Smunchie's Monster Party!

I am trying to recommit to posting more regularly on the blog.  As such, I think I am going to "give up on catching up".  As in, I am going to have to start posting things that happen NOW, instead of trying to catch the blog up.  So, if you want to see happenings from November until now, you'll have to ask me directly!

Today, we celebrated Smunchie's third birthday one week early, since her actual birthday is on Easter this year! She had a Monster party with friends and family, complete with food, games and, of course, cake!  This is the first year that she truly understood what "birthday party" meant, so it was especially special for all of us.  She has been such a treasure to grow in the Lord and she continues to amaze us every day.

Some of the decor for the party:

 

Smunchie picked most of the food for the party.  She requested grapes, oranges, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and lasagne!  I added in some cold-cuts and hawaiian rolls, to round out the offerings.  Of course, I tried to "monster up" all the food!

 Of course, no Monster Party would be complete without monster clothes!

 Guests started arriving, despite the rainy weather.  The guests all got to spend time playing with sensory bins, Play-Doh, do-a-dot markers or Squigz toys.  They all had a great time waiting for everyone to get there!

 Next, it was time for lunch and CAKE!  Smunchie was thrilled with her mama-and-Gogie (Kathryn) made cake.  She was so sweet and excited when everyone sang to her and she was even able to blow out the candles all on her own!

  After cake, we played "Pin the Eye on the Monster".  Thanks to Rhiannon, we had a blindfold (since this mama forgot!).  The kids took a little while to catch onto what we were doing but once they did, they had a blast. They all laughed together at the crazy places that the eyes ended up (including on one partygoer's head).

After games, we sat together to hear "There was an Old Monster", while each kid held a Monster puppet for one page.  Some of the kids really got into making the puppet tell the story!  Others decided that Do-a-Dots were cooler :-)

Next, it was Monster Adoption time!  Each of the kids picked a monster to adopt, as a take home from the party.  Then they named them and got an adoption certificate.

Finally, no party would be complete without presents.  And my oh my, Smunchie got some wonderful presents!  She was flabbergasted by her friends, both for their generosity and their creativeness! 

A big thank you to all of the friends that came to the party.  Smunchie had a wonderful time and truly felt loved.  I cannot believe that in one week, she will be three!

The Indian in the Cupboard party

 One of the things we have been focusing on this year in Kindergarten is reading readiness for Lil G.  At first, we embarked on trying to learn to read but soon it became apparent that Lil G needed a little more time.  So, I pulled back and we began focusing on letter recognition and reading lots of books.

Our first big chapter book was "The Indian in the Cupboard".  After we finished the book, we had a book themed "nearly sleepover".  A "nearly sleepover", involves all the happenings of a sleepover, without the sleeping over part!  So, Lil G and his friend, J, played together, had dinner, did crafts, made a Native American themed dessert, put on jammies and watched the movie of "Indian in the Cupboard".  After movie time, J headed home.  The kiddos even enjoyed an indoor campfire, courtesy of a bundle of Christmas lights!  All the kids had a great time and we look forward to having many more book themed nearly sleepovers in the future!  

A Few More Halloween Pics~ 2014

 

Here are a few more pictures of our Halloween crew.  Doctor Who and Hello Kitty, at your service!!

Halloween 2014

So, Halloween isn't technically until tomorrow BUT we were able to start celebrating early!  We had a Halloween party to go to tonight, so the littles got all dressed up in their costumes.  This has been a month or so of work from mama and dada but both kiddos were ecstatic with the final product.


DRUMROLL.....

Presenting....

Lil G as "Dr. Who"!



For those of you who don't know, Lil G has enjoyed watching some Dr. Who with his father.  He decided to be the Doctor for Halloween and then it was time to decide WHICH doctor.  He decided to be the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith, pictured above), complete with bow tie, suspenders, brown wool jacket and FEZ!  Mama even made him a TARDIS trick-or-treat bag!

Of course, no Dr. Who outfit is complete without a sonic screwdriver.  Daddy made the Doctor one, that really lights up!  Our little Doctor is so excited, proclaiming that "Bow ties are COOL! Fezes are COOL!  Sonic screwdrivers are COOL!"









Despite Lil G's prodding for her to be a Weeping Angel, Smunchie went a different route for Halloween.  Presenting.....

Hello Kitty Smunchie!!

Smunchie was insistant that she be Hello Kitty for Halloween.  She has a very comfortable knit dress, with an embellished hood.  She loves running around, meowing and telling us all that she is "Spooky Hello Kitty".

We even made some Kitty Ears with Smunchie's hair.  She is truly Hello Kitty!

Third day of Kindergarten

So, this year is a big one for Lil G.  He is a Kindegartener!  How can that be?!?!  He is so full of love and excited to learn.

These are pictures from his third day of school.  Mama managed to miss taking pictures on the first two days!

I am so proud of my little boy and the man that he is growing up to be.

Lil G: Hockey Player

This year, Lil G started playing hockey through our local parks and recreation department.  He actually has quite a knack for the sport.  It's been so great to watch him learn this new skill, from barely being able to skate to being able to handle a stick and actually shoot a goal! We are so proud of our little man.