Yee-Haw! Isaac's Cowboy Birthday

Isaac's Cowboy Birthday Party!

Ever since we went to the rodeo in Colorado this past summer, Isaac has been obsessed crazy about horses!  His favorite thing to do is "play horsies"--which involves crawling around on all-fours while neighing and searching for green pasture.  :)  We knew a cowboy party for his third birthday would be perfect.  I love planning little kid birthday parties, and this one was no exception.  Here are a multitude of few pictures from the party!

Roping Cattle

Dave built the sawhorses that we used for "roping cattle" (idea from here).

The day before the party, Isaac and I were setting some things up in the backyard.  I ran inside for a minute; and, when I came out, I discovered he had "decorated" one of the sawhorses with a pink bandana.  (He said it was the horse's saddle.)  He insisted on keeping the pink bandana on the one sawhorse ("cause it's a girl horsey, Mommy") and wanted the other one to have a blue bandana for the boys to rope.  :) 

 

Pin the Tail on the Horse

 Isaac was the first cowboy to pin the tail on the horse.  Right before he got to the horse, he lifted his bandana to see where to pin.  :)  Can you see me forcing his bandana back down over his eyes?  

Cowboy Lake's mom made "horse sounds" to guide him to the right spot--he was so dizzy because Dave spun him around and around!

 

Barrel Racing!

By far, our very favorite part of Isaac's birthday party was the barrel racing.  We saw cowgirls compete in barrel racing at the rodeo this summer, so Isaac had an idea of what was involved.

The kids began on their stick ponies and raced around each of the three barrels and back to the finish line. We had three stick ponies, so three kids went at a time--though some of the kids thought it was so fun to race around the barrels that they chased all the kids on ponies. I think the parents had as much fun watching each race as the kids did participating!

When Isaac got to the starting line, he lifted his pony in the air and made it "neigh" as loud as he could!  It was hilarious!

 (Yes, I'm sure you can see I was a little excited about the barrel racing, too!)

The Chuck Wagon

Come & Get It! 

We set up the dinner in our kitchen and then later served the cupcakes & ice cream outside.  (decor inspired from this pin)



A Cowboy Campfire

 Dave read a story about being a cowboy to all the kids.

Then, Isaac & Dave sang "Every Cowboy Needs a Horse," which is an old Disney song.  It is on a Disney Sing-along VHS tape that I grew up watching :) and now Isaac watches it with my dad.  I *might* have cried during this...and isn't this picture of my dad from when Isaac & Dave were singing just precious?  He's beaming!  I love seeing songs/traditions passed from one generation to the next.



My two favorite cowboys singing
"Oh, a cowboy needs a horse...and a rope...and a song...and a hat...and a pair of fancy boots...and a set of shiny spurs if he's going to keep ridin', ridin' along"

Horse Cupcakes!

Happy Third Birthday!

A Few More Favorite Pictures...

Isaac with his Mom-o and Papa Kal

Barrels aren't only fun for barrel racing! 

Even cowboys like playing in the rockbox!

The best trail boss!
Dave did such a great job of running all the activities and keeping all the kids corralled.  ;)  And...he even brought a bale of hay into my kitchen for me to decorate--he's definitely the best!

My favorite little Western family!  (backdrop idea from here)

I'm impressed if you made it this far in the post....you must either really love little kid birthdays, Isaac, or both.  ;) 

Whew!  After all this fun party-planning (and party clean-up!), I need a little break...though it won't be too long before we start planning Emma's first birthday!