A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Party For My Grandchildren!
“A told B, and B told C, I’ll meet you at the top of the coconut tree….” Anyone who spends time around beginning readers may know this infectious start to the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom story, in which the letters of the alphabet race each other to the top of the tree. Jude and Truman delighted in the story, and Alexis thought it would make an engaging theme for their birthday party this year: Jude turning 3, and Truman turning 2. We found many ways to use the coconut tree, alphabet letters, and the bright colors of the book throughout our menu and the décor. We wanted the festivities to be fun and lively for the kids, so we planned activities that would be invigorating for the mind and body. We also prepared and served delicious and healthy snacks! I had so much fun watching Jude and Truman’s faces light up as they enjoyed the party and I’ll remember those smiles for a long time to come.
A special thank you to all of the people who worked with us to bring this theme to life: John Archambault and David Plummer, who have created many great Chicka Chicka Boom Boom themed albums; Simon & Schuster, the book’s publisher; Super Soccer Stars; Timbalooloo; Empire Cake; Innovative Walls; Oriental Trading; JB Prince; Maryland Plastics; Sweet Dani B; and Western Star Ball, Inc. – for the soccer balls!
[albumid2 id=JudeAndTrumanBirthday3814]
You can see more of the party fun in this video:
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
Martha, your grandchildren will have lots of beautiful memories to look back on.They are truly Blessed.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | May 15th, 2014 at 12:32 am
Martha, your grandchildren will have lots of beautiful memories to look back on. They are truly Blessed children
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | May 15th, 2014 at 12:33 am
What a great birthday party theme! It's so important to get children excited about learning, and what better way then to incorporate that into a birthday party.I love the fact that Alexis combines Jude and Truman's birthday party's together.I have 5 children all close in age, the oldest two only 13 months apart ,who loved sharing their birthday party's together. Thank you for sharing this event.
Posted by: Juli Smith | May 15th, 2014 at 12:57 am
What a wonderful, delightful party idea and I love the book-themed celebration. Perhaps a mother/daughter (you and Alexis) children's celebrations book should be in your futures?!
Posted by: Lauren Ford | May 15th, 2014 at 6:29 am
Martha,
My heart can't take TWO grandchildren blogs in one week-OMG! LOL WOW what a fun looking party. Soccer is a great sport for the kids to learn its so universal. I loved every photo especially 37 how cute and precious! Alexis had great idea's with the fruit and veggie palm trees and your sliced pineapple looked yummy (I think I'll try those this weekend). I'm glad you have memories in your mind that will last a lifetime. Thanks for this special treat and it was so joyful and exciting to see. -KB
PS Jude seems so tall I think she will grow to be taller than you and Alexis.
Posted by: KLBrown | May 15th, 2014 at 7:09 am
Loved this special birthday party for your precious grandchildren. Had 8 grandchildren, now up to 5 great-grandchildren, it just keeps getting better Martha. Will share the great info with granddaughters. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Sharon Key | May 15th, 2014 at 7:49 am
Thanks Martha and Alexis, very creative and thoughtful ideas for a memorable birthday party!
I like that you gave them an opportunity to run and be active, very cool!
Jude and Truman are adorable!
Posted by: Cindy F | May 15th, 2014 at 7:51 am
Hi Martha,
Another amazing party! Thank you so much, and to Alexis as well, for sharing these photos. I too really love that last ``action shot`` with all of you and Kevin involved in serving dessert.
I take my youngest son, Eddie, who is 4, to a play group and they have used Chicka Chicka Boom as a focal point there as well. He really likes this book.
I think the soccer activity looks wonderful, with super coaches.
Not a bad space to have for a big kids`party.
Posted by: Angela Kelman | May 15th, 2014 at 8:18 am
Hi Martha, WOW! I have never seen such a wonderful Birthday Party for such sweet, darling children and today's blog is absolutely marvelous to see! I recall that Truman's birthday was on March 6th and Jude's birthday was on March 8th and they look so darling being 2 and 3 years old now! I have never heard of A Chicka Chicka Boom Boom party and what you, Alexis, and other friends did for Jude and Truman is fantastic and being in your company place was beautiful to see with so many beautiful things present made by Alexis and others and all of those other sweet kids available was marvelous, also! Every one of these photos and comments are so outstanding and how fun to see Jude and Truman in many of them plus you in photo #23&37, GK in #22, and Kevin holding Truman in # 37!!!!! Everything was so well decorated and the party foods looked delicious! All of those kids sure had a fun time and they all looked so happy! Sure would be fun to see what goes next for Jude and Truman! Was fun to hear you on a Sirius rerun yesterday and how fun to hear me asking about your great fellow who was expecting twins and his wife had them and he was very happy and so was I !!!! Got my wonderful June MSL magazine yesterday-great! Hope you have another great day and no more rain! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 15th, 2014 at 8:23 am
Thanks for these lovely photos of children's party. Soccer, music, English alphabet, and good things to eat inspires me. BTW, Did Dan Dienst wear a trophy belt buckle in photo with Alibaba people?
Posted by: ann | May 15th, 2014 at 9:09 am
ONE MORE THING-Loved picture of family cutting cake. Our own family loved serving desserts from push cart ever since they were very young. when our niece married, she and husband served wedding cake to every guest. You are a lovely grandmother.
Posted by: ann | May 15th, 2014 at 9:14 am
What a nice party! Alexis is very talented, just like you, Martha!
