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Will’s Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

My love for all things Disney apparently is genetic.  Will is obsessed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  It’s a really cute tv show that has absolutely nothing scary (no nightmarish foxes that keep my little man up at night) or inappropriate language or situations for toddlers (yes, I am overly protective of Will).  I love how encouraging the whole gang of animated characters is and how different they each are with their own personality, plus it helps that they solve problems with the help of their mousekatools.  One time, Will accidentally knocked over his blocks and he immediately called out “Oh TOODLES!!” for help 🙂

So when we asked him what kind of party he wanted for his third birthday, I was not surprised when he said “Mickey Mouse Cwubhouse!  It’s ma fav-o-wit!”  And I sortof went radio silent last week trying to get ready for it….but now I get to share all the little details in our Tiger’s big day…

The invites were homemade.  I just whipped them up in photoshop and used a free online font.   I decided to run with the red/white/black color scheme and use polka dots whenever possible.  I bought most of the supplies for the party at Hobby Lobby (including these dotty balloons).

My mom gave me an old chalkboard that I used outside to welcome our little guests.

My trick for party success is only decorating one table all out.  That way I get the party-decor-ants out of my pants but don’t need to invest a month in planning.  I had a lot on hand…like paper for the starbursts and gray fabric (I got it at Goodwill in a giant bag of scraps), and borrowed Will’s stuffed Mickey (it was mine growing up!).  The one craft I did need to buy stuff for was the styrofoam Mickey head in the tin pot.  It cost me about $5 at Walmart for all three pieces of styrofoam and I put it together with toothpicks before painting it black.

The other food was on another table that had a red sheet draped all over it.  I wish I had taken a photo of it.  I guess I was busy socializing 🙂

We served Hot Diggity Dogs (hot dogs & brats), Chip’s Dip & Dale’s Veggies, Pluto’s potato chips,  Toodles Noodles (pasta salad), Goofy Salad (fruit salad), Mickey Pops (oreos covered with chocolate), and clubhouse cubes (cheese cubed).

The outside was decorated with a ton of balloons and a table runner.  I found the red Mickey fabric at Hobby Lobby at $5 a yard so I got three yards and cut it down the middle for a runner on the outside table and the dessert table.

Oh and we made little bags for the kids to take home.  I found a ton of Mickey Mouse stuff at Dollar Tree.  I got each kid a 24 piece puzzle, stickers, magic towel, glow in dark whistles, and candy.  Most of the parents hated me for the whistles.  The kids loved me though 🙂

When the kids arrived, they all rode around outside on powerwheels and tricycles.  We borrowed our neighbor’s extra powerwheels and it was pretty much the cutest thing ever when all the kids paired up and drove around the yard.  Then we broke out the food.

Right after eating, we started our games.  The first was pin the ears on Mickey.  I painted a piece of posterboard without the ears (all the parents would stare at it and ask me if I knew that the ears were missing.  I played dumb.).

After that we did a Birthday Bash with Mousekatools.  Basically the show has a premise of problem solving using tools…and in each episode the characters get a big task and have to choose which tool (which are brought to them by a beloved floating head called Toodles) will help them solve the problem.  Our bash involved finding clues and had four tools (toothpicks, streamers, a bucket and a mystery mousekatool – matches)…so the first clue said to find your clue in something round.  The kids immediately knew that it was the balloons tied to the fence and popped the balloons with the toothpicks before we had a chance to snap a photo.

Then the clue we found in the balloon told us that Daisy needed us to collect all her duck eggs (the kids decided to put all the eggs in the bucket!).  We have a tradition of hunting eggs on Will’s birthday – we’ve done it at every one of his parties and I hope we can continue that tradition for a long time!

After we collected all the eggs, we found the next clue….where Minnie asked us to put bows on Will’s birthday tree.  Minnie owns a bow-tique (in case you need that bit of info for trivia night).

The kids decided to use the streamers to put bows on Will’s tree.   This was a tree we planted when Will was born (and then transferred to our new house when we moved).

The next clue was taped on the back of the tree tag and told us that Goofy wanted cake but needed something to light the candles…the kids didn’t even ask…they just took off running yelling “CAKE!  CAAAAAKE!!!”

We use extra long sparkler candles.  We learned that they don’t really sparkle (?) but they are a little harder to blow out…which is good when it comes to toddlers.  Will gets to blow them out a couple times then 🙂

Oh and the cake toppers are also mine from childhood.  Like I said….obsessed with Disney.

Will was super excited about the presents.  I think that’s kinda obvious.

