"1" Hungry Little Caterpillar

My niece turned 1!

What a great time planning and throwing a Hungry Caterpillar 1st Birthday Party.  It was soooooo simple, yet soooooo effective! 

Paige's parents made invitations that looked like a big leaf with a caterpillar climbing on it...the who, what, when, and where were printed on each "vein" on the leaf for the party.

Decorations included helium balloons.  We chose to use 6 -- 1 red for the head and 5 for each letter in her name!  We used a black sharpie marker to sketch a face on the red balloon and a letter on each of the following...Black pipe cleaners became antennas  by curling the ends of 2 and taping them on the back of the caterpillars head... legs/feet were produced by folding 1 black pipe cleaner in half and just wrapping it around the base of the each balloon.. also bending out the ends to make the feet.  It was important to tape the balloons together so the name was legible and the effect was MUCH better that way -- Balloons "dance" around ALOT.  Her parents bought her a butterfly puppet just like in the book...The caterpillar we created!

We created caterpillars for a fun activity for the children that attended... The 1 year old's Mommy demonstrated the easy and fun to make craft and the kids finished them with pride quite quickly -- a key at a busy party!!  So it went really well!

The party was around Christmas so the "party" pack of pompoms on sale were the PERFECT colors for our project.  1 red for the head and a variety of greens for the bodies.  There were different sizes within the party bags so we decided to separate them into prepackaged bags for each child that way the bodies matched the heads, etc... They each grabbed a bag that contained their pompoms, 2 googly eyes, 1 cut pipecleaner about 1 1/2 inches long for the antennas and 1 mouth (made of black construction paper punched out with a hole punch!).  We supplied glue bottles they shared.  Just a dot of glue in between each pompom and don't forget to stick the antennas in between the red and 1st green one before the glue dries.  We wrote their names on one big cardboard box where they placed their caterpillar to dry -- why we did the project first. 


These are like the ones we made (Guess
we didn't get a picture?)

They served a delicious lunch and included these adorable kebabs out of green grapes and strawberries.  They were a huge hit.  We placed them in a tall glass, so they were easy to grab as a fun treat.



 


Cake -- Well cupcakes mostly!  The face of the caterpillar is a small 4" round, the cupcakes are held in place with a dab of frosting on the bottom of each.  We also used pipecleaners on the cakes for a 3D effect for the antennas.  Such a simple cake (plenty of extra green cupcakes were made to serve as well!) with such a BIG impact. 

The 1st birthday girl needed her own cake to get messy with.  I used a mini muffin pan for the body of her caterpillar.  I think she enjoyed it...wouldn't you agree?

Paige did so good being the center of attention.  She had quite a busy schedule with her first Christmas and birthday in the same week.  We all enjoyed the party and hope someday she thinks it was just as special as I did!

Little Helpers...

 A quick blog about my 2 little helpers....  They love to HELP me in the kitchen... esp. when it comes to baking.  Isaac wants to eat the frosting and lick the batter bowl the most and Trevor just wants to make a mess.  AND the messier the BETTER?!

Here is our all morning project of making Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies... We started in PJs and by the time we finished they went right into the wash machine (the PJs not the kids!!)

Trevor and I made the dough and turned it all GREEN.  Trevor was calling it mint ice cream... that is when Isaac finally decided to HELP out.  He was being that little stinker of... I want to know what is going on, but I don't feel like helping... But MOM... what are you doing next?  As Trevor admired.. I rolled out the green dough and cut into random sized triangles -- the sizes didn't matter at all!  So, that was an easy part (not worrying about the sticking to the cookie cutters!  Then, after the green triangles cooled... we began making them into Christmas trees... AND what a mess WE made...


Isaac enjoying making a different batch of Christmas Cookies
...made easy with an ice cream scoop - He loves to use it!

I "stringed" the trees with yellow frosting from a decorating bag.  I used frosting that was a little bit watered down (compared to the frosting I use for a cake) that way the "decorations" would have somethingmore to stick to.  (And more time for the decorating to get done!)

Once the boys started they really got into it!  I placed a piece of waxed paper under a cooling sheet so the excess would go through and we could easily use it again.  They boys were quite concerned that the "sugars" were then mixed together, but they got over it pretty quickly... (do they have a bit of OCD too?? HA!)

They made ALOT of cookies (Note to self though -- 1 batch would be plenty...both for the entertainment of creating cookies and serving them at Christmas!)  That would have saved me some time too! ... I enjoyed every minute spent with them being creative!  I hope they did too!  Can't wait until next year's Christmas baking, although my gut is glad it is over!!

