The "Harry" party.

This was the final invitation for Rosie's "Harry and the Hendersons" birthday party. I really wanted to streamline things a bit, and not make it so busy. It is quite a departure from the original one I envisioned.  I added the red balloon as a last minute thing, and I really like the way it turned out.  The quote at the bottom was the tag line on the original movie poster way back in the late 80s.

Rosie's Harry greeted everyone at the door with a handful of red balloons.  Isn't he cute?

She drags him everywhere.  Well, let me clarify...I don't let her take him out of the house because he is made of hard plastic and he's on the heavy side, not to mention pretty awkward, but she drags him all over the house.  She pushes him in a stroller.  Brushes his tuft of hair.  Makes beds for him in every nook and cranny she can find.  It's all pretty comical.

Every little got a tagged red cup with a straw.  No confusion over who's was who's.  I got the tag idea from Better Homes & Gardens in this past months issue.  I think it's a great idea for all ages, and all parties.

The dessert table was pretty simple.  Cake, pudding parfaits, chocolate covered Oreos, and frosted

sugar cookies.  Real logs were used for risers.  Incidentally, if you want to use real nature {i.e. logs} for food service, you bake them in the oven at about 200 degrees for an hour our so.  You may need to know that in the future.  I, on the other hand, sprayed those bad boys down with every household cleaner I could think of, and let them sit overnight.  Not to worry...it wasn't anything that I don't use to clean my kitchen.  No one got poisoned or anything.  Plus, the food was kept separate from the logs by layers of fabric and cardboard.  I probably shouldn't have told you that, but it might spare you from the same tragedy the next time you use logs to serve your food off of.  Whenever that may be...

In keeping with the theme...my pal Amy made these charming Harry feet and Bigfoot foot print cookies.

They were super yummy.

Some of the chocolate covered Oreos were topped with royal icing flowers similar to Sarah Henderson's 15th birthday corsage that Harry ate in the movie.  I'm telling you, if you haven't seen this movie, you really must. Also, I totally just noticed that I spelled corsage wrong.  Wow!  Please excuse.

The Henderson's annoying but lovable neighbor, Irene, loves her roses.  Unfortunately, so does Harry.

I made some pudding parfait 'dirt' cups topped with buttercream roses that Amy made for me.

More table detail.

I made the cake.  Rosie requested vanilla and chocolate.  The inside was a layer of white, and a layer of fudge cake with vanilla and chocolate filling.  The frosting was homemade Hershey's Cocoa buttercream.  The little toadstools and acorns are made from white modeling chocolate, and then painted with powdered food coloring.  The grass is plain ole homemade buttercream made really stiff so it holds the grass shape after it's piped.  I enlarged the Bigfoot silhouette and cut it out of heavy weight shimmery card stock.  I added the glittery red balloon, and got it to 'float' by attaching it by wire for the string.  I'll have to say...that cake was pretty darn good, and not too shabby on the eyes either.  I think when all was said and done, it cost about $12.  I really like that about it, too.

Cake detail.

Each little guest left with goodies that included a tiny terra cotta pot, and seed kit to grow their own 

mini rose bush.  I found them at Target in the dollar section around Valentine's day. It was too perfect.

All wrapped in red tulle, and waiting to be handed out in a big twig basket.

In the end, I wish we had more time for the game and craft.  Boo!  But Ro loved every minute of it.  Her friends had a great time, and most importantly...Rosie had a great time!  She is still talking about it.

{Rosie's "Harry" shirt is from HERE}

I can't believe my baby is 4!!!

Happy Birthday, Rosie!


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