Potter party, anyone?

I thought it was about time to show some details from the party last week. I had so much fun doing this for Haddon - and learned a valuable lesson. If you start early, and do a little bit daily, an amazing party materializes without too much stress! I actually finished the party prep 2 hours before the party...(that NEVER happens!)

So, without further adieu, the details! Each guest arrived at Number 12 Grimmauld Place, and was told that Olivander had sent over a fresh batch of tester wands - aspen wood of course - for beginners. They had to 'let the wand choose them' - which translated into each boy picking up every one to see if it was 'the one' - the funny part was that they really took it seriously - no one wanted their wand mixed up with the others' wands.I made a list of some of the spells on our chalkboard door for anyone who wasn't a natural wizard - and they got to cast spells on the dementor. (We stabbed large marshmallows onto the end of their wands, and they got to pelt him with them as they shouted their spells). The creature never even knew what hit him. (He really IS in the afterlife now!)

After spells practice, they got to go to potions class. Each was given a mixing cup and straw with which to concoct their potions from ingredients like 'Pureed Jobberknoll Feathers' and 'Aqua Fortis'. They had to write what their potion would do on the labels of their potion bottles, so as not to confuse any would be potion-takers! (The potion ingredients were all edible candies and powerade, soda, or juices). The boys thought this was really fun - they didn't want to stop brewing!

Next up was a game of Muggle Quidditch. The house teams were chosen, of course, by the sorting hat - and we ended up with 4 Griffindors and 4 Hufflepuffs.

4 'golden snitches' were hidden in the backyard, and the seeker team was up to find the snitch. The opposing team was supposed to try to find the snitch before the seeker team could. It really ended up being an all out game of tackle...quidditch. :) Of course, what 8 year old wouldn't like that?

We topped it all off with pumkin pasties, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and homebrewed butterbeer. A literal feast for young and old wizards alike! Yum!


Oh. And the youngun's went home with a little treat I had shipped in from the Hogwarts Express Candy trolley...:) (Can you tell I was winding down by this point...no chocolate frogs or Bertie Botts Beans. Geesh. What kind of Harry Potter fans are we???)

Some of the party goers moments after they got to use their spells for reals on a death eater who tried to crash the party (aka Joel). It's not obvious they had a blast or anything. ;) Happy Belated Birthday Kiddo!!!