Go Jump in the Lake!  It takes on a new and really fun meaning when you invite some friends to literally jump in the lake with you- over and over and over!  My kids were given a gift of a water bouncer as a joint birthday present this year from their grandmom, and so that became the theme of my son’s birthday party.  We added things that we see at lake a lot- like fox, fish, bugs, and a skunk (there is one that lives in the woods around the lakehouse that is very cute- we just hope we keep it happy!).  Hopefully, you can find some fun and easy birthday party ideas for a similar theme- such as a camping party, fishing party, or woodland animal theme!

These three photos of the cake were taken by Kathi, of My Sweet Things…

…because little fingers may have smudged the fox’s eyes before the party!  Kathi was kind enough to take our request for a “Lake Cake” with trees around the sides, a fox in the woods, and Graham jumping in the lake!

Graham also asked if he could have some of the cookies like his sister had at her party- he loved the taste of the cookies from Sogi’s Honey Bakeshop, and so we were lucky enough to get to order another batch of Sogi’s cookies~ customized and hand-painted with a fox, a skunk, a fish, and a lake sign…

I asked Sogoal to include a green gingham background~ we love how they turned out!  And, we added a little bit of “boy humor” to the skunk cookies~

The fish jumping in the water- just like we see all of the time at the lake…

I set up a small dessert table and put the cookies on a tree slice lined with printed waxed-paper.  Maureen, of Anders Ruff Designs, created the cutest table tents to put on the dessert table!

In the center, I displayed the Lake Cake…

And, in front of the cake, I put a clear container filled with brown sugar “dirt”, chocolate rocks, and bug lollipops~the boys couldn’t keep their hands out of the rocks and sugar- and they loved the bugs!! I pushed some of the lollipops into the sugar to make them look like they were crawling in the dirt…

 

I added potted evergreen trees to the table- but they blend in so well with the surroundings!

It was a very simple set-up!  I used a table that my son and husband built- it was very rudimentary, but perfect for his birthday.  I know he was proud that he made the table!  I found a rustic arbor and rented it to use to highlight the dessert table…

We had another table on the porch that we used to add a few more treats- Catch of the Day Caramels were fantastic!  Handmade caramels from Sandy at Firefly Confections couldn’t get any better!  My son loves caramel and so these were perfect!  I stacked 3 wrapped caramels and put a wooden skewer in them- tied with a piece of shoestring licorice and a gummy fish for the “Catch of the Day”.  I put each caramel stack on a mini tree slice…

And, we also had BUGS, BUGS, AND S’MORE BUGS!

We stacked graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows with bugs on top (bug marshmallows were made by Vintage Confections).  It was a hot day, and so the chocolate softened just enough to make it perfect!

The downside of the extremely warm day was that this happened to the Fox Cake Pops…

I know they were super cute before the melt!  We were bummed when they arrived and were melted, but the kids still ate them.  I am hoping Kerri at Sweet Indulgence took a picture of them before they left her bakery!  If so, I will post a photo of the “before”- we always love cake pops from Sweet Indulgence!

To cool-off, we served “Lake Water Lemonade” which was lemonade that we colored to be greenish- but when we put it over ice, it looked clear again!  Oh well, it was cute with all of the fish “swimming”, and the kids loved it!

The ice helps hold the fish in place- otherwise, they will drop to the bottom.  These would make a splash any time- and would be cute for a beach, fishing, nautical, swimming party, too!

We served a quick lunch- the kids were ready to get back to the lake!

I love the Crossback Chairs~ usually they have a cushion, but we took them out because of the wet suits…

Each place at the table had a brown gable box to use for taking home sweet treats to share and enjoy~

 

Maureen, at Anders Ruff, designed the labels and favor tags for the boxes.  I love the woodgrain background and the perfect designs!

I’m not sure of how many treats actually made it into the boxes…maybe more like their stomachs!

The kids also painted pots and planted evergreen trees in them to take home as party favors~

Of course, the main event was jumping in the lake- or flipping!

And, parties are always better when the grandparents are there!  Not to mention, these folks help me get it all together for each party!  I always owe them the biggest thank you!

Thanks for helping make his day lots of fun!

 I OFTEN GET ASKED WHERE THINGS IN THE PHOTOS COME FROM…PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A LIST OF THE WONDERFUL LADIES AND COMPANIES THAT MADE THE PARTY ITEMS!  I THINK THEY ARE FABULOUS!!

PHOTOGRAPHY- ZOOMWORKS

FAVOR TAGS, GABLE BOX LABELS, TABLE SIGNS- ANDERS RUFF DESIGNS

CAKE- MY SWEET THINGS

SEA SALT CARAMELS- FIREFLY CONFECTIONS

COOKIES- SOGI’S HONEY BAKESHOP

BUG LOLLIPOPS AND MARSHMALLOWS- VINTAGE CONFECTIONS

FOX CAKE POPS- SWEET INDULGENCE

CROSSBACK CHAIRS AND ARBOR- LAKE OCONEE EVENT COMPANY

PARTY BY LYDIA AT THE PARTY WAGON