Of course, no party is complete around here without a bingo game so…
here’s Super Hero Bingo!
Click here to download this Super Hero Bingo game.
It has 12 cards which are 4 x 4 and 19 call cards.
Now back to party planning!
Category Archives: activities
Classic Movies to Share with Kids: A Printable List
OK I have assembled my list of “Classic Movies” to share with your kids. Thank you for your suggestions, you had several movies I had not thought of.
My disclaimer: The movies I think would be appropriate for certain age groups may contain words or actions you may not find appropriate for that age group. Please don’t go off my recommendation alone if you have not seen the movie. Read reviews and determine if they are right for your children.
I have broken up the movies into 3 categories: When They’re Younger, When They’re Older, and When They’re Much Older. My kids are 10, 7, and 3 and no one has seen anything from the third category.
Click here for the above printable.
And here’s a look at what the list looks like now for our family.
Looks like we need some more movie nights soon!
If you think of any that I’ve missed be sure to let me know 🙂
Disney Fun
Well, that was quite a long break for me but one that was quite necessary.
You see, we had the holidays, then we went to DISNEY, and then my middle child got the flu.
Yep, even though he received the flu shot in October, he got the flu.
Apparently the flu shot covers three out of four types of the flu.
Well, he got the 4th one sometime while we were at Disney.
Mickey Mouse, roller coasters, and the flu.
Thankfully, he only missed the last day of fun and he felt so bad he didn’t care that he missed going on rides.
Here are just a few shots from our trip:
Only rained one day
Animation Class
Fun Fact: I won the teacher’s artwork by answering the following trivia question:
Name one of Mickey Mouse’s nephews... answer at the end
Yes, we spent $45 on face painting on this trip but it was completely worth it
Me: Let’s all three of us ride together
Alex & Caroline: No
Me: Please can we all ride together
Alex & Caroline: No
Result: Loser Mom is riding the Dumbo ride all by herself and trying not to look anyone in the eye
Little girl souvenir haul: one princess nightgown, one cheetah, one princess bank
Oh, and one princess hat
And in case you were wondering, Mickey Mouse has two nephews, Morty and Fergie.
Years of reading Disney storybooks finally paid off.
Hope your holidays were wonderful!
Easy Advent Calendar with a Paper Bag
***I am reposting this from 2 years ago – the only change I will be making for this years advent calendar will be at the end of this post***and sadly, I have to report that there was no big Powerball win for us last night – here’s to hoping no one won!
Last year the kids and I made a paper bag Christmas tree which they partially decorated using markers. Here’s the way our advent tree works.
On December 1 they receive a paper ornament which states something we will be doing, watching, or making that deals with Christmas.
One of the boys gets to glue it onto our tree. The next day the other one gets to glue it on.
On certain days they receive their ornament before school while other days they receive their ornament after school (it depends if I have my act together or not). Here’s a picture of the finished project.
Here’s a close up of some of the ornaments. Some days they would receive one ornament while on other days they would receive a bonus one.
There is a small part of me that cringes when these are glued onto the tree every which way. I do have to tell myself that having symmetry in this craft is not the purpose. But oh how I sometimes try to make suggestions of where the ornament could be placed.
This year I’ve made a tentative list of activities for our family. Some will change based on schedules and weather but it’s a start:
- Wed Dec 1 – Watch The Grinch
- Thurs Dec 2 – Make Christmas cards for grandparents
- Fri Dec 3 – Choose Angels from Angel tree
- Sat Dec 4- Andrew’s Christmas program
- Sun Dec 5-Shop for Angels
- Mon Dec 6 – Have hot chocolate & marshmallows
- Tues Dec 7 – Watch Frosty’s Winter Wonderland
- Wed Dec 8 – Turn in Angel gifts & get cookie at mall
- Thurs Dec 9 – Watch Santa Claus is Coming to Town
- Fri Dec 10- get tree?
