tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68720421702617434712024-03-20T08:12:40.216-07:00Making Merry MemoriesA cheerful place to celebrate the wonder of childhood, and the joy of motherhoodMariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-35036331168695014462012-12-23T13:00:00.000-08:002013-02-07T21:42:01.478-08:00Class Gift: Rudolf the Red-Nosed ROOT BEER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is by far the most expensive class gift idea I'm sharing. But even then, it isn't crazy, depending on the number of the kids in the group.</div>
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But he is just so darn cute!</div>
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May I introduce, Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Root Beer!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfAJ5EfuKxhEjdVRHDlQzcTEXVsSDIvNXEajvKUV2BjarEsLci5sxve5pbtYQYDE_1yXzlbnbqFFZwHEHgDPjxRIcHlp28pyl5lke3HinX_q-N-hmxfF6xiZMhsTqklzjLph5XkBnlHA/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfAJ5EfuKxhEjdVRHDlQzcTEXVsSDIvNXEajvKUV2BjarEsLci5sxve5pbtYQYDE_1yXzlbnbqFFZwHEHgDPjxRIcHlp28pyl5lke3HinX_q-N-hmxfF6xiZMhsTqklzjLph5XkBnlHA/s400/IMG_3235.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Very much like the <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.ca/2012/12/candy-cane-reindeer.html">Candy Cane version</a>, this is just a little hot glue, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners, (Oh, and I added a jingle-bell collar too) but instead of on a candy cane, you attach the pieces onto a bottle of root beer that you have already taken the label off of. <br />
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Still pretty quick. We used Dad's Rootbeer, but Weinhard's would also be good - its' just a bit more pricey!Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-70570883779472801142012-12-22T12:53:00.000-08:002013-02-07T21:42:28.549-08:00ClassGift: Lolli-Pop <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one was even cheaper per gift than the <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.ca/2012/12/candy-cane-reindeer.html">Rudolf Candy Canes</a>!</div>
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For my daughter's grade-two class, we got a bunch of double-lolly brand lolli-pops, and made a simple gift tag that read, "Have a LOLLY-jolly Christmas!"</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxzeCWv38dAld4QXkZTeh7LzqACdydV74YaLAPirJivvmQ_aTJReF4giR1IPjt-bY2XvXwCnAWg3MQjc-Asd0m8hnYW5kMhsiJiFpMQD7-glREXYkBueDF6j103Nj64IAqd8aWLx1r9Q/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxzeCWv38dAld4QXkZTeh7LzqACdydV74YaLAPirJivvmQ_aTJReF4giR1IPjt-bY2XvXwCnAWg3MQjc-Asd0m8hnYW5kMhsiJiFpMQD7-glREXYkBueDF6j103Nj64IAqd8aWLx1r9Q/s400/IMG_3196.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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She thought the play on words was hilarious, and they were a hit with her class.<br />
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Oh - and they took about 20 minutes to do from start to finish for her whole class. Bonus.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-1313610349457857022012-12-20T12:47:00.000-08:002013-02-07T21:42:47.972-08:00Class Gift: Candy Cane Reindeer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I know it has been forever. The fun hasn't stopped around here, and I have been taking pictures to share it all with you, but I just haven't made the next step of actually uploading, posting, and sharing. </div>
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BUT - I had a couple of quick things I could show you, so I'm going with that.</div>
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This year's class Christmas gift for my five year old's kindergarten:</div>
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Rudolf Candy Canes!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGplvI3Za_twMVHNVL_edcjenyIliIYZL3J8s5tk0jBkTupDTR8l-T0v6cFTeiTy6FeIzzJ7MqrTKLqMLdFCAVQd937ybMpIPPgwyv8LBkbQtf4X0naZlVy0udrhQKXGRpdGFqTvC-JkM/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGplvI3Za_twMVHNVL_edcjenyIliIYZL3J8s5tk0jBkTupDTR8l-T0v6cFTeiTy6FeIzzJ7MqrTKLqMLdFCAVQd937ybMpIPPgwyv8LBkbQtf4X0naZlVy0udrhQKXGRpdGFqTvC-JkM/s400/IMG_3180.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Super cheap and fast! I made 20 for about $2.50. So don't let the fear of a big expense keep you from having your kids pass out a little treat to their classmates. <br />
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Easy to do: Start with a candy cane. Now, here you <i>could </i> make it expensive if you went with the flavoured speciality candy canes, but I went with the classic mint that are super cheap. Then all you do is hot glue a small red pompom and some little googly eyes. The antlers are just brown pipe cleaners that I twisted around and bent into shapes. You could probably reinforce them with a little glue, but mine were fine as is.<br />
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Finishing touch: A little gift tag attached with some curly ribbon.<br />
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Ta-da! <br />
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Last year was my first time giving my kids something to pass out to all their classmates, and they loved it. They felt so Christmasy and happy that they could give. And who doesn't want to teach their children to be happy by making other's happy? It was awesome.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-46132061155747820292012-07-11T14:14:00.001-07:002012-07-11T14:15:31.371-07:00Summer ResolutionsIt has been a while! We've moved and with the computer packed away, I got out of the habit of blogging, and now that the computer is set up again, life seems to have gotten particularly busy as we make our new house into our new home.<br />
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BUT - I don't want to let myself get so busy with all those tasks (finishing the basement, refinishing furniture, decorating the new baby room.....) that I miss out on summertime with my kiddos. So here are my summertime resolutions:<br />
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1. Go to at least two different parks each week: a family favorite, and a new, never-played-here-before. (This is in addition to the quicky trips to the playground across the street. These are <i>special</i> trips to the park.)<br />
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2. Get wet as often as possible - at least 4 days/week, weather permitting. This includes backyard sprinkler time, outdoor water parks, swimming pools, beaches, and lakes. Just outside and wet.<br />
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3. Try a new homemade Popsicle recipe every week. (thank-you, Pinterest)<br />
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4. Be sure I spend some time playing with the kids everyday. Not just seeing to their needs, but playing.<br />
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I can do it. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'll get this done, and have lots of my projects undone at summer's end. Oh well, projects keep, kids don't.Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-37200487252449286762012-04-05T13:27:00.001-07:002012-04-05T13:27:00.739-07:00Simple Fun With Pom-poms<span style="font-style: normal; ">We've been playing with our pom-poms a lot lately. A couple of years ago an educational supply store in my city was closing and I took the opportunity to get lots of great stuff for really low prices. One thing I got was a bag that had </span><i>pounds</i> of pom-poms. That is a lot of pom-poms! We've used them, and used them, and I still have lots left.<div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT3CgGBzrMT_fuePFjN8Nixi33Hso93hKZejV7sEH9AipairbuTkg1jBr_0hNl90xleDrQyQwZxeosckb1sv4xofV8mUecEx_0aI7P4NBA8xPMpp-XAAJ8dM7mwVGJN2NVsFjyNtqXNE/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTT3CgGBzrMT_fuePFjN8Nixi33Hso93hKZejV7sEH9AipairbuTkg1jBr_0hNl90xleDrQyQwZxeosckb1sv4xofV8mUecEx_0aI7P4NBA8xPMpp-XAAJ8dM7mwVGJN2NVsFjyNtqXNE/s400/IMG_0757.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727275245647021874" /></a>The other morning, I grabbed a couple of handfuls of them and an empty egg carton and gave them to my two year old for a little play time. </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsz__kzUzYhuvy-Z2S7bU_VU3r8rT42jvh-_WB6dE0TjHer_ss1MBf-6yE7tGfygQ-ui-IfY3Qwze4Wrb2x-aFhfZrKFYi8bQQwFQ_cM5ETzztC4yJJtvXku79W8e5ObjFp7SxV8bHqrQ/s1600/IMG_0740.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsz__kzUzYhuvy-Z2S7bU_VU3r8rT42jvh-_WB6dE0TjHer_ss1MBf-6yE7tGfygQ-ui-IfY3Qwze4Wrb2x-aFhfZrKFYi8bQQwFQ_cM5ETzztC4yJJtvXku79W8e5ObjFp7SxV8bHqrQ/s400/IMG_0740.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727275079535575634" /></a>First he dumped them out and put them back in, with one pom-pom being assigned to each spot - no doubling up.</div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyIzitCHA1hsvwEvPzWuaajJyGqRt4tUQSaCF1wRAV4AbZ_C2EvtAF5S9ybb2jKkFnN4sKb-4f3kyftT6081YhuJfhxiI16slXkImXIAQdURrtdhCWbYcRHd0zljAuX7vVPaB7RS0jg/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyIzitCHA1hsvwEvPzWuaajJyGqRt4tUQSaCF1wRAV4AbZ_C2EvtAF5S9ybb2jKkFnN4sKb-4f3kyftT6081YhuJfhxiI16slXkImXIAQdURrtdhCWbYcRHd0zljAuX7vVPaB7RS0jg/s400/IMG_0741.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727274865968575202" /></a>Then he began sorting them by colour. He did really well at this. After he had them all into piles, I started asking him questions. "How many purple ones?" "Can you find me a small blue and a big blue?" etc. He is really into colours right now, so he loved this part.</div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fybrGbE4n9Qe1xwyQx7zYyR7T79yL3stydtdZ9f_iIIAPRTUI_rp5nsmbNFFp7LeHSbR2jf7L0Em7iy7eteitVRbJfzHakdFUkIfkiVehi6BrVUZ97a86qMk4cFFXTO3_CbyZCgLgjc/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fybrGbE4n9Qe1xwyQx7zYyR7T79yL3stydtdZ9f_iIIAPRTUI_rp5nsmbNFFp7LeHSbR2jf7L0Em7iy7eteitVRbJfzHakdFUkIfkiVehi6BrVUZ97a86qMk4cFFXTO3_CbyZCgLgjc/s400/IMG_0749.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727274685845949378" /></a>And he put them into the egg carton in pairs by their colours. </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__sO9iUUXoFroVDhKm_o6brQtDOhTwqQA_iks9B3YZ8FZimwqLe-AcNUj7J35hWAny-uwDBX3LPG1o-29UoGc5diKJWB0y3IzcG-fl0FKED9RMaExSVTqoutz_5rOFGvdFrFUT-elpkc/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__sO9iUUXoFroVDhKm_o6brQtDOhTwqQA_iks9B3YZ8FZimwqLe-AcNUj7J35hWAny-uwDBX3LPG1o-29UoGc5diKJWB0y3IzcG-fl0FKED9RMaExSVTqoutz_5rOFGvdFrFUT-elpkc/s400/IMG_0744.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727274320348341426" /></a>Then he began playing with their sizes. In this picture he is putting a small one on top of a large one and calling it a 'snowman.' So cute. </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBl6sSPs0t5PdozNYdg80rmczcVMr54Vruwsbaya3f8XUkPOJQJoDnkTk01dE-Sx6C2NxSOiyqsfuXlx9ygpZ4BsfR7fg62BIeWIn1ies0BrBauEZqjO8O53cOMenujuntMsv1Ybd3yg/s1600/IMG_0750.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBl6sSPs0t5PdozNYdg80rmczcVMr54Vruwsbaya3f8XUkPOJQJoDnkTk01dE-Sx6C2NxSOiyqsfuXlx9ygpZ4BsfR7fg62BIeWIn1ies0BrBauEZqjO8O53cOMenujuntMsv1Ybd3yg/s400/IMG_0750.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727274184066023986" /></a>Then he lined them up by colour AND size. No, I didn't prompt this. I was so impressed. He had finished off the oranges and was just starting the purples in this picture. </div><div style="font-style: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; ">Anyway, it was a super easy little activity that took no prep, and he played with them for fifteen or twenty minutes for sure.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-40715829422493541492012-04-03T13:18:00.003-07:002012-04-03T13:26:43.958-07:00Koolaid or Jello?My eight-year-old was very excited for April Fools Day this year. He's a big reader, and in a book he recently read, (I think it was <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Otis-Spofford-Beverly-Cleary/dp/0380709198">Otis Spofford</a> by Beverly Cleary) one of the characters is always playing tricks on the other kids and it filled him with anticipation. <div><br /></div><div>Since he was looking forward to it, I wanted to do something funny for him too. So I made Koolaid. Or was it Jello?</div><div><br /></div><div>After I'd tucked the kids in on March 31st, I made a package of green jello (just happened to be what I had on hand), and instead of pouring it into dishes, I poured it into a cup and stuck it into the fridge. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then in the morning, I pulled it out and asked if anyone wanted to have a drink of my 'Koolaid.' That is a rare treat around here, so they jumped at it. But when they tipped the cup, of course nothing came out. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCltTLmYiL0rowaQA-HW7d4cKSum-KZ_5fsyLvzXqLqq9aSumdNCWZwJ0MEj2VbOJ9231iBUmOIjFeQfA4wDqR-ksPeFQaScgS9X1OAhrdRDCWVbdRVmO-XKuaT4O90qkTjL2ePiowtg/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCltTLmYiL0rowaQA-HW7d4cKSum-KZ_5fsyLvzXqLqq9aSumdNCWZwJ0MEj2VbOJ9231iBUmOIjFeQfA4wDqR-ksPeFQaScgS9X1OAhrdRDCWVbdRVmO-XKuaT4O90qkTjL2ePiowtg/s400/IMG_0797.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727272161606688034" /></a>He thought it was HILARIOUS!!! Then I let him use the cup to fool his dad and his younger siblings.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGZns0UCd_cBFs7vsTSuaZ4aSiQWiC3Z8OAEc34xXW4hgZ1hd4QTbGMuHtB-7oVht7ZWJZ2EidgQKiHoWZ-Mh7AbXs_vbNXCODGNQZ3QkA00yeZEwgvfNRl-orDx5uyc2zyNvWFYJwLQ/s1600/IMG_0799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGZns0UCd_cBFs7vsTSuaZ4aSiQWiC3Z8OAEc34xXW4hgZ1hd4QTbGMuHtB-7oVht7ZWJZ2EidgQKiHoWZ-Mh7AbXs_vbNXCODGNQZ3QkA00yeZEwgvfNRl-orDx5uyc2zyNvWFYJwLQ/s400/IMG_0799.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727272018282641170" /></a>So funny!</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-45769817879666257092012-03-30T13:50:00.000-07:002012-04-03T13:17:42.066-07:00Joy School - AmphibiansMore fun brought to you by the Ghost of Joy Schools Past...<div><br /></div><div>Amphibians Day!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Lesson:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We learned lots of interesting things about amphibians. Here's a sampling:</div><div>-all amphibians start their lives in water and move to land as they grow up.</div><div>-have porous skin that let moisture in and out</div><div>-have sticky tongues to catch food</div><div>-the smallest amphibian is the size of a pinky fingernail and the largest is about 1.5m</div><div>-90% of amphibians are frogs or toads</div><div>-they can have all sorts of different pupil shapes in their eyes (triangles, squares, hearts, diamonds)</div><div>-worlds most poisonous frog is the Golden Dart Frog and a single one has enough poison to kill 1000 people</div><div>-some species of salamanders grow lungs or gills according to how much moisture is around them.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Craft Time: </b>Making lily pads</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC1UdsphLYCdk4sVLPl3YUhdgTCJQJY4Esg_FkysytgoG8z-oRNkJ3jEQlkgT4iQZMfp2iTW5xuoKYw19HnGVhVR9xIYaQmgWuFWB8wRpTVp__ThZrVQd-PvkcTu6LJgSNgO0eLdTBhc/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMC1UdsphLYCdk4sVLPl3YUhdgTCJQJY4Esg_FkysytgoG8z-oRNkJ3jEQlkgT4iQZMfp2iTW5xuoKYw19HnGVhVR9xIYaQmgWuFWB8wRpTVp__ThZrVQd-PvkcTu6LJgSNgO0eLdTBhc/s400/IMG_8979.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727257152896633186" /></a>We started by giving everyone a white paper plate, which they turned upside down and painted green.</div><div>While the paint was drying, they each got a paper frog that they coloured and added googly eyes to.</div><div>Then the frog (and a flower too if they wanted) got glued on for a finishing touch.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6tAUpaBI13RXOCwJ8MAdMdAon9GgGuLTPKbzyTYDa5lydDsXIe2SoPkda5ThJFQ9SsdK5nX_kkbSFY9timnw44TteT3w3Kcinok9PLiNTTlZ-K_0joK3nS8i884Skdf44h1UHn2ko3E/s1600/IMG_8991.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6tAUpaBI13RXOCwJ8MAdMdAon9GgGuLTPKbzyTYDa5lydDsXIe2SoPkda5ThJFQ9SsdK5nX_kkbSFY9timnw44TteT3w3Kcinok9PLiNTTlZ-K_0joK3nS8i884Skdf44h1UHn2ko3E/s400/IMG_8991.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725789551744947010" /></a><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; font-weight: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBzCx5QUsdcnX2BaurMhR5MOCrBLWuzsQBr_uWsjQX7J2R1Asr4gV24XDHUTw-I7S2p2VAB4G0cl4gvCCWDnbLs0EZRItGgvlzFt6x7gfBLaS-otneg4hXm8GaFgn-9SLQUlruZKbUrg/s1600/IMG_8993.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; "></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: left; font-weight: normal; "></div>So proud of his finished lily pad!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Science Time:</b> Porous Skin<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57NcTaZ0brv7OEv9Ua2xGgbOPvHZV3qZ3W56udkeAhKStVXrMdIdiPnJaivmsGHWqoY2-NYukgFhBPLqMqBPD7jqta9ncTws0rZgZ2W8CZsfzyuDKSx5Im65U_2GY_lVYjOaXrpM2LU8/s1600/IMG_8982.