For Carter’s birthday this year I wanted to do an ocean/beach theme, but not go overboard since it’s his second birthday and was going to be mostly adults attending! I tried to incorporate the “theme” with a few easy decorations and used the food to really bring it all together. We had the party on Saturday for friends and family and then some family fun on Sunday, his actual birthday.
For dessert we had cake, of course, but I also made a “beach tray” dessert with cups of pudding sand and blue jello with fish swimming in it! I will share my very simple beach sand cups recipe below!
I made “sea anemones” out of sponges that the kids (and adults!) could dunk it a water bucket and throw!
We served snacks in beach pails which is such an easy way to incorporate the theme!
For a very simple decoration we hung beach balls down from the back deck! I tried to find the tiny beach balls to make a garland, but they were all sold out.
I set up four water game areas for the kids to play in. We had the sea anemones in a big buckets, a fishing game in the water table, kiddie pool with blow up fish and the splash pad, which had a slide on it! The splash pad was on sale at Target since it’s the end of the season, so we got a great deal on it!
Everyone enjoying the party!
Who says the kiddie pool is only for kids?
Recipe for Beach Sand Pudding Cups:
Here is what you need:
- 2 boxes of vanilla pudding mix
- 4 cups of milk
- 1 container of Cool Whip (thawed)
- 1 box of Nilla Wafers
Directions:
1. Mix the pudding mixes and milk together until fully mixed.
2. Fold in the Cool Whip.
3. Crumble the Nilla Wafers in a food processor until they are very fine crumbs (like sand!) If you want your “sand” to be darker you could throw in a few Oreo cookies for fun!
4. Create layers of the pudding mix and Nilla Wafer crumbles in your serving cups! Add shell candy or other candy if you want!
Enjoy!
What other easy ideas would you throw in for an ocean themed party?