Simon is 4!

Every time we put together one of the kids parties, I think to myself, how are we going to top this one! Each party seems to get more and more creative and oftentimes involve more and more work on our parts. However this was probably one of my favorites and the best part...it was inexpensive and was fairly easy to put together. I think the simplicity of it was a hit among the kids and also allowed us to move through the party quickly and keep all of their attention. I shouldn't say it was simplistic because we packed a lot of games and activities in, but it didn't require much effort ton our parts. Just a few creative ideas and a steady execution. Simon's 4th Birthday party took place in outer space, which was in our basement. I painted glow in the dark planets and cut out white starts to tape everywhere. Thomas constructed an awesome spaceship made out of some 2x4s and cardboard boxes...everything we had laying out in our garage. He painted it with glow in the dark paint and outlined it with a highlighter. We looked on you tube for some fun games and came up with a few really innovative party activities! One involved air cannons, aliens, and a fog machine. Thomas made 5 air cannons for the kids to use to shoot air at aliens that had invaded (made out of paper cups with neon pipe cleaners) The parents all made one and put them on their head. The kids filled their cannons with fog, aimed and fired at their parents trying to knock over the aliens. It was a hit! The parents even liked the playing with the cannons and watching the fog rings shoot out of them. The next activity was holding moon bubbles made out from dry ice! So easy and so entertaining. Thomas put dry ice in a container with a tight fitting lid and warm water. The container had a tube coming out of it with an attachment that he put in a bubbles and the bubbles filled with dry ice. They were so fun to play with. The kids put gloves on (otherwise the bubbles pop) and walked around holding their moon bubble. Its a neat effect when they pop, spilling dry ice everywhere. NExt we made slime with a simple recipe of glue, water and borax! So fun and so easy. This was a hit and of course an alien piñata that the boys and I had made earlier that week! It was a great party and after the kids had enjoyed enough cake and astronaut ice cream to last them a week or more, they were all pooped and ready to go home! Thomas and I feel like we need vacations after we throw these parties, but they are well worth all the thought and planning that goes into them. But once again, what next? Can we keep up the trend?

Outer Space in our basement

Alien Invaders

The Birthday Boy and his Rocket Ship cake

Making moon bubbles

Air Cannons

The Spaceship

Glowing Goggles

The Alien Piñata

Making Slime

Winter Fun

I remember a conversation we had a while ago at the front of our decision making process for homeschooling in which Thomas was very adament that should we decide to homeschool, we would most certainly incorporate "snow days" into our year. I hadn't even thought of that before and admittedly, coming from sunny California, I would have to say that they weren't something I was planning on incorporating into our shcooling year. I happily agreed that we would take some days off when the snow was fresh and the sun was out so that the kids could enjoy all the pleasures that all kids get to growing up in the Midwest, and so that Thomas could reminesce and enjoy his trip back to elementary school as well. As for snow days this winter, we've had few until this past week. The snow really came down and we couldn't pass up the chance to...

Build a Snowman

Finished Product

Make snow angels

Have a snowball fight

All of which was enjoyed without their little bother Samuel who has clearly let us know that he is not into the snow...yet! Samuel and I watched from the window inside and he was having just as much fun (in his mind) cheering them on. So it goes, I logged our first official "snow day" for the year 2012/2013! It will go down in the record book as Ethan's very first day off of school in which Daddy came home from work to play with the boys out in the snow. Very fun! After the kids have been out in the snow for an extended period of time, our favorite thing to do is to come inside and enjoy a cup of hot cocoa together. They LOVE this and never forget to ask! We typically curl up on the couch with hot cocoa in hands (I know, a bit risky but worth the risk involved) and read a stack of picture books while sipping. I will so miss this someday!

Together on the couch (no cocoa this time)

A favorite winter indoor activity; Lego Day!

Not Sure if older 2 are crying or laughing but I love Samuel's expression

As the weather begins to warm, we are starting to make plans for Simon's space adventure party! He's pretty excited and Thomas and I have been brainstorming some fun ideas! I don't think we'll take it as far as having a slide down going down into our basement but there might be a lot of slime involved AND a rocket launcher! More to come...