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57NcTaZ0brv7OEv9Ua2xGgbOPvHZV3qZ3W56udkeAhKStVXrMdIdiPnJaivmsGHWqoY2-NYukgFhBPLqMqBPD7jqta9ncTws0rZgZ2W8CZsfzyuDKSx5Im65U_2GY_lVYjOaXrpM2LU8/s400/IMG_8982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727256972028486626" /></a>Did you know that many amphibians don't drink water, but rather they absorb what they need through their skin? Strange, but true. To illustrate this, I took a couple of kitchen sponges and cut them up. I put one into a little Rubbermaid container, and left the others out.</div><div><br /></div><div>I told the kids that the sponges were going to be like our thristy amphibians. I dropped them all into the bowl of water and we waited a minute while the water absorbed.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rJgSE0XK20R04H-xFK8_9PPG73RI3lCoijuzALT_L-odRoksafaF5bKoKF0-PXgVYYM7_8dnlxwDVLITTYBITXk2TQSUah6EVHjoXfTdQVQE0B7l4KJfOcN8AyV9QFblQDUopu0aCeo/s1600/IMG_8983.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rJgSE0XK20R04H-xFK8_9PPG73RI3lCoijuzALT_L-odRoksafaF5bKoKF0-PXgVYYM7_8dnlxwDVLITTYBITXk2TQSUah6EVHjoXfTdQVQE0B7l4KJfOcN8AyV9QFblQDUopu0aCeo/s400/IMG_8983.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727256834977382882" /></a>Then we saw how our amphibians with porous skin were able to get all the water they needed, but the one that was surrounded by skin that was waterproof was still dry and hard - it wouldn't be able to survive.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Snack Time:</b> popcorn!</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd5NTwHqzTNa_ZiOm2YNHzTtbl-4aZNcu7TXRmW09oFPsNLthIe7Px8DaPLOfczgaFaGx_8Vg607-RODKM-ZLW1paHBrUBgx9M7vQ4iUdbCHj-brz6GZs7Yb0DdwJKzH75C7Mo71rpEA/s1600/IMG_8984.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghd5NTwHqzTNa_ZiOm2YNHzTtbl-4aZNcu7TXRmW09oFPsNLthIe7Px8DaPLOfczgaFaGx_8Vg607-RODKM-ZLW1paHBrUBgx9M7vQ4iUdbCHj-brz6GZs7Yb0DdwJKzH75C7Mo71rpEA/s400/IMG_8984.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727256676507839586" /></a><span>What does popcorn have to do with amphibians? Nothing. Why did we have it then? Because we were going to eat our snack like amphibians - with our sticky tongues! I remember being little and thinking it was so funny that popcorn would stick to my tongue, so that is what we did. Each child was given a little bowl of it, and then they had to eat it by getting one kernel at a time with their sticky amphibian tongue. It was so funny to watch!</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b>Video Clip:</b> </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>We watched a segment from an Eyewitness DVD that taught us the difference between a frog and a toad.</span></div><div><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; ">Game Time:</b><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; ">We played a computer game from a <a href="http://www.peepandthebigwideworld.com/games/hoptoit.html">great kids website. </a> In the game there is a frog who is jumping from lily-pad to lily-pad across a pond, and you have to guess how big of a jump he needs to make. The kids all got one turn and then we moved on, but they would have been happy to play it a few times. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b>Wiggle Time: </b>leaping lily-pads!</div><div><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU4V4HxRztSeJt39ajbrz00W7FZLIOgKFaGZckzBcXBEi9c9rPBTZqWUrt-Q8ytq_WJoqEdp3XO_ZwCPmfWVjnGgW_SQ3ruDbBppij_C-xvnJFhYB2iHqaQcj27gj7t-WkJptsXOzRAk/s1600/IMG_8990.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwU4V4HxRztSeJt39ajbrz00W7FZLIOgKFaGZckzBcXBEi9c9rPBTZqWUrt-Q8ytq_WJoqEdp3XO_ZwCPmfWVjnGgW_SQ3ruDbBppij_C-xvnJFhYB2iHqaQcj27gj7t-WkJptsXOzRAk/s400/IMG_8990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727256481867939746" /></a>After they had all had a turn on the computer, I set up 'lily-pads' (pillows) across our own 'pond' (living room) and the 'frogs' (kids) had to jump across from one side to the next. They loved this. I set the pillows up at different intervals so they would have to do a small, medium, or large jump, just like the computer game.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Music Time:</b></span></div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B-FbS0JVXC2WqoRQ0Ve1VA945UURcqZAK5NhdmQHoWCUaZqlWDVE3yweFzB4nOZbVjmBX_QhxvAZdX0I4_Ql0lcTcqNUfQ6fTMiBFBY2Hp-mioEifUtbrHRTCOCIrGjfVX2_hMROKCw/s1600/IMG_8992.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_B-FbS0JVXC2WqoRQ0Ve1VA945UURcqZAK5NhdmQHoWCUaZqlWDVE3yweFzB4nOZbVjmBX_QhxvAZdX0I4_Ql0lcTcqNUfQ6fTMiBFBY2Hp-mioEifUtbrHRTCOCIrGjfVX2_hMROKCw/s400/IMG_8992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725789268193751474" /></a>I made little froggy stick puppets that I handed out to each of the kids (sorry for the very blurry picture here!) and we sang Five Green Speckled Frogs, There's a Hole in the Middle of the Sea, and Mmm-mmmm Went the Little Green Frog One Day.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Story Time:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I was surprised how many of the books we had on hand related to frogs. We read <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Frog-Prince-Jacob-Ludwig-Grimm/dp/1558580158/ref=sr_1_26?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333482840&sr=1-26">The Frog Prince</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Boy-Dog-Frog-Mercer-Mayer/dp/0803728808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333482769&sr=8-1">A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Curious-George-Tadpole-Trouble-Living/dp/0738382922/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333482880&sr=1-2">Curious George Tadpole Trouble</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Art Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA80VvDepAxFuz4ZBB28l6zqebhKN-1fZoGiqSqLjfNJL_Vtw1vvmF58KAhAfccxAHNF7eac2c8RB5F9zle4UYG4iL__tefEH4oX5VOJt5ddsAqG6AqpuIPbe8n1Xi52EtY-N2tsyNqM/s1600/IMG_8995.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA80VvDepAxFuz4ZBB28l6zqebhKN-1fZoGiqSqLjfNJL_Vtw1vvmF58KAhAfccxAHNF7eac2c8RB5F9zle4UYG4iL__tefEH4oX5VOJt5ddsAqG6AqpuIPbe8n1Xi52EtY-N2tsyNqM/s400/IMG_8995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725431465211365170" /></a>I had printed off a frog life-cycle chart from the internet for the kids to colour. They did, but then a couple of them decided they wanted to make theirs into a puzzle, so I passed out scissors, and they cut their charts into pieces.</div><div><br /></div><div>By then it was time for our little tadpoles to swim on home.<br /><br /></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-42020694381054218162012-03-29T12:46:00.014-07:002012-03-29T13:45:30.968-07:00Joy School - Birds<span><span style="font-size: 100%;">I am WAAAAYYYY behind in my Joy School posts. We have still been having it, we are still having a great time, and I've still been taking pictures. I just haven't been posting.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; ">So in an effort to catch up, here is a Joy School lesson we did during our Animals Theme.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_fAimkcmpxZPiE4cQc13gd_kGQVzhL2qJawmNBdk2PMK-aU1YsALubjf34YboGGWe7BE1bxdj-__erxJX_IEcnz4D2LVzMiLlb_u83C1peMnwWo11TLHmx315D7VTDs5kj77PXWkLkU/s1600/IMG_8885.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_fAimkcmpxZPiE4cQc13gd_kGQVzhL2qJawmNBdk2PMK-aU1YsALubjf34YboGGWe7BE1bxdj-__erxJX_IEcnz4D2LVzMiLlb_u83C1peMnwWo11TLHmx315D7VTDs5kj77PXWkLkU/s400/IMG_8885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725411225011397522" /></a><b>Lesson: </b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><br /></b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">We learned lots of interesting things about birds. There was so much information, we could easily have split this into a few days. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-We talked about the different places birds made their homes; Beside water, in the antarctic, in the ground, in trees, in the grass, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-We learned that all baby birds come from eggs.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-We looked at the different kinds of beaks birds can have and how they help them get different kinds of foods. We looked at which beaks would be good to crack nuts, which would be good for scooping up food, which would be good for grabbing bugs, and so on.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-We looked at bird feet and how some were good for swimming, some for holding onto branches and some for catching other animals to eat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">-We learned that not all birds could fly. Some could run very fast (ostrich) and some were good swimmers (penguins)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrIc4Y3rx2OdfVzeygX4KKVyvJWUhPRVHHvEQ3XE5a8S60Szv4Fnx58sRJHKVNW-CG4U01O5Dur2noiorpHOw9575I6A_94VOKwSi08QjFsabw9OzXJbnRZ04Osi8vOUJGjHzRMSZeyA/s1600/IMG_8889.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrIc4Y3rx2OdfVzeygX4KKVyvJWUhPRVHHvEQ3XE5a8S60Szv4Fnx58sRJHKVNW-CG4U01O5Dur2noiorpHOw9575I6A_94VOKwSi08QjFsabw9OzXJbnRZ04Osi8vOUJGjHzRMSZeyA/s400/IMG_8889.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410797160998754" /></a><br />-We learned that even though other animals can have wings (bats), or webbed feet (frogs), or lay eggs (crocodiles), or even have a duckbill, (platypus) that did not make them birds. The thing that definitely makes an animal a bird is that it has feathers. Then we went over the several different types of feathers birds have, and what each type is for.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Science Time:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hgca4_lPR-uJgx4zwryOC3heTjUnewNIcvoyvQL8I7rJqR1XfL0AEj-BbC2u9_EXH12xkk0r_gu8cv928a806Qj_JbZHbdDTgS4iytG73xLJrKthPe-YepMtIdeK8jwcoU6yqXyHVKU/s1600/IMG_8888.JPG" style="font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hgca4_lPR-uJgx4zwryOC3heTjUnewNIcvoyvQL8I7rJqR1XfL0AEj-BbC2u9_EXH12xkk0r_gu8cv928a806Qj_JbZHbdDTgS4iytG73xLJrKthPe-YepMtIdeK8jwcoU6yqXyHVKU/s400/IMG_8888.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410944549863458" /></a>This mom had printed out several pictures showing the different stages as a chick hatches from an egg, and the kids worked to put them in the correct order. Some of the pictures were quite tricky to place, especially when the bird was part in and part out of the shell. Then the moms stepped in to give them a hand and point out the subtle differences.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b>Wiggle Time:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><b><br /></b></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2K0fZlnIaqVpL7_J9N_s4qiIHr2zB-eEg1-mnTyZOrO0nJ4PIJVeK5dwPwKAMr1Ih4l9pHn9lqKO3yMwVu_xK6ZgaLPh1DlK9YcyxvZet8fcHD4b95fhW1D1q9P1BtDT0a0bMfKWG-w/s1600/IMG_8893.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2K0fZlnIaqVpL7_J9N_s4qiIHr2zB-eEg1-mnTyZOrO0nJ4PIJVeK5dwPwKAMr1Ih4l9pHn9lqKO3yMwVu_xK6ZgaLPh1DlK9YcyxvZet8fcHD4b95fhW1D1q9P1BtDT0a0bMfKWG-w/s400/IMG_8893.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410596607240562" /></a>We played a duck-waddling game with a ball tucked between their knees and the kids had to waddle to the other end of the room. Pretty tricky for those little legs, but they got it in the end!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Craft: </b>Bird Feeder</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilC7fyJuh9QmpR16qOL6H5pore_1cndlvg8GIKw7RCi3uk8eIpHkJPnGzZ6Nd1VQfzWWacqxWMkZDJaTH2r0kdxjkFRQvdRNeJLQhVzhLSGp71l3YTGvOOyPNt6Smt-jVPPdWlVaBDqc/s1600/IMG_8898.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilC7fyJuh9QmpR16qOL6H5pore_1cndlvg8GIKw7RCi3uk8eIpHkJPnGzZ6Nd1VQfzWWacqxWMkZDJaTH2r0kdxjkFRQvdRNeJLQhVzhLSGp71l3YTGvOOyPNt6Smt-jVPPdWlVaBDqc/s400/IMG_8898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410340368334210" /></a>We followed these instructions <a href="http://alphamom.com/family-fun/crafts/heart-shaped-bird-feeder-diy/">here</a>. I think we may have used too much water, or not let them sit enough before we picked them up, because they didn't gel the way we had hoped. But the ones on the instruction website turned out really cool, so it might be worth it to give it another go.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Art: </b>Birdies in a nest</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszZjN4tnU85ypAdq17ZSHHn8cd1qMi_LrXH8N6Nv6oM9m1p1tHPqCK92lIKQlyfRgfE1OaycgjtigL64pyg5HrTzXgNRvWVceVyFR0U_PDTTaHDTio4cqKNYNVhSFHBs68YpItfUIrO4/s1600/IMG_8901.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszZjN4tnU85ypAdq17ZSHHn8cd1qMi_LrXH8N6Nv6oM9m1p1tHPqCK92lIKQlyfRgfE1OaycgjtigL64pyg5HrTzXgNRvWVceVyFR0U_PDTTaHDTio4cqKNYNVhSFHBs68YpItfUIrO4/s400/IMG_8901.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410194711648274" /></a>This one was so cute! The kids dyed eggs the colour of their choice and then we let them dry. After they were dry, we added googly eyes, little felt wings, and construction paper beaks to create baby chicks. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlry3XPK84Fd4N3ujmGC-Ux4Lf5nVHYAa5mCGq1GfkQwTaeVHCHn3Y83yULGZ8jz4GVrLP0DW-2n9Lob-txojPZOIAIS7iTld8Uwf0Tq9__ssKYrRX8a56Vil00nEiHMwcGjI1WyYQJaE/s1600/IMG_8918.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlry3XPK84Fd4N3ujmGC-Ux4Lf5nVHYAa5mCGq1GfkQwTaeVHCHn3Y83yULGZ8jz4GVrLP0DW-2n9Lob-txojPZOIAIS7iTld8Uwf0Tq9__ssKYrRX8a56Vil00nEiHMwcGjI1WyYQJaE/s400/IMG_8918.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725408877576326562" /></a>When our chicks were done, we made nests for them by cutting a brown paper bag to make it shallower, folding the ends back, and filling it with the cut up remains of the bag that we trimmed off. Isn't the end product adorable?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Story Time:</b> There are lots of cute books featuring birds, but a couple of suggestions are <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Ugly-Duckling-The-Hans-Anderson/dp/068815932X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333053239&sr=1-1">The Ugly Duckling</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Nightingale-Hans-Christian-Andersen/dp/0763624063/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333053276&sr=1-6">The Nightingale</a>, or <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/The-Sneetches-Other-Stories-Seuss/dp/0394800893/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333053308&sr=1-1">The Sneetches</a>. (Strictly speaking, I can't guarantee that the Sneetches are birds, but I have always thought they were.)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Snack Time:</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fa5bUTbyaXkOMSNwIZPBwRbFU_UpFQbQkPDEgJBUBcQbJeHDzWI5FqS1CI9vMHL0xNPLCPR1TC5BxgVOMr-RGz9RdzVjSuZEFvVyC7Dj1Cu9jT3uoelGALyexJD-kOewYy6YCCLAaes/s1600/IMG_8903.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fa5bUTbyaXkOMSNwIZPBwRbFU_UpFQbQkPDEgJBUBcQbJeHDzWI5FqS1CI9vMHL0xNPLCPR1TC5BxgVOMr-RGz9RdzVjSuZEFvVyC7Dj1Cu9jT3uoelGALyexJD-kOewYy6YCCLAaes/s400/IMG_8903.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725410019584714050" /></a>This mom has some great cookie cutters in her kitchen. Not only did we use them to make the bird feeders, but we also created an on-theme snack out of bread and cheese just by trimming the bread into a goose, and the cheese into chicks.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPJJM4B5xNBLWu7NMZhCP4XluABWZ66EQAvEtKzZo6xPNiH3iL5zYaFEp39YrJYy0Rz991Gu1Mylt87v-jgSClwJur8APU5OjND5Duc5b-P8Vsl-KTVgOaI9XbzBY7wf61qKdxhYtTqo/s1600/IMG_8904.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPJJM4B5xNBLWu7NMZhCP4XluABWZ66EQAvEtKzZo6xPNiH3iL5zYaFEp39YrJYy0Rz991Gu1Mylt87v-jgSClwJur8APU5OjND5Duc5b-P8Vsl-KTVgOaI9XbzBY7wf61qKdxhYtTqo/s400/IMG_8904.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725409875498324722" /></a>She also made a fun treat by turning <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.ca/2011/03/chocolate-haystacks.html">no-bake cookies</a> into little nests, and adding a couple of chocolate mini-eggs to the centers. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Craft #2:</b> making 'real' nests<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XveuHKzRWURZVczj8qhW7FZe1h1NfMcuVQF80ZPnHTmvI35_LLm5YRaMHcgISD87DrqC0SxsgyYVUSXVzwmDr3HWR3KA-SfpGuiGyBykKw1aIubleLsI4H_plHjQXLT6vy3krMwT8yc/s1600/IMG_8907.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XveuHKzRWURZVczj8qhW7FZe1h1NfMcuVQF80ZPnHTmvI35_LLm5YRaMHcgISD87DrqC0SxsgyYVUSXVzwmDr3HWR3KA-SfpGuiGyBykKw1aIubleLsI4H_plHjQXLT6vy3krMwT8yc/s400/IMG_8907.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725409698248826546" /></a>We did our best to create a true-to-life birds nest. We gathered up mud, dirt, grass, string, hay and feathers and got good and dirty assembling them. Very fun, but pretty messy, so be prepared!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Music Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div>We did a counting-down rhyme I'd never heard before called Five Feathered Birds:</div><div><br /></div><div>Five feathered birds sitting on the door,</div><div>One flew away and then there were four.