Andy Turns 2! {Monsters U. Party}

Because of all the craziness with our living situation {9 people 3 dogs 4 bedrooms} we decided it was best not to have Andy's 2nd birthday party at the house this year.  I was a little bummed because I am all about having birthday parties at home.  It is just easier I think...more room, no toting stuff back and forth, more bathrooms, no loading up the car, no changing diapers, etc.  Plus, we almost always had parties at home as a kid and I can remember enjoying each and every one of them.

But this year no party at home...June was a crazy month and I needed a fun party with little effort.  It just so happened that Monsters University opening weekend coincided with Andy's birthday weekend...so movies and pizza it was!

Hand drawn Mike invites...all blank stationary was 50% off at Hobby Lobby.

A little MS Word magic and a {free} cute new font.

We just invited our family and cousins...which makes for a full house with our bunch! We met up for a matinee movie {my kiddos first time...and man I forgot how long previews are...they should totally do them after for kids movies} and then afterwards headed over to Stevi B's for some pizza buffet.  This is totally a great deal for kids age 3 and under...they eat free with paid adults.  Why have we never been to Stevi B's before?

Giving us their "scariest" screams.

I skipped out on the party room...and crossed my fingers it wouldn't be too crowded when we got there.  Gigi and Poppie kept Charlie B while we were at the movies and snagged the tables for us a little before we got there.  I purchased some balloons from Party City...rip off...but cute.

{I seriously almost had a moment like Steve Martin in the hotdogs/hotdog bun scene in Father of the Bride when I was charged almost $5 to fill up the darn balloons that cost $2.50.  "You mean to tell me I purchase the balloons in your store...and you are charging me a fee for stupid helium?" ugh. You are a jerk face Party City...I digress.}

I brought in my own juice boxes {I asked permission from Stevie B's} and thought they couldn't get much cuter!  I wanted to buy every different character they had on the the juice aisle at Publix but just kept to the purple, blue, and green color scheme. I used my 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby to purchase the chevron fabric used as a table cloth.  I really wanted lime green so I could re-use it for Halloween, Christmas, you name it...but of course...no green.  The aqua chevron will no doubt be making an appearance in the future...just not for sure for what occasion...yet.

Monster Juice.

I had no idea there was a money-sucking-try-to-win-tickets-dumb-gameroom...I thought it was just an arcade on first glance. Arcade...does that age me or what? {Side note...I remember going to my first boy/girl party for my friend Kelli's bday...G Golly Molly's where you could DRAW on the table and then the arcade at the Galleria Mall...and we kicked some Bozo the Clown game tail!  Again...aging myself...it was so fun though!}

Of course my children hit the ticket jackpot and the bloody nose jackpot.  Parker won a bajillion tickets for something and Caroline ended up with the looked-like-someone-was-bleeding-out type of bloody nose because some darn kid in a "gween shirt" hit her but it was an "assident" {so says the victim}.

Ticket King

Birthday Crown free from The Disney Store

I made cupcakes the night before to {somewhat} resemble Mike and Sully from the movie.  Not perfect, but not bad considering I have very little decorating talent and a shaky decorating hand!  I really dislike the black gel...not my friend and certainly did not hold up well the next morning.

Mike and Sully cupcakes.

Darn black gel...

 
I searched Pinterest high and low for cute Monsters gift favor ideas...but again didn't have the time or the energy.  I decided to forgo the candy and treat bags and instead purchase mini-bean bag Monsters for $6 each at the Disney Store.  I added a thank you for coming tag using MS Word...easy as pie.

Of course now every time I turn around there are Monsters U. goodies popping out at me...Target even had some in the dollar bins!

Overall the party was a hit, the pizza was yummy, and the kids had a good time. It was a relatively easy party to put together (I had to force myself to back away from making scream canisters out of Pringle cans...although that could be a cute party favor too!) and even better I didn't have to attempt to clean my house for party guests.

Monsters U at Stevi B's

 Momma loves you Andy Boy...you are the sweetest, most easy going kid anyone could ask for..and you're a cute little thing to boot.  Happy 2nd Birthday Buddy!