A Minecraft Birthday Party!

This year, the kids had decided on a Minecraft theme party. This worried me a bit. I really didn't know anything about the game other than the 3 other family members played it, it was becoming an obsession with kids everywhere, and they didn't carry themed items for parties in stores. I must admit, I was dragging my feet on this one. I found free printable invites that we handed out or mailed out. There are some great free printables, and I tried to use what I could find, but in some cases they just didn't work for me so I needed to create my own. To do this, I was able to use some of the printables from the link above, then I needed the food icon pictures. I headed over to the Minecraft Wiki, searched for what I needed, saved to the desktop, and then printed out the correct size in word and made my own labels for the treat bags, and also the food table. Yes, yes, yes, it would have been easier in Photoshop, but that is Adam's job, I am not really versed in it.



Our treat bags were green paper bags, and then I filled small cellophane bags with different candies to represent the items from the game. We had blue rock candy for diamonds, licorice for TNT, Rollo's for gold, gummy melon slices for melon, and shiny green sixlets for emeralds.

 For decorations, Adam made torches. These were made from cardboard boxes cut to size, taped up, and then covered with construction or bulletin board paper. We stapled them up to the trees or picnic shelter around the party.

 I let the kids choose what games to play and they really liked creeper toss, and pin the snout on the pig. We were also going to play Minecraft bingo, but we forgot to grab it as we walked out the door. For creeper toss, we used cardboard again from a box. Adam covered it in paper and cut flaps in the eyes and mouth. We filled blue plastic Easter eggs with rice, tapped those closed, and that was what they tossed at the board. I know the creeper is suppose to be green, but we ran out of that paper. The pin the snout on the pig was again cardboard covered in paper, and again Adam took care of the design of it. I really think he did a great job!

The day of the party was super duper hot, which usually happens. I always pick the same park to have the party at, it has a giant playground mostly in the shade, 3 large picnic shelters, and normally is not crowded at all. Plus it is relatively cheap! Some day when we have a house again we can have home parties, but for now, we have the park.

I forgot to mention that as a blindfold for the pin the snout of the pig, Adam made a "Steve" head for the kids to wear. Once again it was just a cardboard box covered it paper (sensing a theme?), and he added a strip of blue paper down so the kids couldn't see under the box. Here is Adam showing the kids what they need to do.

Next up was the creeper toss. I think all the kids had fun trying this one, but only a few actually made it in. I know that after the games were played, some of the kids came back to try on their own.

The Birthday kids!

The kids looked at pictures of cakes online and came up with these two since they couldn't agree on just one. The creeper cake is 3 layers of chocolate cake baked in a 8x8 square pan, with frosting in between each layer. We found the different color m&m's at the candy store and I worked from the black ones for the face outward. The Steve cake is 3 layers of vanilla cake, with frosting in between the layers and just tinted frosting for the outside.

I normally give out the treat bags while the birthday kids open gifts. I find that it keeps little hands busy while the gifts are being opened. All the kids had fun finding all the candy in the bag!

I had found green tablecloths, large green square plates, green napkins, small black square plates, black napkins, green silverware, green paper straws, and green snack cups at either Party City or Hobby Lobby. Our menu consisted of hot dogs, 7 layer dip, watermelon, green grapes, pretzels, Jello jigglers, chocolate Rice Krispie Treats, Iced Tea, Lemonade, Green Apple Kool-aide, and water.

Green Grape slime balls

Pretzel trap doors

Jello Jiggler water

Cocoa Krispie Treats as dirt

Birthdays Part 1

We started out the kid's birthday celebration with a nice little cookout with a few members from Adam's side of the family.

I made a lemonade cake for this celebration. I have tried many lemonade type cakes and cupcakes and this one was by far the best!

Present time!

A badminton set that just had to be set up right away and used! We have all really enjoyed playing with this one.

Books and Legos. You can't really go wrong with those!

Little cousin was excited to see what was in the bag.

Gel Pens!!!!

D turned 5!!!!

I just can not believe that my little girl is 5 already! Where has the time gone? Pretty soon she will be starting school, making new friends, being away from me, and possibly loosing a tooth. I'm not too sure I like this. We were able to celebrate her birthday this year the day before Father's day, just like we did when she was born. For her birthday, she picked to go bowling. The local bowling alley is all black light, and fun! Plus they have ramps for the kids too little to pick up the ball properly. For presents from us, I had painted her a set of princess peg dolls, and we found a kid's flower press kit. I figured she would love it since she is always collecting flowers and leaves and such. When she opened it, she didn't look to excited. I explained to her what it was, and still no excitement. It took big brother picking her a 3 leaf clover to get her excited and wanting to press it. We have since taken it with to 2 of the grandparent's houses, and a great grandparents house, and have pressed flowers and leaves as we go. She is now very excited about it.

A few days after her birthday, she decided it was time to cut her hair. She had been going back and forth for some time now. One day she wanted it cut, the next it was to grow as long as Rapunzel's! So I guess after 3 very hot windy days, she had had enough. It looks super cute on her, I can still pull it into tiny piggy tails, and she is very happy with it.

Not too sure about the flower kit

Peg princesses, and her pretty present

Happy girl bowling with a glowing pink ball

before cut

after cut

Happy Birthday D! You are 4!