</div><div>Four feathered birds singing in the tree,</div><div>One flew away and then there were three.</div><div>Three feathered birds looking at you,</div><div>One flew away and then there were two.</div><div>Two feathered birds sitting in the sun,</div><div>One flew away and then there was one.</div><div>One feathered bird looking like a hero,</div><div>He flew away, and now there are zero!</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA0xcaiGc95qSQSzsR3bISqaauxZ-Of7egAfb3Dq1A-zNAhvrShYnRZLnDss5H8v_GbGLLDf0w0pAgRMDEFuHu7DRP5hJ9rqgXPAE1tt0FHZpAu2qNk0YcoRSNvZdNYJu-Q173aOI2oE/s1600/IMG_8913.JPG" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; "><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqA0xcaiGc95qSQSzsR3bISqaauxZ-Of7egAfb3Dq1A-zNAhvrShYnRZLnDss5H8v_GbGLLDf0w0pAgRMDEFuHu7DRP5hJ9rqgXPAE1tt0FHZpAu2qNk0YcoRSNvZdNYJu-Q173aOI2oE/s400/IMG_8913.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725409498361609970" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>What was fun about this one, is that she had prepared five little birds for them all to hold, and they all stood in a line holding their birds. When the corresponding birds in the song flew away, they sat down, until at the end they were all sitting.</div><div> </div><div>We also sang <a href="http://www.songsforteaching.com/fingerplays/twolittleblackbirds.htm">Two Little Blackbirds Sitting on a Hill</a>.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And that was our fun Bird Day at Joy School.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-9414127077497422242012-03-21T19:17:00.046-07:002012-03-29T13:50:03.745-07:00Alice In Wonderland Party<div style="text-align: left;">My daughter just turned seven and we had so much fun at her Alice in Wonderland inspired party! I always have fun making little decorations and such to make things extra special, so I'll start by sharing a few of those.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Decorations and Details:</b></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiN6XcaZCYtgX-bE6gXafkZhGvtKbV_7qDYOzv5Ixu09TMGD9yMyPNgAwXlIPp4T94rM4xFYK7do0p1KDVe3rcHoGGbuUmHFiCUMCFn3pLUXsSZ8-FvEB5yKVsThQjvZDpHUUbtCT3xA/s1600/IMG_0390.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiN6XcaZCYtgX-bE6gXafkZhGvtKbV_7qDYOzv5Ixu09TMGD9yMyPNgAwXlIPp4T94rM4xFYK7do0p1KDVe3rcHoGGbuUmHFiCUMCFn3pLUXsSZ8-FvEB5yKVsThQjvZDpHUUbtCT3xA/s400/IMG_0390.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722550004087071474" /></a>I made a door-knob decoration for our front door to greet our guests as they arrived. I think this little guy might have been my favourite extra touch of the whole party. And he was made from nothing but a scrap of grey scrapbook paper, a black sharpie, and a little chalk. Love it.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOG1Nqm-5yI54JWkr1L90GykdRNd02cffuZGViqtf0K0q4rtBBb6o_vvnF5eP4SVtGRP3wrn_bbBPWkbTL2PttloBRssmi7Vb0qLUe_atNGoVdlaarb6Xj99ReZnDsYz5dYnsR8hguL8/s1600/IMG_0395.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOG1Nqm-5yI54JWkr1L90GykdRNd02cffuZGViqtf0K0q4rtBBb6o_vvnF5eP4SVtGRP3wrn_bbBPWkbTL2PttloBRssmi7Vb0qLUe_atNGoVdlaarb6Xj99ReZnDsYz5dYnsR8hguL8/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722549688375644770" /></a>I made two of these sign posts. If we were doing this party outside and we had a nice big tree in the yard, I'm sure I would have just stapled them onto the tree. As it is, I used the cardboard tube from a roll of carpet as a sign post. (Just a tip, one of our local carpet stores will give you these for free. They are HUGE and strong, so keep your eyes open for ideas to use them) The second sign had arrows that read: BEWARE, THIS WAY, WRONG WAY, DOWN, and KEEP GOING.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnUDOd5yWRl348rtJFCyOvlGv1Z9UyNYDrDNzNBpHtlZsAK31l99ILLP90QqZvRNioldh8Uwg9A1L-dx_-lLq4HRVxsifoxndeVRthOrLCiQLmI1jWdTxc5QaVUYKJ1YUaV3eM3FEJDk/s1600/IMG_0385.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnUDOd5yWRl348rtJFCyOvlGv1Z9UyNYDrDNzNBpHtlZsAK31l99ILLP90QqZvRNioldh8Uwg9A1L-dx_-lLq4HRVxsifoxndeVRthOrLCiQLmI1jWdTxc5QaVUYKJ1YUaV3eM3FEJDk/s400/IMG_0385.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722549504925537058" /></a>Mome Raths! Aren't they adorable? They were a snap to make. I just raided my kids' art supplies in our craft cupboard. Two colourful tongue depressors, fluffy feathers, and googly eyes. A dab of glue here, a dab there, and they were done. To make them stand up, I used paperclips that I unfolded the centers out from to make an L-shape. Then I hot-glue gunned them onto the backs, and it worked like a charm.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP715WAFYrimbAy8VbYAFZfMMOMRPfoLmWrJWNFVJ40sNFBdatjTHCxCo_38zVStQME4_mJU6koptQva7ws9NwiIG87emyWLi62DQq9LMAAWWGugDOYqfG802fI5sErtj-CXmR9crqfVo/s1600/IMG_0387.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP715WAFYrimbAy8VbYAFZfMMOMRPfoLmWrJWNFVJ40sNFBdatjTHCxCo_38zVStQME4_mJU6koptQva7ws9NwiIG87emyWLi62DQq9LMAAWWGugDOYqfG802fI5sErtj-CXmR9crqfVo/s400/IMG_0387.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722549299384470498" /></a>Of course, they needed a sign to warn guests, "Don't Step on the Mome Raths"</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1vz9L3_XOVzPn-SgpxVrKJanBDYWB145NxB6vnAintBVgTHD-f3lbDP_ed117nQXtmKXwcs3TwiOsGBxi1ySSUBe4Qsgb3B4kC_FxtntriMfx4x9z_QPIsAeby3MLK7h5ZZ18l3D7Hk/s1600/IMG_0375.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1vz9L3_XOVzPn-SgpxVrKJanBDYWB145NxB6vnAintBVgTHD-f3lbDP_ed117nQXtmKXwcs3TwiOsGBxi1ySSUBe4Qsgb3B4kC_FxtntriMfx4x9z_QPIsAeby3MLK7h5ZZ18l3D7Hk/s400/IMG_0375.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722549054600945282" /></a>I got some artificial flowers at the dollar store, added some googly eyes and some little lips, and we had Wonderland's flower garden.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5_XTgZVyUbfMlPQ9Reb2PWYGW5ZWURDeA9pHwaYZ5VikM-ErrisccgUVHoxfLL7YdLtIVnfZAeSXihl_ybvP3iq6QOcnY_tMGOIg5BeYX8le5APD-awxdzUtFLLZk_LIbx0-hjw67hk/s1600/IMG_0379.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5_XTgZVyUbfMlPQ9Reb2PWYGW5ZWURDeA9pHwaYZ5VikM-ErrisccgUVHoxfLL7YdLtIVnfZAeSXihl_ybvP3iq6QOcnY_tMGOIg5BeYX8le5APD-awxdzUtFLLZk_LIbx0-hjw67hk/s400/IMG_0379.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722548876511878306" /></a>I painted the Cheshire cat. The party just needed to have him.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EQpL6QOfCyRjlLyalOQ226wfycPzvzc9lnROADEtHZHm0BgSvDqC5x4etI7f1bxXC8BVB4uGRkr-Wh2dq7ewqFMKsibPXd12y4KgCCaMHqcMw4K5X6zdyvk7Aq0YVlk20j_O3aj3ZAg/s1600/IMG_0381.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EQpL6QOfCyRjlLyalOQ226wfycPzvzc9lnROADEtHZHm0BgSvDqC5x4etI7f1bxXC8BVB4uGRkr-Wh2dq7ewqFMKsibPXd12y4KgCCaMHqcMw4K5X6zdyvk7Aq0YVlk20j_O3aj3ZAg/s400/IMG_0381.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722548727868730850" /></a>And he must sit perched up in a tree. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_f8_NGDodaTajXH96zQLJAYn4aRey2Na41ACEeLmKeXc-HDEbJ33Qg6WdHyChQNMP2Ts1jY0WVKsR7B2XvJpQfYDfCn-8zB0e3ePIr3yR5Ow0JXxw1I9n-b_dLGXKgmen4j_rl4DcH0/s1600/IMG_0415.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_f8_NGDodaTajXH96zQLJAYn4aRey2Na41ACEeLmKeXc-HDEbJ33Qg6WdHyChQNMP2Ts1jY0WVKsR7B2XvJpQfYDfCn-8zB0e3ePIr3yR5Ow0JXxw1I9n-b_dLGXKgmen4j_rl4DcH0/s400/IMG_0415.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722548562835144834" /></a>And because nothing could be simpler, I set out a chess set on the top of a table. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEEhz9EkMShU9HWLchGt4demt5U8Vf8uM6co2AI2j2LpEddMbZhAlaEdKgZqBN1VQOzKcmZh3rCOzkkx_R1zD4Uai9ZqwLpIp6gzcrW-LtmFSkE0NfjFffe-pi-9jXjAdJPLkZuNYCaI/s1600/IMG_0421.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEEhz9EkMShU9HWLchGt4demt5U8Vf8uM6co2AI2j2LpEddMbZhAlaEdKgZqBN1VQOzKcmZh3rCOzkkx_R1zD4Uai9ZqwLpIp6gzcrW-LtmFSkE0NfjFffe-pi-9jXjAdJPLkZuNYCaI/s400/IMG_0421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722548302910792146" /></a>I knew I'd want to play croquet at the party, so I made these card soldiers from poster paper and duct-taped them onto the wickets that we would hit the balls through. I made five; three hearts, and two spades.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFXM9ZZOgn8_RXFma7XRsH7qRv-V9WChWxaxq01UfuWcZ75iPIW344vAqf6xx8BK-WAsgoKjbcQXVGTk_EQ3hcaDeaWokAgkrXacZLFXYskne45jInkyBLS1lmiaP1SXiPrnIv90srxU/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFXM9ZZOgn8_RXFma7XRsH7qRv-V9WChWxaxq01UfuWcZ75iPIW344vAqf6xx8BK-WAsgoKjbcQXVGTk_EQ3hcaDeaWokAgkrXacZLFXYskne45jInkyBLS1lmiaP1SXiPrnIv90srxU/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722548081301505858" /></a>And you can't play croquet at an Alice in Wonderland party with a regular old mallet! You simply must have a pink flamingo. To make these, I traced the mallet on a sheet of pink poster paper and then drew a flamingo shape that covered that area. I cut it out and used it as a template to make all these. Then to add details and definition, I used a lighter shade of pink craft paint for feathers and the beak, and used a black sharpie to outline them and make them stand out more. As a finishing touch, I added googly eyes and a tuft of pink and purple feathers on their heads. For the party, I just used tape (lots and lots and lots of tape!) up and down the length of the handles and pressed the flamingos on. I knew they wouldn't hold forever, but they made it through the croquet match, and that was all I needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Onto the party!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Activities and Games:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>"Do you play croquet?"</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtWNCvYSucW3pzsDm09Fb78Xv6Es0vqHqHpcItdjSXY5hD2O_zZyEpzvneC0iQxZrGn7fLo3lOodAKbKXex_GFfNEjSnX9heQJ3pZuELlwK4H_Ts1mYnE0dR-rDpcPuShv5A1xzlOLzM/s1600/IMG_0442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtWNCvYSucW3pzsDm09Fb78Xv6Es0vqHqHpcItdjSXY5hD2O_zZyEpzvneC0iQxZrGn7fLo3lOodAKbKXex_GFfNEjSnX9heQJ3pZuELlwK4H_Ts1mYnE0dR-rDpcPuShv5A1xzlOLzM/s400/IMG_0442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722547909810799442" /></a>We started out by going into the yard and playing croquet. With her early March birthday, we have never had good enough weather to do any of her parties outside before. But we lucked out and had a beautiful sunny day. It was windy, however, so we did the croquet course first before the wind could destroy the cute decorations.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi842f2DVWgzg1cIDU66X27EqYM7DZGOEjW94GdSGfqtV8AieAGRWNVWF-eZ03ZSM5BBn3SbZnMZyuFl6WiJ_XVZxf3QC4oYbPMbhdMhrpI2xP6tZO5BICXtc8p__QLwvLyOg1LfEdooEo/s1600/IMG_0444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi842f2DVWgzg1cIDU66X27EqYM7DZGOEjW94GdSGfqtV8AieAGRWNVWF-eZ03ZSM5BBn3SbZnMZyuFl6WiJ_XVZxf3QC4oYbPMbhdMhrpI2xP6tZO5BICXtc8p__QLwvLyOg1LfEdooEo/s400/IMG_0444.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722547701826308114" /></a>Here are a few of the girls tapping their balls. Doesn't it look so cute??</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mad Hatter's Workshop:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-3rTZKO4I3TpCzAnIqrkuyb1uegPNE0RMKv3EO8Tw920gL_FY1FRVcnDIHpyTx63YSomTOgVOZWLBSuwZo0dN0-0RGmLOmZK5aP7NNZ9esGKVRxYRoOi226fn4ljJHBgAB1tL2kv6TM/s1600/IMG_0366.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-3rTZKO4I3TpCzAnIqrkuyb1uegPNE0RMKv3EO8Tw920gL_FY1FRVcnDIHpyTx63YSomTOgVOZWLBSuwZo0dN0-0RGmLOmZK5aP7NNZ9esGKVRxYRoOi226fn4ljJHBgAB1tL2kv6TM/s400/IMG_0366.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722547297825362850" /></a>I made this little sign and attached it to a hat stand to help set the scene for our next activity.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCtKHCycsDaT1Pk6L_L0WKaW7Qo4DqkN6E7-I-0xdws2g-KML8p-SwwVK0KVlxitQHGo-TNSIMupxjHIrS0RLYKoMjlKSgbd8wL4T80gIRfrZIAXh3PgHftML-REejvdaeHP3eUIHZo/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpCtKHCycsDaT1Pk6L_L0WKaW7Qo4DqkN6E7-I-0xdws2g-KML8p-SwwVK0KVlxitQHGo-TNSIMupxjHIrS0RLYKoMjlKSgbd8wL4T80gIRfrZIAXh3PgHftML-REejvdaeHP3eUIHZo/s400/IMG_0368.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722547062247799138" /></a>I topped it off with a cluster of brightly coloured hats, and tucked a playing card into the ribbon of my son's magic top hat for a little extra fun. (the 7 of hearts, since she was turning 7)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TEuBjnbPs83dhrNPO0wc-yudYXI_-gdjHP6fCaLqb9fw6RkpUhJB4leLg-Agnj3sS1689C5G9BaFIqYnqt2ZkEZ3Vcz6IIakvsH1BI3KdBR7J-jMDwAjpO_r7YVRPDBIs9i9ZA2Iu2E/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TEuBjnbPs83dhrNPO0wc-yudYXI_-gdjHP6fCaLqb9fw6RkpUhJB4leLg-Agnj3sS1689C5G9BaFIqYnqt2ZkEZ3Vcz6IIakvsH1BI3KdBR7J-jMDwAjpO_r7YVRPDBIs9i9ZA2Iu2E/s400/IMG_0370.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722546866637302370" /></a>I also had the ceiling dripping with paper lanterns of all different colours. I really wanted the Mad Hatter's shop to be bold and colourful.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK2zd1BuPocW29OURBiEjyu_wSzMGVmfSqoZyVik8JZQ62-6BWjN0y63wieC1G3PAQo79F15GRkUN4PSExkvuppW9RntO20-gjTkxFhX91r9XadH2Oel8zWbGy2it3h2lAlhJM6R8NwM/s1600/IMG_0454.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK2zd1BuPocW29OURBiEjyu_wSzMGVmfSqoZyVik8JZQ62-6BWjN0y63wieC1G3PAQo79F15GRkUN4PSExkvuppW9RntO20-gjTkxFhX91r9XadH2Oel8zWbGy2it3h2lAlhJM6R8NwM/s400/IMG_0454.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722546377631767090" /></a>I piled up the center of the table with ribbons, pom-pom strings, beads, sparkly gems, flowers, lace, and anything else I could think of. Then each guest was given a bright glittery bowler hat and turned loose to decorate it as they would.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh9fbXpXj3Q7aTWaHFDiohlelbcGP9pzvSPISF4bQpgi1gyVlmNhzJSFA2UEss-FLWQPxV1xqlBVmeupeDq28yf4na3IGyRaV07qYRoicSARIbrQku1-GrndB2BY6cYCsO_bxRLiNk3o/s1600/IMG_0446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTh9fbXpXj3Q7aTWaHFDiohlelbcGP9pzvSPISF4bQpgi1gyVlmNhzJSFA2UEss-FLWQPxV1xqlBVmeupeDq28yf4na3IGyRaV07qYRoicSARIbrQku1-GrndB2BY6cYCsO_bxRLiNk3o/s400/IMG_0446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722545956360460882" /></a>The creations that came out of the workshop were as wild as anything the Hatter himself could have come up with!</div><div><br /></div><div>After the kids had finished, they each had their picture taken beside the Cheshire cat in his tree. And while they did their little photo shoot, I set up the kitchen for our next activity.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Mad Hatter's Tea Party:<br /></b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMNZ2dJ2qrI3MGbVI-8B4ZKs2GTVo8ZJ3jRN8cHJwjWioNeJwOH6MTZEgxUzHnnWhiZ4ezo2SURYmKCrGTQYFqSupgArZ1d8trN99c-3m1hDZF7pi_6I58qfxNd2Hwaz5PK7q1yqlJRw/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMNZ2dJ2qrI3MGbVI-8B4ZKs2GTVo8ZJ3jRN8cHJwjWioNeJwOH6MTZEgxUzHnnWhiZ4ezo2SURYmKCrGTQYFqSupgArZ1d8trN99c-3m1hDZF7pi_6I58qfxNd2Hwaz5PK7q1yqlJRw/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722545073358311202" /></a>A tea in Wonderland simply must include 'eat me' cookies.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72pAf2KifI9gdvaRRFURPgg9yYL-vgzsEqFu6zxZw5QqZIcf5XTdFS3FwWleks5X1JehSW2qC3CTAkcCS_HfjtVUH1ma8F6L14AJ-8gfVy-Yo2UlQAZJHZsl8vTeV8QDYnxHDoRWnw8g/s1600/IMG_0468.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72pAf2KifI9gdvaRRFURPgg9yYL-vgzsEqFu6zxZw5QqZIcf5XTdFS3FwWleks5X1JehSW2qC3CTAkcCS_HfjtVUH1ma8F6L14AJ-8gfVy-Yo2UlQAZJHZsl8vTeV8QDYnxHDoRWnw8g/s400/IMG_0468.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722544762826987010" /></a>I also made these Rice Krispie soldiers. All I did was make their faces from construction paper and tape them at the top of a toothpick. Then after the squares were cut, I pressed the toothpick down the center to create a head on a body. A little red icing in a piping bag for the hearts and numbers, and we were done.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95-mIQb6ubsRaRxy5I6OW8dm7UmCIk2mnskX-Ww0ZagdCaP6_v_2CoKhKoXRi6yrc1gdGHK1YIR2ywYdtG98lYmG5ICwVF4OaaaK820od5bL2SvxF2WOj4KuYZufA514QXq8tw06sPaY/s1600/IMG_0469.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95-mIQb6ubsRaRxy5I6OW8dm7UmCIk2mnskX-Ww0ZagdCaP6_v_2CoKhKoXRi6yrc1gdGHK1YIR2ywYdtG98lYmG5ICwVF4OaaaK820od5bL2SvxF2WOj4KuYZufA514QXq8tw06sPaY/s400/IMG_0469.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722544544762594866" /></a>I made a flock of pink flamingo cupcakes.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f6KeM_dmOoQoEtPiJ9bgbrIRueQ5PfSJgTs2jn81Y5uu5jKr8icrbEI8NOYNvaJASzpNhCoIzcEK4JQSkiMNI5L9yyPOD1-6C_l-f7BVi9q6Q8rNvnyeZYs_JUpSebqjpG6GF8KrVco/s1600/IMG_0470.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9f6KeM_dmOoQoEtPiJ9bgbrIRueQ5PfSJgTs2jn81Y5uu5jKr8icrbEI8NOYNvaJASzpNhCoIzcEK4JQSkiMNI5L9yyPOD1-6C_l-f7BVi9q6Q8rNvnyeZYs_JUpSebqjpG6GF8KrVco/s400/IMG_0470.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722544418669244930" /></a>And I saw these great skewers with pinwheels on the end at the dollar store and loved them. They seemed quirky enough to join us for a Mad Hatter tea.