THEME: Pirate Island Jumanji Adventure INVITATIONS: I took light brown colored construction paper and wrinkled them up, and made a map with a trail leading to our house, and I wrote the date and time on the paper, and told them to come as pirates. (I also called the parents and told them the details, in case they couldn't figure it out from the map, and warned them that the kids might get dirty from their adventure.) DECORATIONS: green streamers with leaves, hanging from the ceiling and everywhere on the walls, with stuffed monkeys hanging from stronger vines, and lots of fake plants. GAMES: my version of Jumanji." COSTUMES: all of the kids came dressed as pirates PARTY SNACKS: chocolate covered gummy worms and bugs during the movie and ice cream monkies after the game. CAKE: I made a devils food cake and crumbled it up to make it look like dirt then I constructed an edible treasure chest out of home-made gingerbread cookies with gold (butterscotch candies) inside and gummy worms sticking out of the 'dirt'. ACTIVITIES: when all the kids arrived they watched "Zathura" because it is similar to "Jumanji" and it would give them an idea of what would be happening to them. They watched it while they ate their bugs.  In the meantime we were setting up the game.  After the movie was over they came outside while "Jumanji" music was playing from a hidden karaoke machine on our deck. They were seated at a large round table right under the deck. I made a game board that looked like the "Jumanji" game board but it was an island with a skull in the center. My seventeen year old son was hidden on the deck with the karaoke machine and a microphone ready to tell them what would come next in an eerie voice. The first kid rolled the dice and instead of them reading what would happen they heard it.  The voice said "You'd better run and do not pause these things have very deadly claws." (roaring sound effects and a lion puppet popped out from behind a tree.) The kids smiled and one of them said "This wont be so bad!"  The next kid rolled the dice and the voice said "Nobody can hear you scream but do not fear a little string." (silly music sound effects 3 people came from different directions and sprayed them with silly string.) Next; "In the fog you must wait till someone rolls a six or eight." (someone dressed as the grim reeper came out of the fog that came from under the porch with our fog machine and dragged the kid away who rolled the dice reassuring him. Coincidentally the next kid rolled a six and the first kid was released.) Next; "If you do not want to fail you must survive this awful smell." (my other son chaperoning at the table had some noise putty so he stood up and faced his rear end to the table and squeezed it so it made a sound. All the kids said "EEEWww!!" and laughed.)  Next; "Expect an object we'll deliver guaranteed to make you shiver." (chilly wind sound effects the kid who rolled the dice got ice cubes down his shirt.)   Next: "You'd better run you'd better race if you don't want pie in your face." (circus music a clown with a pie chased the kids. two of them got 'creamed'. we warned the parents that they would get dirty. Whipped egg-white works well on a smaller budget.)  Next; "He's insane but he's not lazy he'll shave your head so run like crazy!" (razor sound effects a creepy looking barber chased the kids with a covered electric razor. He caught one and pulled the extra hair in his pocket out to make it look real.)  Next; "a little rain never hurts unless it comes in heavy spurts." (Thunder storm sound effects Kids were pelted with warm water balloons. Most of them landed on the ground next to them. It was getting dark so you couldn't see them until they hit the ground.)  Next; "You'd better play hide and seek or Aunty Berta will pinch your cheeks." (scary music sound effects my 19 year old son wore a padded dress and BIG wax lips and chased the screaming kids around saying "Let me pinch your cheeks!!")  Next; "Tickle monsters are quite funny they'll make you laugh till your nose is runny." (Happy music sound effects 2 'tickle monsters' chased the kids around and tickled the ones they could catch.) Next; "This visitor is quite a geek he'll sneeze and wipe it on your cheek." (Nerd chased the kids around with green putty.)  Next; "Your situatioin can get sticky just be glad it isn't icky." (Pink Elephants on Parade music sound effects wrapped bubble gum balls were dropped down as if it were raining. The kids ran away and then ran back when they realized what it was.) Next; "Bully boy is pretty edgy he'll give you a giant wedgie." (You get the picture.)  Next; "A change of luck brings something pleasant please accept this lovely present." (Happy Birthday music sound effects a gift-wrapped stuffed monkey was dropped down. Anything soft will do.)  Next; "This time you get a nice surprise don't let soap get in your eyes." (popping bubbles sound effects bubbles were blown down using a bubble machiene.) Next; "You've stuck together to the end the greatest treasure is a friend now you must do something wise move to the X and share the prize." (If they reach the X sooner than that you can skip the last ones instead of "move to the X say you've reached the X.") For their prize the kids recieved a treasure chest full of gold candies pirate suckers ring pops and plastic compasses. It was divided evenly between all of the kids from both teams. They were given a pirate themed loot bag to hold their share.  Then we moved the fog machine to the darkened great room where white sheets were draped over everything including 'ghosts'. The kids were supposed to gather the bones of a life-size paper skeleton. The one who gathered the most won a prize. After that the birthday boy blew out his candles and then they made ice cream monkies from placing chocolate ice cream on cookies and decorating with twizzlers jelly beans peppermint patties and ice cream cone hats. "