Snow Rodeo - Sledding Party

My cowboy posse put together a terrific activity for a group of teen friends, but this activity would bring out a Yee-haw from any age.

The Snow Rodeo sent everyone out sledding -- with a variety of challenges to see who could stay on their trusty mount. Each guest named their sled (Bronco, Big Red, Slippery Sam, etc.) and "branded" their steed with the name written on a label and stuck to the back of the sled. (The "branding" stickers could be a fun and easy craft activity before heading out into the snow. Decorate and draw in western-style letters.)





Rodeo Challenges:

• Bare Backwards riding (go down the hill backwards)
• Riding double (two people per sled)
• Bucking Bronco (sledding over a series of bumps and jumps created just for this race)
• 8 seconds (who could make it down in exactly 8 seconds -- harder than you'd think)

Wrangle up some easy party favors with western neckerchiefs to wear over noses in the cold. Even the party's end can be fun with a race to "round up" the sleds and "corral" them in the take-home vehicle.

Giddy-up!

Circus Party

Create your own Greatest Show on Earth, inspired by Family Fun Magazine. Create an easy Photo Booth using a brightly striped tablecloth as a backdrop, then add in easy props like a clown sponge nose, mini umbrella (for a tight rope walker), fake mustache, strong-man padded muscle shirt, etc.

Cute game idea: Make your own "tight rope walk" by slightly elevating a 2 x 4 board on bricks.

Popcorn box cake: Stripe a sheet cake with red and white frosting, add actual popcorn or caramel corn to "fill" the box. This photo thanks to coolest-birthday-cakes.com.

Winter on the way? Cool party ideas

Punxatawney Phil says six more weeks of winter. What better way to make the most of it than a party?

Activities

- Creative snowman construction: pass out props, colored water in spray bottles (mix in food coloring), use old Halloween costume pieces, try self portraits, and more. Give cool prizes for the most unique Frosty friends.

- Snow sculpting. Don't limit the party to snow people. Try animals, vehicles, buildings, letters...go wild.

- Make homemade snow globes. Instructions here: http://bit.ly/ntlosS

Games

- Snowman wrap-up. Divide into teams of two and wrap your partner in toilet paper. Once sufficiently "snowed in," add scarf, hat, and construction paper buttons. Fastest team to "freeze" their teammate wins! http://bit.ly/yHDlCN

- Find a list of fun-in-the-flakes games here: http://bit.ly/9hQJQy

Food

- Snowman on a stick. Slide three 1" banana slices onto a wooden skewer to make the snowman body. Add half an apple wedge on top as the triangular hat, then poke pretzel sticks into the center banana slice as arms. Mini chocolate chips become eyes and buttons.

- Top a drink with whip cream then add chocolate chip eyes and mouth, plus a candy corn for a nose. Works as a topper to hot cocoa or even a health smoothie.
- Penguin cookies: dip Pepperidge farm Milano cookies in melted chocolate -- about 1/4" on each side to create wings and 1/2" on the top for the head. (The belly remains the light cookie color.) Add candy or frosting for the eyes and a yellow beak from frosting or a snipped triangle of fruit roll-up. Some extra fun: sugar cubes make fun ice blocks and jordan almonds are perfect penguin eggs. (Ideas thanks to Family Fun magazine.)

Tea Parties, Past and Present

So I got a kick out of all the Tea Parties hosted yesterday in protest of government spending. All political views aside (I'll decline to get into mine here), I love the clever factor. And, it got me thinking about (what else?) party opportunity!

Whether or not you make yours as a statement to the government, a Tea Party may be the ultimate in proper parties. Since they can lend themselves so well to teaching good manners (and even peaceful activism), here's a Tea Party invitation that's a lesson in etiquette itself.

Attached to the invitation is a tiny envelope with three dainty messages reminding kids of the three Golden Good Manners: Please, Thank You, and You're Welcome. Each is an instruction for the party.

Please arrive on time

You're Welcome to enjoy (describe your activity)

Say Thank You to the person who invited you

I used this originally for a classroom party. The kids were taught basic etiquette lessons for a couple of weeks, then attended a matinee play and a "formal" luncheon served by the parents at the school. Those students who remembered to thank their teacher for the invitation received a sticker with captions like:

Hello, my name is Well Mannered

RSVP is French for "My Manners Rock"

You know my name. Good Manners is my game.

Clearly, this invitation could be used for much simpler Tea Party celebrations. So grab your table manners, tea cups, and teddy bears. Heated political discussions are just a bonus.

Dress up party: go out all decked out

I'm going to the opera tonight -- not everyone's cup of tea, I'll admit. But a "fancy night out" might just be a girl's dream come true. How about a party for a few good friends who dress up in their best finery and attend a matinee opera (try something light like a Mozart comedy or an operetta), musical theater, the ballet, a play, or the symphony. For younger kids who might not master a full performance (or who's parents can't justify the full ticket prices), some companies will allow small groups to attend a dress rehearsal for no or little charge. 

Follow (or begin) the party with a tea party, at home or at a fancy little sandwich and cookie place. I've heard The Beehive Tea Room in Salt Lake City is good. Anybody been there?