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4ZgvGH_r3CCEhHhwao5g4DlABPPSDZsBhUHlf9JUX3IonqOGfe738KTa93GZnoiBz7q4v___6pg76vfffIIcPv-MelB9TlwG9pieja2aYxhq9gsVoYo5pOCarGxUHRgm0SS5ne73QEY/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4ZgvGH_r3CCEhHhwao5g4DlABPPSDZsBhUHlf9JUX3IonqOGfe738KTa93GZnoiBz7q4v___6pg76vfffIIcPv-MelB9TlwG9pieja2aYxhq9gsVoYo5pOCarGxUHRgm0SS5ne73QEY/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722544203912619522" /></a>I made a chess board of little sandwiches. You can't really tell in the picture, which is a shame, but the sandwiches alternate with white bread and brown bread to create the board. Then I topped them off with a grape tomato or a black olive on a toothpick featuring a suit of cards decal on top. I thought it turned out really well.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bQTZg091refO4HbYe0NaLsc6EGto8x1kUAmmCHdvmHVi4Y4AyuPfg9a1flFZNIs-TtAtYOgYFUcy7cn0OJwmbqYkcSyQeuIuWGDnVwAB2uX8U4mtHA3g1CRSgHhN-05f9Qwor_MmD3Y/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9bQTZg091refO4HbYe0NaLsc6EGto8x1kUAmmCHdvmHVi4Y4AyuPfg9a1flFZNIs-TtAtYOgYFUcy7cn0OJwmbqYkcSyQeuIuWGDnVwAB2uX8U4mtHA3g1CRSgHhN-05f9Qwor_MmD3Y/s400/IMG_0480.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722543995914651266" /></a>I didn't serve tea. I did serve four different kinds of kid-friendly beverages though (juices and koolaid). I also borrowed tea sets and tea pots from a couple of people so there would be a variety of sizes and patterns all around too. It was so fun! We had full-sized standard cups, medium sized (that would hold maybe about 1/4 cup of liquid) and then there was a set that had cups the size of thimbles. I loved it! I also had a great big teapot, a middle sized one, a few smaller ones, and a teeny-tiny one to match the thimble sized cups. All the teapots were filled up, so the kids were pouring their drinks from every size. It was so silly and they had so much fun with it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEoGPBZ5gh3Wlf2Ife_XkO5TRW0TLBHrK-ik_kOuVqitR4NJRBDmBalvFS4Cxa8OlPEzrGdApjdLBDtXKTU_PPy4kqGqNe1QWhXNMt8HpylIhRXt20j5eQivoCUeuCO66BzRsdl7pfsA/s1600/IMG_0464.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEoGPBZ5gh3Wlf2Ife_XkO5TRW0TLBHrK-ik_kOuVqitR4NJRBDmBalvFS4Cxa8OlPEzrGdApjdLBDtXKTU_PPy4kqGqNe1QWhXNMt8HpylIhRXt20j5eQivoCUeuCO66BzRsdl7pfsA/s400/IMG_0464.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722545241490613938" /></a>And as a final touch, we had a little dormouse nesting in a creamer.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AkaAgwlfy-G4tOZvIp7dhcx6kYJ_OXMOYF1Pn37qu6qCEkCpt3OM7TT9L0b3-06mOqXa26Px9Xhsmmce-b9D9hOBrO7x6DTz_KK8SVFY4f7VAa7seGD-8qgsisqYMU7Y7DG0TpO8bWw/s1600/IMG_0481.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AkaAgwlfy-G4tOZvIp7dhcx6kYJ_OXMOYF1Pn37qu6qCEkCpt3OM7TT9L0b3-06mOqXa26Px9Xhsmmce-b9D9hOBrO7x6DTz_KK8SVFY4f7VAa7seGD-8qgsisqYMU7Y7DG0TpO8bWw/s400/IMG_0481.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722543767286268722" /></a>Here are the party guests, hats on, and tea partying at the Mad Hatter's.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Off With His Head!</b></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7IzIJ84iF1ES4TdZiZ-Gx9hRcTn2r6cZEvsZxJ8n81g4lzhPCTz-LWfkSwjDuiD9k8VvbqgRmnMmG4fX9piBLWkMXY4nO8qJmeGw7WtP64o6fm8g29hIvh1Bxb84Z836Kyjm_v00j8k/s1600/IMG_0437.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7IzIJ84iF1ES4TdZiZ-Gx9hRcTn2r6cZEvsZxJ8n81g4lzhPCTz-LWfkSwjDuiD9k8VvbqgRmnMmG4fX9piBLWkMXY4nO8qJmeGw7WtP64o6fm8g29hIvh1Bxb84Z836Kyjm_v00j8k/s400/IMG_0437.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722543479893539074" /></a>In this game, I made a card soldier's body and taped it onto my daughter's art easel so that the shoulders were right at the top. Then I made a head for him, and attached it to a container. The container was set on top of the easel, and then the kids were given beanbags. When they took their turn throwing the bean bag, they had to shout "Off with his head!" It was a total hit. I loved it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Alice in Wonderland Trivia Game:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp08TxQ-1Xn3QzhZCPePFW2sJBjIayH_fJe2IYkU6COctIcOPt20a2c7B6y9OUp8ZzRr5QN0_hRDJJGj9PDlGEr8iS4rrJ8POE_OaYasrRuX_0BkWNeJRnKLsjTVdpQBScubkXUFP1GA/s1600/IMG_0488.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp08TxQ-1Xn3QzhZCPePFW2sJBjIayH_fJe2IYkU6COctIcOPt20a2c7B6y9OUp8ZzRr5QN0_hRDJJGj9PDlGEr8iS4rrJ8POE_OaYasrRuX_0BkWNeJRnKLsjTVdpQBScubkXUFP1GA/s400/IMG_0488.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722543229198422194" /></a>For this activity, I got an end table and set it in the middle of the room, and put the buzzer from<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-4015-S5-Taboo/dp/B00005UKIZ"> Taboo</a> in the center.We divided the kids into two groups, (Team Alice and Team Queen) and then we had them face off in pairs. Two kids would stand on either end of the table with their hands behind their backs. I would read a trivia question, and the first one to 'buzz in' got to answer. It was so fun. I'd never done something like that at a party before. I kept the questions pretty basic in case not everyone there was super familiar with the story. Examples of questions I used were, "What happened to Alice when she ate the 'eat me' cookies?" (she grew) "How did Alice get to Wonderland?" (she fell down the rabbit hole)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Card Toss:</b></div><div> </div><div>No pictures here, I'm afraid. The girls were each given 10 cards and they had to try to toss them into a top hat.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Games and Activities I had, but didn't do:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>I always have too many plans for my parties. I could make the party longer, I know, but I think that once parties get to be more than 2.5 hours or so, the kids start to get tired and things just aren't as fun. I want them to go home thinking 'wow, I had so much fun' instead of 'I can finally get out of here.'</div><div><br /></div><div>That being said, here are some ideas you can use if you want to do a party:</div><div><br /></div><div><div>1. Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum race: a three legged race based on the fact that these twins stick together</div><div>2. Painting the roses red: This was my first idea when I started planning the party, and I'm so disapointed we didn't get to it! I had artificial white roses, and red paints, and paint brushes at the ready. Drat!</div><div>3. White rabbit sack race - rabbits hop, and the white rabbit is in a hurry, so why not make it into a game?</div><div>4. Pin the smile on the Cheshire cat - a themed twist on the party classic.<br /><br /><b>Cake at the Queen's Banquet Hall:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Since her birthday is so soon after Valentine's Day, I thought I'd shop the clearance sales for heart-shaped supplies and have some fun creating a Queen of Hearts theme at the party.</div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrB5VtmYnUvI8MBDC4MzYNixRg-Nzjo7GrTi3FvSEw7AdqWLb_PBcbXiYqTTK0KRERycww7qJSFvgOd-JYIf5qbsDKWRNBoJ6KIq9Z4leOgSlQ8J5FGje-z38bDRFXIEi2IzycZ192ENA/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrB5VtmYnUvI8MBDC4MzYNixRg-Nzjo7GrTi3FvSEw7AdqWLb_PBcbXiYqTTK0KRERycww7qJSFvgOd-JYIf5qbsDKWRNBoJ6KIq9Z4leOgSlQ8J5FGje-z38bDRFXIEi2IzycZ192ENA/s400/IMG_0492.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722542218117621282" /></a>To start out, I borrowed my mom's long red tablecloth which went almost to the floor. Very glamorous and royal. Then I got a length of black and white checkered cloth and ran it down the center of the table. To make things fancy, I used three spools of gauzey ribbon and tied each chair in a big red bow.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3l6IbVLfqldqAOQLcqSkHQenVB4ECiIl-M5UBk6s6uE67GnonlRLQ6dO33pPQE53tLR1wOrPKrBPBiBVoYiiPOJBgwdCDgwcWxiPqyxoYFb9enhasMWl23o2bn4H1VooTaiN4KudNu24/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3l6IbVLfqldqAOQLcqSkHQenVB4ECiIl-M5UBk6s6uE67GnonlRLQ6dO33pPQE53tLR1wOrPKrBPBiBVoYiiPOJBgwdCDgwcWxiPqyxoYFb9enhasMWl23o2bn4H1VooTaiN4KudNu24/s400/IMG_0493.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722542377897381362" /></a>I had red heart doilies running down the middle of the checked cloth, and between each was a home made card guard. (I also made these guys and used them as the invites for the party; I just wrote the information on the back of their capes) I loved these guys. I found them <a href="http://family.go.com/crafts/craft-621733-sweet-suitors-t/">here</a>, where they were actually used as Valentines, but I thought they'd be perfect for this party.</div><div></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg769447XszPOf1hflrHVYtxyyLi1fsvi6-Tbnn-Soh8D6oA2S9DypB89PEBBVUFxQG3t3hbURa60HMgP8ipQOaxK3sNmRnDNMrO_mmK0wb17FxVwzBBY9eGmUe4hVOxB9aQWMsT4wx8Y/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg769447XszPOf1hflrHVYtxyyLi1fsvi6-Tbnn-Soh8D6oA2S9DypB89PEBBVUFxQG3t3hbURa60HMgP8ipQOaxK3sNmRnDNMrO_mmK0wb17FxVwzBBY9eGmUe4hVOxB9aQWMsT4wx8Y/s400/IMG_0496.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722542591145985202" /></a>I found an over-sized deck of cards at the dollar store, which made a very quick garland. I made two and draped one on each of our dining room windows.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQBjctAJgaxrhVAjUIVz_mp9vQEbt7aw5Ysz05-8UjWMHC4svpk_VmXog0FDh0vGmuc2BdbZ13TuPMevVnT2CFwj8rMWQ0NDD-iKSAoRfXosFU_r0r3amuw19CEKIlqXYZ4jZdtU1LWk/s1600/IMG_0498.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQBjctAJgaxrhVAjUIVz_mp9vQEbt7aw5Ysz05-8UjWMHC4svpk_VmXog0FDh0vGmuc2BdbZ13TuPMevVnT2CFwj8rMWQ0NDD-iKSAoRfXosFU_r0r3amuw19CEKIlqXYZ4jZdtU1LWk/s400/IMG_0498.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722542853229083746" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">I took down all the coloured lanterns that were there for the Hatter, and left up only the red. I also swapped out the hat stand and put clumps of red heart-shaped balloons in each corner.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9hAZ9SJ9fkHu5k0-LDVmOP-tyU-gCWyf0IQRXbqG2_QMzA2nyF_Blwg2-Kkc9yvh-TAOK14uycMFvQrtANzcWF7QnCv6yRRvtzzE64qkb2pu1dT4QrrVbcvffqWSYq2iRm-faDzRsFw/s1600/IMG_0494.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9hAZ9SJ9fkHu5k0-LDVmOP-tyU-gCWyf0IQRXbqG2_QMzA2nyF_Blwg2-Kkc9yvh-TAOK14uycMFvQrtANzcWF7QnCv6yRRvtzzE64qkb2pu1dT4QrrVbcvffqWSYq2iRm-faDzRsFw/s400/IMG_0494.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722542000860461442" /></a>I used red plates, cups, and napkins, and had a doilie place marker for each girl. Then I added two heart chocolates to each setting, again taking advantage of the post-Valentine's sales.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByiAteUK9aEEh_AIrmqNdbyhA9cGN88nym0gGB3cYRRj6_R9EIFGyixP1Rl8Vjv8VrNQcW4hQbZHKujD7-vzen9hg0yDkhT3ltfO0PRQVtzRtzlVIafFtAoio-__8yO7yKD-nL_dW2eA/s1600/IMG_0510.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiByiAteUK9aEEh_AIrmqNdbyhA9cGN88nym0gGB3cYRRj6_R9EIFGyixP1Rl8Vjv8VrNQcW4hQbZHKujD7-vzen9hg0yDkhT3ltfO0PRQVtzRtzlVIafFtAoio-__8yO7yKD-nL_dW2eA/s400/IMG_0510.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722541569699662690" /></a>One last thing I found were these cute double heart straws. The kids loved them.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqcwX2cTCqHuXIlOYhVDoP5Zv0UYFfuVTz_PpmJFjmfVyRHk_yID33nhjuAt8dsHweHwGt7MfuQPvcyzvv4URraKeu0-EEmzaQXYiF4Bp-KjaHRvem7T-i6MsYhnFL-SBgFu1UMVQz4o/s1600/IMG_0506.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqcwX2cTCqHuXIlOYhVDoP5Zv0UYFfuVTz_PpmJFjmfVyRHk_yID33nhjuAt8dsHweHwGt7MfuQPvcyzvv4URraKeu0-EEmzaQXYiF4Bp-KjaHRvem7T-i6MsYhnFL-SBgFu1UMVQz4o/s400/IMG_0506.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722541753548767794" /></a><div style="text-align: left;font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">The cake! I looked around on Google images for 'Alice in Wonderland cakes' and saw lots of fun ideas, but I loved the idea of making a Cheshire cat. I did my best, and thought it turned out pretty cute. I had no idea how I was supposed to make the head shape though, so I asked my friend who is a brilliant cake maker and she suggested that I just make the shape from Rice Krispie treats and then frost it like I would a cake. It was such a great tip, and worked out so well. So yes, the cat's head is a giant Rice Krispie treat. I even found pink and purple candles that I put on it's back in an alternating pattern - just like his stripes. Ha!</div><div><br /></div><b>Following the White Rabbit:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQek6Rxl2PBYSwxgmnBYaNJDc7UjEf7ar9llgcNs6RdYuHA1SHicci6AWTIBmKm7DRlcDDgM80JmUDBPjDw6Ilml5t7leKHTQrpEUMUwZEoWE4P8dbfwB8oyahtRzKzFJInJcuVSm3U6M/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQek6Rxl2PBYSwxgmnBYaNJDc7UjEf7ar9llgcNs6RdYuHA1SHicci6AWTIBmKm7DRlcDDgM80JmUDBPjDw6Ilml5t7leKHTQrpEUMUwZEoWE4P8dbfwB8oyahtRzKzFJInJcuVSm3U6M/s400/IMG_0514.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722541264362221474" /></a>Since Alice spends a good deal of her time in Wonderland searching for the white rabbit, I made a treasure hunt with clues that sent the kids all over our house trying to find him.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJTLnOHHxF3jxqxzWL5NvIg8OOsJQR1dRiw2eofds-8LNrL71eutUSgjIR1dRvBHJsHqt6fvOiMbJcWO0l6Dwr6_nCaA6CC2dopRzd2DAP-xKf5hAfVr-8y9MRI68qQm_Oy1LMSiHjCk/s1600/IMG_0404.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJTLnOHHxF3jxqxzWL5NvIg8OOsJQR1dRiw2eofds-8LNrL71eutUSgjIR1dRvBHJsHqt6fvOiMbJcWO0l6Dwr6_nCaA6CC2dopRzd2DAP-xKf5hAfVr-8y9MRI68qQm_Oy1LMSiHjCk/s400/IMG_0404.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722540994359507794" /></a>When they followed the final clue, it led them to a white rabbit pinata! (When I asked her what kind of pinata she wanted for this party, she said she wanted "the white rabbit, but not when he is wearing regular clothes - when he is dressed up to work for the Queen." This was my attempt to recreate that look) I made the ruff from white card stock that I folded accordion style and then stretched and glue gunned into place. His face is made from blue googly eyes, two white pom poms, one pink pom pom, and craft wire for the wiskers.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7_AVg4195BYggQkmno5mc9oi7mkDVHrW-8v2qMhHv_yheigBrIBfIrQlkTAn6sYvUjtpipxRwxdPgPet1paguy69Cg255rszbkmoox1jVng_STHQECjgLQyRdyMSi9hXYG0QsLuUINc/s1600/IMG_0517.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7_AVg4195BYggQkmno5mc9oi7mkDVHrW-8v2qMhHv_yheigBrIBfIrQlkTAn6sYvUjtpipxRwxdPgPet1paguy69Cg255rszbkmoox1jVng_STHQECjgLQyRdyMSi9hXYG0QsLuUINc/s400/IMG_0517.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722540843199332738" /></a>Then we took him outside and the kids all had turns swinging at him until he burst open and the candy flew out.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Presents Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFkP841aS7lzjjddUeLs6S8uGjhbRsJCMvSzZcFRfpPO30geTiAf5f6CV2p9A1CbP7iKyQvLi5HyHoVER51tB4QBxiHRsJs2y4KLpA0JECfE9kaaGnndukukDyQ2MsTlWwnmcLyDiaic/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFkP841aS7lzjjddUeLs6S8uGjhbRsJCMvSzZcFRfpPO30geTiAf5f6CV2p9A1CbP7iKyQvLi5HyHoVER51tB4QBxiHRsJs2y4KLpA0JECfE9kaaGnndukukDyQ2MsTlWwnmcLyDiaic/s400/IMG_0537.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722540205462538850" /></a>We played spin-the-bottle to determine which guest got to give their gift next. But we didn't just use any old bottle, we used a 'Drink Me' bottle.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Take-home Gift:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MBxXoMb6NNJ_PCoOlhVmDCgzubrysp7m3nbdYZ6HDe4K0QQUkQrhtwujzzvYG68geNI0UfIYocV16jN3BA6aIuNJHGCFKZtJxAGmaqeNHEdPbVJjJtxBov1Hqtj9xpV_V-QsdFC6yY0/s1600/IMG_0392.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8MBxXoMb6NNJ_PCoOlhVmDCgzubrysp7m3nbdYZ6HDe4K0QQUkQrhtwujzzvYG68geNI0UfIYocV16jN3BA6aIuNJHGCFKZtJxAGmaqeNHEdPbVJjJtxBov1Hqtj9xpV_V-QsdFC6yY0/s400/IMG_0392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722550424482253986" /></a>I went to the craft store for something unrelated, and when I walked in, they had a table set up right at the entrance with glassware they weren't going to keep carrying. And there they were! The perfect Drink Me bottles! For a dollar! I bought one per child, and when I got home I set to work making little labels and tying them on with ribbons. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KPgWk3DpnHoGeW-51i3xzqwCqcBTQWRfK4LuolvFasBuedn2OPa5etcTtRmZ362o1IhL5R_RmRV_efmFEfWh1Jd1j2dATYIa5Sl2TsgEdTAPzQkJ3ddoYwSdPc77Do9380A9MI7Us8k/s1600/IMG_0393.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KPgWk3DpnHoGeW-51i3xzqwCqcBTQWRfK4LuolvFasBuedn2OPa5etcTtRmZ362o1IhL5R_RmRV_efmFEfWh1Jd1j2dATYIa5Sl2TsgEdTAPzQkJ3ddoYwSdPc77Do9380A9MI7Us8k/s400/IMG_0393.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722550196960453282" /></a> Each guest left with a bottle of Drink Me juice, and a bag of Eat Me cookies. I thought they turned out so fun.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And that was how we celebrated. I loved it, she loved it, and we had a great day.