Hyrum’s Harry Potter 8th Birthday Party

We had Hyrum’s birthday party in September this year, just because our October was pretty full. He got to have a big friends party since it was for his eighth birthday, and we ended up with 12 guests plus our 3 kids, which turned out to be a LOT of craziness!

The party started with guests entering Diagon Alley, where they got a wand  a little cauldron and a spell book. Then they could get their picture taken in wizard gear at Madam Malkin’s and make a quill by taping a feather to a pen with washi tape.

Here’s our four little Harry Potters:

Madam Malkin’s:

Just for show, Quidditch Supplies and Eeylop’s Owl Emporium for pets for Hogwarts:

Ollivander’s and Potage’s Cauldron Shop:

Flourish and Blott’s:

And Honeydukes (for later):

We even decorated the bathroom a bit with Moaning Myrtle and a Ministry of Magic sign that leads you down the toilet (I had to move Moaning Myrtle out of the bathroom every time Cora had to go because it scared her):

After our time in Diagon Alley, we went through Platform 9 3/4 to Hogwarts:

All the kids got sorted (by spinning a spinner and receiving a sticker badge for their house). All our kids got Gryffindor!

Then it was Charms class! The kids practiced their “wingardium leviosa” with their wands and balloons, then they practiced making sure their wand work was precise by trying to get the balloon to move to a partner, then they practice the spell, “expulso” by popping their balloons with their wands:

Then it was on to potions with Snape, the potions master:

The kids made an exploding elixir using Mandrake Root, Dragon Spit, and Phoenix Tears (baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap). The kids really loved this potion! Then they made “spider eggs” (pepper) run away from their biggest enemy, Basilisk Venom (red dish soap).

Then the kids’ class was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, who informed the students that all of the Care of Magical Creatures had escaped. All the kids searched for the missing creatures outside in Hagrid’s Hut (our playset), the Forbidden Forest (our trees), Herbology Greenhouse (our gazebo), and the Whomping Willow (our front tree).

Then we had snacks, cupcakes, and ice cream:

And Hyrum opened his presents!

The kids got to take home sweets from Honeyduke’s Sweet Shop at the end, like chocolate frogs (made from a mold), Fizzing Whizbee’s (Pop Rocks), Jelly Slugs (gummy worms), Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans, Acid Pops (Dum-Dums), and Drooble’s Best Blowing Gum.

All in all I think the kids had fun, and especially Hyrum had fun, so all the work was worth it!