Fun & Sun Pool Party

Good morning and happy Tuesday.  A little one that was under the weather kept me from blogging yesterday, but today I am back and excited to share with you Mary's "Fun & Sun" pool party that we hosted over the weekend.

Let me start by sharing that the heaven's were conspiring against us (wink!) this entire summer, but when life gives you lemons...make lemonade!

Our girl desperately wanted a "horse" party this year.   Unfortunately, Zimmerman's barn was destroyed in a tornado last Spring (allowing for an "indoor" venue) and a record-setting heat wave invaded Kansas in late July/early August prohibiting us from hosting an "outdoor" party at the Deanna Rose Farmstead.

So, we decided to beat the  heat with a "pool party".

And it rained.

With a predicted a predicted high of 78 for the day.  Seriously.

Only I would host a pool party on the coolest day of summer! ;)

I wanted to cry for my dear daughter, but instead put on a brave face and optimistic spirit and forged ahead with our scheduled get-together.  (And cleaned my house just.in.case...!)

And in the end...our party could not have turned out better!

To host an "after-hours" party at the local aquatic center would cost me $150.00 per hour.  This would allow for a private venue with lifeguards.  For $25.00 an hour, I could rent the "party room" during public swim hours.

I went with the 2nd option.

And because of the rain...we had a PRIVATE party for $50.00!!! 

In fact, the staff even offered to play the Caribbean music CD that we had brought for our portable CD player over the main sound system!!! 

Sixteen kiddos swam to their hearts' content in city pool built to hold a hundred plus...all the while to Caribbean Cruise Party Vol 1!

It was cloudy, overcast, spitting rain...but everyone had a great time.  I didn't have to "fight" the crowds looking for my party-goers, and Mary felt so special on her party day. 

Although my girl and I originally planned for a "beach" theme...we ended up doing more of a "pool party/summer theme" centered around our idea of "Summer in a Bucket". 

Here are just a few pics of the great time we had on Saturday afternoon with sweet friends, both old and new.

Table decorations included sand and seashells.

We went with an orange and blue color theme with our sand pails as centerpieces.

Paper goods (plates, napkins, utensils) complemented the sand pails.

Our "Summer in a Bucket" centerpieces/party favors were a huge hit!  Even the lifeguards wanted to take one home!

And finally..."Making a Splash!"