Ford’s Jaw-some 5th Birthday

Ford’s Shark-Tastic 5th Birthday 🦈🌊

Ford officially turned FIVE, and we celebrated with an entire island taken over by sharks!

For Ford’s 5th birthday, guests were invited to Ford Island for an afternoon filled with sharks, swimming, sweet treats, hands-on activities, and plenty of surprises. Shades of ocean blue mixed with red and white lifeguard-inspired details to create a party that felt like a little shark adventure from the moment guests arrived.

Welcome to Ford Island 🌴

The experience started before guests even made it to the party!

As they arrived, each child grabbed a beach towel, a pair of goggles, and a shark tooth necklace to get them ready for the adventure ahead. Waiting nearby was a giant open shark-mouth slide and a surfboard with a huge bite taken out of it — the first clue that Ford Island might have a bit of a shark problem!

To make their way to the backyard, guests had to “Walk the Plank.” Once they made it safely across, they discovered even more sharks waiting for them, including shark fins floating through the lake.

Shark Bait Rescue Station 🦐

One of the biggest highlights of Ford Island was the Shark Bait Rescue Station, where the kids got to create their own tiny aquatic habitat and rescue a live friend to take home.

Each child worked through the station, adding aquarium rocks and a plant before choosing their very own live ghost shrimp — their official “shark bait.” They could name their new friend, grab food and care instructions, and get everything ready to safely take their new pet home.

Part party favor and part hands-on science experience, the Rescue Station gave every guest a little piece of Ford Island to take with them!

Adopt-a-Shark 🦈

The shark bait weren’t the only creatures looking for homes!

Guests could also stop by the Adopt-a-Shark Station to choose a shark of their very own. After picking their new friend, they could give it a name and make the adoption official before taking it home.

Between their adopted shark and rescued shark bait, nobody had to leave Ford Island without a new friend!

Take a Bite! 🍴

All that shark hunting called for plenty of food. Our Reef Refreshments and Take a Bite tables were packed with ocean-inspired treats, including Shark Teeth, Seaweed, Chum, Life Savers, Chips Ahoy, Deep Sea Dip, and the Catch of the Day.

Even the sweets were part of the theme, with custom cookies featuring sharks, water-inspired designs, life preservers, and special details celebrating Ford and his big milestone — FIVE!

And, of course, no visit to Ford Island would be complete without a Shark Attack — blue ocean punch with a splash of red for a little extra shark drama.

A Mid-Party Cool Down 🍧

Just when everyone needed a break from the excitement, Kona Ice arrived!

The kids got to cool down with colorful shaved ice before heading right back into the action. It was the perfect mid-party surprise for a warm day spent swimming, sliding, exploring, and escaping sharks.

One Fin-tastic Fifth Birthday

From the moment guests grabbed their towels, goggles, and shark tooth necklaces until they headed home with their adopted sharks and rescued shark bait, Ford’s fifth birthday was one big adventure.

They walked the plank, spotted fins in the lake, braved a giant shark, played on Ford Island, made new aquatic friends, enjoyed Kona Ice, and celebrated one very excited five-year-old.

It was colorful, interactive, a little wild, and completely Ford.

Happy 5th Birthday, Ford! 🦈🌊❤️

• What People Ate

  Catch of the Day-hot dogs Chips ahoy- potato chips Deep sea dip- chip dip Shark teeth- chocolate dipped bugles Life Savers- mini donuts Seaweed- green apple sour straws Chum- gummy sharks Fresh butter popcorn Vanilla Cake Handmade funfetti sprinkle decorated cookies Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes

• What People Drank

  Shark attack- blue punch with red “blood drizzle” straight from a great white shark mouth Glass bottled cokes Chilled water

• Desserts

  Vanilla shark fin cake Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes Handmade funfetti sprinkle decorated cookies Kona Ice shaved ice

• Party Favors

  Beach towels and goggles Shark tooth necklaces Kona ice Lei’s Stuffed “adopt a” sharks Live “shark bait”- skittles (neocardinia) shrimp and the “make your own” habitat

• Activities / Games

  Walk the plank Make your own shark bait home Pick your shark bait (live shrimp) Adopt a (stuffed) shark Giant shark water slide and bounce house Kona ice truck Lily pad swimming in the lake

• Toni (my mom)

  Party set up and clean up. And she made the surfboard!

  This is my mom. She’s always there for my crazy ideas. She is so creative and talented!