We're Off to See the Wizard

Rachel is turning 8 tomorrow and decided to have a Wizard of Oz themed party.  This one was a lot of work but I think it turned out cute.

Our first item of business was to decorate bags for future goodies.

Then we played Wizard of Oz Bingo.  This was a big hit.  Notice colorful paper.  I tried to do everything rainbow themed to go with Dorothy's song.

We gave out huge lollipops as prizes for getting a bingo.

Then we played the song and had to follow the yellow brick road to our next destination.  It ended up being yellow brick strips because my order of yellow paper didn't come in time. Poor Will had to keep moving the road around.  But I think the kids liked following it around the house.

We met the scarecrow along the way.

And had to answer trivia about The Wizard of Oz movie to prove that we had a brain.  Then everyone got a medal.

Then we followed the road to the tin man. (I was pretty proud of this drawing).

We needed to have a heart.  I made a bunch of heart shaped sugar cookies (too much work).  Each kid got to decorate one for themselves and one to give to someone they love.

Hannah in baby heaven with her cookie.

Then we got to the cowardly lion.  This one was so fun.  I got some little toy dogs from the dollar store and hid them in boxes and covered them with gross stuff.

The kids had to prove their courage by putting their hands in the boxes and retrieving their 'Toto'.  I started off easy with yarn, then flour, then noodles, then peaches (the slimy ones from a can), and finally pudding.  It was great watching their faces as they put their hands into the boxes.

I made a bunch of green playdough so the kids could form their own emerald cities.

Will was the judge and gave out awards to everyone.  We also gave them bubbles, since that is what Glinda the good witch travels in.

For food we had pizza and rainbow jello.

And rainbow cupcakes.  We were suppose to also have rainbow sherbet but everyone was too full from the jello.

And finally present opening, which is really the best part.  So we had another fun party.  Hard to believe Rachel will be 8 and is getting baptized soon.  So awesome!  Happy Birthday!

A Paw-Fect Party

Adam turned four at the end of November and told us he wanted a Paw Patrol party.  This was his first friend birthday party.  And, thanks to Pinterest, I think it turned out well.

Coloring Paw Patrol pictures while we wait for everyone to come.  We only invited a couple of friends, which was perfect for this age.

Adam with his Paw Patrol shirt on for the party.

I found tattoos by lucky happenstance at the dollar store.  Adam picked Rubble for his tattoo and still won't let us wash it off.

This is kind of hard to tell but the kids had to follow the paw prints all over the house (like Ryder calling all pups).  They blew little whistles along the way trying to find a lost pup.

Rubble is a digger, so we had to dig through the "rocks" to save the dinosaurs.  This was a big hit with everyone.

Marhall is a the fire dog.  We listened to the theme music and passed fireman hats around until everyone got one.

This was a hard game for a certain someone, but we managed to get everyone a hat without too many tears.

Skye can fly.  We had to fly paper airplanes through a hoop. 

For Rocky we just pinned the badge on his collar.  All the kids won "collars" afterwards.

Zuma does water rescues so we needed to rescue these water animals that were stuck in the dirt and bring them back to water.

And I made a Chase pinata.  It was really a cereal box with a Chase picture.  But Adam didn't mind. 

Hannah also takes a turn.  Eventually I just had to crack the box open.  Note to self, use one cereal box in the future.

Adam loved opening presents. 

And he requested a '4' cake.  I think it turned out fairly well.  We also had 'paw'psicles.  So that was yummy.

Lots of time was spent playing with toys that afternoon.  Anyway, I think the party was a success.  Not I have a very short break before doing another party.

Serious about our pumpkins

So I know this post is a little behind.  But I need to finish Halloween before moving on to birthdays and Christmas and all the fun stuff ahead.

On the hayride to get to the pumpkin patch.

I took Adam around to find a pumpkin.  He wasn't too hard to please. 

Hannah went around with Will and found a good one she could almost carry.

Megan with her selection.

After paying for our pumpkins we decided to play a little.  They had some huge pumpkins just perfect for sitting on.

We got a nice family picture.

Poor Whitney, about to be pumpkin smashed.

I think Whitney was more just confused but she played along. 

We decided to de-goop and carve pumpkins in the garage.  It worked out perfectly. Except Hannah kept throwing away the pumpkin seeds.

Showing off some of our pumpkins.  Whitney carved hers into a trident from Zeus.  Megan's is hard to see but it was Harry Potter.  And Rachel wanted to make a scarecrow.  It ended up looking cool.

Anyway, those are our pumpkin adventures.

Ward Halloween Party

We had a themed family Halloween costume this year.

Starting with the hardest to figure out.  Take a guess at our family costume.  Adam wasn't too sure about this one.

And Will.  I guess that beard was a bit itchy.  Sorry.

Hannah looking all cute.

Then myself.  I hope you have guessed what we were by now.

This will give it away.  We all went as Harry Potter people.

Rachel was kind of proud that she didn't need to wear the glasses that came with the costume.

Poor Whitney decided she didn't really want to be Harry Potter.  But I already bought the costumes last year after Halloween.  And once I have spent money, it is too late.  I thought they were cute costumes. Next year I get to decide the theme.

Hannah standing next to her best friend at the party - Ollie.  She looked more like an angel than Hedwig.  Oh well.  Ollie was a member of The Addams Family.

I stayed with Adam and Hannah.  We went around playing games and collecting candy.

We ran into Whitney in the Harry Potter themed room.  That was a cool room.  I guess you got to try and make a potion.  And try a cupcake to see which Hogwarts house you belong in.

This room was hilarious.  Adam and Hannah could not get that donut off the string with just their mouths.  It was fun to see them try though.

Finding 'eyeballs' in the 'brains'.  I didn't think Adam would be willing to do this.  But he liked it.

And in the young men's room. 

Rachel wanted to show off all the rings she collected while playing games.  So it was a 'soup'-er fun party.  We have so much candy now.