no admittance

except on party business

 

 

With our youngest getting older than we ever imagined, we find ourselves running out of opportunities to throw really good parties.  When Micah announced his desire for a hobbit birthday, we didn't exactly jump at the proposition, but we came around to it, as you'll soon see.

 

Step 1

Convert human kids into young hobbits, including traveling hoods, furry feet and new names

PS:  You can find out your hobbit name here:  http://www.chriswetherell.com/hobbit/index.php

From left to right:  Olo Sandybanks of Frogmorton, Falco Boffin of Whitfurrows, Bodo Loamsdown of Deephollow, Bungo Loamsdown of Great Smial, Merimac Bramble of Willowbottom (the birthday boy) and Bungo Bulge of Hobbiton.

 

Step 2

Feast!  Hobbits love to eat!

 

 

 

Step 3

Have Gandalf arrive as a surprise guest. 

 

Step 3 1/2

If you like the beard, you can find instructions on how to make your own here:  http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Grow-Your-Own-Epic-Dwarf-Beard-In-One-Eveni/  If you don't like the beard, take the tips of the fingers on your left hand and feel the inside of your right wrist where you will notice that you have no pulse.

 

Step 3 3/4

If you think Phil looks good in this outfit, check out Benjamin!

 

Step 4

Have Gandalf read a letter from Thorin Oakenshield describing the existence of a small treasure near the top of the Lonely Mountain that was never found and encouraging Gandalf to visit the Birthday Party of Merimac Bramble to see if any young hobbits would like to go look for it.  (I think you see where this is going)

 

Step 5

Have Gandalf explain that the hobbits will need their rest before such a journey.  Take them into the garage and place them in the minivan, explaining that after eating so much they will need to buckle themselves into their beds.  Tell them to close their eyes and get some rest.  They won't, but try to play along.

 

Step 6

Arrive and north canyon park and begin your quest by descending into a stone quarry where the horde of the three mountain trolls was kept.

 

Step 7

Three days ago, begin making your ancient Elfish swords using long paint sticks, tongue depressors and electrical tape.  Have your older boys help you come up with cool sword names like "Silver Wing," "Dragon Flame" and "Iron Hammer."  Use this website to convert those names into Elfish Runes:  http://derhobbit-film.de/rune_generator.shtml#rune   Print the runes on your swords.

 

Step 8

Have the older boys hide the swords in the rocks ahead of time so that the young hobbits can scramble up the rocks to find them

 

 

Step 9

Have Gandalf explain that these are certainly ancient Elfish blades of the greatest renown, but that the characters are too old for him to read.  They will need to go to Rivendell and ask Lord Elrond to translate them.

 

Step 10

Lead the hobbits to Rivendell

 

Step 11

Arrive at Rivendell and greet Lord Elrond (Jacob) and Legolas (Benjamin)

 

Step 12

Hide a translation sheet in your old Biblical Hebrew textbook.  Have Lord Elrond consult the book to translate the names of each of the swords for the boys. 

 

Step 12 1/2

Second hand graduation robes work well for the elves.  A Rice Chex box can be used to make elf ears

 

 

Step 12 3/4

Have the elves feed the hobbits lembas bread (Quaker popped rice snakes, caramel corn flavor)

 

Step 13

Smile for the camera.  You probably won't see an image like this for a long time

 

Step 14

Bid farewell to Lord Elrond as you leave for the Misty Mountains.  Have Lord Elrond warn Gandalf that the creature Gollum still lives in the depths of the mountains.  As the hobbits reach the top of the Misty Mountains, have Gandalf distract them with stories of an ancient battle while the older brothers run ahead to get into position for the hobbits encounter with Gollum.

 

Step 15

With Gollum (Benjamin) in place, descend deeper into the dark woods of the Misty Mountains

 

Step 16

Discover Gollum (hidden behind the trees to your left).  Have Gollum become outraged when he sees more of the wretched hobbits, like the one that took his ring.  Have Gollum challenge the Fellowship to a game of riddles.  IF they can answer his riddles, he will allow them to pass through the mountain passes.  IF they can't, he gets to eat them!

 

Step 17

Have Gandalf help the hobbits find that answers to each of Gollum's riddles (answers after the picture):

 

1.  What goes up and never goes down?

2.  The more of them you take, the more you leave behind,  What are they?

3.  What's colorless and weightless, but if you put it into a barrel, the barrel would become lighter? 

4.  What's full of holes, but still holds water? 

5.  I can sizzle like bacon, I am made with an egg, 

I have plenty of backbone, but lack a good leg,

I peel like onions, but still remain whole,

I can be long, like a flagpole, yet fit in a hole,

What am I?

 

 

1)  your age, 2) footsteps, 3) a hole, 4) a sponge, 5) a snake

 

Step 18

When the hobbits have answered all the riddles, have Gollum flee, leaving behind a small chest full of rings of power (mood rings that change color).  Conveniently, there will be one ring for each hobbit.  Funny how things like that work out.

 

Step 19

Leave the Misty Mountains and enter into the forest of Mirkwood where Gandalf observes the webs of the giant spiders.  (Having used up all the white yarn in the house on Gandalf's beard the previous evening, you will have to used black yarn for the webs.  Don't worry, the hobbits won't notice).  Have Gandalf instruct the hobbits that they must get through the forest without touching any webs, lest they awaken the spiders

 

Step 20

Having escaped Mirkwood, have Gandalf lead the tiring hobbits on the final leg of their journey, up to the Lonely Mountain (which wasn't all that tall, but no one seemed to notice)

 

 Step 21

Whoops!  Forgot to mention back on Step 4, in Gandalf's letter Thorin Oakenshield should state that the treasure lies beneath the nest of the great eagle.  Some of the hobbits have already found the nest.  Do you see it?

 

Step 22

Have the hobbits return to Rivendell with their treasure of chocolate coins and report their adventures to Lord Elrond and Legolas

 

Step 23

Take one last picture before returning to the shire

 

Step 24

One of Jennie's many amazing birthday cakes!

 

 

 

12-14 hours of preparation for a 2 hour party...and no regrets!!!