My baby turned 4 on the 16th. I was not ready for that. It seems like it was just yesterday (I know, how cliche!) that I gave birth to that spirited little bundle of joy! Quick run down on her birth. We had stayed up late Friday 15th setting up Adam's Myspace account (boy is that dated already!), and right before bed I felt a twinge. Nothing big really. Well, we got up at 7:30 the next morning, and as soon as I got moving around, there were very distinct contractions. Every 10-15 min. Okay, no big deal. 8:30 they were every 8-10 min. Hmmm, better call the in-laws to come get L since they lived 45 min away. Luckily they were already on their way up to visit with my sister-in-law. Okay, 9:30 the contractions are now every 5-7 min. Oh boy, family better get here, and we better be on our way to the hospital!!! Family arrives, they take off, and off we go to the hospital, which thankfully is only about 7 min away. On our way, the contractions are now every 1-3 min, and we get stopped in traffic to allow walkers to cross the busy street to get to an annual art fair, the hospital in sight. Pull in, and head to maternity. They take me to triage to determine if I really am in labor. I'm sure it is routine, but come on!!  There I sat for over an hour. They wait to give you an IV and pain meds until they get you in your delivery room. When I finally get in my delivery room, no one could get the IV in. I had been in so much pain, my veins shut down. They even called the IV team, and it took 4 people, multiple sticks all over my arms and hands to finally get the IV in. 2 hours!!!! In the meantime, I find out that my dr. whom I chose when we moved here just months prior was out of town, even though he promised he would be here. I have a bitter strange old woman dr. come to check me. She tells me, "well, we are going to break your water, and you will have a baby in 5 min". She was right! D was born just 5 min later! She has been in a hurry to grow up ever since. This baby was my last, and I was going to enjoy her babyhood. Well, she had other plans. Having a brother not quite a year older can do that I guess, but it is also her personality! She doesn't like taking no for an answer, she is stubborn, fiery, and wants to do it all herself. She will always take care of herself, but as the parent of said child, it can be tricky. But overall, I would not change her one bit!!!!



Happy birthday to my little girl whose name came to me in a dream 6 years before she was born, when I had just started dating her daddy. In my dream, Adam and I were holding hands with a cute little curly red-headed girl that we called D. We always knew you would join our family!

What she woke up to on her special day

 The girl just wanted to go bowling for her birthday.

 Homemade bubblegum and glitter play-doh. Thanks Counting Coconuts for the recipe!!!

 My handsome boys

 Fun with water

Here I come!!

Funfetti cake with bubblegum flavored frosting. She was in heaven!

Yummy cake!

Mommy and Me tea party

I started a tradition with D the year she turned 1, that around Mother's day we would have a tea party.  Now that first year, she wasn't 1 yet, just 1 short month away from that first year milestone.  I normally just take her to a local coffee shop and get her an iced tea and a baked good treat.  Well, every year it goes down in flames.  I think because I am a stay at home mom, and the kids never really get a break from me, D has been a Daddy's girl.  And every year when her and I leave to do our thing, it results in a crying, screaming, meltdown.  It makes me feel horrible, and I question why I do it every year.  Well this year, all those bad years finally paid off.  Adam and I enjoy going to a local pub every once in awhile, and a few months ago I noticed that they do an afternoon tea for adults and kids.  The place is a very family friendly place, so I just knew we would have to try it.  I put it on the calendar for the moms group that I organize and figured even if no one else could make it, D and I would try it out! I am so glad that we did!  I think it helps that she is almost 4 (I still can't believe that!), and that we have been drinking tea and having "tea parties" all winter.  I booked a table for the group, 3 moms, and 4 girls.  The girls ages were 1, 2, 3, and 4, and this was so much fun!  Each person, children included, had their own pot of tea.  There were 5-6 teas to choose from most of which were decaf.  They then brought out all the yummy food.  A giant bowl of fresh fruit, a platter with lemon pound cake and cream puffs, a dish a fresh scones complete with 3 types of jam and clotted cream, and then sandwiches.  There were the girl's sandwiches, cheddar cheese, and nutella with strawberries, and then there were the mommy sandwiches, turkey and cucumber.  Everything was so tasty, the wait staff was fantastic and totally on top of things, and there was more than enough food. For D and I before the tip, it was only $13!  That is a steal!  You spend more than that for 2 cups of tea and some pastries at a local coffee shop, and this was so much more.  I can't wait to do this with her again next year!  And after we got home and told the boys all about it, I think they want to go now too!

Mommy and D ready to go.  I love that she HAD to wear her rain boots.

 That is one excited girl!

 The table was all ready, now to just wait for our friends.

 All the girls and one of the moms.  We all wore pretty dresses!

 So much fun!

 Barely any food left at the end.

What did you say?

While reading the kids a book about President's day that focus's on the Presidents on Mt. Rushmore, we get to the end of the book.  On the last page is a picture of each of them, and D gets all excited.  She tells me she wants to name them all by herself.

Okay, I say, go for it!

"Okay mom, George Washington, um Jefferson???, Lincoln Logs, and Teddy"

Close enough sweet pea, close enough!

December in Pictures

How did I make it all the way through December with only 1 post?  I have been very busy.  On top of all the fun normal Holiday stuff, we did fun things all around.  Here are some of the highlights from our December!

 Adam and L both are VERY into video games now

Shopping with Santa at a local church

Snow angel D

Snow Angel L

The toddler "Republic" hat that I knit for D

L, D, and I made cutout sugar cookies and then they both frosted all of them.

They were very proud of what they did.  And look at that little cheese ball!

Our Christmas Eve gingerbread house

Before Santa arrived

My awesome present from Adam.  He made this out of a thin sheet of plexi glass.  It's awesome!