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-48999381558976590792012-03-17T14:46:00.005-07:002012-03-17T14:56:23.961-07:00Silly Hat Supper<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YbXWNeGScbuCBlfKFcHimmM1zoT4kD3NlhP-zRGVy-bHZnDnR63GvVheIxFRWhSG_S7DBkZ68FNwcfQBq6QxORtwGWJuyH1k86fVxJrEsyvX95wSm22Hga5rwkIjBlVZpr9t0AB3WBU/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YbXWNeGScbuCBlfKFcHimmM1zoT4kD3NlhP-zRGVy-bHZnDnR63GvVheIxFRWhSG_S7DBkZ68FNwcfQBq6QxORtwGWJuyH1k86fVxJrEsyvX95wSm22Hga5rwkIjBlVZpr9t0AB3WBU/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720985855797629202" /></a>Lots of families have the fun tradition of eating green food for supper on St. Patrick's Day, ours included. But we've also added a little bit of silly. We always wear funny Irish hats during supper. (Thank-you, dollar store). We've added quite a few to our collection, and the kids have their favourites. It has also turned into a mini-tradition to get a group shot of the kids in their gear before supper. Here is this year's picture.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-XAviZ8gw5KR8S4nbmZcj1MQWu55Z-nRAs3e5uKL7KWun9HEVJMDubsdntH9uX5JCV41PE2nUIFuJSLGjQZ5O3_C6-tnX9r0oZNu2Nh57vHOo3iEDQIeD7Y2vJL78fjvchQLqCU3aMQ/s1600/IMG_7999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-XAviZ8gw5KR8S4nbmZcj1MQWu55Z-nRAs3e5uKL7KWun9HEVJMDubsdntH9uX5JCV41PE2nUIFuJSLGjQZ5O3_C6-tnX9r0oZNu2Nh57vHOo3iEDQIeD7Y2vJL78fjvchQLqCU3aMQ/s400/IMG_7999.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720986876064349986" /></a>Yes, the parents play along too. Like my green wig?</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-37024437971037477072012-03-16T14:01:00.000-07:002012-03-17T14:56:50.158-07:00Leprechaun Hat CookiesWe made some fun and easy treats for St. Patrick's Day today. They are reminiscent of the <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.ca/2011/10/pilgrim-hat-cookies.html">Pilgrim Hats</a> we made for Thanksgiving, so if you liked those, you'll like these too!<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp3gFzrR0IF5_ncUZYCX4qixvjHkQqh9_fXeVIIrKCg_u-5bNd7CGmrQJh0H58ciiPrANNZwKP-L2fQQkqcV_GEq5eEgrI3gQLLp-J9rTHcYKvB5eq44Ec5FArBVuTEhY8ZGwNl2iboA/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdp3gFzrR0IF5_ncUZYCX4qixvjHkQqh9_fXeVIIrKCg_u-5bNd7CGmrQJh0H58ciiPrANNZwKP-L2fQQkqcV_GEq5eEgrI3gQLLp-J9rTHcYKvB5eq44Ec5FArBVuTEhY8ZGwNl2iboA/s400/IMG_0590.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720976295222226658" /></a>What you need: chocolate chips, large marshmallows, shortbread cookies with chocolate on the back, green coloured sugar, and toothpicks.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKGpQXey-Wa_Yx0KnYFs0J8-4-5lfrevT2fYT1oNvMpCa0daKB7Rnfiu4mAuHn9VtfmlaiIhYxWZKPjetRb1XpCj6h3MvkTLGlMMBIcjXAUiyWRy_KNbn4lke_xPKOD6TutoFZqXiYv4/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKGpQXey-Wa_Yx0KnYFs0J8-4-5lfrevT2fYT1oNvMpCa0daKB7Rnfiu4mAuHn9VtfmlaiIhYxWZKPjetRb1XpCj6h3MvkTLGlMMBIcjXAUiyWRy_KNbn4lke_xPKOD6TutoFZqXiYv4/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720976134029380466" /></a>Start by melting the chocolate in a double boiler, or in your microwave (be sure to stir every 30-45 seconds if you are using the microwave!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Insert toothpicks into marshmallows to use as a handle, and dip them in the melted chocolate.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kxq84kFbplZHeAeOF03qH2Cx5zX1TQSHrHg8Dmrg15afe7e1i7xJHbQwQweXccN-SifoCbVu9wdZcdtC4xUlTDuv4JjA70RSTulWZn0AEJEIu08K_yFX8lLkVWCBXLTo2vDrrMrCoLI/s1600/IMG_0601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kxq84kFbplZHeAeOF03qH2Cx5zX1TQSHrHg8Dmrg15afe7e1i7xJHbQwQweXccN-SifoCbVu9wdZcdtC4xUlTDuv4JjA70RSTulWZn0AEJEIu08K_yFX8lLkVWCBXLTo2vDrrMrCoLI/s400/IMG_0601.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720975960406681474" /></a>Let the excess chocolate drip off.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pcr-_WxfUoL_ML2hxNgOiqsQgrA6aFaZ2SQlvuU7mtCIQg4dkmgfUlvmMo0vnAyzTJY3wD9pukB7VSqYn8Nt8moUP549wY9wZD7KwvWonuZhMbz2LLa9SFwr9c759R723pHKa8Y66Hg/s1600/IMG_0603.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pcr-_WxfUoL_ML2hxNgOiqsQgrA6aFaZ2SQlvuU7mtCIQg4dkmgfUlvmMo0vnAyzTJY3wD9pukB7VSqYn8Nt8moUP549wY9wZD7KwvWonuZhMbz2LLa9SFwr9c759R723pHKa8Y66Hg/s400/IMG_0603.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720975816599678002" /></a>Put chocolate covered marshmallows on the chocolate side of the cookies, and gently pull out the toothpicks. Touch up any areas that need it with the melted chocolate.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let the cookies set until the chocolate is hardened. Tip: put the cookies in the fridge for quicker set-times. (about 15 min)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz75_d2NSr8GsDO4yeYs0WCW2vNiiSx85C_Etb9rsbbCZaPoghtMFwW9hqYarrr1jsIGM3g87u5SJtDVCBPwKa0c9KAD2vKJMnGhcIPgYGG-Seatk-nOKTp0PgH2_VexRtM8VUPQ6qhI/s1600/IMG_0605.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWz75_d2NSr8GsDO4yeYs0WCW2vNiiSx85C_Etb9rsbbCZaPoghtMFwW9hqYarrr1jsIGM3g87u5SJtDVCBPwKa0c9KAD2vKJMnGhcIPgYGG-Seatk-nOKTp0PgH2_VexRtM8VUPQ6qhI/s400/IMG_0605.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720975651753901122" /></a>Put remaining melted chocolate into a Ziplock bag, and snip a small hole in one corner to make it into a pseudo-icing bag. Pipe chocolate around base of marshmallow.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeDcB1FCRdFQskZ2_lBt1lIusNt_8jHib3v7354OZiFiQULUablRcxLNtTZ8s5OvMg2vcdzx5URvJglapwhA7jmCY3mMYb8yGsvCFePp1xFGsFNsB-d3qj82ZbMY5hMw24hdXveMOd9s/s1600/IMG_0609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWeDcB1FCRdFQskZ2_lBt1lIusNt_8jHib3v7354OZiFiQULUablRcxLNtTZ8s5OvMg2vcdzx5URvJglapwhA7jmCY3mMYb8yGsvCFePp1xFGsFNsB-d3qj82ZbMY5hMw24hdXveMOd9s/s400/IMG_0609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720974824137499698" /></a>Sprinkle the green sugar on the melted chocolate.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAO69vjbfVQ_wzNpgdmEeDOCtnqcAuqbNJqDWG_Cfdb1rfKK7zn2hmMoTE6gCZEMCKqb8ZFHfx177H3ocnZl_mqbOr4I5tz1d-OXMxWY27Zem-wIJ4vFqRwbs7lBtN1aSafsPpfDBuic/s1600/IMG_0612.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAO69vjbfVQ_wzNpgdmEeDOCtnqcAuqbNJqDWG_Cfdb1rfKK7zn2hmMoTE6gCZEMCKqb8ZFHfx177H3ocnZl_mqbOr4I5tz1d-OXMxWY27Zem-wIJ4vFqRwbs7lBtN1aSafsPpfDBuic/s400/IMG_0612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720974665119602594" /></a>Ta-Da! Little Leprechaun Hat cookies! (They are pretty good, too!)</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-59767766606081551512012-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:002012-02-21T06:00:16.769-08:00Felt Gumball Machine<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO8j3nLCcmgxWqyjIBXQwVi9nRxBs68nztaHF1Vi5i6WSKD4wVpOxXDITPCWaoA79aC0UkriWd0PKN3mFSo8D5GD2_EO-S3DnfG8WE-vnYtPPpwn8BTn5Hn_DhDtcRqE03CEOAPnfqEY/s1600/IMG_9524.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702151092207670530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiO8j3nLCcmgxWqyjIBXQwVi9nRxBs68nztaHF1Vi5i6WSKD4wVpOxXDITPCWaoA79aC0UkriWd0PKN3mFSo8D5GD2_EO-S3DnfG8WE-vnYtPPpwn8BTn5Hn_DhDtcRqE03CEOAPnfqEY/s400/IMG_9524.JPG" /></a><div>I made this felt gumball machine a few weeks ago for my middle son's fifth birthday. We used it as a game and played Pin the Gumball in the Machine, as pictured above. But since then, my two year old and I have had a good time with it as a learning game. (That is my two-year-old in the picture. So cute!)</div><br /><div>We have used it for colour recognition: "Let's put all the green gumballs on."</div><br /><div>Counting: "How many gumballs are there?"</div><br /><div>We've combined both concepts: "How many orange gumballs are there?"</div><br /><div>We've done simple math: "Three gumballs in the machine, now we'll put on two more. How many do we have? What if we take off a gumball?"</div><br /><div>We've made comparisons: "Are there more red gumballs or more yellow gumballs?"</div><br /><div>We've also made patterns with the gumballs as we put them on. "First blue then green, then blue, then green..."</div><br /><div>Who knew there were so many ways to learn and play with a felt gumball machine?</div><div>*PS: his favourite is when we play with it, and then gets a real gumball when we are done!*</div><div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-91786572885782143062012-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:002012-02-18T06:00:08.662-08:00Swirly Valentine's Cupcakes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9JRR93HFCAbXMr8iQFuKJEEJJgvq49ll92BEV9-Zv5WQSNdA6A2w73m-mduZIyfdsV3F0Qj_vQb7rhd9LjYBtL7neiFrtIzRXGnMvcqWTHwSlpZCDrIaIE3CGpEzU8q9ERaRlUrZfeg/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv9JRR93HFCAbXMr8iQFuKJEEJJgvq49ll92BEV9-Zv5WQSNdA6A2w73m-mduZIyfdsV3F0Qj_vQb7rhd9LjYBtL7neiFrtIzRXGnMvcqWTHwSlpZCDrIaIE3CGpEzU8q9ERaRlUrZfeg/s400/IMG_0234.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472451575105666" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Something pretty for Valentine's Day.</span><br /><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25kskgLb34V3enUmmFjnV__H_qkS1x2r5CW_FG3lFQTL58YCoBO6aEMxJ49IKw_EJKuk34M52X0tPs8kpF7RsSWL-P1aJid-1uxfveMJE1JwcI_XFhXY_mlNt_Gs_0syU9pH-g-zLPv0/s1600/IMG_0212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh25kskgLb34V3enUmmFjnV__H_qkS1x2r5CW_FG3lFQTL58YCoBO6aEMxJ49IKw_EJKuk34M52X0tPs8kpF7RsSWL-P1aJid-1uxfveMJE1JwcI_XFhXY_mlNt_Gs_0syU9pH-g-zLPv0/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472992843728418" /></a>To make cupcakes with swirls inside, make a batch of white cake batter, and add food colouring to half. We put pink in the bottom of half the cupcake wrappers, and white in the other half.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim74GzZwzB7A-6zyVMNB7u0u9I3s-0EQBC3y9HUdkTUM91CWMnwhWGDP58cs3aiT9kCUBDX3BGA2iic3wjlqLhLVp5_hiGms_nTjm1P0xHfejAftuGmhHhiJTt6lY121oIYSLqmzZ9ukU/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim74GzZwzB7A-6zyVMNB7u0u9I3s-0EQBC3y9HUdkTUM91CWMnwhWGDP58cs3aiT9kCUBDX3BGA2iic3wjlqLhLVp5_hiGms_nTjm1P0xHfejAftuGmhHhiJTt6lY121oIYSLqmzZ9ukU/s400/IMG_0213.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472862570149762" /></a>Then add the other colour on top of the first one.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfJzULIOOm3ggJ6Gp0RGnKaPw8zWOlLJHcJx0U-JbXr8IyxMCNtShcAinBtOh1eRLRXGnKIJRXotzXRLp0T2-Iam81m-Ea7-ouQ-KOAvXjqVMVTCZEGp8IeB9A64-n887DNJJzO_vQI0/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfJzULIOOm3ggJ6Gp0RGnKaPw8zWOlLJHcJx0U-JbXr8IyxMCNtShcAinBtOh1eRLRXGnKIJRXotzXRLp0T2-Iam81m-Ea7-ouQ-KOAvXjqVMVTCZEGp8IeB9A64-n887DNJJzO_vQI0/s400/IMG_0214.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472746152417330" /></a>Swirl them together with a toothpick.</div><div>Then bake and cool them as usual.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNinNvByh41zNPmzJwc4syVzw33qmX5kvOw86b_yjIeJ3ERWu1gy20lwaHU-eU91JUJkmK9SgfBMX4wSpNmdYK1JkV282-2dz3JKCeHnjLRs0qTGsjpsfhg_oZsWrCeG5pooutnebyX2Q/s1600/IMG_0231.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNinNvByh41zNPmzJwc4syVzw33qmX5kvOw86b_yjIeJ3ERWu1gy20lwaHU-eU91JUJkmK9SgfBMX4wSpNmdYK1JkV282-2dz3JKCeHnjLRs0qTGsjpsfhg_oZsWrCeG5pooutnebyX2Q/s400/IMG_0231.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472577146705042" /></a>To make swirly icing, we put pink and white icing in my decorating bag at the same time, and then piped it onto the cupcakes. So pretty. As a finishing touch, we added little heart sprinkles to the top. Cute.<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuNbrpNBMeQnnqHL4qvESDf55nF952y70z2l1tbUuU8qIZCDEUU8lxWVLJ3U8gGiSOV8fP0RkZhIqZmC7FNsLFWAqNk_QVuFZhW353FA3viH-JkAC4TW4tmepbtjZecHG22k4mgq9FHQ/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuNbrpNBMeQnnqHL4qvESDf55nF952y70z2l1tbUuU8qIZCDEUU8lxWVLJ3U8gGiSOV8fP0RkZhIqZmC7FNsLFWAqNk_QVuFZhW353FA3viH-JkAC4TW4tmepbtjZecHG22k4mgq9FHQ/s400/IMG_0233.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472307561890786" /></a>Here is our filled cupcake tower. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFZOYmOxRD79SrxP1dW7jTmH1xCCAnotjmfAJkopvvqhD7-Pr1ddewyF4_qixtq4urK2b8Hqo25_4e_KTwDS-BJI14Hkn2846P7HbMdkzaUlrdkDyGAiM_hQUlIsz-RD9mga0l4H5zJY/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFZOYmOxRD79SrxP1dW7jTmH1xCCAnotjmfAJkopvvqhD7-Pr1ddewyF4_qixtq4urK2b8Hqo25_4e_KTwDS-BJI14Hkn2846P7HbMdkzaUlrdkDyGAiM_hQUlIsz-RD9mga0l4H5zJY/s400/IMG_0246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709472092260939090" /></a>Last step: eat them up!</div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-9133616442364219082012-02-16T06:00:00.000-08:002012-02-16T06:00:14.354-08:00Simple Heart PuzzlesI made a very quick and simple game for us to play on Valentine's Day.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcFwGUG1epxmbT9ZhUu7Tx6VjSxjJfL5O65KitAcZ2v_J0GnYuVeUYXqSIUgSjxiRM6t0IPlRmJpUA8wKtlFfPscjoMDfLcGBsSRFwYb1UL-3RcwGB18XG0-8ccr7hyphenhyphenbp4NqDX77vDgI/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcFwGUG1epxmbT9ZhUu7Tx6VjSxjJfL5O65KitAcZ2v_J0GnYuVeUYXqSIUgSjxiRM6t0IPlRmJpUA8wKtlFfPscjoMDfLcGBsSRFwYb1UL-3RcwGB18XG0-8ccr7hyphenhyphenbp4NqDX77vDgI/s400/IMG_0223.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709470954586441794" /></a>I just made some hearts of different sizes from pink and red paper, then cut each in half. Done.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEvh8_g28jZ2Ko8GKlbEjUvn_-N0-ChpWEgxVK8vAcPpZeHZvEdq3VIiI36_jR4COLW9Z0K-smlK9dmZtpYuh5goxvkzQQrrcFBKhmO7ajJNdStj03UPnKOopJWiAPN9duE8NdwNK3IM/s1600/IMG_0224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEvh8_g28jZ2Ko8GKlbEjUvn_-N0-ChpWEgxVK8vAcPpZeHZvEdq3VIiI36_jR4COLW9Z0K-smlK9dmZtpYuh5goxvkzQQrrcFBKhmO7ajJNdStj03UPnKOopJWiAPN9duE8NdwNK3IM/s400/IMG_0224.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709470822082760626" /></a>My two-year-old did really well finding the pairs that went together.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u5FvJ5kNHboJfmSp316ZGrf6_Dbk30NOHQQY8a_-AQXhLKUx0NjjwUwSS3sfGxpIfJYaTpVvHjv3pnvywwxZEZblOrHImpmIhHfH4g0YnUOCaKi8K1KBmPoDsaI353Q422eFt98hWFc/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0u5FvJ5kNHboJfmSp316ZGrf6_Dbk30NOHQQY8a_-AQXhLKUx0NjjwUwSS3sfGxpIfJYaTpVvHjv3pnvywwxZEZblOrHImpmIhHfH4g0YnUOCaKi8K1KBmPoDsaI353Q422eFt98hWFc/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709470542645280546" /></a>Sometimes it was tricky to get the cut sections to line-up, </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK1TRZdXRl3s87FeJtgJ3i64iaAZ2T_8DZwyZKIHo3_lgHqLEUMKqCr0uW2fvjxiAVADoBsHkxv7HGACL_YwuKP0Y6zbFboPzhxwpZr9A3BtiRWQjQJBpZ6vm0-XCDMN5H7DRIyHMWAI/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivK1TRZdXRl3s87FeJtgJ3i64iaAZ2T_8DZwyZKIHo3_lgHqLEUMKqCr0uW2fvjxiAVADoBsHkxv7HGACL_YwuKP0Y6zbFboPzhxwpZr9A3BtiRWQjQJBpZ6vm0-XCDMN5H7DRIyHMWAI/s400/IMG_0228.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709470399918230946" /></a>But when he got it, he was so proud! (and so was I!)</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-23501367819468839142012-02-15T12:56:00.001-08:002012-02-15T12:59:18.651-08:00Heart BraidsIf you tilt your head to the side, you might see what my daughter's hair looked like on Valentine's Day.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Ri7C2AD7Q21C2cpH98VO8tsMfOibxXZ0qhoBDxfOLIFFkSOPH9oXYihkUWbnBOtecSg0n6DmmWxoSNntWkr7ETL4klxZpT0TX0lampFYJFhsE6YyZuLMNagKls2LLj9l-L8iVuM2HE/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_Ri7C2AD7Q21C2cpH98VO8tsMfOibxXZ0qhoBDxfOLIFFkSOPH9oXYihkUWbnBOtecSg0n6DmmWxoSNntWkr7ETL4klxZpT0TX0lampFYJFhsE6YyZuLMNagKls2LLj9l-L8iVuM2HE/s400/IMG_0207.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709469294165208786" /></a>I thought it would be fun to do something special with her hair, so I made a heart. I just started with a single pony-tail, and then divided the hair into two. I braided each of the two halves, and then to create the heart, I just formed a half-heart with each braid and bobby-pinned it into place. Easy, fast, and cute.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-2125412556340309982012-02-14T12:46:00.000-08:002012-02-15T12:56:05.898-08:00Chocolate Dipped Valentine's CookiesWe always make sugar cookies at Valentine's Day. Usually we decorate them with pink frosting and candies, and last year we turned our regular cookies into <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-for-classmates.html">cookie-pops</a>.<div><br /></div><div>This year, I added chocolate. Yum!<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN9l_DxAW0iRj3QQZ_e0VZyUKdl19KcAUwEMMg4EgxP7SkD4GXfySku42bsKVp_t4mqOR114zBwVTx1w-v0xlSx5P2sJ73jgP-PGRoPfK_1CgPDhwPLCSMGiZm3ENluoBsiKFwxxnRgg/s1600/IMG_0208.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN9l_DxAW0iRj3QQZ_e0VZyUKdl19KcAUwEMMg4EgxP7SkD4GXfySku42bsKVp_t4mqOR114zBwVTx1w-v0xlSx5P2sJ73jgP-PGRoPfK_1CgPDhwPLCSMGiZm3ENluoBsiKFwxxnRgg/s400/IMG_0208.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709466817345514546" /></a>To make them, I just make regular heart-shaped sugar cookies, and when they were cool, I dipped one half in melted chocolate chips. Tip: I set down each cookie on waxed paper until they chocolate set. Then clean up was just throwing away the waxed paper. Ta-da!