- Sat Dec 11-Photo with Santa at school
- Sun Dec 12-make snow globes
- Mon Dec 13-Assign & Hang Stockings
- Tues Dec 14-drive around and look at lights
- Wed Dec 15-?
- Thurs Dec 16- Andrew’s school Christmas party
- Fri Dec 17-Alex’s school Christmas party
- Sat Dec 18-Frisco downtown – Santa parachutes in?
- Sun Dec 19-wrap some presents
- Mon Dec 20-Go see Northpark train display?
- Tues Dec 21-Make Christmas cookies
- Wed Dec 22-Aunt Amanda, Uncle Ryan, and Gramma & Grampa arrive
- Thurs Dec 23-Aunt Kelly & Uncle Ben arrive
- Fri Dec 24-go to ICE! display in Grapevine
- Sat Dec 25 – Christmas
***Changes this year – Now 3 children will be placing ornaments on the tree *** Our activities each day has changed *** I am using large brown craft paper that I also use to wrap gifts in***
Do you have any unique ways your family celebrates the holidays?
I’ve Got the Power
By the time you read this I just might be a millionaire.
I mean a gazillionaire!
Yep. You guessed it.
I fell into the Powerball craze.
The jackpot is currently at $500 million and it’s going to be MINE, ALL MINE!
Well, except for the part where I give a lot to charity but really most of it’s MINE!
Oh, and maybe my husbands’ too.
When we discussed going to buy a lottery ticket he said, “Sure. Go buy one.”
Which of course meant, “Buy five. It will increase our odds greatly and we will become kazillionaires. There’s a 10 in my wallet.”
I obliged and bought the tickets.
Of course, I brought along my two oldest children because this was an important life experience.
Yep, taking them down the dark and dirty road of gambling.
As we were walking into the store, Andrew said, “Let’s buy a mansion if we win.”
(I’m sure he totally meant, let’s buy a house for someone else…yadda …yadda…yaddda)
At that, Alex, my oldest, said, “Andrew, we’re not going to buy a new house. Mom and Dad just refinanced the house and that was a lot of paperwork. They aren’t going to want to do that again. You have to think of something different you want.”
Practical. That will be good when we are BAZILLIONAIRES!
So, if I don’t post tomorrow I’m probably in Tahitit in the celebrity suite at the finest hotel there having a massage (contemplating how I will help the less fortunate, obviously).
Oh. And if you win? I’m totally your best friend, right?
A Dog & A Dream Part 2
My 7 year old had the saddest look on his face so I bought him a dog.
Well, no. But I thought I might make you think I caved for a moment.
It was actually quite easy to say no since there were only Pit Bulls and Rottweilers at the SPCA. Um, no thank you.
But that didn’t stop us from looking and looking at the dogs.
Thankfully, our volunteer coordinator told us it was time to start helping so Andrew was distracted by something else.
(I found an organization called Wee Volunteers whose main goal is to get kids involved in volunteering. Before school started, our whole family went and helped distribute school supplies to struggling families. Volunteering at the SPCA was our second volunteer experience and they loved it.)
First up was our meeting with the SPCA volunteer coordinator. She was great with the kids explaining what the organization does and why these animals may have ended up here.
One of the “jobs” the kids had was to decorate a bandana for the dogs to wear when they are trying to get adopted at pet fairs. Apparently, people are a lot more likely to take a second look at a dog with a colorful accessory.
Alex wrote, “Super Dog,” on his bandana and created a symbol as well.
Andrew drew the word, “Rock,” everywhere in about twelve different colors.
Caroline made a masterpiece of lines and squiggles.
Next up was feeding the donkeys!
The donkeys were a huge hit and only $100- I was thinking of buying one for Derek for Father’s Day so he wouldn’t have to mow anymore – wait, maybe I should get a goat for $50.
Next up, checking on the foals who had just come in.
And yes, they even have pigs and chickens available to adopt.
Dinner, anyone?