It's a Pirate's life for me...for 1 day anyway!!

Like I really have time to blog... but I have 1 hour and it relaxes me!!!... so why not! (Not soooo relaxing when pictures don't want to load...but here we are!!)

This birthday season (2 boys' birthdays in October turns into a season in our house!) -- we decided to join the birthday madness together.  We were moving into our house at the beginning of Oct so Isaac was asked if we could have one together... I let him pick the theme (with a little persuasion!)  HE chose PIRATES!!!... I already had SOOOOO many ideas.  I would have made any of them work, but I try to stay away from character lead ones... I don't know why, they are perfectly fine and fun and fabulous... but I was thrilled to throw my pirates a great birthday bash... Lots of pictures in this one... but helps with the explaining!!!



The Birthday Boys... they were soooo excited about their cake, and so was their mommy!

Of Course the cake was a big hit!! 

I made 2-- 9 x 13" rectangular cakes... cut the bump off of one -- for the top of the treasure chest and added the remainder of that cake to the bottom of the chest... frosted the entire cake with chocolate buttercream frosting and piped the decorations on from there.  I made a wedge out of styrofoam to prop the top cake board up... you don't need much of an angle... alot less than I expected... maybe only like 10 degrees.  We had ordered the Gold Coins (both chocolate and fake plastic ones) from Oriental Trading Company... the 2 different shades of gold really worked well on the cake!  The jewels are piped to look like necklaces or loose rocks!... Adding the eye patch really helped!... just dangled it from the corner.  This really was quite a simple cake for how big of an impact it made for a party!!

 We used some "treasure maps" I found again on OTC for both invitations and the hunting clues for the treasure box!  On the invites we wrote:

A'HOY MATES...
Isaac turns 6 and Trevor turns 4.
X marks the spot of the Parrrrrrty (insert address here).
Hoist your anchors and set your sails to arrive (insert date here). 
Be there at 3:30 pm or risk Walking the Plank!

They were also a big hit... I don't believe in RSVP's but you could add that too (never get an accurate count from them -- I am one of those that forgets to RSVP... so if I'm invited and I did not send my regrets, then I will be there... ha ha... Oops!!)

So much fun was had on the plank... just a long board we prompt up on 2 five gallon buckets!... At first some were nervous (esp. Trevor) but by the end of the party they were all super fast at "Jumping into the sharks"... that is what the game became....

So onto the Treasure hunt... The boys and I made up treasure bag (favors, that included an eye patch, bouncy balls, it was fall so all of the candies were "metals" colored.. hershey kisses, york peppermint patties... and of course both sets of gold coins!)  and wrote the names of the kids expected at the party on each bag... THAT way EVERYONE gets one!!! The "box" was filled with the favors and I created "clues" for a treasure hunt that sent the party goers all over the house... one clue led them to the bathtub... another to the movie cabinet...another to the cereal cabinet.... Then one day close to the party the Treasure box disappeared... the boys were not happy... I had hid it already.  And Isaac figured out "X" marked the spot... but I scolded... ha.... him to get away from the decorations!!!  lol!!!

  Decorations also found at OTC... The X made with warning tape.. where the treasure's last clue led them...

I made the Treasure box by covering a box that a ream of paper comes in with paperbags and coloring with crayons and markers to get shades of brown... the "leather straps" are the handles of the paper bags colored with black marker... Don't forget the key hole!

 Be sure to take LOTS of pictures of your pirates... especially saying what Pirates say "ARRRRRRGHHHHH."

And to leave you with a pirate joke you can share at your party... The boy's uncle asked Isaac this one day... and he didn't really get it!  Ha...

What is a Pirate's favorite letter?

 You would think it is the " RRRRRRRRRRRRgggghhhh!"

But it's the "C"... sea... get it!!!!! 

 Hope it's a pirate's life party for you someday too!!!... WE all had a blast!

Simple Thank YOUS...

 



 

Simple, CHEAP thanks yous... Thank yous are soooo easy....soooo appreciated...... and such a great way to show your children what it means to have someone who cares about you, or helps you to GROW in soooooo many ways!! ;)

Here is a simple little pot we clipped and repotted a plant we already had in our house and spiced it up with a thank you note... "thanks for helping me grow." 

Inspirational ways to express our gratitude are made sooooo easy with Pinterest to assist us.  Numerous "food" ideas are great ways as well... "May your holidays be merry and 'Sprite'  " ... Love that one... willm have to use it soon!