I’m kinda disappointed that Will didn’t wear the pair of Mickey ears that I made him…but I guess he was wearing two Mickey shirts so that’s gotta count for something.

Cole gave him his old VTech stuff…Will is still trying to figure it out (he keeps trying to control the game by sliding his finger on the screen….dangiphone).

And Boots broke out the remote control Angry Bird balloon…which is hilarious and awesome at the same time.

One of Will’s favorite parts was handing out the favors at the end of the present time.  He would go up and then give them a big hug and say “you are my fav-o-wit.” to every single person.   What a little politician 🙂

Overall, it was bittersweet.  I can’t believe my little guy is three already.  It seems like just yesterday we found out we were pregnant with him.  And I know that I will blink and he’ll be graduating.  And then I’ll go through menopause and then I’ll die.

That’ll be my life.

Not exactly the way I planned to end this post but it’ll work.   Oh Toodles!

Update : Looking for more info on something you see in our house?  We have a Shop the Bower House page with paint colors and links to accessories, furniture and decor!

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  2. My kids LOVE that show! And my son (19 months) says “Me Mouse” all the time when he sees Mickey. If you ever get tired of the Clubhouse, your boys might also like the Bubble Guppies. I’ve seen every episode about 10x each! Super cute… nothing scary… and great learning tools too.

  5. You totally win mom of the year award! My 3 year old daughter would definitely think this is the best party of all time! Nice work!

  6. Super Cute party! I am a little worried you left your real phone number on the party invite. If you didn’t, ignore this comment. I just don’t want you getting a million calls and texts!

  7. I love that the phone number on your RSVP is 867-5309! I snort-laughed here at my desk, and I think my coworkers are pretty sure I’ve lost it, but I needed that giggle. Love your blog!

  8. Hey Katie B! Love the party decorations!

    I was just thinking though–you might want to take the phone # off the invitation?

  9. Katie, your phone number is showing on the invite–might want to photoshop that! Party looks fabulous!!!

  10. Oh my goodness. I love how Will told each guest that they were his “fab-o-wit” (at last that is how my three year old says it)! That is so sweet.

    What a great party. Happy belated birthday to Will!

  11. I can’t believe your baby boy is 3 either! I first started following your blog when Will was a newborn 🙂 How time flies. I love your decorating tips and definitely your party ideas. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    From One GA Peach to another..You’re awesome!
    -Michelle

  12. My daughter just turned three as well and we did a Minnie Mouse party for her!! it was so fun! looks like you had fun as well!! They grow up so fast!!

  15. Birthday parties are the best when kids are this little. I am definitely going to employ your “go-all-out-on-one-table” technique to keep myself from going crazy in the future. My 2-y/o is also MMC obsessed, so this party was especially fun to see. I just love the Birthday Bash game and how you worked in Mousekatools. Great job, Katie!

  16. Oops! Nevermind. Just realised it’s Jenny’s number. Now I can go back to not panicking and read the blog entry!

  18. Super cute party! I love picking a theme and running wild with it. Looks like Will had a blast as well.

    Not sure if you realized it or not….but your invite has your full RSVP number on it. But maybe it’s fake? Just thought I’d check!

    🙂 Jena

  20. Katie – you do such a great job with his birthday party each year! He is a handsome little boy – I have really enjoyed reading about him growing up.

    I love the photo of the kids all gathered around you – and there is your little Will right next to you with his hand on your leg. His loves his momma!

  21. Loved your “Mickey Mouse ears” hair! 🙂 I loved Mickey and Minnie when I was a kid. I remember I had this Minnie Mouse (that looks like the same kind as your Mickey in the pics!) I wanted soo bad. I went around to all my aunts/uncles and grandparents on BOTH sides of my family asking for money for my “Minnie Mouse Fund”. I collected enough money to buy her. I still have her. 🙂

    Such a great birthday! Thanks for sharing!

  23. Love it! Will looks so big and so totally 3 now! Love the game ideas. We will probably be doing a construction party this year. I like the idea of decorating with toys you already have and just doing one table up big.

  26. Love this! Love the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (we’re big fans in my house). Love every detail! And shed a small tear when you mentioned Will graduating (a long way down the road), I feel the same way as we approach my son’s 3rd birthday. Where did the time go!?

  28. What a sweet party! I cannot believe how amazing your Mickey drawing is! I am still drawing stick figures for people 🙂

  29. I don’t usually comment but I just had to tell you that this has to be one of the cutest kid birthdays I have seen in a long time! I love how interactive you are with all the kids and the games. My little boy will be a year in August and I’m thinking after seeing this that I better get planning his party! You really have a beautiful family! XOXO Jill

  33. pssst – I’m not sure you photoshopped your phone number out of the invite photo! Just wanted to check it was deliberate

  34. So sweet! It looks lovely. My little guy LOVED Mickey’s Playhouse too (4 super short years ago). Anytime my friends were excited about something we’d all say, Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog.

