Tyler's Backwards Party

 

Tyler had a Backwards Party to celebrate his birthday this year.  When Spencer turned 10, three years ago, we did the same thing.  It was so much fun, and such a perfect fit for a group of 10 year old boys, that I've been planning since then to duplicate it for Tyler's 10th birthday.  And that's just what we did!  Starting with the backwards invitations (printed in "mirror image mode"), the boys were already planning and scheming about what they would wear.  Everywhere we went, a ten year old boy would accost us, telling us some of the things they were planning for the party.  It was pretty funny.  Finally it was party day!  As the boys entered the house (usually walking backwards) we said "Goodbye" to them and gave them a nametag with their name spelled backwards on it.  This is what they were referred to as for the rest of the party.  And it was all the ice-breaker we needed, too, because the boys just ran around checking out each others names and laughing about them.  Once everybody arrived we went straight to the cake - which in this case was upside down cupcakes.  I printed out the words to "Happy Birthday" backwards ("You to birthday happy...") for all the kids, and they laughed their way through singing that to Ty.  Of course the tablecloth was on the floor underneath the table, which is where the boys all ate.  After the cupcakes we had a little lunch - inside out hotdogs (hotdog split in half with half a bun down the center), twisty Cheetos poured out of a pitcher, ketchup and mustard in alternating bottles, and (the hit!) 7-Down to drink (upside down 7-Up can, poked with a hold, having a straw).  The kids enjoyed eating and being crazy!  Now on to the games.  We went with a backwards or crazy twist on classic party games, starting with blindfolded Pictionary.  Each of the boys had a turn to draw, and they had a fun time.  Next came backwards hide-and-seek (aka, Sardines).  Instead of one person counting while the rest of the kids hide, all the kids counted while just one went to hide.  If one of the counters found the hider, then they would squeeze into the hiding spot with them.  It wasn't long before there were 15 boys hiding in our coat closet, which I never would have believed possible.  We opened presents next, and then drew faces on chins while waiting for parents to come.  I thought I'd just draw a face on Tyler, and let them all ask him questions, but they all scrambled to have me draw a face on their chin.  In the end, they all went home with chin faces!  We sent them on their way with a can of Silly String as a party favor (not to be used at our house!), and we said "hello" to them as they headed out the door.  It was a lot of fun!!