This small pot was a direct inspiration from the amazing site, but you can adapt soooooo much just by personalizing your gift for your special occasion. Or adapting certain "holiday" ideas to suit your needs! 

Remember those who help you, family, or friends... even in the smallest ways.  We never can say thank you enough, especially when it affects your child!

Isaac helped plant this little guy...and couldn't wait to share it with his teacher! We were still in the apartment when we shared this thank you, so the typed up sign and clip art are displayed by sticking a drinking straw into the soil (due to lack of craft supplies!) ... but it sure worked well and I would use it again!... Easy to staple the card stock too!

Simple ...... and soooooooooo cheap!!  Cost about $3!!

THE life of a Kindergartener...

Boy oh boy JULY was my last post... well now I have plenty to blog about and catching up to do! A house to call home, crafts and decorating ideas, we've had a great pirate birthday party lately!!! So maybe I can find a bit of time to continue on this adventure.

The first of many ideas running about my brain is how Isaac is dealing with Kindergarten. Or how his mom is too.. for that matter.

The kid LOVES it... Here is why I know this.

So I picked him up from daycare today -- and he knows its Friday -- and the first full fledged conversation we have to have is when the next day of school is. This most recent conversation was a rough one, as he some how "blames" me that he has to WAIT until Tuesday to go to school, so that is 3 WHOLE DAYS MOM... (Monday is Veteran's day, so no school of course!) He really does get visibly upset that he needs to wait longer than normal to head back to the BIG K. I don't know what they do to him there (actually I do -- they are VERY informative!), but the kid can't live without it.

Here is another example of the angony I must put my kid through if he were to miss a bit of school:

He needed a well-child visit, because my baby turned 6! wow... So I got one scheduled and due to my schedules at work (crazy and all over the place) I wanted an early afternoon appointment. We were able to get one! So, Trevor had speech from 11:25 to 11:55am that day. I thought what a great time saver for me to grab Isaac at the same school for his 1pm appointment-- I grabbed my 2 boys, we then dropped Trevor off back at Daycare and I wanted to TREAT Isaac to lunch with his mom.

He seemed a bit on edge, but we all are sometimes, so we ate at Taco Bell someplace Isaac BEGS for and Trevor dreads -- thus the "treat" of it all!! (and that his mom is there right??!) He seemed to enjoy that -- but once we got into the Jeep I was questioned, "How long is this appointment?" I told him probably about 1 hour. "Oh so I can go back to school then," he stated with SOOOO much excitement in his eyes! I broke the news to him that it would be pretty pointless for him to go back for 1/2 hour and that he will probably not be going back.

He was then quiet...VERY QUIET. I was driving so wasn't paying much attention... until I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw my 6 year old struggling to hold bad HUGE tears that were building up in his eyes. My heart broke for him... I was so shocked and amazed at his awareness of the "burden" that he had to visit the doctor during his prime school hours. I didn't say anything at that moment... afterall, I couldn't figure out what to say? I was proud, yet anxious for him -- then the dilema that we would be arriving at the appointment shortly -- and what would they think I did to my kid when he is crying like that?? -- then I heard a BIG sigh in the back seat. It was beyond dramatic, he definately wanted me to see the troubles I was putting him through, because as I looked up into the rearview mirror -- I saw a growing boy that had a deathy smirk on his face -- clearly mad at ME for putting him through this. He whipped his head around to glare out the window. Then, I knew we needed to talk... after all, wasn't it obvious after that sigh??

I asked, what's wrong Isaac -- there was no teenaged "nothing" coming out of him, cuz all at once the tears could no longer be sustained.. they were pouring out of his now bagging eyes. "I want to go back to school."

How could you not attempt bringing him back after having your heart broken by these reactions...the reaction I got from the office when I signed him back into school post doctor's appointment -- was an obvious, "what the hell are you coming back for -- look"... I just stated "he had to come back!" As the reception smirked, I shrugged my shoulders, but with a little relief that my child can find the joys in school that so many are not finding, or are not having the opportunity to find. Let's just hope this ambition holds on for a VERY long time, as we know as a Kindergarten he has a very long road ahead of him!

He strives to be just what we are expecting him to be. It is amazing for all the expectations we have of kids, they still want to have someone be proud of them and they want to make us "happy." If only we can find more ways to relieve this stress for our children -- just be children. Yet, Isaac succeeds gracefully at these attempts to satisfy. Its amazing to me, the product that my 6 year old has become. So PROUD of him -- and yes I tell him that, as often as I can!