  36. Nice job Katie B!!! Happy Birthday to Will. I love your outfit and the fact that your hair was the mouse ears!!!

  37. This is the cutest idea I have seen! My two year old son LOVES LOVES LOVES that show. I love the hunt idea and using the tools. You are so creative. Your outfit might be my favorite however! You look so cute!

    Mother of the year award goes to you!

  38. I haven’t actually got past the gorgeous invite yet but I just wanted to let you know, in case you didn’t, that your phone number is visible on the invite – unless you did a false one lol! Just thought you may want to know in case you get lots of random phone calls!

  39. How CUTE! One of my favorite memories of my son was his watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in his walker (in short bursts of a minute or so). When it got the point where they called Toodles, I heard him say “Ooohhhhh Tooootooooo!!!”. I about died from the cuteness.

    Happy Birthday to your little guy!

  42. What a wonderful birthday party! I love this blog so I wanted to tell you I think you forgot to change your phone number on the invite for Will’s party! It could totally be fake, but I wanted you to know!

  46. Totally stealing all of your ideas for my son’s 3rd in July. He loves MMC, too! When we are looking for anything/anyone, it turns into the sing song “Oh Tooooooodles”… “Oh Daaaaaaddy”… “Oh Traaaaaain”. Adorable.

  47. I actually slapped my knee and laughed outloud at that part too. Katie, I wish you were my friend!! 🙂 I also wish I was as crafty and creative as you!

  48. Can I just say, I also LOVE Disney and Mickey Mouse, and I would like you to throw this same party for me when I turn 3(0) in October! 🙂 And your outfit was so cute! The polka-dot cardigan and your mouse-ear pigtail-buns? Perfect!

  52. Love the Mickey style. My twins were Mickey and Minnie the year they were two, and we had an M&M party as well. Too much fun. Looks like your attendees had a ball.

    My kids remember all the b-day parties I threw for them-Disney. Where’s Waldo. Ninja Turtles. Barbie. Carmen San Diego. Horses. Favorite Book Character. Olympics! Hanson
    ( daughter’s first concert). Driving/License for sweet 16. Super Heroes. Etc…when they turned 21 they took themselves to Vegas! LOL

    “Jenny’s” number is the one I give out when stores ask me for info
    ( I never give out my real stuff).
    Every once in a while someone gets it and laughs/smiles.
    Most of the clerks are usually so young that they have no clue, then it makes ME smile.

    And no matter where I live, when a store asks for a zip code, I just rattle off “90210.”

    Happy Third B-day, Will!

  53. This is adorable! My 14 month old is ob-sessed with the whole clubhouse gang, and especially Mickey. This is just too good! Hope you don’t mind us borrowing some of your ideas for his next bday!

  54. Haha! The end of your post made me laugh out loud. That’s how I feel, too, all the time. Adorable party — will you come put together my daughter’s parties for me? 🙂

  55. Oh yay, so glad you are a fellow Disney lover! I am a total Disney dork. As in my room was decked out in Cinderella until I moved off for college…

    The party turned out SUPER cute! I love all the little games you had for the kiddos. I sometimes wish my daughter’s birthday was in a warmer month so we could do fun stuff outdoors like that. Unfortunately she’s a February baby and we have a tiny house so boo. We threw her a Cinderella party for her 2nd birthday this year and I totally used dolls she already had for decorations too. 😉 And then we jetted off to Disneyworld which was AH-MAZING.

    You ever been? If not, you.must.go.now.

  56. Yeah, reading other comments I must also add how cute your outfit was! And of course your hairdo was adorable. Awesome mom award goes to Katie B!

  57. Oh that looked like one heck of a party for little Will. I loved all of your details. And I especially love your cardigan and mouse buns. 🙂
    I’m secretly hoping that my daughter will want a Minnie Mouse party next year because I secretly have been planning it. Here’s to hoping she’ll quit changing her mind! 🙂

  58. Ok I am copying your food!! So so cute and KB your just too cute in your polka dot top and mouse bun ears!

  61. Great party! I am pinning this for the future and I don’t even have a bun in the oven yet. My hubby and I love all things Disney too – we got engaged at Disneyland, honeymooned there, went back for our 5th anniversary, and had a group trip to Disney World a few years ago too.

