Category Archives: caroline

Zombie Style

Posted on by

My kids think I am the biggest buzz kill ever.

If they had their way they would watch tv and play video games constantly.

But…insert evil witch cackle…they don’t have their way.

I believe kids need time to be bored.

There, I said it.

B.O.R.E.D.

I think being bored leads to creativity.

If technology is always an option, kids never have to imagine, pretend, and create.

The other day after they had been turned away from the computer I walked downstairs 20 minutes later to find my kids like this…

IMG_7865-002

And this…

IMG_7869

And this…

IMG_7868

Apparently they were playing “Attack of the Zombie.”

See, creativity at it’s best.

The dog may  have been questioning them, but me?

Nope? Proud momma.

Can’t wait to see what they dream up today.

(Just a little “Happy Birthday” shout out to my little zombie Andrew!)

Easter Weekend 2013 Recap

Posted on by

First up on the fun filled weekend was Caroline’s preschool Easter egg hunt.

IMG_7085

We were asked to fill up the eggs with things other than candy.

IMG_7089

I thought that meant stickers and silly bands.

Others thought it meant money.

Next up was the Mary Poppins show – Caroline’s first big broadway show to attend!

IMG_7095

Immediately after sitting with her in the theater and explaining how only big girls are able to go to the theater a couple walked by with a 1 yr old. And believe me she noticed.

Easter egg dying at home was next!

IMG_7098

IMG_7106

Then off to the neighborhood Easter egg party and egg hunt with grandpa.

IMG_7114

IMG_7120

IMG_7141

Two lacrosse games were next on the weekend agenda.

IMG_7149 IMG_7167

We woke up Easter morning to hollowing winds and tornado warnings. After spending some time in the closet we came out to our fence down in the neighbors yard.

IMG_7189

IMG_7191

After things had calmed down a bit we had an Easter egg hunt. Thank goodness the Easter bunny had the foresight to hide the eggs in the house.

IMG_7183

IMG_7171

IMG_7194

And finally church with the grandparents…

IMG_7208

Fun fact: Caroline is wearing her great grandmother Caroline’s pearls. And yes, shoes are totally optional on Easter.

IMG_7204

Hope everyone’s Easter was wonderful!

From Birthday to Easter Decorations – Easy & Lazy

Posted on by

Caroline’s birthday party was over 3 weeks ago – so naturally the decorations are still up.

Since I liked all the bright colors I figured I could keep them all up  for Easter (and the rest spring) by just tweaking a few things.

From the party, I kept the tie banner & just changed out the inside of the frames…

IMG_6679IMG_6668

IMG_7037

IMG_7038

 Our front door was…

IMG_6845

IMG_6847

but is now…

IMG_7041

IMG_7043

IMG_7042

IMG_7044

*an old frame, string, glue gun, and paper

And finally, the fireplace was…

IMG_6744-001

and is now…

IMG_7033

*the pink paper in the frames was shiny wrapping paper my sister wrapped Caroline’s presents in

*the “Pow, Kaboom, Bam” banner is just turned around

*the chalkboard has been wiped off and colored by the kids and I

Easter / Spring decorating done –

And as an added bonus, I’m sure Alex will appreciate the house being already decorated for his 11th birthday which is in a few weeks 🙂

Cardboard Boxes – So Much Fun!

Posted on by

The last time I talked about Caroline’s super hero party it was concerning the scavenger hunt, bean bag toss, and the chest letters they received.

Today it’s, “Exploring the City!”

When I looked on pinterest for Caroline’s super hero party I came across party decor which had buildings with it. I thought, wouldn’t it be fun for the girls to be able to play in the buildings?

IMG_6794

Otherwise known as, “Cardboard Boxes are so Much Fun!”

One of the missions the kids had to complete was, “Explore the City.” This simply meant, bring out some cardboard boxes and let the kids have fun.

IMG_6793

A week before the party, the kids and I drove around gathering big boxes that had been discarded in the new subdivision they are building near us.

We then set up a painting station on our driveway and got to work painting the boxes.

I used regular house paint that we already had so the cost for this project was $0.  

IMG_6655

Caroline wore her painting outfit – yellow pants, old white shirt, and a pair of the boys’ old water shoes – always looks like she’s a retired Floridean 🙂

IMG_6660

IMG_6658

Everyone got in on the action.

IMG_6661

IMG_6663

Once the boxes were dry, my husband cut out doors and windows in each box.

And here are the final results –

Every Super Hero town needs a City Hall…

IMG_6851

the Movies…

IMG_6852

A Jail to put the bad guys…

IMG_6853

And the library!

IMG_6839

IMG_6844

The cardboard boxes stayed in our house another week before they were completely destroyed.

Good fun!

Super Hero / Bad Guys Scavenger Hunt

Posted on by

At Caroline’s super hero training birthday party, the kids were required to complete 4 missions.