Something to be extremely proud of:

We had our first parent/teacher's conference about 1 month ago. Isaac was there too...different than what I remember them being. We were told -- He's a role model, and a great student AND friend to his classmates!! He is exceeding in everything (except recognizing coins -- there are only 4 coins and he just can't get that for some reason-- guess he won't be an accountant??!!) AND there are 4 reading groups will be starting (have since started) and we would like Isaac to be in the highest level one as he is soooo ready for that! =Made me want to hold back my huge tears for many reasons...it's amazing, I'm so proud, I'm glad it is easy for him as I dread when it isn't, but most importantly --- he is growing up WAY TOO FAST.

Choking up even right now. Of course there are times when this amazing 6 year old makes me want to pull my hair out, but how did I get so lucky to have a big boy in Kindergarten that can succeed beyond expectations of so many. How did we get this far, so fast?

As I pull this pop top off my Dr. Diet Pepper, I am reminded that he also wants to please his teacher... They collect pop tops, box tops for education, and UPC symbols (the latter we don't do??) and since it was mentioned in his class we have had a game warden in our house that monitors your every move..."Mom, can you drink a pop??" Yep, just so he can have a pop top for school... He is enthusicatic to say the LEAST.

So in conclusion, if you haven't figured out just how much Isaac appreciates his educational opportunities... I am sure there will be similiar stories to come! Love every inch of that 6 year old! 

Warm and Cozy...

Just a quick project that I am sure we will enjoy for a many years...Very happy that we can prepare the backyard of the new house...while we wait and anticipate the move in... so here is the warm and cozy project we did the other night.  It really only took about 1 1/2 hours to complete... and bit of sweat and sore muscles too!...

Here is where the inspiration photo on Pinterest came from...there were no instructions attached to this one, but I think we did pretty good...or better?  Now we just need the grass to grow in around it!

The inspiration...

Our project!  We meaning, Joe, dug a hole about 2 1/2 feet by 8 inches into the perfect "fire" location at our house -- well at least lets hope so...that may have been the challenge, too close. too far ...where to place it!!?  We used 20 bricks placed vertically around the circle.  (The hardest part was making the hole vertical and to keep them vertical without wasting space inside the circle!)  Then we filled in the space behind the bricks on the outside of the circle to stabilize them.  We stepped on the brick from the inside -- like I described to Joe...like you are stretching your calf... they seemed pretty stable. We filled the pit with pea rock...I am thinking the rain will drain better that way...it was in their picture so we decided to go for it!  Then we strategically placed the quartz pieces that I hand picked.. concentrating to see if I could find some of the bigger pieces with a curve to them... I placed them into the circle...overlapping the tops of the brick.  Next...we filled the empty spaces with the smaller and remaining quartz.  and FINALLY... we filled the spaces with dirt...again as I explained to Joe --like grouting tiles!!!

Our creation...

I think we will enjoy many nights and hopefully create some memories around this fire pit! ...Next outdoor project...some form of permanent seating around it?  Maybe someday!... I really want big logs, but Joe thinks that is probably a bit out of our "project" ability!

Behavior and charting about it!

Behavior chart:  Something was needed as a way to soothe over issues for 5 and 3 year old boys who are confined in an apartment and just want to run around and be boys--yet still need to take responsibility for their behaviors.  So I combined some ideas I saw from Pinterest into a plan that would work for us -- so I thought.  I will explain the way Isaac, Mom, and Dad use the behavior chart and the way things are supposed to go and then I will discuss the sneaky ways Trevor isn't even involved and how it irritates Isaac.



Naughty Cars on top...get placed in the bottom bag if they misbehaved...Sticker chart for good behavior...notice
Trevor's random stickers = hard to control...should have adapted that for a 3 year old...just FYI!

What I needed to "accomplish" was disciplining in an apartment...(I used to be more strong willed at letting both kids cry it out, but I thought for the sanity of my neighbors, I would try something else!).   One of the charts the examples I found used coins to take away as punishment...we adapted and used "CARS" hotwheels of course--it has proved to work well (Isaac hate losing car card, as much as he hates when a really hotwheel is missing).