</div><div><br /></div><div>I really liked the way they looked, (more of a grown-up cookie) and even more the way they tasted. To make them more kid-appealing, I sprinkled half of the cookies with Valentine sprinkles while the chocolate was still soft. </div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-88765118239314720352012-02-11T14:48:00.000-08:002012-02-11T15:01:58.062-08:00Family Literacy Day - The Dot<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJOrD7k661yqv33Ixw1n9gTrE8A0tvXNLb_gcdzRViRsKcnnZlZUsrNOpHwsZIVmtej8C1hcLigwAW17nRKf_4sasostJiOIHIS3z02QYtVohRfqYLKS5L2vQioRnaRYulwbEUsUjLaY/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJOrD7k661yqv33Ixw1n9gTrE8A0tvXNLb_gcdzRViRsKcnnZlZUsrNOpHwsZIVmtej8C1hcLigwAW17nRKf_4sasostJiOIHIS3z02QYtVohRfqYLKS5L2vQioRnaRYulwbEUsUjLaY/s400/IMG_0012.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708014614729872482" /></a>For Family Literacy Day a couple of weeks back, I chose to do <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Dot-Peter-H-Reynolds/dp/0763619612">The Dot</a> by Peter H. Reynolds. Can I even tell you how much I love this book? My son's teacher read it to his class last year, and he came home and told me about it. When I found it in a book store a few months later, I flipped through it, and bought it on the spot. It has since become a favourite with my oldest daughter.<div><br /></div><div>The book is about a little girl who is in art class, doesn't feel she has any abilities, and therefore refuses to participate. In a moment of frustration, she slams her marker on her paper, makes a dot, and hands it in to her teacher, who then frames it. Her confidence builds, and she explores her new talent, finding different ways to paint with dots. It is seriously great.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAttBFZkFH5Ut7TzM2sDFmjK8h6249mNV6ghCvQ8_cmLIhVdFXxyUJy29iFsgk1ATilLpYLdYy2vtSgIanQMP1cEC66HqrBHtu0vDSBkSwIx7I0TbnXiVUohBn6rH9TR2umpnzpcO2758/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAttBFZkFH5Ut7TzM2sDFmjK8h6249mNV6ghCvQ8_cmLIhVdFXxyUJy29iFsgk1ATilLpYLdYy2vtSgIanQMP1cEC66HqrBHtu0vDSBkSwIx7I0TbnXiVUohBn6rH9TR2umpnzpcO2758/s400/IMG_0018.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708014457359210482" /></a>For our activity, we did <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/q-tip-polka-dot-painting.html">polka-dot painting</a>.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCj43QNnKchxYarxbLkAtoi6EhnzprceiO2qvPCV1HVuAiXZ33QsghbDa_ouNm0AxOOseoAML7Z0IgS2ozrJBqzPryYp3XomQHERvnbENrSKsd-qRYFd4vlM6080WCmIIwNy9Ynyp81w/s1600/IMG_0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCj43QNnKchxYarxbLkAtoi6EhnzprceiO2qvPCV1HVuAiXZ33QsghbDa_ouNm0AxOOseoAML7Z0IgS2ozrJBqzPryYp3XomQHERvnbENrSKsd-qRYFd4vlM6080WCmIIwNy9Ynyp81w/s400/IMG_0014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708014309691259106" /></a>My girl was very meticulous, and made a beautiful picture all through using dots. It was a fun project for our literacy day.<br /><br /></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-78270540505671898552012-02-03T08:02:00.000-08:002012-02-03T08:15:06.951-08:00Groundhog's Day MaskWe had fun making a groundhog mask during our '<a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2010/12/one-on-one.html">Special Time</a>' yesterday afternoon.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3g8lxKffryl_9e5_CZ6kVJrW2viGoxJF0q_P8zxfsHRYa_kTHf-LuPwPyE-24F7PKDZKzcfjTVOIpqLzDETBmrTPFmjl4X8nEUdqM8b2IS8LBryS6gkfsTLo2pmi4uR63fJT_z0CLGc/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3g8lxKffryl_9e5_CZ6kVJrW2viGoxJF0q_P8zxfsHRYa_kTHf-LuPwPyE-24F7PKDZKzcfjTVOIpqLzDETBmrTPFmjl4X8nEUdqM8b2IS8LBryS6gkfsTLo2pmi4uR63fJT_z0CLGc/s400/IMG_0100.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704644948683319074" /></a>We used two small paper plates, (one for him and one for me) and painted them with light brown craft paint.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqe7vKarQViZHgU0eGNpSIiGjl4N3TFcGjgtGmKw9HHzLHt0eUXRkTSfoIv3ua3ANGSBzKyCDSVwAE1FZFU6e9f-8htLTwGmvq2Owi6dP3sL7hfuLCdc6rEtaMZezX6VUkGMdDYOmr_Q/s1600/IMG_0108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqe7vKarQViZHgU0eGNpSIiGjl4N3TFcGjgtGmKw9HHzLHt0eUXRkTSfoIv3ua3ANGSBzKyCDSVwAE1FZFU6e9f-8htLTwGmvq2Owi6dP3sL7hfuLCdc6rEtaMZezX6VUkGMdDYOmr_Q/s400/IMG_0108.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704644823315370770" /></a>After the light brown was dry, we used dark brown paint and a small paintbrush to create noses, whiskers and mouths on our groundhogs, and used glue and googly eyes to finish of their faces.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvzRFh1Fn_Avik3qJkoTb8ue5nQLdqmHdn1r9SnE6PK2tl30s6cqAUw49axJtV_3meSJ7E3HbjsEazsMdNh3mKxVTbaXOvhzat-O2R-fD-5VfiIFk6xi46zIRd5VPSgf2jas-A4eE9N4/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvzRFh1Fn_Avik3qJkoTb8ue5nQLdqmHdn1r9SnE6PK2tl30s6cqAUw49axJtV_3meSJ7E3HbjsEazsMdNh3mKxVTbaXOvhzat-O2R-fD-5VfiIFk6xi46zIRd5VPSgf2jas-A4eE9N4/s400/IMG_0105.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704644700533185746" /></a>Then I used a hole punch and some kitchen string to make them into masks we could wear. (This groundhog is mine. Are you amazed by my mad skills?)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_emzt3YERUP2dvdwfxFJULAObBP-8OtxKnEw923_iyiBM7DH8JkVHUvWhyphenhyphenGNb51Un01B-hmyynLk9rJDnnyvM0wS3xDU3T9wFgvKZBlQSTdHrqlFwdaCpmbgGGWPpam7uDl39AVnkyk/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_emzt3YERUP2dvdwfxFJULAObBP-8OtxKnEw923_iyiBM7DH8JkVHUvWhyphenhyphenGNb51Un01B-hmyynLk9rJDnnyvM0wS3xDU3T9wFgvKZBlQSTdHrqlFwdaCpmbgGGWPpam7uDl39AVnkyk/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704644542723133906" /></a>Then we put them on and pretended to be groundhogs.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WtobSzocvS8RGo5qDDwhrswe-K0Msb2vAgqSqDsZ9zogxh3mgiQYyiTPEgWqFgJLzBcVvv72NIjU41NC5X6trP43uBrIra96mO7SlBYmJERtWdBW_Mmwla153K0Xu1MYMX6fKSTHKlg/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WtobSzocvS8RGo5qDDwhrswe-K0Msb2vAgqSqDsZ9zogxh3mgiQYyiTPEgWqFgJLzBcVvv72NIjU41NC5X6trP43uBrIra96mO7SlBYmJERtWdBW_Mmwla153K0Xu1MYMX6fKSTHKlg/s400/IMG_0113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704644421554328178" /></a>Peek-a-boo!</div><div><br /></div><div>Just a little activity to mark the day, but we had fun being together.</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-35935429836464404412012-02-02T12:13:00.000-08:002012-02-02T12:32:01.450-08:00Last Minute Groundhog's Day Fun<div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div><div>Sometime 'smaller' holiday sneak up on me and I don't have much planned. Luckily, I have a few things tucked into my back pocket for just such occasions, one of which is including a song or two into our day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a couple little ditties that you can do with your kiddies in honour of Groundhog's Day, no prep time needed.</div><div><div><br /></div><div><u>Mr. Groundhog </u>(to the tune of Frere Jacques)</div><div><br /></div><div>Mr. Groundhog, Mr. Groundhog,</div><div>Are you there? Are you there?</div><div>Will you see your shadow? </div><div>Will you see your shadow?</div><div>On this day. Groundhog's Day.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>I'm a Little Groundhog</u> (to the tune of I'm a Little Teapot)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a little groundhog, furry and brown.</div><div>I'm popping up to have a look around.</div><div>If I see my shadow, down I'll go.</div><div>Six more weeks of winter, oh no!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEyVEmlmJvxwsflT3HO39CGVMLQIDM2J0_3Sx2OB04A4l0S0uChzgdEEqBoUNnp4tQW206RNOedWoby_mJtjEcRGVE34fbM0GW15NauLKA_OkalqwbD2R_XaXcze2Mp7Zo189T0HNZNQ/s1600/IMG_0097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEyVEmlmJvxwsflT3HO39CGVMLQIDM2J0_3Sx2OB04A4l0S0uChzgdEEqBoUNnp4tQW206RNOedWoby_mJtjEcRGVE34fbM0GW15NauLKA_OkalqwbD2R_XaXcze2Mp7Zo189T0HNZNQ/s400/IMG_0097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704635738471055474" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another quick and easy way to incorporate an activity into your day is to do a themed colouring page. A little visit to Google images, and you can find a printable colouring page for just about everything.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL5moiZDWJkeyR0jpEw3JMEvdxM2U2Jn9bsVE_NZo-9weM8qOXNbSgnGvNSakPJDWR717rkjHfkwOD73OrnH6ZexvfsP95X2ykAtRa1Q8ovkqFKqEMJ61-KO-ok-m1BJKNEcUvqPeXjI/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiL5moiZDWJkeyR0jpEw3JMEvdxM2U2Jn9bsVE_NZo-9weM8qOXNbSgnGvNSakPJDWR717rkjHfkwOD73OrnH6ZexvfsP95X2ykAtRa1Q8ovkqFKqEMJ61-KO-ok-m1BJKNEcUvqPeXjI/s400/IMG_0103.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704636195927334578" /></a><div>I also found a couple of printable Groundhog's Day word searches. There is an easier one <a href="http://www.dltk-kids.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/image/worksheets/b-wordsearch-easy-groundhog.gif">here</a> for preschoolers - kindergartners, and a harder one <a href="http://www.dltk-kids.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/image/worksheets/b-wordsearch-groundhog.gif">here</a> for grade level kids.</div><div><div><br /></div></div><div>Have fun!</div></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-79456411505636447652012-02-01T12:04:00.001-08:002012-02-01T13:35:28.534-08:00Candy Party<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdzenpDQdiRfZLCf447uMOORzMqvsVuXEPpWR9FU8xy48X4eZwqqbm7aKQGJEREw58Zo7RgijoZM6-phlONu8G0eUkyhMEKrMfxIoZNIQJRQH0-hHp7iL6_nHZAoJi5KlaPBVQsJgl-E/s1600/IMG_9521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdzenpDQdiRfZLCf447uMOORzMqvsVuXEPpWR9FU8xy48X4eZwqqbm7aKQGJEREw58Zo7RgijoZM6-phlONu8G0eUkyhMEKrMfxIoZNIQJRQH0-hHp7iL6_nHZAoJi5KlaPBVQsJgl-E/s400/IMG_9521.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265608803357394" /></a>Everyone in our family likes sugary treats. But our middle son LOVES them. I have never met a child who can eat candy the way this boy can. So when his birthday rolled around, I knew that a party featuring all his favourite sweets would be a hit with him. And was it ever! You can find our cute invitation <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/candy-party-invitations.html">here</a>, if you are looking for ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had my usual fun putting together the festivities.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Bags:</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B-bwqyqgN2crxwS89U0J_BR6cBHJbfC6nIvnXXx9HGp6VoK-VwLOvLzgzGV-p9x1vJPIaWgUprDJbG5OQUlnkby7aoTbVkFfsDRCryiF3W_CAy59qxPugEfkrxjA_BpRj-j7amwsj60/s1600/IMG_9522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B-bwqyqgN2crxwS89U0J_BR6cBHJbfC6nIvnXXx9HGp6VoK-VwLOvLzgzGV-p9x1vJPIaWgUprDJbG5OQUlnkby7aoTbVkFfsDRCryiF3W_CAy59qxPugEfkrxjA_BpRj-j7amwsj60/s400/IMG_9522.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265453737893698" /></a>I kept the treat bags simple, and just added 'I love candy' labels on vibrant paper bags. I used a larger bag than usual since at most of the games the kids would be adding to their treat bags as the party progressed. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Cake:</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUe1NtNu9uD-mgcahjTwDYa1QgI7-9Amx60Z7LepeKlZh6sHzQfyJR9-Akp0-ssVoYSo-tA3fDi1eTUXr480lnJFiUHSbDtp3uUVHN7jERJHM6ozWrCsmLCafzj2EZO4hp0nGorJVMBM/s1600/IMG_9531.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUe1NtNu9uD-mgcahjTwDYa1QgI7-9Amx60Z7LepeKlZh6sHzQfyJR9-Akp0-ssVoYSo-tA3fDi1eTUXr480lnJFiUHSbDtp3uUVHN7jERJHM6ozWrCsmLCafzj2EZO4hp0nGorJVMBM/s400/IMG_9531.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265335324567426" /></a>I saw my idea for this cake on <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a> and I loved it. I had planned on making a square cake and buying lots of bulk-bin candies and pressing them into the icing until the cake was completely covered in candy. And I still think that would have been cute. But when I saw the Pinterest cake, I dropped my plans and opted for this. All you do is bake your regular 9" double layer cake, and then after you spread on your icing, you press KitKat bars around the circumference. The KitKat bars are a little taller than the cake, making a nice 'bowl' on the top. Then I poured a party-sized bag of plain m&ms on into my KitKat bowl. The few extras I had, I just scattered around the edge of the cake plate, and I think that looked really sweet. I tied a little blue ribbon around the chocolate bars, which not only looked cute, but kept them from falling down. The only down side to this cake was that it was kind of expensive to decorate. It took 9 KitKat bars to make it around the whole thing, plus the bag of m&ms. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Decorations:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCglBzeGFcJL7NGaunGxYMsTCPVGtJYxAANe7fy0yVOkUdjv347sXZYf2bb-POLiK8WpVHvWOMMeqjmZJaE0ArMt5o1e3MpEEttCWiEHj2Z4UQWRdbgak4XVWU0Dm6LwRwEIZabaX20g/s1600/IMG_9542.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCglBzeGFcJL7NGaunGxYMsTCPVGtJYxAANe7fy0yVOkUdjv347sXZYf2bb-POLiK8WpVHvWOMMeqjmZJaE0ArMt5o1e3MpEEttCWiEHj2Z4UQWRdbgak4XVWU0Dm6LwRwEIZabaX20g/s400/IMG_9542.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265146814408434" /></a>I found ideas for decorating a Candyland party on the <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/">Family Fun </a>website, and while I wasn't throwing a party based on the game, the decorations were easily transferable. This candy is just a paper plate wrapped in cellophane. I made dozens of these in all different colours in an hour. Super cute, super easy.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJOafMcAtgntCul_fyssmiD6sbWRQuTa1eR07-lKrXtOhd-q-U-rVLs8H0i3a7oztLmqBPpDzLr1hyphenhyphen8a3vkiXUcWHXTMFaWbgocB6d9BpR3KCNMZJJKKO-YjuPdBo4uy-aPpkJkyduUk/s1600/IMG_9527.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJOafMcAtgntCul_fyssmiD6sbWRQuTa1eR07-lKrXtOhd-q-U-rVLs8H0i3a7oztLmqBPpDzLr1hyphenhyphen8a3vkiXUcWHXTMFaWbgocB6d9BpR3KCNMZJJKKO-YjuPdBo4uy-aPpkJkyduUk/s400/IMG_9527.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265020464437394" /></a>These over sized lollipop decorations were my favourite. I saved my wrapping paper tubes from this past Christmas and enlisted a couple of friends to save theirs for me too. Then my kids and I worked together to paint them white with just regular craft paint. I blew up assorted colours of balloons, and wrapped them up in cellophane, and voila! Lollipops! I had some in almost every room, and when the party was over a couple of kids asked if they could take one home. Ha!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Fun and Games:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><u>Chocolate Making</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW3r-k04MBeefMuEb1hXt10OVykKJIX8qt85k_yX9NmLAaxtBrV4-nVwE3D1vkNpD_R7woAci7hmJ4PIBmElurMm6knlDDoth-mvg0-AXLCCYhY6e8vmfV2XHc3GhGnxQzVgcLtJUfpA/s1600/IMG_9570.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUW3r-k04MBeefMuEb1hXt10OVykKJIX8qt85k_yX9NmLAaxtBrV4-nVwE3D1vkNpD_R7woAci7hmJ4PIBmElurMm6knlDDoth-mvg0-AXLCCYhY6e8vmfV2XHc3GhGnxQzVgcLtJUfpA/s400/IMG_9570.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704264830475824866" /></a>We did so many fun things! Our first was to turn our kitchen into a chocolate factory. I bought coloured candy melts at a bulk store and came home and melted them in individual bowls. I got a new package of children's paint brushes and divided them up. (Where possible, I tried to put a matching brush and chocolate together, (ie: red paint brush in the red chocolate) just to help the kids get the right brush back in the right bowl)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpTlxSKLyPTUstFKQhtVsgIE6TNr5At9kBd7DK9A7JGdgAu2BI_5kBIUh6XMWiQTZjf4rDIhi7lSjboTBgvbR4tFFT21zc2RssCQWwzb6UCxOESN4VBJQIrJ_iz2E9clvBhJap159e1E/s1600/IMG_9580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpTlxSKLyPTUstFKQhtVsgIE6TNr5At9kBd7DK9A7JGdgAu2BI_5kBIUh6XMWiQTZjf4rDIhi7lSjboTBgvbR4tFFT21zc2RssCQWwzb6UCxOESN4VBJQIrJ_iz2E9clvBhJap159e1E/s400/IMG_9580.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704264693609273362" /></a>At the same store, I purchased plastic candy molds. The kids all got to choose their molds, (some were butterflies, some dinosaurs, some flowers, etc) and then they used the melted chocolate to paint the inside of the molds however they wanted. Once they were done designing their treats, we filled the molds up the rest of the way with regular melted milk chocolate. We did this activity very first because I knew the chocolate would have to have time to set before we could pop them out and put them in their bags, and I didn't want them to not be able to take their creations home. It worked out well, and by the time parents arrived to pick up their kids, the chocolate was firm and ready to go.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Life-Sized Candyland Game</u></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MtawI83X8lhb-pngkh5_NkxrdHc1Fvo8ybC848zPlRKS6QoEZC4090rNvyXSaFNA4gDFQzFi9r0CDAE8l-z2rykFo4xZqswmzPKQdud9DSbFEOaAeNUOlzgHfHyCrWaCTLdoJhJaIPc/s1600/IMG_9584.