Narra's 3rd Birthday: Exploring the Garden

Explorer's maps, loot bags, and colored folding fans.

Step 1: Grab a map. Step 2: Grab a loot bag. Step 3: Grab a folding fan - in this scorching hot weather, it  is a must-have. Narra had been talking about this for weeks - that she would take her cousins to her tree house so they can search for goodies.  While she was taking a nap before her birthday party, my sister Marion and Narra's yayas went around the garden hiding loot in spots indicated on the Explorer's map I made for the "Dora the Explorer" themed party.  

Our living room - turned - party space.

My parents were kind enough to let us use their house as a party venue. We had colorful tables and chairs, and the buffet set up inside the house.  The main event, for the kids, however, was an outdoor exploration.  We prayed that it wouldn't rain - for it looked as though it would at various points in the afternoon. I found myself looking skyward and holding my breath, urging rain clouds to move away, and to release their load elsewhere.  They were kind to Narra, and chose not to rain on her party.

Narra and Mateo following Kuya Joaquin's lead.

It was time to explore, at last! With the help of bigger cousins who could already read the map, the little kids and their ever-vigilant yayas, went off on their search.  My parents have that kind of garden that offer so many hiding places.  I wouldn't want the kids to play taguan (or hide and seek) here - it would be too easy to hide, and to difficult to find people.  A bucket of loot, for instance, was hidden behind a bush with white flowers. That should have been easy to find. But bushes in our garden tend to be tall and thick and expansive.  When they did find the bucket, the bigger kids had to pass them on to the little ones.  It was that kind of activity that allowed the bigger kids and little kids to do something together.  This was what Narra wanted, a chance to spend quality time with cousins. 

Ate Julia handing out juice to Mateo and Narra who wont to go into the bush.

We did the explorations in batches, every time someone arrived, off Narra went! To show them around. She ended up doing several rounds of exploration, prolonging her enjoyment of her party. It lifts the spirit to see kids relishing simple joys. Every little piece of loot becomes cause for celebration.  Whenever she found something, Narra would raise it up for me to take a photo of. A bottle of Cool Aid becomes a trophy in her hands.   

Proudly showing off her loot.

On one side of the garden, my imaginative father built a winding tunnel of sorts. It leads from the garage on the front of the house, and snakes over to the basement of the house, and finally  up to the patio at the back. It's a place Narra hasn't been to yet, in all her 3 years of existence. So her cousins explored it ahead of her, and she followed them tentatively.  I hid "zombies" at the end of the tunnel (and by that I mean little mats of "Plants versus Zombies" stickers).  Narra, and a few other tiny young guests, felt scared to go there, and the word "zombies" scared them even further.  I couldn't resist including this tunnel in the route! Every exploration should have a scary section, shouldn't it?

Narra, hesitant to follow Julia and Mateo into the "tunnel".

When it was time for them to explore her tree house, I felt proud to see Narra climb up the steps on her own. I felt nervous, it's a pretty tall structure, and she could fall.  Her yaya was there to assist her, but she refused to be held for support. Nope. She wanted to do it alone: because she knew she can do it. And I remembered my baby, learning to sit, then stand, then take shaky steps. I remember how tentative she was when learning to climb ladders on Gymboree's little gym equipment. Now she's climbing real ladders, with real dangers - of large ants and high falls, without asking me for help.

Narra showing the way to her tree house. She and Mateo were just babies yesterday!

We attached loot on a branch, and kids had to pick them off, as though picking fruits.  We also provided loot bags so guests can pick green mangoes which they can bring home. This became a popular souvenir from the party! Yayas had a field day plucking the fruits, removing large tree ants, and  stuffing them in the provided loot bags.  

Proudly showing off her Angry Birds wrist slapper "picked" off the tree.

Narra is usually the only kid up in her tree house, accompanied mostly by adults. On her birthday, she got her wish, of getting a chance to play there with other kids. She was so excited to show off her house, and up and down she went.  Her smiling face was a precious sight to behold. 

Narra's all smiles to have her cousins over at "her house".

With her Ate Julia and Ate Bianca.

Narra later told me she was so happy and she wanted to have a birthday party again!  I told her she'd have to wait for another year when she turns 4 years old. I realize now, that a 3rd Birthday may be the first that a child can commit to memory and really remember. I don't think she remembers her 2nd birthday at all.  It makes me think that maybe we should not throw Guijo a 1st birthday party (we did not throw Narra one either)... he won't remember it anyway. But a 3rd birthday.... now that's fun, and something I am already looking forward to for my son.  Narra kept talking about her 3rd birthday, before and after the party. 

Our family pic out on the garden.

So I am having photos developed for the album I will give to Narra's grandparents. I think showing them Narra's smile that day, is the best way to thank them for hosting her birthday.

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Narra;s 3rd Birthday: Exploring the Garden
http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2012/05/narras-3rd-birthday-explorers-map-for.html