Party Time

I decided to do a friend party for Alan this year. He wanted a Wild Kratts birthday so I thought of some animal games they could do so that they could earn creature power disks.

The first game was to get their butterfly disk. The kids took turns wrapping up the "caterpillar" with toilet paper to make a cocoon. Then the caterpillars broke free and became butterflies.

Alex, all wrapped up

Then we talked about how lightning bugs communicate by flashing their lights. The kids took turns being the lead lightning bug and playing "lightning bug says". Below Alan is leading the group.

I was hoping to do cheetah races outside but it was cold and snowy so we had to move it indoors. I divided the kids into two teams and they had a relay race. I made two big circles out of paper and the kids had to move across the room, only stepping on the circles. Then they went back and tagged a team mate and it was their turn. I didn't get any pictures but it was fun to watch. We also talked about squirrels and the kids earned their badges by finding their hidden treat bags.
Alan helped me make cupcakes and we decorated them with blue and green frosting and M&M's. We tried to make paw prints with the M&M's and it kind of worked.

Make a wish! (kids l-r: Conner, Alex, Alan, Henry, and Mara. Tate was also there but not in the picture.)

Then we got out our pinata. We blindfolded the kids for their first turn and then after that we let them take turns whacking it.

The kids had a lot of fun with it.

Then we opened presents and let the kids play for a little while, and then it was time to go home. Birthday parties are a lot of work but Alan said at the end of the day that it was the best day ever so that made it worthwhile.

Pinata

This year I decided to do a friend birthday party for Alan. Alan decided he really wanted a pinata so we found a balloon and some newspaper and made our own. It was a fun, messy project. At first the boys were a little hesitant to get their hands dirty but after they started they loved it.

Gingerbread Houses

The boys have looked forward to making gingerbread houses for a long time. They were excited to decorate their own houses with the large assortment of candies that Grandma and Grandpa provided.

Reed helped Conner with the frosting and Conner added the candies

Alan, adding some red frosting:

Conner's finished product. He put a big gummy snake over the house to protect it:

By the time Alan was done it looked like it had snowed candy

Me with my finished product:

Micah had more fun just playing with Grandpa. Here he is hiding behind Dad's legs:

Oh no! Here comes Grandpa with the shoe!

Christmas 2011

I am not exactly sure why, but I have had the hardest time coming up with the motivation to catch up on my blogging. So here is Christmas - only a month late!

We traveled up to my parents house this Christmas. It was fun to visit with family and share Christmas together. On Christmas eve we went and saw the live Nativity that the church puts on and then we went and looked at Christmas lights. After that we went home and put out cookies and milk for Santa and then we gave the kids an early present: new pajamas! We got a quick picture by the Christmas tree and then it was off to bed:

Conner, Micah and Alan looking so cute in their new pjs

Christmas morning Micah woke up at 6 am but the other two slept till 6:30 or a little later. We got everyone else up and then we looked in our stockings to see what Santa brought:

Micah was really excited to find candy in his stocking. As soon as he found his chocolate snowman he started trying to open it up.

Alan just found his kinder surprise egg and is pretty happy:

Conner opening his stocking:

Micah showing Grandpa his new ball:

Then we had breakfast and moved into the living room to see the Christmas tree and presents. Micah got a stuffed animal and a little kitty the moves when you chase it. Alan got a plane and some Legos from Santa and Conner got 2 airplanes:

Micah got a little cow flashlight that moo's when you push the button. His brothers were so happy to give it to him and he loved it

The boys gave each other dinosaurs

Micah got a hold of his chase-me-kitty and decided to carry it for a while, maybe so it couldn't get away

I love how excited Alan and Conner got to watch the other one open a present

Showing off their new books:

Sitting with Uncle Drew and admiring the new movie, Cars 2

Christmas is so fun with kids, I love watching them get so excited about everything. Reed and I got spoiled too: we got a new dishwasher! Hooray!!! Our old one left a white film on our glasses so they always looked dirty, but not anymore! Reed installed our new one and I am amazed how quiet it is. It was a great Christmas!