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MtawI83X8lhb-pngkh5_NkxrdHc1Fvo8ybC848zPlRKS6QoEZC4090rNvyXSaFNA4gDFQzFi9r0CDAE8l-z2rykFo4xZqswmzPKQdud9DSbFEOaAeNUOlzgHfHyCrWaCTLdoJhJaIPc/s400/IMG_9584.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704264499942523586" /></a>For this game, I went to our craft cupboard and tore out all the colours of the Candyland game board, and then set one up in our home. It wound its way from the kitchen, through the living room, down the stairs, and ended in a great spiral in our play room. At the end of the game I had a bowl of candy popcorn balls, and when each child finished the course, they got to add one to their bag. To play, I just used the cards from our actual Candyland game, and the children themselves were the game pieces. </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Licorice Eating Contest</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7ChQhTdi67GTrFJN6KtLcsxxrpe6CPUGkN0Rnwtz0tdlbIOE-9UwnmQjJ6FPU3rL0khe2Cml65T9i5XA8DJqq4M5C5f3kamIdOC227pfX7QtVgwBxljWVUSjEg78rP-t6nSRUk9cPWA/s1600/IMG_9594.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7ChQhTdi67GTrFJN6KtLcsxxrpe6CPUGkN0Rnwtz0tdlbIOE-9UwnmQjJ6FPU3rL0khe2Cml65T9i5XA8DJqq4M5C5f3kamIdOC227pfX7QtVgwBxljWVUSjEg78rP-t6nSRUk9cPWA/s400/IMG_9594.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704264293966356466" /></a>In this game, the kids were put into pairs and given two strings of long, shoe-string-style red licorice. One partner first held up a strand, and the other had to eat their way up to the top of the strand. Then they switched and had a turn doing the other's role. The team that had both strings gobbled up the fastest was the winner.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Pin the Gum in the Gumball Machine</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7fxrCXpysyreHq1Fs3dUEWg2lqrSkF8JsmAbfAreoGFn3_Ecd90qAgdU9aFgu2OHdR3tOUSpQKbHHm5hpgRcLni58u1F-0ctTQCflKqyJvonkpcwqKgROobfIyvHE0R63MhCfDtci8s/s1600/IMG_9596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7fxrCXpysyreHq1Fs3dUEWg2lqrSkF8JsmAbfAreoGFn3_Ecd90qAgdU9aFgu2OHdR3tOUSpQKbHHm5hpgRcLni58u1F-0ctTQCflKqyJvonkpcwqKgROobfIyvHE0R63MhCfDtci8s/s400/IMG_9596.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704264081094541554" /></a>I made a basic, but very cute, gumball machine from felt and white glue. I cut out extra gumballs and the children were blindfolded and had to try to put their gum into the glass ball part of the machine. The great thing about this version of the classic game was that I didn't need any adhesive or tacks to attach their gum to the picture; the felt stuck on its own. (Funny side note - one little party guest saw the game waiting for us in the living room, marched over and was trying to figure out how to get a gumball to get out of the machine. He was trying to turn the felt dial and even asked me for some money to put in. Ha!)</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Candy Memory Game</u> - read how to make and play <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2012/01/candy-memory-game.html">here</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Chocolate Fondue</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zJzV_V50sXMqotMW0VzJUt6KwN1obQpN0sIMWF1QC4E5RzCXxO1-n99k1Ok4eMiN-wSjDQrIhajXX8Y1IPnnO5dYFHtgmUTtVSdgRbxXC1zkBAL9JHXivfYYa_pT8bl3cEnDdYuK8NY/s1600/IMG_9607.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zJzV_V50sXMqotMW0VzJUt6KwN1obQpN0sIMWF1QC4E5RzCXxO1-n99k1Ok4eMiN-wSjDQrIhajXX8Y1IPnnO5dYFHtgmUTtVSdgRbxXC1zkBAL9JHXivfYYa_pT8bl3cEnDdYuK8NY/s400/IMG_9607.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704263868051670002" /></a>This was a smash hit! I borrowed a chocolate fountain from a friend and set it up in the kitchen while my husband was managing the candy memory game. I served homemade brownie bites, and marshmallows, as well as the healthier options of strawberries and bananas. The kids went wild and ate until every last morsel had been dipped in warm melted chocolate.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Musical Candy Grab</u></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iniS3OcmR2YriRWtorr9CyJnSMup7fMRXiynoZj4uzD56izMQXzGmfVtj3eMgm-hHumSGtgTWBnb56NfHO5R1h2e57DXbqq1iqDXxPmoDqxb6sVkv2DatOWtE74THubdrUYp2O53pr0/s1600/IMG_9623.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iniS3OcmR2YriRWtorr9CyJnSMup7fMRXiynoZj4uzD56izMQXzGmfVtj3eMgm-hHumSGtgTWBnb56NfHO5R1h2e57DXbqq1iqDXxPmoDqxb6sVkv2DatOWtE74THubdrUYp2O53pr0/s400/IMG_9623.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704263612815450562" /></a>This game is kind of like musical chairs. I placed prizes in the center of a hula hoop, but only had a couple of bundles available, far less than the number of children playing. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkiu5ewkdLYTYUFpBY6S2M1TBFp6xJLjICohb5N2CVQjFOep-1u8i_G45yyddbbzE5bxctmxk33jDyouzQraOQLfphOOMFX_bNxo6aBIn-RmcIVAQ1an_9X0dJKXq_oLCzoxMfaG-sN0/s1600/IMG_9624.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkiu5ewkdLYTYUFpBY6S2M1TBFp6xJLjICohb5N2CVQjFOep-1u8i_G45yyddbbzE5bxctmxk33jDyouzQraOQLfphOOMFX_bNxo6aBIn-RmcIVAQ1an_9X0dJKXq_oLCzoxMfaG-sN0/s400/IMG_9624.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704263376552955362" /></a>We had them dance to the tune of the Oompa Loompa Song from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory movie, and when it stopped playing the kids had to scoop up a prize. If they were lucky enough to catch some treats, they were 'out' and put their bundle into their treat bag, and watched as the other children kept playing until everyone had won a prize. We played several rounds until everyone had won.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50TVzdai06YwIIjaGrdBSya0THXM5ItYu4cJVirce1Rlis3Jj9ZCxwh4HncfLsJ_zV0l8FxHR4loSOvtllqbPlknwqn-OcTCHIbbTA90rhAbj7Y36_XQV7Ce4nT2lSHLBIGYoSH7m2sM/s1600/IMG_9478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50TVzdai06YwIIjaGrdBSya0THXM5ItYu4cJVirce1Rlis3Jj9ZCxwh4HncfLsJ_zV0l8FxHR4loSOvtllqbPlknwqn-OcTCHIbbTA90rhAbj7Y36_XQV7Ce4nT2lSHLBIGYoSH7m2sM/s400/IMG_9478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704263208322316818" /></a>Since we were going to be playing the game to the tune of a Wonka movie song, I wanted the candy prizes to all be Wonka brand. These are what I found.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0X0pYA2lw8YSpBjdxdsBfGW_2iybDxSqV6BPB-FynOr2f90snFLWqLNfZ3pLM8PaSFWbZpNtmNabB7s3Qd5bs6zN0FZOmrggqkSDx9YD2ZKYEsKXsJWipzj1d6M4-ZmqXYGn0d_s1GY/s1600/IMG_9477.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0X0pYA2lw8YSpBjdxdsBfGW_2iybDxSqV6BPB-FynOr2f90snFLWqLNfZ3pLM8PaSFWbZpNtmNabB7s3Qd5bs6zN0FZOmrggqkSDx9YD2ZKYEsKXsJWipzj1d6M4-ZmqXYGn0d_s1GY/s400/IMG_9477.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704263069395067954" /></a>I piled them all up and held the bundles together with a length of polka dot ribbon. So cute! I made identical bundles for each child so that there wouldn't be any arguing or hurt feelings over not getting the one they wanted.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Lifesaver Pass</u></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6llShx_rhX6RSd6ZAbmHOCXD_z7XQo0vAOAqDh3ToyKxhDTU-Voq98JilBkmBqoOX1BrPjLIMfJyEC2kL4R41Y_Ff2EClcLhqmSGb6qkuZC-d28jTk5kr4nA_CbySo2locaZU8t1CVg/s1600/IMG_9628.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6llShx_rhX6RSd6ZAbmHOCXD_z7XQo0vAOAqDh3ToyKxhDTU-Voq98JilBkmBqoOX1BrPjLIMfJyEC2kL4R41Y_Ff2EClcLhqmSGb6qkuZC-d28jTk5kr4nA_CbySo2locaZU8t1CVg/s400/IMG_9628.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704262752977827618" /></a>I divided the kids up into two teams to make a race, and each child was given a lollipop to stick into their mouths. Then I slid a lifesaver onto the end of the lollipop stick of the first person in line, and they had to try to pass it down through their team. This was TRICKY but so funny to watch. After the game was over, they all got a package of Lifesavers to add to their stash.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Pixie Stix Drop</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4ZFhEil9Bpgcq9I8sTKDjE3d6PWVqCtrbowLUql0Px0Jxpuf4f_OFoTHxmkhc0sJFQcTM_USzVg3m5hXfilu90UUTkqzt4cYj7MxBwQT8gxq0qrdjknnG97NhrUZvYYUFTO_inuJZ4o/s1600/IMG_9802.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4ZFhEil9Bpgcq9I8sTKDjE3d6PWVqCtrbowLUql0Px0Jxpuf4f_OFoTHxmkhc0sJFQcTM_USzVg3m5hXfilu90UUTkqzt4cYj7MxBwQT8gxq0qrdjknnG97NhrUZvYYUFTO_inuJZ4o/s400/IMG_9802.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704262479085809602" /></a>This was just a slightly tweaked version of the traditional carnival game of 'clothespin drop.' The children were each given a pixie stix candy and they had to try to drop it into the milk jug at their feet . I had them hold the candy stick at face level before they dropped it to make it more challenging. No bending of knees allowed!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Gumball-in-Spoon Race</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KMCfD05ieyDq9-cFBvBhSLZNJ_S6-dNRgQiH8wQBmAjH0qYfFX5yzNe3ksJtjChyphenhyphenp1kxY1Iu0igge266p-hAWZjbYJioCeFmIhuyrjgeycfSEQh-NU7SBnbbmPpQZYRHpb6GAo4Lrfs/s1600/IMG_9640.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KMCfD05ieyDq9-cFBvBhSLZNJ_S6-dNRgQiH8wQBmAjH0qYfFX5yzNe3ksJtjChyphenhyphenp1kxY1Iu0igge266p-hAWZjbYJioCeFmIhuyrjgeycfSEQh-NU7SBnbbmPpQZYRHpb6GAo4Lrfs/s400/IMG_9640.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704262193375215170" /></a>Another classic game with a simple candy tweak. Everyone has played an egg-in-spoon race, we just substituted in gumballs for eggs. I gave each child a brightly coloured wooden spoon and a matching gumball. I thought that this way, should more than one gumball fall off and roll away, they could easily find which was theirs, and not mistakenly take another child's.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Candy Bingo</u></div><div><u><br /></u></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24mYT-6HhfwdwZDyTrKu6cEKmSOouOcsfOoutK4WWlpioTnbo-w5r35IgGQhR3WInc2XT9r1gs-__gfwNKKBh0zV2OFz5vOvz82S558nnZ_6BLbshWwBG_HyNqNSPeTkhskaeH7CFd-4/s1600/IMG_9539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg24mYT-6HhfwdwZDyTrKu6cEKmSOouOcsfOoutK4WWlpioTnbo-w5r35IgGQhR3WInc2XT9r1gs-__gfwNKKBh0zV2OFz5vOvz82S558nnZ_6BLbshWwBG_HyNqNSPeTkhskaeH7CFd-4/s400/IMG_9539.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704261910346221250" /></a>I made up these bingo cards, and replaced the word 'bingo' with 'candy.' It worked out nicely that they both had five letters. I only used numbers 0-10, so that the younger children could identify them when I called out. When we were ready to play, I passed out a handful of smarties chocolates and we used those for our markers. Then when the game was over, they all got to eat them. This game went well for most of the children, but there were a couple who weren't strong on their number or letter recognition skills and they needed some help to play.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Cake Time:</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNA-pDtiaLwSEIkM3v5mLvawlUYefOJugIAvVYj91UO4dAZENqdhqWw3a18_JJFxtxh_-gTW9BJeeTfN-DNpwG3bjxnynFs8Ad0WpKLHQGVfXmzEJESojoaYBAB0ayY9zyRCegNlonCvo/s1600/IMG_9661.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNA-pDtiaLwSEIkM3v5mLvawlUYefOJugIAvVYj91UO4dAZENqdhqWw3a18_JJFxtxh_-gTW9BJeeTfN-DNpwG3bjxnynFs8Ad0WpKLHQGVfXmzEJESojoaYBAB0ayY9zyRCegNlonCvo/s400/IMG_9661.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704261738400852514" /></a>The candles I used were so much fun. They actually burned with different colours of flames. The purple candle had a purple flame, the blue candle had a blue flame, etc. It was so great. One more candle tidbit - the layer of m&ms was so thick that the candles weren't really poking up very high about them, so I stuck them into some gumdrops and put those on the cake. You can't see them, but they are adding some height to my candles. Also in this picture, look at the chocolate milk the kids got to drink with their cake. I dipped the rims of the cups in melted chocolate, and then in sprinkles to give them a candy edge. I thought it was so festive and fun looking.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Candy Shop</u></div><div><u><br /></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dQtM0kLV_1YLpC_huw6cQDPopu3VX2j4I2ubdyb-ka5EldIALsLAfdtbWrVLFFnBXZWTW4IegPrkJ_WCEFEGe81RCjR2ic724lACN9z1C2rG36Q8qvS8qYA-QoaqOuj1bRYnMkd3M3k/s1600/IMG_9686.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dQtM0kLV_1YLpC_huw6cQDPopu3VX2j4I2ubdyb-ka5EldIALsLAfdtbWrVLFFnBXZWTW4IegPrkJ_WCEFEGe81RCjR2ic724lACN9z1C2rG36Q8qvS8qYA-QoaqOuj1bRYnMkd3M3k/s400/IMG_9686.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704261434598517266" /></a>I had gone to the bulk store and bought candy, candy, candy. Then I came home, filled up glass jars, and lined them all up on a little table to create my very own candy store. When the kids were done their cake and ice cream, they got to have a turn 'shopping.' They were given a plastic baggie, and told they could fill it up with as much of anything they wanted. I had jelly beans, gum drops, gum balls, sour cherries, lollipops, Giant Whirlypops, gummy worms, Smarties, Reese's Pieces, and licorice ready and waiting for them. Their eyes all got so big when they realized they could pick and choose and there wasn't a limit. Little hands started flying, grabbing fist-fulls of sugar as fast as they could!</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Pinata Time</u></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2klUReukL-40fJ3RnMA21h59xjHDWOrv8XqYvRJff1-oZwCFP-eQLM5jiGBH-kibVQ3w6fn2hFZ_yt_CfgBRQ35cTMeZC7LgSLE9pPu3qxAwqVEo41Ay0e8G4MiLaK-2q8I8wLArOPuI/s1600/IMG_9550.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2klUReukL-40fJ3RnMA21h59xjHDWOrv8XqYvRJff1-oZwCFP-eQLM5jiGBH-kibVQ3w6fn2hFZ_yt_CfgBRQ35cTMeZC7LgSLE9pPu3qxAwqVEo41Ay0e8G4MiLaK-2q8I8wLArOPuI/s400/IMG_9550.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704261180298435058" /></a>I always do a pinata for my children's parties. They love them. I have had parties where the pinata has been a very time-consuming effort to create something very complex. But not this time. It was a cinch to make a giant candy. Round balloon, paper mache, paint, cellophane. Done. The pinata, of course, was filled with more candy that went straight into their party bags.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Present Time:</u></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClRONtrNBLK-H2-g3DR1TrAaJ5eHdVrkeiOYKFc0i2OSeH5pp9n-e2XO4qi1LjjG2PIag5QWbO5FRf179LT-L1bIMuRPWk4YFdwhUAyWAVnU-WaH_pYyh-gS1LTu_qEz5dZSn0v3-aFI/s1600/IMG_9585.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClRONtrNBLK-H2-g3DR1TrAaJ5eHdVrkeiOYKFc0i2OSeH5pp9n-e2XO4qi1LjjG2PIag5QWbO5FRf179LT-L1bIMuRPWk4YFdwhUAyWAVnU-WaH_pYyh-gS1LTu_qEz5dZSn0v3-aFI/s400/IMG_9585.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704265925788441954" /></a>Our very last activity at parties is usually the gift opening. I do it last so that the birthday boy or girl doesn't get so distracted by their gifts that they just want to play with their new toys and ignore their friends, or don't want to participate in the party games. So while my son unwrapped his pile of presents, (people are so generous!) his friends opened up the bags they had been filling the entire party long, and munched on a few treats as they watched.<div></div><div><br /></div><div>It was a great party, and a huge success. He loved everything, and couldn't stop talking about it for days afterwards. </div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-17337657891748119902012-01-31T12:23:00.000-08:002012-01-31T12:33:30.461-08:00Family Literacy Day - Little PeaIt was Family Literacy Day a little while back and we had a good time together enjoying books and stories. Like <a href="http://makingmerrymemories.blogspot.com/2011/01/family-literacy-day.html">last year</a>, I went over to our bookshelf and chose a few of the kids' favourite books and came up with something fun to do with them that goes along with the story.<div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCchZiMJFnQGqx8G0WHqFWxY2rO2FIyeyY9UW_ggx5M_GBxiQ22tgjqepyxD66Hm3bUz5l9BfZPX-GRO0WREFDJHH2B7ia1-3oHCnL-s-nB3cpbTGpTzO3c43YmHu-QvGYrQ5CjEgVr3g/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCchZiMJFnQGqx8G0WHqFWxY2rO2FIyeyY9UW_ggx5M_GBxiQ22tgjqepyxD66Hm3bUz5l9BfZPX-GRO0WREFDJHH2B7ia1-3oHCnL-s-nB3cpbTGpTzO3c43YmHu-QvGYrQ5CjEgVr3g/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703895086839499314" /></a>For this guy, I went with Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, (a children's author who I am quickly developing a real love for). It is such a cute book. It is about a family of peas, and Little Pea who does not want to eat his dinner. And what is dinner when you are a pea? Candy!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNneX9DlLtAxW4MsOJ-OC1Z6sYypRZdz6jH88Oa7XyDEVQzAWLE8nN5nRUjv8TPsSXmzIN_VdeBFvde5EFeXTzAJWYBY89z1xjFc8LkxD-zQGp_dDpcU0ciRr-y1GNDHs-CnsX0BqYqI/s1600/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNneX9DlLtAxW4MsOJ-OC1Z6sYypRZdz6jH88Oa7XyDEVQzAWLE8nN5nRUjv8TPsSXmzIN_VdeBFvde5EFeXTzAJWYBY89z1xjFc8LkxD-zQGp_dDpcU0ciRr-y1GNDHs-CnsX0BqYqI/s400/IMG_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703894941567410114" /></a>After we read the book, I surprised them all with some sweet treats. Including giant lollipops! (Don't they look like happiness made out of sugar?)