Kick Off to Summer Party

Well! We all survived the Party. Every year I let the girls celebrate a Kick Off to Summer Party. This year I did the party for both girls together. So. . .there were 22 girls in my backyard. (I don't have a very big backyard). It was crazy, but it was a blast. We decided to do a camping theme this year. We didn't get real fancy with the invites since we were having so many girls attend.



The girls wanted to help get ready for the party, but that lasted about 15 minutes and they were over it. Their contribution was the "No Boys Allowed (Except Dad)" Sign, that they insisted they needed. . .





We started out the party with painting ceramic bugs. (note to self: next time make sure I tell the moms to have their girls wear old clothes or have a lot of paint shirts).





Next we played Rainbow Tag. They had tons of fun with this game. I found the idea for this game in my Family Fun Magazine. We changed the game a little bit. In our version, nobody was "it", the winner was the one that found all six colors first.

Next up, we split them into four teams for a Scavenger Hunt. This activity did not take nearly as long as I thought it would, but they had fun with it. They found the items really fast.

Now it was back to the art table for Bagel Bird Feeders. My aunt gave me the idea and it was a hit. I found the instructions on Hearts and Trees Blog. Each girl got one half of a bagel. They spread the flat side with peanut butter. Next, they dipped the peanut butter side in a pie plate filled with Bird Seed. The final step was tying a string through the center of the bagel. I realized (a little late), that I should have tied them with the string before they put peanut butter on them.

Finally it was time for the Fire Pit. I got one of my friend's son to play his guitar and the girls sang along. After they screamed "No boys Allowed" a few hundred times, they did let him sing. It was great.

We finished the night with Smores. It did get a little crazy with sticks and marshmallows and fire. Thankfully some parents stepped in and helped us get it accomplished.

Here are a few pictures of the menu. We didn't do a lot of food because we started right after supper. We did Jello Jigglers, Butterfly Fruit-n-Cheese Mix, and Dirt Cups. I found all of my recipe ideas on the Kraft Foods Website.





I usually try to do cool goody bags, but I told the girls the guest list was a little bit too big for anything fancy. So I found a Journal Idea in Family Fun Magazine that I tweeked into a nature journal. I gave all the girls glow sticks, too. Then they had their painted bugs and bird feeders to finish off their treats from the party.



Another Summer Kick Off Party done. . .now I can relax until the Fall Birthday Party Season hits.

Good thing today I have a Girlfriends Day Shopping Trip Planned with no kids. . .I need it!

Party Day!

The big party day is here! 22 little girls running around in my backyard. (Well, hopefully. . .I am praying for no rain and warm weather).

Time to get moving. . .there is a lot to do before 7:00 pm. Can't wait to show pictures tomorrow of the party! Wish me luck.

Home from the Hills

We had an incredible weekend in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Unfortunately we did not have a lot of time to enjoy the tourist areas that are available. However, it was a much needed time to relax and enjoy the view.



The girls and I had our first road trip with Grandpa at the wheel. Not really sure he will take us along again. My little one was a little grouchy until we were over half way to our destination.

We did take a little stop on the way for lunch. We had to take advantage of a photo opportunity in front of the Faith Dinosaur Museum. . .



We spent the weekend watching my nephew run track. Well, the girls didn't really watch. I bribed them with new markers and coloring books.



It was a great trip, relaxing and exhausting all at the same time.



What's up this week. . .t-ball, softball, a kick-off to summer party with 20 girls ages 6 to 8, a much needed girlfriends shopping trip (no kids allowed). If I survive during the week, it is off to another camping trip with a little softball tourney on the side.

Headed for the Hills

We are just getting ready to head out to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Unfortunately this time we won't be taking in Mt. Rushmore or some of the other tourist attractions. We are headed to Deadwood today. My aunt and uncle have a beautiful home on the mountain.

Tomorrow we will spend the day watching track in Spearfish and then Saturday we will finish up our weekend watching track in Rapid City.

It should be nice and green out there. I should have some great photo opportunities! I will share them on Sunday!

Have a great weekend!

Poetry Time

One of the activities I decided to do with my girls this summer vacation is Poetry on Tuesdays. I meant to get this posted yesterday, but it didn't happen so I am sharing today. First we read from Jack Prelutsky's book, It's Raining Pigs & Noodles.

Then the girls picked a topic and we started to brainstorm. They decided to write about the bunnies in our backyard. Below is their creation. I decided to leave it in the spelling that my eight year-old used. I got them a new composition book to record all of their poetry in for the summer.

Backyard Bunnies

By: Taylor, Madelyn and Nadia Thue

Four little bunnys made their home in our backyard.

We really tried to catch them but it was really hard.

When we're really quiet we can sneek a peek.

But then our little sister gets excited and gives a big shriek! EEK!

My dad wants them to disapear.

But he's no magician, so they just reappear.

A hungry dog found our bunnys running free.

We're not sure what happened, but now there's only three.

I really tried to let them do it and not give a lot of input. I did help them come up with rhyming words. One of my purposes of this activity is to get my middle child reading. After they finished the poem, she read it back to us. Hopefully this activity will help her work on some of her words and make it fun for her.

Now what should we do today. . .

Memorial Weekend Fun

Summer vacation is officially here. My two older girls are still in bed at 9:00. Too bad my little one still got up at 7:30. Oh well, it has still been a good morning. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like their first day home from school is going to be bright and sunny. I think we are in for a little rain. 

I was planning a little poetry activity with them today so that will keep us busy for a little while and maybe the sun will shine a little later.

I wanted to share a few pictures from our first camping outing of the season. The weather could have been better, but we still had a blast.

On Saturday morning the girls participated in one of the Game, Fish and Parks activities. They learned about building dams and then they went down to the river and built their own dams. Everyone got a little dirty, but they had fun.

Taylor took in a little fishing and thought it was great when she caught two fish at the same time. The weekend was filled with fishing, exploring, and a lot of Smores.

Slip and Slide and Monster Cookies

The swimsuits were dug out of the drawers and the slip and slide was pulled out of the cupboard. Summer weather is finally here! After school the girls did not hesitate to ask if they could pull out the slip and slide. It took a little digging, but the slip and slide was found and the fun began. 

After a little slipping and sliding the girls feasted on fresh from the oven Monster Cookies (I love Schwan's). 

Earlier today Nadia got a few of our flowers planted. She loves finding the bugs. She spent a little time talking to a ladybug and then she moved on to the worms. Now if only we can keep the bunnies away from the flowers. . .