Max turned 6 and wanted a party with friends.  It was during the London 2012 Summer Olympics and he loves Mario so we planned a Mario and Sonic at the Olympics birthday party!  Teams were divided into Team Mario and Team Sonic.  Each party guest received a t-shirt and button pin designating their team.  The events were:

• Bowser's Bean Bag Toss (cornhole)
• Blaze's 40 yd Dash
• Luigi's Javelin Throw (using water shooters from $ Store, red/yellow/blue pinwheels with names attached for distance markers))
• Amy's Hula Hoop Game (hold hands with team members and get hoop around every member of team without unlocking hands)
• Peach's Potato Sack Race
• Mario's Marshmallow Relay (toothpicks, tubs of flour)
• Daisy's Discus Toss (frisbees and pinwheel markers from Javelin Throw)
• Hurdle Jump (using water noodles attached to ground with wodden skewers)
• Sonic's Soccer Shoot Out (goal and soccer balls)
• Yoshi's Egg Race (spoons, eggs)
• Toad's Standing Long Jump

The guests enjoyed a picnic of snacks under the shade of the trees:

• Twizzlers wrapped in patriotic ribbon
• Strawberries dipped in white chocolate then dipped in blue sanding sugar
• Watermelon stars and blueberries
• Red solo cups filled with pretzels and cheese Goldfish
• Ice cream cones filled with popcorn (Olympic torches)
• Marshmallows on sticks dipped in red chocolate with sprinkles
• Luigi’s Italian Ice cups
• Mario fruit snacks

Upon completion of the events we had a little awards ceremony where each participant received an award and a stick on mustache.  Favors were the personalized t-shirts and chocolate wii remotes which said, "Wii thank you for coming to Max's party."  We ended the party with a blue silly string fight.  Max and his friends/family had a BLAST!

 

American Girl 9th Birthday Party

Julia wanted an American Girl themed Birthday party with her friends this year.  This took a little creativity and planning but the party was SO fun and just cute.  We found several ideas online and went with some of our own.  Games (shown below) included some old fashioned ones that parties don't often include anymore.

the birthday girl and avid American Girl fan

 

the guests all brought their dolls and we adorned them with homemade party hats!

 

homemade fabric bunting by grandma (we call her Beesie...a funny little name)

pin the tail on Truman (our basset hound)

Paper Doll Making/Dressing

playing Clothes Pin Drop into Mason Jars

Musical "Chairs" using fabric squares instead of chairs (each girl holding doll)

Playing Drop the Handkerchief on a beautiful day outside!

 

A tisket, a tasket,

A green and yellow basket,

I wrote a letter to my love, But on the way, I dropped it;

A little child picked it up and put it in his pocket.



SO cute!!

A simple cake.

Signing homemade autograph books.  Notice the little pink box (purchased from the AG store..contains conversation starters/questions)

Girls enjoying their cake.  Lunch included lots of girl-friendly food such as fruit skewers, mini sandwiches, pepperoni rolls, pigs in blanket, cheese squares, etc.

Each girl went home with a gently used American Girl book (purchased on Ebay)

Personalized goody bags

The 8-yr old and her loot

Julia celebrated her 8th Birthday with family a few days early while visiting Northern KY.  For the most part, it was an American Girl extravaganza (clothes, books, crafts, etc.).  Can't believe big J will be starting 3rd grade at the end of summer!  Seems like just a couple of years ago that she was makin' mommy itch.

Happy 6th, Ellie Kate!

the goods
they're still around!

BFFs

Max's 3rd Birthday

blowing out his three candles!
Max and Carson

we love Imaginext!

Transformer cupcake cake

Julia Turns 7!

We celebrated Julia's 7th Birthday at her art studio with several of her girlfriends! Can't believe time has gone by this quickly.

Ellie's Tie Dye Party

Ellie chose to have a tie dye party for her 6th Birthday!  The weather cooperated and we planned out multiple stations for the adorable girls in attendance.  The girls tie-dyed shirts (of course), made spin art (using a salad spinner), did some sand art (individual packets ordered from Oriental Trading), and got their faces painted (thanks to a talented auntie).  They also enjoyed some fun outdoor games and some play time on the swing set.  Each girl went home with a little goody bag (tie dye looking bags from Hobby Lobby each filled with hippie/peace inspired stuff) and a gallon size Ziplock bag containing their tie-dyed shirt which was still drying along with directions on how to care for it once home.  What a blast!!

 

the homemade tie-dye shirt cake!

girls with their faces painted

goody bags

dyeing shirts (outside, of course!!)

Max is TWO!

Max turned two this week!! My how time flies. He's such a blast to have around and we love him to death. He'll enjoy some one on one time with mommy when the girls are both in school in the afternoons this year.

Julia Turns Six!

Six years old and still has all her baby teeth! (and we've been waiting on those two front teeth to fall out since the day she fell down the stairs with cousin Riley!) Crafts at Party Pals, lunch with Aunt Becky, swim lesson, VBS, and a family party all in one day!! We love you, big J!