For my son's first birthday we decided to have an all-out Construction
party. We live in Hawaii and 1st birthdays are a big deal. We had about 230 guests and I'm sharing because I received so many compliments! SIGN-IN TABLE: All guests had to sign in on a "Time Sheet" that I attached to an old brown, grungy clipboard to get that authentic "field office" look. Even the pen had the black and yellow safety stripes. We used a time clock which enabled each child to "punch in" for work. After each child punched in they received a bucket with a bag of popcorn and proceeded to "work" (which were actually the games). The punch card was actually used for all of the games in which the card was punched after each game was played. GAMES: They included 1) Tattoo station - every construction worker has one! Had various choices like Bob the Builder, skulls etc. Each child got to sit in a chair in the shape of a Tonka Truck to get tattooed! 2) Dump Truck Dunk - Kids threw mini rubber orange safety cones (My mother in law got these free at a construction convention) into my son's big dump truck. 3) Beer Bust - Kids had to knock over stacked beer cans. 4) Bob's Toss - used a Bob the builder clothes hamper in which kids had to throw mini hard hats (free from the construction convention again). All children received a personalized hard hat as a prize that I purchased at the dollar store. My sister is a gifted artist and she personalized each childs name on the hard hat ahead of time. 5) Safety Cone Ring Toss - had kids toss rings onto safety cones for various tool set prizes that was purchased at the dollar store. 6) Rubber Ducky Fishing - again my mother in law got rubber duckies wearing hard hats for free from the convention and my husband attached wire loops so the kids could fish for the duckie. prizes for that game were Bob the Builder fruit snacks and capri sun drinks. 7) I also hired a balloon man that twisted ballloons into various shapes for each child. FOOD: It is a tradition in Hawaii to serve Hawaiian food at a 1st birthday and we did. BUT I also set up a buffet just for the kids with hot dogs with all the fixings, potato sticks, veggies, fruit cups, brownies, and of course root "beer" that was in a big plastic tub filled with ice. All other food was put into the back of various brand new toy dump trucks and crates. CENTERPIECES & DECORATIONS - this was fun! We used caution tape to line all of the tables and used primary color balloons attached to each centerpiece which was a tonka truck. I also bought beer steins and filled it with a root beer bottle for adults who helped me with preparations. The stage was decorated with genuine orange safety cones courtesy of a contractor friend and also genuine road signs that read "construction work 500 ft . ahead" etc. ATTIRE - was the best part because we did not have to dress up! Myself, my husband, and my son all wore red polo shirts, jeans and construction boots. Friends who helped with the party all wore nail aprons that read "Construction Crew". INVITATIONS: read as follows...Foreman Isaac is turning one which means there's lots of work ro be done! Construction party Site, Shift date, Thirst quenchers 5:30, Grub 6:00. etc. I mailed all invitations out in 5x7 manila clasp envelopes and addressed it to "(Last name) Construction Crew". Also used the Happy Birthday stamp. This party was fun to plan and a great success!