The day we loaded our moving truck in San Diego we held a little last minute party. A play date for the kids with cardboard boxes, duct tape and a 26 foot moving truck.

Having a party with kids the day you move is awesome because everything they could get into is nicely packed away. We didn’t leave out a single toy, just packing supplies, balloons and a big bag of bright balls. We moved most of the furniture outside to make a good play zone. Although the party was not perfect, having a last hurrah with their friends helped my kids adjust to leaving our home.

We sent out hand striped invitations the week prior and striped white favor bags that held little goodbye presents for each of their friends. I bought four rolls of bright neon duct tape (find online here) and used it to decorate the room. Words were traced onto the tape and cut out to add a bit of festive flair. The duct tape was great to use, it took about three minutes to take everything down once our friends left for the day.

The party was in the am so I bought doughnuts (easy since all our kitchen pans were packed) and I made sure to have extra white bags on hand for the left over doughnuts to be taken home. Sparkling Izzie sodas with straws from Sweet Lulu always look nice and bright for a party. The dotted coasters are from the Martha Stewart Crafts, they lent a perfect contrast to the straight duct tape lines laid out on all our tables.

As a final sweet goodbye, I had each of the kids write out a note to my twins about their time together. We read them out loud after leaving and I am saving them for when they are older so the kids can remember who some of their earliest friends were.

The streamers on the walls and ceilings were my favorite touches of the day. I was surprised at how easily the duct tape stuck and how quickly it came right down. Even if you are not moving, the bright ease of this decor could be perfect for any kids party.

Before everyone left we had a bit of fun in the moving truck. Chasing plastic balls and watching them bounce around the huge, open interior. I am pretty sure this was the best thing that has ever happened for our toddlers! Instead of a bounce house at your next kids party why not try a moving truck?!? They are cheap to rent for the day and you will be astonished at how much they love it.

Photography by Jackie Wonders.

blessings.