Lego Birthday Party!

I think it's about time I get a post up here about Kid's Lego Party!

We had a blast! It wasn't complicated and it wasn't very structured. Basically the kids just played a lot between presents and cake.

The decorations were very inexpensive and simple but I loved how they turned out.

I went to the local dollar store and I bought a couple plastic, disposable table cloths, blue, green, yellow. I also bought packages of paper plates that were the same shades.

Then I hung the table cloths on the wall, all together, and taped the plates on so they looked like Large Lego's. I LOVED the effect and received a number of compliments. I only used a few plates for each "Lego" and was able to use the rest for the party food.

If I had a printer (How do I not have a printer??) I would have printed out the word "LEGO" in my Lego font and pasted it inside each plate.


For weeks before the party I was saving empty boxes. When we finished off the pop tarts or the spaghetti noodles or the cake mix I tossed the empty box in a basket for later.

I purchased two packages of construction paper (also at the dollar store) and a few rolls of tape. I then wrapped all of those empty boxes in construction paper. J's cousin came over one night and helped me cut out a staggering number of little circles and we taped those onto the boxes.

Viola! Lego's!

They're not perfect but they turned out really cute! I used the basic Lego colors, orange, green, blue, red, yellow and black.

It took a lot of tape to put these together, for a couple reasons. One, the tape I bought was cheap. Two, Construction paper is stiff. Three, I wanted to make sure it stayed together.

I cut out little pieces of thread, tied them in loops and taped those to the back of the boxes. This took a LOT of tape because the thread slipped right out of some of them. Here you can see the massive tape use in those pictures.

Anyway, I used the thread loops to hang the Lego boxes from the ceiling.

Again, I LOVE the way these turned out. They took a LOT of time and a LOT of cutting of little circles and taping them on but it was totally worth it!

The cake.

Originally I had intended to just make a basic rectangle cake and add either cupcakes, marshmallows or Oreo's to the top to look like a Lego. But, for some reason I wasn't really into that idea. Then, one day while surfing the web I had an epiphany.

I baked two box cake (Yes, I used the box) mixes in round pans. When they were cool I shaved off the rounded top so they were all flat. Then I piled them on top of each other with layers of frosting (That I made myself.) in between them.

I used the rounded pieces that I had cut off for the top. I simply cut a small circle out of the middle of them and stacked them as well.

Looking at it when it was done I sort of wished I had made another cake mix to make it a little higher. But, either way, I really like how it turned out.

While surfing Pinterest (I'm addicted) I came across what looked like a great idea! It was harder than it looked but totally worth it.

I purchased about ten stage 2 jars of baby food. The cheapest I could find was prunes at $.40 a jar. I also grabbed some applesauce. (Kid ate a couple of jars of the applesauce. Haha.)

Most of them I just poured out. I washed and dried the jars and then took half of them outside and sprayed them with yellow spray paint. It did not cover as well as I expected. After about fifty coats (OK, I exaggerate a bit, but just a bit.) I decided that spray paint wasn't really the way to go. The rest I (my SiL also helped) painted by hand.

I then drew faces on them with sharpie markers.

I had some sort of brain lapse with the one that's second from the left. Oops, sorry, upside down Lego head.

I filled them with Skittles and gave them away as favors. I didn't want to part with them, they were SO CUTE.

I had another use for the spray paint as well. I cut the top half of a pizza box out, made a stencil (I can't think of another word, ugh) type thing of a Lego head and taped it to the top of the pizza box. I sprayed (fifty coats, again) of paint on there. When the paint was dry I hand painted black around the edges and cut a hole in the middle. I added a stick so it could be held up.

Lego Kid!

All the kids had their pictures taken with a Lego head.

I acquired a couple boxes, taped them together in the middle, covered them with another table cloth (red) and pasted a few plates to it. One giant Lego.

I put it near Kid for a picture but later moved it outside to greet guests.

The orange thing on the floor is just another table cloth.

Well, that's basically the party. Very inexpensive decorations for a very cool effect.

Now, is anyone having a Lego party in the near future? I have a LOT of "Lego" boxes that I'm about to just toss out . . . It hurts a bit, they took a lot of work.

I'm not kidding . . . Anyone interested?