The boys and I decorated the charts together... I bought 1 orange poster board and cut it in half, we used a grid I printed to set the goal sheet in place and it can easily be replaced when full!  We used duct tape for a road... Isaac thought I was crazy until we put cars by it... then we had some random stickers and I found some clip art I printed and cutout to glue on to decorate the poster board to start out on the behavior chart adventure!... Each board has a large ziploc baggy on top and a small baggy to catch those naughty cars on the bottom (and we use it to store the sticker sheets to apply)...Staple them on good so they don't shift too much.  They had so much fun with it.  They just love projects- wish I had more time and room for them now- so if you make one be sure they are helping!!  Isaac asked so many questions throughout the project and how it was going to work, etc...there was no need to explain it in any more detail from there.  He is his Dad's son after all...  Joe loves to question and question too.  They were both so excited that they could earn rewards that both kids had 3 stickers before any cars were taken away = what a great start to the new disciplinary idea!... Wow am I smart... ha.... that didn't last long.

Ok so first...how it works... they each have their own chart. 

On the top of the chart are 6 "cars"..these get taken away if you are naughty.  We simply (ha) say, "Do you want to lose a car?"  Sometimes it stops at that...others they loose a car.  If they take away their own car then they only lose 1 (depending on the naughtiness--it has been know to lose 4 at once --yikes!)  if us parents have to remove the car because they are having a fit, or what not...then we take 2 cars away.  Isaac HATES that...cuz he has to stop his tantrum.  (This is why it works for him!!!)  If they are missing any of their 6 cars they don't get a sticker for the night, but if they have all 6 they receive their sticker!... We check the chart before bed every night and if they have cars taken away, they are put back on top for a fresh start tomorrow (actually because of the bedtime issues, we have been starting over then...so sometimes when they wake up in the morning there are already cars missing.) 

They can also earn their cars back if the have done something nice. -- shared a toy, helped out around the house, ate their SUPPER!!, were good at daycare (bad at daycare they loose 2 cars), etc... IF they still have all 6 of their cars, they get a sticker for being good!...

We set a goal for every 10 stickers and they get rewarded...some are more expensive ideas, most are free or cheap!...We went to the movie Brave today for Isaac's reward (Trevor got to go too...the down fall of 2 charts, but I was sure to remind the boys this was Isaac's "choice" and maybe if Trevor is nice he can pick one next time!!)  --good movie btw (Brave)-- $1 toys are great...Next is school shopping (Isaac picked it!!--he picks them all)  So, that had to be done anyway! 

So that is the gist of how it works... if you are naughty you lose a car -- have all your cars at the end of the day you get a sticker...replace cars to start over for the next day or by being nice!  Earn stickers by doing nice things throughout the day, or having all your cars before bed!

EASY RIGHT??!  It works for Isaac, I'm not saying he is a great listener all the time, but timeout and talking things through with him, usually worked fine -- so the chart was really developed for the trouble-maker, Trevor James....

How Trevor uses the chart...

Mommy says take away a car...Trevor asks happily with fingers in the air showing "one or 2 Mommy??"  like its no big deal...When you show him there are cars missing like he only has 4 at night he just says,"OK!" and goes to bed...Isaac is totally depressed and wants to stay up so he can earn a few more back... When Trevor earns a sticker...suddenly there are 11 extra ones all over his chart.  Which is also hard to figure out when he has reached a goal, because he won't let you assist him in placing his sticker in the charted area...he's just happy with a sticker... He hasn't ever gotten a reward officially for him> like I said we all went to Brave, but????

Isaac gets SUPER irritated with Trevor, so much so that he almost loses a car, just after receiving a sticker, because Trevor either took too many stickers from his sticker page, or can't put them in order...or Trevor even put one on Isaac's chart once...who would have known the melt down that would create...and "I ruined" Isaac's paper when I peeled it off and some paper came with it -- oh yeah -- I am talking about Trevor being the naughty one!! ha....

I honestly don't even know how to correct the mis-communication of how the chart works to him?  Is that what it is????  Stubborn?  I don't have the slightest clue how to correct his current behaviors...He isn't HORRIBLE ALL the time, but when he is, he is just soooooooo very persistent...In a restaurant like today at supper = I am done Daddy...wanting to leave the table, but we aren't Trevor... "I am done", "I am DONE"...louder and louder, until we leave and he thinks he as accomplished his goal of leaving...and being so persistent.  We are going out very little after tonight supper... yikes...Isaac too -- he just can't sit still...must have ants in his pants or something? 

So... NEXT behavior idea?  We have 2 months left in the apartment...not sure what else to improve on for myself or him?  They do trade nights of falling asleep in my bed now, and bedtime has improved...It's my night!... That is all the fight is about now... and that is easily resolved. 

In conclusion, does a behavior chart work = very well if the child understands it -- not very well if not.