Posted by: Gwen B | May 15th, 2014 at 10:48 am
Hi Martha,
Great party idea and I'm sure all the kids enjoyed it. It must sound so cute when they say Chicka, Chicka, Boom,Boom! Kids really like those fun words. I remember you talking about Jude liking to say couscous! Our little Kennedy who is two likes to say her brother's name Coby. She drags it out like "stop Cobbbyy, I'm on the telephone!" I'll have to make sure she has the Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom story. Trish
Posted by: Trish | May 15th, 2014 at 11:15 am
The cake looks like the best part of the party. I also loved the ingenious way that Alex created a coconut palm tree made of fruit and vegetables. Great kids' themed party!
Posted by: Monica White | May 15th, 2014 at 12:42 pm
Hi Martha,
I love this post! The kids look like they are having such a good time. And what a great party Alexis organized for them with so much entertainment and activity - that does NOT involve video games or movies or mountains of junk food. I really do admire Alexis for this.
I also wanted to say that I have been enjoying the DVD "My Mother's Recipes" that you had on sale for Mother's Day. It really is a special collection and I treasure it. It reminds me so much of my own grandmother's cooking and her best recipes, which are still so much a part of our family's traditions today. Big Martha was a delightful woman and I wish I had met her. Thank you for putting that DVD together. I hope to see more DVDs in the future!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | May 15th, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Oh Martha, thanks so much for adding the video it added a special touch love seeing the interaction. I viewed it from my phone but will look at it from the computer once I'm home. Glad to hear Jude speak and to see Alexis up close. You did a great job narrow rating. Have a good night. This is so exciting! -KB
Posted by: KLBrown | May 15th, 2014 at 4:26 pm
Martha: That is so very cool. Grandchildren are everything, and make the world a better place. Yoyu truly have much to be greatful for, I must admit I am a bit envious.
, and I am looking forward to the start up of the "Daily wag" 
Posted by: Ted Soderberg | May 15th, 2014 at 7:36 pm
My PS.......Martha, I just wanted to say that Alexis is like her mother...she gets more beautiful every day. Motherhood must agree with her very well.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | May 15th, 2014 at 10:03 pm
Hi Again Martha, I just saw that awesome video you shared about that fantastic Birthday Party for Jude and Truman! You and Alexis did the most marvelous things all through that fantastic party and the kids reacted so well and I know they love both of you and you both love them! I love all of you and hope to see more videos about these sweet grandkids and Mother Alexis! What a marvelous Chicka Chicka Boom Boom that was and playing games and eating those delicious foods made by Alexis! Alexis is a great Mother and so are you! Thanks so much for sharing this video and I will see it over and over again! Have another great evening and a great day coming up tomorrow! Love it all! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | May 15th, 2014 at 10:07 pm
How adorable! That's a great themed party for the kids. Jude and Truman are really enjoying themselves, along with the other children. Love photo# 28, where the kids are laughing with sheer joy. Your grandchildren are very lucky!
Posted by: Judy | May 15th, 2014 at 11:12 pm
Hi again,
I didn't see the video yesterday - thank you again! Your sharing of these special moments is deeply appreciated. "Loot bags" are one of my favourite things about parties - these ones are spectacular!
Posted by: Angela Kelman | May 16th, 2014 at 9:58 am
Hi
I love the birthday party and the theme you chose. I have personally purchased wall stickers from the company you mentioned Innovative Walls and have also been so pleased with their products. The kids look to be having such fun! Way to go!
Posted by: G Gregory | May 19th, 2014 at 2:06 pm
Love this special birthday party for your dear grandchildren.
I have a boy, and I love him so much as well.
Wish you a happy life together!!
Posted by: Heather Tyree | May 22nd, 2014 at 3:00 am
Oh how fun! Great, wonderful book. I often gave copies for various toddler gifts. Kiddos love the stories. Cake sure looks delicious. I {{heart}} cake! Alexis really knows how to plan a super party .... like her mum!
Posted by: Marcee ... ILLINOIS | May 22nd, 2014 at 12:52 pm
That is so cute! I've designed some children-specific wall decor like that as well. Some you can just use as accents and some that encompass the entire wall space as a mural
This "surf shack" beach theme decal is a popular one for kids!
Surf Shack Wall Decal
These wall murals are cool too!
http://gatorprints.com/product-category/wall-wraps/just-for-kids-wall-wraps/
Just for Kids Wall Murals
Posted by: alisha madariaga | June 11th, 2014 at 3:02 pm
Been a reader of your magazines since the 1993 supporter of you always you have inspired me as much as Lily Pulitzer my other fav person.She love knowledge continuing to grow as myself in food decoration home and outside.Wish you were still on tv here I miss that so much because that was one of few tv shows I watchI do like Pioneer Woman too.Read about your Dad today current to that day coming up miss mine too.Well I now read your Blogs.I also LOVE you have grandchildren.I do not have any children not by my chioice or grandchildren but I am always happy for others that do.Happy Summertime.
Posted by: susan hunt | June 13th, 2014 at 5:58 pm
The Grand kids are just baby dolls!
Posted by: linda | June 16th, 2014 at 12:50 pm
I love this party idea - so unique! Thanks for sharing!
Liz
Posted by: Liz | July 7th, 2014 at 11:55 pm
What a great idea, my 8 year old son loves this book. I will plan this for my sons 8th birthday this year, he will love it!! Playing soccer and having music play, geniouse!! I never thought of having soccer play time for boys while partying!! I can so make the party favors, this is so do able!! Thanks Alexis and Martha!!
Posted by: Tiffany C | July 16th, 2014 at 5:39 pm
Thanks so much for more inspirational ways to educate and share the love with our families. Love, love, your blogs!
Posted by: Cassie Bedford | September 15th, 2014 at 1:12 pm
what memories this brought back. My childrens brthday parties.It was fun to plan games and prizes.Children love parties.Hope your family has many more.
Posted by: Fredrika Bolling | October 20th, 2014 at 2:00 pm