As we left the building and were walking to our car, Andrew said to Alex, “You know, I have a $50 dollar bill in my bank and the pigs only cost $40. I could come back here and buy a pig.”
Always a schemer, that one.
So apparently Andrew is trying to hatch a plan to adopt another animal, but for now we are going to remain a one pet house.
Free Museum Day – Saturday Sept. 29th
Saturday is free museum day again!
Each of the 50 states has one or more museums participating. Just in the Dallas area alone there are 10 museums participating.
*The one catch to this program is that you have to have a ticket which was printed out from the website. You cannot show up to the museum empty handed hoping to get in for free*
Each ticket you download is good for two people. Make sure you read through the site in order to download your ticket and to receive your confirmation emails. Remember, no ticket, no free entrance.
Here’s a shot of what the form looks like in order to get your tickets.
For more information concerning free museum day visit the Smithsonian Magazine website here.
For a list of museums participating in free museum day go here.
***You must have a printed ticket that you printed at home in order to get the free admission*****
Hope some of you are able to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!
Printable Halloween Dinner Conversation Cards – New to Etsy!
So I’ve spent the last few months thinking about Halloween.
Believe it or not, I started putting together these cards in June and am so excited to finally say they are done!
The Halloween Dinner Conversation Set includes: 31 cards with conversation starters and 5 blank cards (this allows you to add topics unique to your family)
Our family has enjoyed discussing these prompts and laughing together as we brainstorm and reminisce about Halloween.
These cards are wonderful for a table of two or ten – young and old!
Hurry and order your set of the Printable Halloween Conversation Cards and let the fun at the dinner table start!
August Goals Updated
Add 2 items to Etsy Shop – Check! I added the Baby Gender Prediction Test and the Baby Guessing Cards!
Continue Cleaning Out the Game Closet with the Kids – Check! So excited we went through and organized. I put the games and puzzles appropriate for Caroline at a level she could get them while older games went up higher. So far, three weeks later, everything has been put away when taken out – and we’ve played Candy Land every single day since we cleaned.
Take Quick Trip to New Orleans – Check! We had a great four day trip visiting my parents at the beginning of August. My kids think their Grampa has the best job ever – running a park that includes an amusement park!
Make Lasso for Wonder Woman Costume – Fail!
Make 3 Meals for the Freezer – Check! I made mounds of pasta and sauce one day so we have 3 meals of spaghetti bake waiting for us to eat up.
Go Through the Boys Clothes and Take Out What Doesn’t Fit – Check! A week before school started I set myself up on the floor next to their dresser and pulled out everything. What followed was a fairly entertaining fashion show of long sleeve shirts which were now way to short and pants which looked like waders. But since it will be hot here for awhile, I didn’t buy anything new for the boys to start school except for one pair of sneakers and some underwear.
Make Desk for the Boys Room – Check! My husband used a piece of wood we had in the garage and I found four desk legs at IKEA for $3.95 each so the new desk cost us just over $16.00! Now I’m planning on getting containers for art supplies, a lamp, and some shelves above the desk to finish out the space. My vote was to paint their room but it was vetoed so the builder beige stays.
Make Pillow for Guest Room – Fail!
Enjoy the Last Weeks of Summer – Check!
Hope you accomplished what you wanted to in August!
Keeping Up With Her Boys
Caroline had a break through moment this weekend.
As we were driving to a pool with my parents, the boys were excited to remember that this pool had a diving board. They discussed going off the board and what kind of dives they would be attempting.
Walking into the pool with Caroline, I casually mentioned, “Do you think you are going to go off the diving board.”
A resounding, “Yes,” was the answer.
If her boys were going on the diving board, then so was she.
And that’s all she did for the next 3 hours.
That is, besides the 35 minutes she spent eating the largest ice cream cone known to man.
Many people asked and we’re surprised when I said, “She’s three.”
And, yes, I’m absolutely thinking she’ll be ready for the 3 meter springboard in Rio 2016.