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Happy Tuesday!! Are you feeling random? I sure am! If you want to share your own random or just read others, grab the box and join the fun at Stacy's!

1. Today is Kid's birthday. He is five years old today. That's a whole hand! That's a big deal!

2. Our McDonald's is money hungry or something. Every other McD's has Small, Medium and Large iced coffee's. Our McD's has Medium, Large and Extra Large. However, the XLarge at our McD's is the same as a large at any other McD's. Strange.

3. I ordered an extra large iced coffee this morning. At the window I was handed a "medium" (Which, at any other McD's would be a small), umm. I said, "Did I not order an extra large?" She told me that the other lady only put medium on the display. However, she traded it out for an extra large. Extra large for the price of medium. Nice.

4. I planned to put a Sean Bean (because I love him) movie in my DVD player today while I do laundry and party prep. However, Syfy had other plans. There is a Destination Truth marathon on today. LOVE this show. Josh Gates make me happy. :)

5. Taking Kid to school today I saw a man at a stop sign. He was in a very nice black car and wearing a suit. You don't see a lot of guys in suits around here. There's just not a lot of jobs that require suits. I miss seeing guy (and girls) in suits. When I lived in Pennsylvania there were suits everywhere. Where, oh where, is civilization?

6. Lion King 3D tonight? Maybe. It's possible we'll try to go this afternoon for Kid's birthday. Since his party is Saturday we wanted to try to make this day a little special and not just like another day.

7. I made cupcakes last night for Kid to share with his class for his Birthday. There were Very happy kids when I walked into that classroom this morning.

8. On that note I'm going to gain so much weight. Cupcakes, Birthday cake, birthday party food. Around here the "Holiday" season starts with Kid's birthday. Kid's Birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

9. Party on Saturday, then guess what? I can start the Autumn/Halloween decorating! SO Excited!

I think that's enough for now. I don't want to bore you any longer. Have great Random Tuesday!!

Precioius Moments

Friday night Kid and I played. We played a LOT.

We played outside for a short while, tag. Then we came in and we played Pop the Pig, a "few" times. Then we used his silly little rubber fling hand thing and we lassoed the poor Pop the Pig pig. We did that for a while. LOTS of laughs and giggles. Then we played catch. Then we each had a bottle of water and we tried to knock each other's bottle over while we defended our own. More giggles and laughs and coughing from laughing so hard.

Then it was almost ten o'clock.

Kid had a mozzarella snack stick and sat with me on the recliner/rocker.

We played the "I'm thinking of a number" game. We also played the "I'm thinking of a letter" game.

Then he was on my lap and I rocked. He looked so sleepy.

I rocked some more, holding him on my lap. I hummed a couple songs.

He fell asleep in my lap while I rocked.

I have no idea when the last time I rocked him to sleep was but I can guarantee you it's been a long time. Years I would say.

Thinking about it then, while he lay sleeping on my lap, it occured to me, that may be the last time I rock him to sleep.

Kid is going to be five years old tomorrow. My baby is turning five.

I'm sure they're out there somewhere but I don't know a lot of five year olds that are still rocked to sleep.

I savored the feel of him sleeping in my arms for a bit before I carried him to his bed.

I love that my baby is growing up and learning new things and becoming more independent but I sure am going to miss these snuggle times.

Now, I think I'm going to stop this and go find some tissues because I really need them right now.

Six Word Saturday!

Six Word Saturday! Join the fun over at Cate's awesome blog. Just click the box and be transported there, it's effortless!

Kid's party in One week! Help!

Happy Saturday!

Kids: To Invite or Not To Invite

Kid is turning five.

Five?

Five.

Wow.

I have a question for the Moms (and Dads) out there. How old were your kids when they started inviting a bunch of friends to their birthday parties?

Up until now Kid's birthdays have basically been family get togethers. But now he's in school.

Although, to be honest, he goes to a private school that only added Kindergarten this year (and at the last minute) so his class is very small and there is only one other boy besides Kid.

Then there's church. Girls there too. Poor Kid is surrounded by girls.

So, do we invite his one boy friend from school and the two girls from church (and OK maybe the little neighbor boy) or do we just do a family thing again?

