Ott E's 30th Birthday Party

One time this past winter I asked Ott, E what was his favorite birthday party?  He answered that when he turned 8 the family came over for cake and ice cream and played baseball out in the yard.  Little did he know when he gave me that answer, the wheels in my head started turning working on plans for a 30th Birthday Party.  Obviously I wanted to make sure his family could all be there and that there would be baseball.  In northern Wisconsin there is a Minor League Baseball team called the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (which Ott, E was somewhat of a fan of when he was little.)  A couple of phone calls to the T-Rats ticket office and all of Ott, E's family, put my plans in motion.  And, a week ago we drove up to Wisconsin where the family was waiting to celebrate Ott, E's surprise party.  (He is the one in the red shirt pictured above; front and center.)

I think a great party starts with a fabulous invitation.  So since this was a surprise party I wanted to keep with that top secret theme and what better way than with a "Top Secret File" for an invitation.  I actually had someone else make the invites, but I crafted up the wording for the inside to sound spy talk; all the information about the Target (a.k.a. birthday boy) and each Secret Agent (guests) mission (attending the party).  Tickets to the game and a picture of the target were paper clipped to the file and it was mailed in a manila envelope with a top secret sticker on it.

 

The evening started with a tailgate prior to the game. 

Then Ott, E and his brother got to participate in an in-field promotion prior to the start of the game. They tried to chip a golf ball from home plate to a hoola-hoop out in center field.

Also at the game was Wendel, the Miller High Life Delivery Man who does commercials for Miller.  Ott, E got to shake his hand and pose for a quick picture. 

Back  in the stands I had reserved patio tables right off of 3rd base.  I thought this added to a great party atmosphere as guests could watch the game or have lots of room to mingle. 













I also had centerpieces for each table with pictures of Ott, E when he was young and played in Little League.  I had the pictures enlarged and placed in frames and then decorated with baseball and party scrap booking stickers.  There was a baseball for all the guests to sign.

During the game Ott, E got his name on the scoreboard for celebrating his birthday there. And everyone enjoyed ice cream cake for dessert.

For more pictures of the party go HERE!

This post was linked to: Bird's Crafts Linky Pary 1st Week of Each Month