Bug Birthday Party

(Banner is from A to Zebra Celebrations)

Today was my [not-so] baby boy's 5th birthday. Five has never seemed like such a big number before!

But I won't spend this whole post moping about how old he is...

Let's talk about the party!

The kids dined on "bug food":

We had Honey Bits (Bit O'Honey), Bug Bites (gummy worms and bugs), Ants on a Log (Pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate with sprinkles) and Beetle Bugs (m&ms):

Dragon Snaps (Cheetos) and Worm Holes (Donuts):

Roly Polies (pigs in a blanket), Lady Bugs (cookies), Dirt Cups (Chocolate cupcakes with crushed Oreos) and Bug Juice (juice boxes):

I made the cone-holder out of a cake box. I cut out holes with an Exacto knife on the top of the box, then wrapped the whole thing in green crepe paper. The cones were made of scrapbook paper:

I found a great tip on Pinterest--for a custom look, take the wrapper off water bottles and wrap in a coordinating duct tape. Waterproof!

I also made white cupcakes with colored icing that formed a caterpillar (another Pinterest find):

I hate trying to organize 20 children into a party game, so we just let them play in the water out back:

But we did have a pinata (Finn really wanted the donkey-not really bug themed, but...):

For favors, I found bug kits at the Dollar Tree. I wrapped them in simple paper bags and used my Silhouette to write and cut "Thank you" bugs:

He was clearly overwhelmed, but in a good way! Finn is still zoned out from the party (and the birthday party we attended yesterday...and the wedding we went to last night...It's been a busy weekend).



Happy Birthday to my big boy!

Linking up here.

Birthday Month: {Birthday Balloon Wreath}

Both of my kids were born in August.

The. Hottest. Month. Of. The. Year. 

And we're not really sure when the cat's birthday is, so we just made it in August too.

Therefore, I have renamed August as "Birthday Month." I kinda like the idea of making a new wreath for each month (it keeps me on my toes), so I made a unisex balloon wreath for our month-long fiesta.

Close-up. Fabric & paint. Yes, I smudged it a bit:

I'll be linking up here.

Trash to Treasure

Awhile back, I won a giveaway. I won't say from who, but I was REALLY excited about it. It was for a personalized leotard. I put in the order right away and it was like Christmas morning when I got the package in the mail. I opened it, squealed a little over how cute it was, then I looked a little closer:



You see it right? I mean, how could you not? How on earth did the person who made it not notice her mistake!? "Well, it was free," I told myself. I hated to complain and send it back. So, I figured I would just fix it myself!

Here's what I came up with!

Kiki's having a Ladybug theme for her birthday party, so I think I'll make a skirt for it and it will be a great birthday outfit! I really like how it turned out!

I'll be linking up here.

Happy Birthday Cake Banner

I got this idea from a great blog called Embellishing Life. Such a cute way to top a cake!

Granny Love

Today is my Mother-in-Law's birthday. I know I've said it before, but this woman is amazingly helpful. She's always up for babysitting, taking the kids to play, or just basically anything that you suggest. She also chipped in to buy me my Silhouette for Christmas. Therefore, I try to make her things from it whenever I can now. Since I've been loving heat transfer lately, I thought I would make her a personalized Granny shirt!

(I know, I need to iron it before wrapping it up)

I did a little play on Subway Art. I think it works for Valentine's too!

I hope she likes it!

I'll be linking up to these great parties!

Pre-teen Birthday Gift

I will be linking up this post with Tea Rose Home's Wednesday link party!

It's easy to make gifts for babies, but for 9-year-old girls? I went for a purple & black memo board, personalized, of course!

Kiki

McKinley has grown up so fast this year! Just in the last week she has started walking all the time instead of crawling. It's like she suddenly turned into a toddler! We had so much going on this year that I'm not sure I really noticed just how much she was growing until now. Some aspects of her personality were apparent from birth, but some she is just showing to us now:

• She seems a bit finicky about her sleep. Until about 7 months old, she would only take 30 minute naps. I don't know if that was just how she operates, of if her loud 3-year-old boy is a factor. Once we moved into the new house and her bedroom became a bit more secluded, she started napping better. I myself am obsessed with sleep and cannot fathom why a child would voluntarely NOT sleep when she could be getting the recommended 12-16 hours a day.


• Kinley is not a fish. She does not enjoy a bath, a splash in the kiddie pool or a dip in the waterhole. Once we went to a local pool and she actually enjoyed herself. That scenario hasn't repeated itself.


• McKinley is a thrill-seeker. She loves to be dipped and "tossed" on pillows. She loves to bounce. She is very cute bopping around on the couch, until Finn starts jumping too and I have to kick them both off.


• Kiki is very easy to entertain. She just piddles around the house, playing with toys, looking at books. She loves to watch her brother.


• Feeding one-year-olds is so EASY! Kinley eats almost everything I scoop in her mouth. I'm just waiting for the revolt to begin. Her favs: Boca Burgers, bananas, graham crackers, melons.


• Kinley has a bit of a reserved nature sometimes (she IS a virgo), but she is generally friendly. I think she sort of likes being in the middle of a lot of people.

I always thought that the first year of life for a girl was going to be a lot different than for a boy. It was different, but due to personality, not gender. I think having 2 kids and seeing how they differ personality-wise, weighed heavy for the "nature" debate. Over the last year, I have had to let go of a lot of my control issues to adapt to the little people I now live with. The most important thing that having 2 kids has taught me is to just let things go, and try to enjoy yourself!

Finn 3.0

August is a huge month in our house. Both of the kids have their birthdays this month. Finn is first, of course (as he is in everything). I suppose this means that we officially got through the Terrible Twos! In retrospect, Finn probably had a tougher year than we did. He gained a new sister and a new house! He really handled it all very well though. Here's a list of what Finn has shown me in the last year:

• He's an amazing big brother. Of course, he frequently pushes, bites, kicks, hits and yells at his sister without reason, but he's really working on controlling his competitive impulses. He's probably said "Can you please move Kinley (or "Quinney" as he says)" more often than he just pushes her out of the way now. And I will never forget that the first time he met her he gently gave her a kiss on the head instead of freaking out. He's certainly a loving guy.


• My son is so strong willed! He is no pushover. If he doesn't want to do something, he will let you know. And no amount of begging, bargaining or chocolate will change his mind.


• Finn has a stomach the size of a peanut. Two bites and he is good for the day. I always say he is a picky eater, but he's just a non-eater (a "breath-arian" as my mom says).


• I realize how lame it is to label someone at this age, but Finn will either be a techie or a hairdresser (If we continue with the daily viewings of Mamma Mia, it will be leaning heavily toward hairdresser).


• Finn has an amazing capacity for repeating the things I say and do. I really need to watch myself because before I know it, "What's the problem?" will be turning into swear words.

Most of all, I have realized that hard work does pay off. Finn is turning out to be a polite, sweet, fun little boy, which is how I'm trying to raise him. Like I said, he is picking up on all the things I say and do, and so much of it is really positive. Increasingly, instead of throwing a tantrum, he ask me to "stop doing that please" (although sometimes he just tries to send ME to MY room). I know I don't always set the best example for him, so every polite act of his just goes to show what a great little guy he is. I try to teach him about positivity and kindness, but I probably learn more than I teach! Anyway, happy birthday Finn!