Each mission had one or two components. For example, there was an “Accuracy Mission,” since all super heroes need to have good accuracy when fighting the bad guys. A bean bag toss and a ping pong bounce game were played in order to test our little super hero trainees. Since they passed that mission, they received super hero cuffs – more on those another day.

IMG_6745

The 2nd mission, the “Eye Test,” consisted of two activities – Super Hero Bingo and Bad Guy Scavenger Hunt. Super heroes need to have good eyesight to spot the bad guys so these activities tested that.

The Bad Guy Scavenger Hunt was definitely a 4 year old favorite.

Each trainee was given a marker and a sheet containing 16, “Bad Guys.” I used characters they might know of instead of typical comic book villains.

scavenger_hunt_bad_guys

Click here for the Bad Guys Scavenger Hunt

The trainees were then asked to walk around our first floor to find the bad guys. They particularly enjoyed being able to mark off each character once they found a bad guy.

Before the party I had printed out large versions of the same characters on their scavenger hunt sheet and taped them around the house.

Mother Goethel from Tangled

IMG_6755

Can you spot Captain Hook?

IMG_6770

Syndrome from the Incredibles

IMG_6773

Once the trainees completed their eyesight mission –  bingo game and the scavenger hunt – they received a chest letter (piece of felt with a safety pin (with a flat back) glued onto the back.

IMG_6821

IMG_6813

Man, four year olds are so much fun!

All 11 of the girls loved dressing up and were totally game for each mission.

Scavenger hunt for 4 year olds, mark that one down as a keeper!

 

A Wonder Woman Birthday Cake

Posted on by

Well, Caroline’s birthday party is over and I think it was a rousing success.

I’ll trickle the pictures throughout the week and maybe into the next (oh joy!) because:

1) I want to be able to share all the fun activities with you

2) My work hours are increasing slightly so I need some completed posts for the blog (not that the 8 – 11 year olds at work don’t provide plenty of material).

So up first today, the cake.

Caroline said she wanted a Wonder Woman cake for months and I really hummed and hawed about this. I mean, I’ve completed a fart cake for pete’s sake but this one gave me pause.

She said she wanted Wonder Woman’s whole body but I wasn’t sure I could do that.

In the end, I found this picture and tried to copy it.

wonderwomanIMG_6760

Caroline loved it.

IMG_6801

IMG_6805

I think it looked more like a pornographic blow up doll.

IMG_6760

Not my best cake.

But in the eyes of a four year old it was perfect.

The “P” Word

Posted on by

I can say vagina. No problem.

I can say penis without batting an eye.

Anytime, anywhere I’m completely fine saying, “Don’t throw the ball at his penis,” or “Yes girls have vaginas and boys have penises.”

But “panties?”

Eew.

No can do.

The word repulses me and makes me quiver.

It’s underwear people!

Let’s use the term.

With my boys this word never even came up. Obviously.

Though even “vagina” came up with them when explaining body differences.

But panties?

No.

Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

I hate when someone says the word.

I don’t think I’ll get over it.

The other day when I took Caroline in for her 4 year old check up we were having a good time laughing and playing while waiting for the doctor.

In walks the doctor. A cute hip looking woman who I like a lot.

What’s the first thing she says to Caroline?

“Are you wearing princess panties?”

Eew. Eew. Double eew.

I mean, seriously, you’re a medical professional, let’s use the proper terms lady.

Panties my ass!

Banner with Ties

Posted on by

Caroline turns 4 today so we are well into party planning mode for the weekend.

For the 11 months and 3 weeks she requested a super hero party on a regular basis.

Last week she decided she wanted a cheetah party.

So we’re having a super hero party where the person of honor is wearing cheetah leggings and a cheetah tutu and calling it,” The Super Hero Party Where People Can Be Super Hero Cheetahs if They Want to Be.”

Classy party we’re hosting around here.

We’re also hosting this party on the cheap so we are using supplies and materials that we already have first and then buying second.

Therefore, the party colors are bright yellow, blue, and pink, since I had leftover fabric from my sisters shower last year. Caroline approved of the colors so we moved forward.

So first up for the Super Hero Party  – the foyer.

IMG_6679-001

IMG_6666

IMG_6668

IMG_6669

For the “bam” and kapow” signs, I used yellow frames we already had and placed the images I created on the computer inside them.

For the “banner with ties, ” I used fabric strips and string – super easy.

IMG_6667

I cut strips of fabric in varying widths and tied them onto the string with one tie.

IMG_6672

IMG_6674

Here I have tied on 3 pieces of fabric.

IMG_6676

Once you have tied a few pieces of fabric, push them together – I know, rocket science here.

IMG_6678

I just kept adding pieces until I thought it was long enough – in the beginning I was worried with how it was turning out but once I had tons of the pieces on there I was happy with it.

IMG_6670

IMG_6679-001

Now onto bean bag boards, painted cardboard boxes, and lots of sewing!