Riley's puppet show birthday party

After returning from Connecticut where we celebrated Riley's actual third birthday, it was time to bring on the puppets for party number two. As his guests arrived -- about 25 kids from the neighborhood, daycare and beyond -- Riley was excited and a bit nervous to welcome everyone.

Inside the kids played and made sock puppets, including this one from lovely Chesna who is due with number two the same week as I am.

































Then we all headed outside, grabbed some kettle corn and settled in for the big show.

As the birthday boy, Riley got his chance to ham it up pre-show, then got fitted with a crown (which he still wears almost daily :)).

The show was a mix of Aesop's Fables, performed by the puppeteer from Oakland's Fairyland.

 The kids seemed to love the show (and some loved the popcorn even more).

 

At the end of the show, "Candyman" brought little frog puppets to all the kids.

Then the puppeteer did the coolest thing: he let the kids play with the puppets from the show. It was so fun to watch their delight and unabashed affection for these little creatures.

Then it was time for Riley's puppet show cake.

As the kids departed, they took home puppets of their own, along with their sock puppets. 

And we adults -- including my brother and mom who worked tirelessly for 24 hours to help put this party together -- collapsed in a theatrical heap. Riley's super fun party lasted more than four hours, about as long as the epic naps we all took that afternoon.