</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCa1I45Hwy-7YIgfRtfNYelbNvj_WsWKZL3ULvmFQ6jKgFgrqzr-BFUXNrSG0Zx7MhWPSx7em64LA68nMbwwU8vLYtc4Un7goi28cbxrHspuQHHmSrv0i6adBgH3AA8AwDUfJkEuw0nc/s1600/IMG_0010.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCa1I45Hwy-7YIgfRtfNYelbNvj_WsWKZL3ULvmFQ6jKgFgrqzr-BFUXNrSG0Zx7MhWPSx7em64LA68nMbwwU8vLYtc4Un7goi28cbxrHspuQHHmSrv0i6adBgH3AA8AwDUfJkEuw0nc/s400/IMG_0010.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703894836526457122" /></a><br />I also handed out fist-fulls of gummy bears, a family favourite. </div><div><br /></div><div>Who wouldn't love to read when the rewards are so <i>sweet</i>? (Ha-ha)</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-16644343088218854682012-01-30T12:45:00.000-08:002012-01-30T12:50:06.195-08:00Q-tip Polka-dot PaintingWinter months involve lots of crafting and art projects around here. We recently had fun with some 'polka-dot' painting. <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFpGSiKUKrM0PzUaWUETW63m6xVpdpBSGJpSi9WOgbu9Le8_AObY7gAESAHyNhZI8qP_vnSW99hw2B6m2dDZ_E5PmRtXaSnlFxQDsjnsYmacd5LWhLtibNq62zmLovl7iaYlJc8oNl_8/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEFpGSiKUKrM0PzUaWUETW63m6xVpdpBSGJpSi9WOgbu9Le8_AObY7gAESAHyNhZI8qP_vnSW99hw2B6m2dDZ_E5PmRtXaSnlFxQDsjnsYmacd5LWhLtibNq62zmLovl7iaYlJc8oNl_8/s400/IMG_0024.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703529487063461922" /></a>When we do this activity, I use Q-tips and have one for each colour, since they don't rinse off well to move into another paint pot.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2VGWJ_AQt0ZygL5DQgEEBOWAnJsGPVcLjlYaYhbpFdGRDfEN_Bpe48Gweoe6_bMVzRqQ4zNMlQ8zp-enz2p2i1PqRU-jihboNZjl7vJnillIHu6XWlS5C-GLQNVPVC8uyMjbz0ZOahg/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo2VGWJ_AQt0ZygL5DQgEEBOWAnJsGPVcLjlYaYhbpFdGRDfEN_Bpe48Gweoe6_bMVzRqQ4zNMlQ8zp-enz2p2i1PqRU-jihboNZjl7vJnillIHu6XWlS5C-GLQNVPVC8uyMjbz0ZOahg/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703529369737941186" /></a>Then we paint pictures, but instead of using strokes, as with a normal brush, we dab the Q-tip to make dots.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i6bHx0JGufeEZdCHN541wecLJAPRJV45XpBWN4FOL-RDUEi6u-wiuk042yMfOuRtg7icj0Q2us7tairMVTCdb-HS2LkIJvmSgOkRLUdGD1uc7-4s3w0GVIwncYIo0M5WAVJL5N-FXa4/s1600/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i6bHx0JGufeEZdCHN541wecLJAPRJV45XpBWN4FOL-RDUEi6u-wiuk042yMfOuRtg7icj0Q2us7tairMVTCdb-HS2LkIJvmSgOkRLUdGD1uc7-4s3w0GVIwncYIo0M5WAVJL5N-FXa4/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703529241739880898" /></a>This was his picture: "A blue man with red hair under the sky"</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-37022397933612431572012-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-30T11:51:30.299-08:00School Lunches - Part 4: Fun with Fruit<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; ">Packing fruit in with the kids' lunches is a given, but that doesn't mean I can't try to be a little creative with it!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are a few things I've done:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Idea #1: </b>Kabobs. This is a great way to use up the 'scraps' you may have in the fridge. And they look so fun and colourful. A great switch from the eternal apple slices. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPWgtBlQpwaLfLPuvrItpoQUov8K3Dk_15yQ-zUIs8mc6Bej8EtQNl04sH4Tz4zYgep-K6UvsqDV6SxRYT4hjLX1W9n3RxbVf_n4K8uNZqN9yR7NpqQSkDxpDbco1ILcJbg5CnikNUY/s1600/IMG_8555.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOPWgtBlQpwaLfLPuvrItpoQUov8K3Dk_15yQ-zUIs8mc6Bej8EtQNl04sH4Tz4zYgep-K6UvsqDV6SxRYT4hjLX1W9n3RxbVf_n4K8uNZqN9yR7NpqQSkDxpDbco1ILcJbg5CnikNUY/s400/IMG_8555.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662689784775932626" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Idea #2: </b> Variety! This is a biggie. Just changing what fruit they get every day is a big help in getting them to eat it. I totally understand. I don't want to eat the same food four days a week either. So when I go grocery shopping, I try to get as much of the seasonal fruit as I can. Maybe one day, the kids will have a little container of grapes, the next slices of kiwi, the next some melon balls, and the next a pear. Variety is a big deal. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Idea #3: </b>Slice them up differently. Just having it look different than it always does can inspire kids (and grown-ups!) to eat more of it. </div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItpnF3ZNhOXYQmdvWF8qpKzmUwAExe3xA5woPdGFNebM_ilTOoG5QOdiuiAVSoOsGd3686Do862YM4PXcSkj-XzDy05Cmj8Cr542L7GjhdrPXSQxFrb0k-0iAY_Qq73mZ-l2U7CP2etU/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItpnF3ZNhOXYQmdvWF8qpKzmUwAExe3xA5woPdGFNebM_ilTOoG5QOdiuiAVSoOsGd3686Do862YM4PXcSkj-XzDy05Cmj8Cr542L7GjhdrPXSQxFrb0k-0iAY_Qq73mZ-l2U7CP2etU/s400/IMG_0026.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703514236571987346" /></a>Two ways to pack strawberries: whole, or sliced.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindhNLX9oES8qe99bXwd2ySKZKulISDBkuuvsPczxDOt4nIX0M9yuvdX-2qwBpF8ygsW1Ts0hTcKmBv1Cj0QOZlzO0VPK8QSmKp5bMBcrzi_6k5-YqUg77uzRpmAOghou0d0MO0fy7O94/s1600/IMG_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindhNLX9oES8qe99bXwd2ySKZKulISDBkuuvsPczxDOt4nIX0M9yuvdX-2qwBpF8ygsW1Ts0hTcKmBv1Cj0QOZlzO0VPK8QSmKp5bMBcrzi_6k5-YqUg77uzRpmAOghou0d0MO0fy7O94/s400/IMG_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703514081105809426" /></a>Orange wedges, orange circles.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Idea #4:</b> The magic banana! This is so fun. I actually read this in a book of kids magic tricks and thought it would be great to do in their lunches. Take your regular banana, and a clean pin. Poke the pin through the peel, and sweep it back and forth a few times to cut across the banana, without letting it poke out the other side. Repeat at 1" intervals all along the fruit. Then when your kids peel the banana, it will be sliced and they will wonder how you did it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Idea #5: </b>Dippers. I don't like to do this too often, since dips are generally sweet extras, but once in a while it is fun to include a fruit dip for them. A few of my favorites are: </div><div><br /></div><div><u>Honey - Lemon:</u></div><div><br /></div><div>1 carton (6 oz) lemon yogurt</div><div>1 package (8 oz) cream cheese</div><div>1 tablespoon honey</div><div><br /></div><div>Combine in a blender until smooth. Serve with sliced fruit. Store extra in refrigerator. (but there won't be any extra!)</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Marshmallow:</u></div><div><br /></div><div>1 jar (7.5 oz) marshmallow fluff</div><div>1 package (8 oz) cream cheese</div><div><br /></div><div>Combine until smooth. Hint - have the cream cheese quite soft before you make this. Serve with sliced fruit. Store extras in refrigerator. (but again, you probably won't have any left!)</div><div><br /></div><div>For a no-work required, (and healthier) dip, just include a small container of yogurt and they can dip with that too. And since I'm not a huge fan of the chocolate-hazelnut spreads, I've never included that, but I'm sure there are kids who would love to dip in a little cup of that! And hey, as long as they're eating the fruit, right?</div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-3700081116199170302012-01-29T12:58:00.000-08:002012-01-30T11:25:40.786-08:00Joy School - FishCarrying on with our Animal Kingdom unit in Joy School, our next focus was on fish.<div><br /></div><div><b>Lesson:</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4X99P6Iw380CXS1nxO0YnRhjsb7HwY44Ss0WzxpzuKwjdGhZ9CQQkJjZYNfgBKFcN392nobP3dj-jeozkQwDZ0Fx9EA9x2y4ZaTx7qo6bSuQZuU-K8NUMtvLbn15ZeRMwyr1hFNBqGw/s1600/IMG_8834.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4X99P6Iw380CXS1nxO0YnRhjsb7HwY44Ss0WzxpzuKwjdGhZ9CQQkJjZYNfgBKFcN392nobP3dj-jeozkQwDZ0Fx9EA9x2y4ZaTx7qo6bSuQZuU-K8NUMtvLbn15ZeRMwyr1hFNBqGw/s400/IMG_8834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482835586808370" /></a>This Joy School mother found a book at our local library called 'Do You Know About Fish?' It was a great basic introduction, and she used it for the basis of her lesson. We learned that fish need to live in water, they have gills to breath, they move with fins, a group of fish is called a school, and that fish come in a lot of forms. We looked at some pictures of truly strange looking fish and learned about some really amazing ones that live very deep in the ocean.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Music Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5mxA7XzJPzvg9lf5md97VKLV-yEBmN8_cYL9YEhMfUbTLE6t6UIHgGnSCxrGIQsVC67BlhS3Rdoa1q4J6x-slSuujMXvhJ5BWjFMQYTNT_WbwygIPyQVuPfmAu267ABhskrE8E-UDAo/s1600/IMG_8841.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt5mxA7XzJPzvg9lf5md97VKLV-yEBmN8_cYL9YEhMfUbTLE6t6UIHgGnSCxrGIQsVC67BlhS3Rdoa1q4J6x-slSuujMXvhJ5BWjFMQYTNT_WbwygIPyQVuPfmAu267ABhskrE8E-UDAo/s400/IMG_8841.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482594676212258" /></a>We sang Five Little Fishes, and did the number rhyme of 1,2,3,4,5 - Once I caught a fish alive.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Art Time:</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqsp_7lYr5rRv6vR9UU1xuCWcre9KF2Kj3_WvzG8zGdfGPAtryT7cx6Aec2NfhoySx2M1xUADBWRadZOY1gTCjXb8Mov-kcofzdaTK-TNeyj7InniygZOpowatlR-2AVx3uAcDi01mNA/s1600/IMG_8848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqsp_7lYr5rRv6vR9UU1xuCWcre9KF2Kj3_WvzG8zGdfGPAtryT7cx6Aec2NfhoySx2M1xUADBWRadZOY1gTCjXb8Mov-kcofzdaTK-TNeyj7InniygZOpowatlR-2AVx3uAcDi01mNA/s400/IMG_8848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482427079175778" /></a>Our host had found a great colouring page with a fish bowl and five fish down the side. The fish were all numbered and the numbers were in different colours, so the children got to match their crayons to the numbers to colour their fish. Then they coloured the fish bowl. The last step was to cut out the fish and glue them into the bowl. My little man doesn't usually have a lot of patience for this type of project, but he was really into this one and did every step with care. It was fun to watch him.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Snack Time:</b></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistdpa2VVlFz1u-z74GimoFMBbOxU0kssBmaWZ7lSBQfhdbcpZQqKBP6R1NF1dX_xVJkydhdKpf8yZsrH1dkNI9acfNoVMPBQ9uIXXT-k8LOa_U_LLge_RLIAuvtQRQyKXDhyphenhyphenj82l4_iU/s1600/IMG_8853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistdpa2VVlFz1u-z74GimoFMBbOxU0kssBmaWZ7lSBQfhdbcpZQqKBP6R1NF1dX_xVJkydhdKpf8yZsrH1dkNI9acfNoVMPBQ9uIXXT-k8LOa_U_LLge_RLIAuvtQRQyKXDhyphenhyphenj82l4_iU/s400/IMG_8853.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482246991871506" /></a>We enjoyed some goldfish crackers, an obvious choice and a kid favourite.</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubGiyRJwxel0S6UW0b0Uxh2XtxQvvv2bXx9LGJtuc62Pl_8wX7qMBNCXc8IS-tetP7V8sxz0Uv7c17WHva8kwL-YRrwMgig8PAyD_rgK9tTx4qRXDHDO2BzZN2_TvX5HCeqwm8xMm4w/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCubGiyRJwxel0S6UW0b0Uxh2XtxQvvv2bXx9LGJtuc62Pl_8wX7qMBNCXc8IS-tetP7V8sxz0Uv7c17WHva8kwL-YRrwMgig8PAyD_rgK9tTx4qRXDHDO2BzZN2_TvX5HCeqwm8xMm4w/s400/IMG_8856.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482130050333698" /></a>Then we tried eating some tuna fish on crackers. This went over great with some of the kids, who had multiples, but not so much with others. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Story Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFswTrKIqNsgloi0ptJQAbDOyoByB4Hwhrau7SY7GD-YTvou0_J91mDEVAsk6k5o2WLjcVwz3_q4jMASYBDp7Gdh5kLwbr0BbnFPeSVgt6UQNnLl-h99HuohFalZukD-86LvPy6Tn68M/s1600/IMG_8850.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFswTrKIqNsgloi0ptJQAbDOyoByB4Hwhrau7SY7GD-YTvou0_J91mDEVAsk6k5o2WLjcVwz3_q4jMASYBDp7Gdh5kLwbr0BbnFPeSVgt6UQNnLl-h99HuohFalZukD-86LvPy6Tn68M/s400/IMG_8850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696482013884350402" /></a>We read <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Rainbow-Fish-Marcus-Pfister/dp/1558580093/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327951341&sr=8-1">The Rainbow Fish</a>. It was a very cute story, too.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Craft Time:</b></div><div><b><br /></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNKUMXhmQlnJvYZrwqT12ReBfSuSURSaEnbwIwszby2Lt9TKfRX9v-i-7SCcde1YnEKLEqbbTZBk0uxcTqUnxybCHvDggpBQ4JMAhP1VqETG9FZwpQsqkmQFo_iRI1QKk-Sc3ihqwrqE/s1600/IMG_8859.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNKUMXhmQlnJvYZrwqT12ReBfSuSURSaEnbwIwszby2Lt9TKfRX9v-i-7SCcde1YnEKLEqbbTZBk0uxcTqUnxybCHvDggpBQ4JMAhP1VqETG9FZwpQsqkmQFo_iRI1QKk-Sc3ihqwrqE/s400/IMG_8859.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5696481879165469826" /></a>We made our own rainbow fish! We made a fish-shaped frame from construction paper, and then put it on a sheet of clear mac-tac. (shelving paper). The kids got to choose all sorts of colourful tissue paper to go inside, and then we sandwiched it shut with another sheet of mac-tac. The kids then cut around the fish to get rid of the extra mac-tac, and they were left with a very cool looking rainbow fish.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872042170261743471.post-10559938844985878482012-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:002012-01-28T06:00:03.095-08:00Candy Party Invitations<div style="text-align: left;">When I started planning my son's candy birthday party, the very first thing I thought of was how I wanted to do the invitations. I love this invitation, and if I was a kid, I'd love to get one!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While his party wasn't a 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' party, per say, there is no denying that the Wonka world is a big part of child's sweet shop fantasy. So playing off the Golden Ticket idea from the book, we made our own Wonka Bars with tickets inside.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYHNOAHCsS_CayMkcTYXNYLHn_JS7tuFStD_sOkq1ZEwOHsvjQU5uUN1nIDNkTovg6k_FWBQ-rTwp-WbPp_Gv3hNMscYwP3Zet458FHceUcdwJArXIvPdDl0O3iI8dUouFaybXe9S3Yk/s1600/IMG_9461.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702153990967957730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYHNOAHCsS_CayMkcTYXNYLHn_JS7tuFStD_sOkq1ZEwOHsvjQU5uUN1nIDNkTovg6k_FWBQ-rTwp-WbPp_Gv3hNMscYwP3Zet458FHceUcdwJArXIvPdDl0O3iI8dUouFaybXe9S3Yk/s400/IMG_9461.JPG" /></a>I wanted our bars to look like the classic ones in the original movie, so I printed off these Wonka wrappers. I bought Caramilk bars to wrap them around, because Caramilk uses gold foil on their bar and I thought it would look better.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44Mvdtn8nRUJVExab53Vfre21Gzvyf_MtN1zqVl4KgkOxsyHUdtGb8-JmHCUj0mIHVktFPpx9u_Y8R7vpUP8XViEhAJLTZX0rZhNpBq4mh3mrXVg_pl1LypMMOs0AGP74ygIfs8bhm_Q/s1600/wonka_ticket_blog.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44Mvdtn8nRUJVExab53Vfre21Gzvyf_MtN1zqVl4KgkOxsyHUdtGb8-JmHCUj0mIHVktFPpx9u_Y8R7vpUP8XViEhAJLTZX0rZhNpBq4mh3mrXVg_pl1LypMMOs0AGP74ygIfs8bhm_Q/s400/wonka_ticket_blog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702435838600692946" /></a>Then I found an image of a golden ticket from the movie online and with a little Photoshop magic, we tweaked it to invite the kids to the birthday party, rather than a factory tour.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNebafcE4KvlzfVNLcQVh-6EIhxACSGLrvRb0BW0FH1Jk5y7CrzPGlA8JRo3XV4ltchyphenhyphenVxHruzNdwkBFo7Xl88KShel3dpPVrQM9A35eX4V_FzaFC0PkliT31OWiBPuqrDvKV4O4sXD0/s1600/IMG_9465.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702153682443020178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNebafcE4KvlzfVNLcQVh-6EIhxACSGLrvRb0BW0FH1Jk5y7CrzPGlA8JRo3XV4ltchyphenhyphenVxHruzNdwkBFo7Xl88KShel3dpPVrQM9A35eX4V_FzaFC0PkliT31OWiBPuqrDvKV4O4sXD0/s400/IMG_9465.JPG" /></a>I took off the Caramilk paper, and wrapped the ticket around the gold foil.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVmWsNSDrGWyYHldntq0c592csceSO5-rArc0UnHEMDyxuA0GE55ILzZ4JQ_j8zLP0DVpwm8GYiTzFr-PrmqoIya8qjSNg7oFxV15lbECEsb2SP-OZM9GNJyl4j8SLczi1YcxgszuQaQ/s1600/IMG_9468.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702153570796293138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVmWsNSDrGWyYHldntq0c592csceSO5-rArc0UnHEMDyxuA0GE55ILzZ4JQ_j8zLP0DVpwm8GYiTzFr-PrmqoIya8qjSNg7oFxV15lbECEsb2SP-OZM9GNJyl4j8SLczi1YcxgszuQaQ/s400/IMG_9468.JPG" /></a>Then wrapped and taped the Wonka wrappers into place. Perfect. They looked exactly like the bars in the movie and I just loved them. And how happy would you be to get a chocolate bar with your invitation? So great.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05618406109447187879noreply@blogger.com4