    The part that just killed me was “you are my fav-o-wit.” to each guest! How sweet is that?!

    P.S. I love your hair too!

  62. Haha, did you not see that it is 867-5309? Only concerning thing is that the number IS registered to someone named Marie Quinn Templeton…

  64. Love this!!! My daughter is obsessed with Micky mouse clubhouse! Such a fun theme to play with for a party!!! Great job 😉

  68. Love the tip about focusing on just one table… excellent idea to keep one self from going to crazy town and letting something that should be fun become a huge decorating beast! Love it, love it… btw, the whole thing was adorable- great pics!

  69. Hopefully, between menopause and death, you’ll become a grandma. Non-stop FUN and heart-hurting love!

  70. So adorable! You might have already posted this (I’m a little slow), but did you make the chocolate Mickey pops that are on the left of your food table? If so could you explain how please? One of my co-workers is throwing the exact same theme of party as you did and I would love to make these to bring!

  71. TOO CUTE! I love the Mickey theme! Where in the world did you find that adorable Mickey shirt? Excellent b-day gear.

  72. I totally thought that at first too, until I saw the address. lol

    Great party Katie! Will’s face is just so sweet in all of these pictures, you can tell he really loved it! Great memories for you all!

  73. My son just turned three and we took him to Disney. I wasn’t sure he would appreciate it. But he did. Worth every penny! His reactions were amazing!

  75. This party is the stinkin’ cutest!!! What an adorable theme… and you executed it perfectly. From the decor to the games to your outfit. all of it. adorable!

  76. They were really hard for me. I’ll explain it but it takes a bit of effort. First, you need to melt your chocolate candy coating and make ears (just quarter size rounds with a bit of a stem on wax paper), then as the ears are cooling, take a double stuff oreo and put your stick in it, then you want to dip your oreo-on-a-stick into the chocolate coating and then when the chocolate is still soft, you want to put your ears in and then put it all back on the wax paper to harden up.
    xo – kb

  78. LOL -for a good time call…..
    Katie – you are so clever, loved how you kept the children of all ages involved, so hard to do. You are a great mom and teacher, you should run a daycare with all of your spare time 🙂 (I kid, I kid) But you are seriously talented, kudos to you and family and happy birthday to Will!

  79. Hi Katie! Love your blog….two things:
    1. Love your hair
    2. ‘Then I’ll go through menopause and then I’ll die’. Funniest thing I’ve read on a blog in a while. You made me laugh out loud!!!

  80. You’ve made me want to watch Mickey Mouse Club House. Aaaand I am 29 and don’t have children…

  82. What a cute party!! My kids love parties at home with all the games. I think we’ve had some version of “pin the _______” at every single party! 🙂

  83. Hi Katie! This is actually my first time commenting but I felt like I just had to point out that your phone number is out on the interwebs now for all to see. Not sure if that was an oversight! Most people are good but some are weird. 🙂

    -Amanda

  84. Looks like a fantastic party for him – enjoy every party I have with my two (age 7 & 10) and always go slightly overboard on decorations etc.
    And do not worry about being overprotective – it will hold him in good stead when he is older. My son already avoids certain computer games which are not appropriate even though his friends are playing them – he knows why we have banned him from such games until he is much older and he has the courage to say it to his friends which is incredibly brave of him and makes me very proud of him.

  85. My Eleanor will be turning three this coming July and she loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (she doesn’t get to watch the show as we live in Australia and we don’t subscribe to cable network, but we do have an app on the iPad which she loves playing!). I might steal your ideas, if I may? 🙂 Love, love, love everything!!!

  87. Very cute! We love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in our house too! My son loves Minnie the best, which is kind of funny.

  88. Awesome! I love how everything was pretty simple, from the food to the games, but very well done. Kids don’t need complicated stuff to have fun. The clue game was awesome!

  89. Loved the recap of the party, and I laughed out loud at the ending! As a Mom who also goes all out for parties, I appreciate the effort you put into everything (especially the mouse ear buns!) But I will tell you that it’s true… blink and they are moving off to college and worse, spending a semester abroad! Enjoy every.single.minute with your beautiful family!

  90. This looked like it was a fantastic party! We’re having a Disney themed party for our daughter’s 5th birthday & I’ll be honest and say that I’m totally copying your food ideas! Great job 🙂

  91. I have to say, I had a little gasp when I saw the little. I was afraid you had a mouse in your house and that I’d see a photo. Once in high school, I was searching for who knows what and a photo of a mouse came up. I ran out of the room and had to call my dad to close the browser, ha. No one else is home and I need to get some work done today…so I couldn’t handle a repeat today. haha.

