpkin Patch Party - 3 yr. old Date:  October 2003 Pumpkin Patch, Friends Welcome!  On Sunday, October 12, we celebrated our son's 3rd Birthday Party with a Pumpkin Patch Theme.  Being a little farmer, the event actually started in June when Morgan and his dad planted a Pumpkin Patch on our farm, which would be harvested in October for his birthday. 

The invitations read, You're invited to Morgan's Pumpkin Pickin' 3rd Birthday Party! 

Morgan's party attire was denim overalls and a white t-shirt I had stamped with pumpkins, using orange fabric paint and a small rubber pumpkin stamp.

To prepare the Pumpkin Patch we pre-cut the pumpkins before the party and spread a large area with hay and placed all the pumpkins around so the kids could choose their own pumpkin. 

After the guests arrived (friends & family) we loaded the kids in two red wagons and headed for the Pumpkin Patch! (others that did not have room to sit in the wagon, helped push from the front/back of the wagon).  The wagons were also used to load the pumpkins.  A photograph was taken by a sign which read Pumpkin Patch, Friends Welcome! 

The day was nice and sunny and I had picnic tables setup in the backyard for the kids to decorate their pumpkins.  With a crowd of infants to 7 yr. olds, I did not want to create a "decorative-mess", so I came up with the idea of spray painting woodsie shapes (circles, squares, triangles, ovals, stars, etc.) black, purchased from Wal-Mart in the craft section, and attaching double-sided mounting tape so the kids just had to pull off the green backing and attach the shapes to make a pumpkin face. I prepared the shapes a week before the party. 

For facial expression ideas, I had also spray painted large-size metal fruit/vegetable cans orange and added black shapes to create a face (smiling, spooky, etc.).  For added detail I had natural color raffia attached to a twisted wire on each can to be used for the "hair" to tie around the pumpkin stem.  I also hung extra decorated facial cans in the trees by the picnic tables. 

Party games included:  a fishing pond, (empty frog sand box with Velcro fish/Velcro hook tied to a dowel rod) crawling tunnels & spring stationary horse.  Activities the kids enjoyed! 

After singing Happy Birthday (Pumpkin Patch cake & ice cream) and opening up birthday gifts, guests enjoyed an array of snacks, which included:  Peanut Butter & Jelly Pumpkin Sandwiches, Pigs in a Blanket, Cheesy Spiders, fruits, chips, (served in Morgan's monogrammed trick or treat basket) & dips. 

For the centerpiece on the serving table I decorated a Cowboy Pumpkin-elevated on a cake plate stand-with added raffia (hair) red bandana, sheriff's badge, and cowboy hat to complete the pumpkin theme.  I hand-made 4 different facial pumpkin placemats using orange, green, and black felt material & embroidery thread for the edging. 

To complete the party my husband took all the kids on a hayride on our farm.  For party favors each child received a small pumpkin tote bag which included a Halloween cup, pumpkin straw, ghost sucker, Skittles, Lifesaver Jellies, Reese’s Bar and of course their creative decorated pumpkin!  Morgan's two infant cousins received a pumpkin tote bag with a Halloween cup and My 1st Halloween Bib. 

As a birthday gift to our son, we surprised him with a John Deere Gator (by Peg Perego) so he can help on the farm!!!

On a final note, you know everyone had a Pumpkin Pickin' time when the toddlers all left crying & not wanting to go home!

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