Super Hero / Bad Guys Scavenger Hunt

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Jennifer

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.

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.

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

Can you spot Captain Hook?

Syndrome from the Incredibles

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.

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!

Banner with Ties

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Jennifer

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.

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.

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

Here I have tied on 3 pieces of fabric.

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

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_6679-001

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

Simple Christmas Card Display

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Jennifer

Last year I hung our Christmas cards in the entry way. They were placed on large pieces of ribbon and attached with clothespins.

Well, I’ve radically changed things up this year and hung them in the family room on ribbons with PAINTED and GLITTERED clothespins.

Yep, pure craziness around here!

One of our countdown to Christmas activities was to decorate the clothespins.

Can you tell who has been a challenge to photograph lately?

The kids each painted about 8 clothespins with white, red, and green paint.

Some were solid colors, others with stripes and dots.

Yes, she’s in her bathing suit in December. Technically it was about 45 degrees outside at the time so she should have been in pants and a long sleeve shirt but sometimes it’s best to choose your battles.

The next day, after the paint was dry, the kids used a glue pen to make designs or words. Silver and gold glitter was then poured over the glue.

“Ho Ho Ho.”

“Naughty”

“Nice” and candy stripes

In order to hang the ribbons I used Command Strips.

I folded the ribbon several times and then cut a hole so that I could double up the ribbon.

Add a bow to the top and your done!

These pictures were taken a week ago so the ribbons are filled with cards now and look great.

How are you displaying your Christmas cards this year?

Easy Advent Calendar with a Paper Bag

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Jennifer

***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?

October Gaols Reviewed

Posted on November 6, 2012 by Jennifer

In addition to a busy and eventful October, I started a new part time job. Therefore, all of my October goals were not completed.

Add 1 item to etsy shop – Fail!

Touch Up Paint Downstairs – Check! Walked around the house one day with a can of paint.

Scrapbook 10 pages – Fail!

Make / Find Containers for Boys’ Room – Check! I found some containers at IKEA which seem to work. Now they have a place to keep pencils, glue sticks, colored pencils, markers, and crayons on their desk.

Complete Making 3 Halloween Costumes – Check! Army Man, Wonder Woman, and Dumbledore were happy with their costumes!.

Host Halloween Party – Check!

Finish Christmas Shopping for 5 people on My List – Fail!

Fix Up Backyard, If Only for A Few Days for the Party – Check! We bought a set of table and chairs for outside, added some flowers, and filled up the holes in the back yard which the dog had dug. It was glorious for four days – that’s until Sophie came back from the kennel and dug all the holes again. Ugh!

How was your October?

Halloween Mantle – A New Addition

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Jennifer

Here’s our Halloween mantle this year…

left side…

right side…

middle…

and the new addition this year…

old white shutters from the Habitat Store…painted purple…with black netting draped over them…with spiders placed as a finishing touch…

Happy Halloween!

Front Yard Halloween Sign

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Jennifer

In a previous post I mentioned that I liked this Halloween decoration…

Well, our family made our own using materials we already had.

In the garage we found planks of wood from a pallet (for the place signs) and then a standing piece to secure those smaller signs to.

The boys insisted that the names of the places had to come from somewhere…

Do you know where they came from?

Halloween Party Ideas

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Jennifer

Starting to mentally prepare for our Halloween party:

List of food possibilities

Fixing up the patio area

Finish Decorating House

Clean House

Front of House Decorations

And within each of those projects listed are twenty-three million things to do.

But I have taken some time to find some inspiration in blogville and thought I’d share with you some of the wonderful ideas I’ve found.

Harry Potter Free Potion Labels at Over the Big Moon

Halloween Lunchbox Notes from Kiki & Company

Tutorial to make “Eye” Candy Jars from Pink Polka Dot Creations

Black Widow Spider Bites from Mom On Timeout

Silhouette Pumpkins at Uncommon

Halloween Directions Post at Young and Crafty

Candy Corn Cupcakes from Our Best Bite

Mummy Dogs from Our Best Bite

and

Caramel Apple Bites from Echoes of Laughter

I love all of these ideas and plan on incorporating many of them into our Halloween party.

Hungry and inspired yet?

Baby Shower Prediction Cards – New on Etsy!

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Jennifer

What’s new to Big D & Me Etsy?

Why it’s Baby Shower Prediction Cards!

These 5 in x 7 in cards are completely customizable so they will coordinate with your baby shower decor.

Is there a special verse or phrase you would like to include on the card?

Gender neutral cards are available – Boy or Girl? What’s your guess?

Each purchase includes an 8.5 x 11 in Mom-to-Be and Dad-to-Be Measurement Card.

These measurements are the height, weight, and due dates of the soon to be parents when they were babies.

Here is an example of a possible set up for the cards at a baby shower.

Completed cards are placed into a container and may be shared during the shower.

This is a fun keepsake from your baby shower for the mom-to-be and one she will cherish for a long time.

For a limited time (one week!), these cards will be on sale for $3.05 –

So go ahead and order your Baby Shower Prediction Cards now!

***Update – The power to my parents house was back on as of Thursday at 3 pm. Their house did not have any damage so we are thankful for that. Others in Louisiana were not so lucky so please keep them in your thoughts.***