    But OH MY CUTENESS! By the way, that’s for you too! Happy Birthday Will! I can’t believe you have a three year old! That boy has grown so fast.

  94. It’s actually the number from the Tommy TuTone song 867-5309/Jenny from the 80s. The most famous fake phone number ever! 🙂

  96. We just celebrated my son’s 2nd birthday two weeks ago, but I’m totally saving this idea for his 3rd! He loves him some Mickey 🙂 And I love all the simple touches – esp. the favor bags! Good job, Mama Bower! 🙂

  98. So cute!! I’m a firm believer in the one-pretty-table theme, too. Especially for a kid’s bday party! It’s like the focal point! Also, your phone number was the first thing I saw, too, and I thought, well, this obviously means that Katie wants ME to text her! 🙂 Right????

  99. Love the party!
    This is my first time commenting…I just can’t get over how similar our little boys are and finally had to let you know! If I remember correctly, they were due on the same date (Colton (mine) came a week early though), both now have a little brother, and every time you post about Will I swear you could be writing about my son (hobbies, interests, character traits)! Including this post…as Colton just had his own Mickey Mouse 3rd birthday party (you can read about it here if you want: http://www.vabeachhousewife.blogspot.com/2013/04/mickeys-choo-choo-party-conclusion.html ), although I wasn’t nearly as good of a mom as you are with no coordinating outfits nor organized activities!
    Again, awesome party and adorable little boys:)

  101. “And then I’ll go through menopause and then I’ll die.”

    This line had me laughing harder than Ellen today. I feel the same way about my LO, I feel like every morning I wake up she’s grown so much.

  103. I love your cardi and hair! We did a Mickey Mouse party for my son last year and I dressed almost just like this. haha.

  104. Except it’s not a “fake” number. It’s a real number, for an active Georgia Nextel number. Hope they’re not getting any calls as a result of this.

  106. Hi Katie,

    Although I looove your blog and read it every day, I comment rarely (and here I am commenting on a non house-improvement related post… shame on me!) but I just love what you did for Will’s bday party! so inspirational and creative!! I hope to one be the kind of mother you are to Will and Weston. Y’all are an adorable family!

    Big belated birthday hugs to Will from France! 🙂

  109. So cute! I love the idea of the game! My daughter is a fan of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse too and would have been so excited for this party!!! Great job!

  110. Hi katie b, I have the cutest neighbor ever who happens to also be 1 week younger than Will… so after seeing what a hit the angry bird was for Will, he got one for his birthday yesterday! I need to send you a HUGE thank you for making me the hit of the party!

  113. Super cute party decorations. We have a similar themed party coming up for our soon to be 2 year old daughter. Is there a tutorial on the paper starburst decorations on the wall? Link? Love your blog and thanks in advance!

  114. Hi! I’m trying to organize a Mickey Mouse party for my sons 1st birthday. I am obsessed with the invitation you made but am definitely not computer literate enough to make one of my own. Do you offer a digital file of the invitation or do you sell it anywhere?
    Thanks so much!

  115. I don’t. I am sorry. I know etsy has a lot of fine versions of the Mickey Mouse invite that you could purchase though 🙂
    xo – kb

  117. I love your idea. I’m wondering did you trace the Mickey Mouse for pin the ears on Mickey. We are doing the same birthday idea for my nephew. Would you mind sharing where you got that from. I love all of your simple decorations.

  118. I just drew it from a photo I found online but if you don’t think you can draw it yourself, then you can always print a photo and trace!
    xo – kb

  119. Hi! I love everything about the Mickey party you had! Quick question…how exactly did you make the goodie bags? Were they normal size lunch bags with cut out black construction paper on bottom? What did you use to trace the perfect white circles on bottom? And where to get the cute ribbon/s?? Thanks for all the ideas-I’ll be copying for my son’s 1st birthday party next month! :o)

  120. I used regular sized lunch bags and cut out the black paper like you said and then I used a circle cutter (I think it’s Martha Stewart brand) to cut the white circles. I just pasted the circles on the black paper. The ribbon is from Walmart I think. It was in their holiday stuff. But you can buy it also at Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Good luck!
    xo – kb

  122. Wonderful birthday!
    Thank you for sharing your tips on the goodie bags. I will definitely use them for my 2 year old’s birthday next month. I was just wondering did you use a printable for the little label that says ” oh toodles” ?
    TIA

  124. Can you tell me where you found out how you made the oh toodles tags. I can’t find anything like this for my gift bags.

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