I have to be honest that my hesitancy about inviting so many is because A. Our house is SMALL (and family is already coming) and B. A bunch of new kids means they're going to bring their parents (I would imagine) and my social anxiety may not be able to deal with such things. Haha.

I really don't know what to do. Maybe we should just stick with the family and the cousins.

OK, and MAYBE his best friend from school.

Sigh. Decision making is NOT my thing.

Random Tuesday Thoughts!

I have not been random (on this blog anyway) in far too long. Today, I shall be random once again. If you would like to be random as well you can click the box and link up over at Stacy's place.

1. September! I. Love. September!

2. Amazon has some free kindle books. This has resulted in my "To read" pile growing far too large.

3. Speaking of my "To read" pile, I've GOT to get my hands on A Clash of Kings. Must know what happens next!

4. Dear George Lucas, Cut. It. Out. It was PERFECT the way it was. STOP changing things!

5. Realized that Kid's birthday is a week away. This means his party is less than Two weeks away! I'm not panicking, not at all! Where's my towel!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

6. If you have any awesome suggestions for a Lego birthday party I'm all ears. (Well, all eyes I suppose.)

7. Ringer starts tonight. I'm sort of excited to have Sarah Michelle Gellar back on my TV.

8. Pinterest rocks! I found a website that suggested making pancakes in mini muffins cups, in the oven. Perfect. No turning, no flipping, just baking and eating. (Bonus if you add chocolate chips and pumpkin!)

9. What's your favorite creepy book to read for Halloween?

10. I love my New England Patriots. Yeah, Baby!

I may have more but I'll stop now. Hey, at least they were all short.

Six Word Saturday!

Saturday. I have six words (or more) today! If you want to play 6WS then grab the box and Cate will explain everything on her blog.

Happy Birthday to THE BEST DAD!

I know some of you would argue this point but I'm pretty sure I have the best Dad ever. (And I wouldn't say it if I didn't think so.) He taught me SO much and so much of what I am today is because of him. (I hope he would think that's a good thing.)

I always had what I needed and occasionally I had what I wanted (but I wasn't Very spoiled). 

He's good and fair and wise and loves the Lord (and taught me to love Him too).

I so wish we lived closer to him so that Kid could experience Grandpa's awesomeness more often. 

Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you with all my heart!

Random Tuesday Thoughts

It's Tuesday! Link up with us rebels over at Stacy's place and join the fun!

1. So, Bradley Cooper will play Lucifer in Paradise Lost? Bradley Cooper is playing the devil. This is really going to mess with my morals. I'm fairly certain you are NOT supposed to find such a character THAT attractive.

2. So, my BABY starts Kindergarten in less than two weeks. Oh. My. Oh. My. Oh. My.

3. On a related note . . . I've had the Kid home with me everyday for the last (very soon to be) five years. WHAT will I do with my day???

4. Do you/your kids read the Magic Tree House books? I read the first one to the Kid the other day and he loved it. Sat for the Whole book. We have three more but way out of order. I'm going to keep my eyes open for these books.

5. Kid's birthday is in September and I'm still not sure about a theme for his party. I'm usually Much more prepared than this. He's not a whole lot of help either.

6. Cooking shows. I have knife envy. I love their big knives that effortlessly slide through anything. I want those knives.

7. So when Kid goes to school I will do . . . What? What on earth will I do with my days? I suppose I'll finally have time to write my book. Unfortunately I don't work so well without a looming deadline.

8. This afternoon I'm going to pick up the school supply list and then I get to shop. That might be fun.

9. Have a great day everyone!!

Saints, Warner, the 8th, Cake . . . (It makes sense, I promise.)

Congratulations to the Saints! So happy!

What a game! I was on the edge of my seat! I sure am going to miss football.

Speaking of "miss" and "football." I really am going to miss Kurt Warner too.

You know, I was watching him give his press conference, when he announced he was retiring and someone asked him something like "You're 38, in football thats old but now you're not old anymore . . .?"

I started thinking. I remember when my Dad turned 40 and I thought. "Wow, my Dad is FORTY!"

Well you know what! Kurt Warner is not really (when you think about it) that much older than I am! When the heck did THAT happen?!?

