6707

Green Eggs & Ham -2yr- Would You, Could You?

June 2003

Jennifer in Rome, GA    USA

Honorable Mention

GREEN EGGS AND HAM 2 YEAR OLD PARTY  My son loves to read and Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss has been a favorite of his all year. Taking my cues from this interest, I planned a Green Eggs and Ham party for his second birthday. Finding Dr. Seuss inspired stuff is hard to find, so start searching early.

I couldn't find Dr. Seuss invitations, but I did find cute note cards with some of Dr. Seuss's main characters on them (Cat in the Hat, SAM I AM, Yertle the Turtle, Horton)on Funtocollect.com. Since, they were blank inside, I used these for invitations. I simply printed out all the necessary information on our computer and glued it to the inside of the card. The invitations read, "Do you like Green Eggs and Ham? Try them and you may. Try them and you may, I say at Gabriel's 2nd birthday party. I also found a Dr. Seuss poem entitled, "How did it get so late so soon?" which I adapted to refer to my son growing older. The poem was also printed on the computer and glued to the inside of the invitation. 

For decorations I stuck with a primary color scheme (partially because you can't find Dr. Seuss tableware). I found blue tablecloths at a closeout store for very cheap. I bought yellow plates and cups and bright green napkins. For centerpieces on the cake table and food table, I used red "lunch sized" paper bags and glued color copies of a picture of SAM I AM with a plate of green eggs and ham. I had a bunch of primary colored helium balloons coming out of each bag (two bags per table). Helium balloon bouquets were also tied at various locations outside. 

Food offered to guests consisted of HAM and cheese mini sandwiches, pasta salad, fruit salad, a veggie tray, and chips (it is a June birthday, so picnic fare is fitting). Because the child guests ranged from 1 1/2 to 3, I found primary colored disposable sippy cups to use for them. We wrote their names on them and this was invaluable. 

The cake was actually shaped like a plate of green eggs and ham. I found the cute design off of familyfun.com. Because this cake is small, I had an extra cake shaped like the cover of the book; complete with orange icing, white lettering, and a color copy picture (backed with wax paper)of SAM I AM with the ham and eggs. 

The activities were spin-offs from the book. As children arrived we let them draw on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. We then gathered them in the house for juice and a reading of Green Eggs and Ham, complete with finger puppets (also found on Funtocollect.com).

We then hunted for green eggs (hard boiled eggs dyed green from Easter egg dye)in the yard. Primary colored lunch sized paper bags served as egg holders. We then let the kids have free play with various yard activities that related to the story. At each play area, I hung an enlarged color copy of certain pages of the book. In one area we had a small inflatable bouncing house (borrowed from a relative)for "would you, could you in a house?".

I also found appliance size boxes, painted them with tempera paint and set them out for the kids to crawl in and out of for "would you, could you in a box?". We set out all of my son's riding toy cars and let the kids ride for "would you, could you in a car?".

The absolute favorite of all the kids was a riding lawn mower that pulled a large all utility wagon to which I attached the sign for "would you, could you on a train?". All of the kids fit in the wagon at once and they had so much fun being pulled around the yard. Kids and adults alike, played and ate at will and all had a great time. The sidewalk chalk was a continual hit as well.  

When the kids got too hot, we went in for cake and ice cream. The little ones at at coffee tables and play tables. While we were settling them down for cake, I showed the video of Green Eggs and Ham (found at a closeout store).

After cake, we did presents and then more playing fun outside.  The party favors were primary colored paper gift bags filled with a book on tape packet (of various classic children's tales), a green or orange plastic egg filled with silly putty, and a package of sidewalk chalk. All of the items were found at the dollar store. The eggs and chalk came several to a package, so everything was a great value.   

A wonderful time was had by all!

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