The Rockin Hula Luau!

We celebrated 4 in a "BIG" way this week! Cora's luau was a LOT of work. I did lots of" bossing around" the days leading up and Rob did lots of grumbling about how "this is the last party we're having at home." We both say that every time because it's hard getting and keeping, a house and yard clean, tables set, cake baked, games ready, treat bags stuffed, etc. with three little monkeys that undo things as quickly as you do them. BUT... it was totally worth it! This was one of my favorite parties thus far! It was a girls only party (except Cade). Which was a good move, because the girls were so calm and sweet and a few crazy boys could have thrown off the whole hula lesson thing pretty quick. Here are some pics of the big event! We sent out an ivitation of Cora dressed in a hula outfit with these words:


We're having a luau and you're invited,

Cora's turning 4 and we're so excited!

Fruity drinks with little umbrellas,

We'll have grass skirts for the girls,

And leis for the fellas. (even though we didn't invite any, it rhymed!)

Wear your bathing suit or swim pants.


You may even learn to hula dance!

The decorations were bought, borrowed (thank you, Malena!), and set!

As the girls arrived they made a stop at the "hula shop." Here they found a bag with their name that contained a hula skirt, a flower clip for hair, a flower ring, and a lei. Then Luau Lauren put her art degree to good use by painting a flower on the cheek of each hula dancer. They came out looking like this...

have you ever seen anything so cute in all of your life?

Even the littlest hula girl had a hula outfit (the smocked version) and a flower on her cheek.

Then the girls were STAR STRUCK when a real hula girl came to teach them to hula! She was awesome with them!!! (thank you, Kelsey!)

They learned how to tell a story with their hands while they danced!

They were in awe as they watched her and mimicked her every move. They got in about 20 minutes of pure hula dancing. I made a video, but blogger hates my videos for some reason. (i'll keep working on it!) Cora the dancing machine was so enthralled by Kelsey she barely even wiggled!

Maybe next year for her birthday we can take them all to Hawaii to practice their skills if and only if we win the Georgia Powerball which is seemingly impossible since we don't play.

Next, we limboed!!!

Cade participated this time (he and daddy weren't sure what to make of all these little hula girls)

Cade's got mad limbo skillz!

They worked up an appetite and ate tropical fruit and cheese sail boats with punch in fancy cups with flower straws and umbrellas!

Then came the cake! This is my ugliest birthday cake to date. It screams birthday party burnout louder than anything, but it was made by me! Cora wanted a hula girl. So I found a dollar store hula barbie, baked a cake in a bowl, iced it, sprinkled graham cracker crumbs (as sand), shoved the barbie in the center, wrapped a couple of leia around the sides, and WA-LA!!!

A hula girl on a deserted island. Ugly, but easy, and Cora LOVED it!!!

Making a wish!

Then saving the best for last, presents!

What's a luau without a dip in the pool? (even if they are blue and plastic?)