I used to not mind my birthday . . . but lately I'm feeling kind of up there (And technically, I'm really not!) . . . Maybe we should just skip February 8th and move right on to the 9th.

Alright, I need comfort food . . . someone find me some cake! (Oh yea, there is none of that either, I'M the cake baker around here . . .)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I just want to tell you how much I love you! You are awesome! I hope you have a wonderful day! Any party plans? I wish I could be there. I would totally take you out for dinner. Rain check!

Well, have fun (but not too much fun) and remember that we're thinking about you!

P.S. I have a card but I had to buy stamps so I'll send it tomorrow. lol. Sorry. Love you!!!!

Me? Are you sure?

A few weeks ago I got a text message from my Pastor. She asked if we were going to be at church on Sunday (I don't know why she's asks. We're there every Sunday unless someone is sick). When I told her that we planned to be there she said that there was something she wanted to talk to me about.

If you know me you know that doesn't sit well. You don't tell me you have something that you want to talk to me about Days before we can actually talk. I was thinking what on earth could this be about. When Saturday night rolled around it became clear that the Kiddo was going to be sick on Sunday morning. Guess what, we weren't going to be in church.

So I called her and let her know and she said that she had really wanted to talk to me in person but she could do it over the phone. At this point I'm really thinking what on earth is going on. Then she started talking.

The current Children's Church teacher wasn't working out and they were looking for a new one. Would I be interested in that job? What?!

Anyway, I figured if she needed help I had no a reason to tell her no. So, guess what? Now I'm teaching Children's Church too. (I'm scared to death and it's just a bunch of kids. I have to wonder if I'm the best choice for this job!)

If there's anyone who has had experience with teaching kids and would like to share their wisdom I'm listening.

Not that I haven't had experience, I teach Sunday School right now but my class is really small. I was also a counselor at a children's camp for Years but I didn't have to plan anything that went on there. I only had to watch kids. Yes, any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

(P.S. Happy Birthday J!!! Have a great day!!)

Aaarrrrggg, Matey!

The Kiddo's Birthday party was on Saturday. He had a Pirate themed party. Which was actually kind of neat considering that Saturday just happened to be International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Why do we have a "talk like a pirate day?")

Anyway I made his cake. If I would have had more time I would have added some more details but time really got away from me. I think it may have had something to do with staying up all hours of the night for the whole week (especially Thursday, YEAH!!).

He received from really great gifts. Including some new versions of Fisher Price's little people that I discovered at C. Beth's blog. (Thanks so much for the gift idea, Beth!) He also got a Leap Frog system which he LOVES and is doing incredibly well with it. I'm really impressed! J came home and the Kiddo was playing with it and I guess he wanted a different game so he closed out of one to go find another and J said "Hey! He just clicked the X! That's cool!" It was amusing.

He loved his Pirate Birthday Party.

"Aaaaarrrrgghh, Matey!"

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my Dad's Birthday! Happy Birthday, Dad!

I'm sure he won't ever read this, blogger isn't his thing. However, I think I'll talk about him a bit anyway.

I love my Dad. I really do think I have the best Dad in the world! I am who I am today because of him. (I must say, I hope he would consider that a good thing. Hehe.)

I lived with my Dad growing up and I'm sure there were times that he gave up or didn't get something he wanted because I was there and he put me first. I appreciate him more than words can say. He taught me so much. He is just an amazing person.

I really miss him. I hate living so far away from my family. Love you Dad! Happy Birthday!

It's September!

It's September! It's September! It's September! It's September!

Just in case you didn't know, I thought I would remind you! It's September! I'm so very very excited. Can you tell?

This means that it's just about time (tomorrow too soon?) to get out some Fallish decorations and make it all pretty around here.

This also means that it's the "Celebration Season" around here. Our Anniversary is this month, My Dad's birthday is this month, Kiddo's birthday is this month, J's birthday is this month, Rina is coming this month (this is not an annual thing By Far, but still cause for GREAT celebration!!) and my Mom's birthday is right at the beginning of October.

Whew! I'm tired (and broke) just thinking about it all. Then after all that it's time for Trick-or-Treat and then Christmas and Christmas parties! Yea! *Sings* It's the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year!!!!!

I wish you a Wonderful Fall season!