Category: Party

Newborn Wedding Dress Photos

Baby girl is now 13 days old! I wanted to take some newborn photos with my wedding dress; we were married a year and a half ago.

I tried to get a few photos where I could see most of the dress, then I flipped up the purple train for her to lay on as well.

She did so well cooperating with the placement of her hands under her face today. She’s adorable!

It’s my favorite when she pulls her legs under her body and sticks her little booty up in the air!

Spy Birthday -10

My son wanted to have a secret agent spy birthday party with his classmates. It was so much fun, and the weather cooperated with us too!

Crime Scene Gifts

Secret Agent Badges

“First thing you all need to do is to create your Secret Agent Badge.  To figure out your Secret Agent name, you will draw a name from this “First Name” can, and then draw a name from the “Last Name” can.  Then you can write your Secret Agent Name on your ID card.  Next you can add your fingerprint to your ID card.  Gently press one finger into the ink pad and carefully place it on the box in your ID card.  Last choose a badge holder and place your ID card into it and clip it on your clothing.”

One girl even drew the name “Secret Agent”! I found the Badge Holders on Amazon.

Spy Gear

“Before we get started, we will need to equip ourselves with some Spy equipment.  Unfortunately, the equipment has been kept under lock and key, so you will need to work together to release the supplies.  To open the cuffs there is a key maze inside each cuff.  Insert the lock pick in the maze and the rotate the lock pick left, right, up and down to follow the maze to reach the bottom and unlock the hand cuffs.”

I placed the Spy Gear in the Top Secret Boxes that I found on Amazon, then I cuffed them together with the boys Spy Code Yulu Break Free game. In one box I had Walkie Talkies that I had gotten my son for his birthday gift. Another box had face disguises like mustaches. One box had Invisible Ink Spy Pens and Pads. And the last box had the Spy Look Behind Glasses that the kids loved.

Mission Possible

The kids followed the clues around the yard and solved the puzzles to find the laser maze at the end. We used the Spy Code games that my boys already had. There are several spy contraptions in each game that we pulled out and used in our Mission Possible scavenger hunt. They have Spy Code Operation: Escape Room, Spy Code Yulu Break Free, and he got Spy Code Safe Breaker as a gift from Grandpa.

“Things to remember, if you come to a ‘Mission Envelope’ that is not the next number, just leave it alone until you get to that number… the envelopes must be solved in number order.  Use the walkie-talkies to communicate and don’t open any of the “Mission Envelopes” until all of your agents are present.  Work together to solve the code, and decide who will work on the Spy contraption. Who ever is not working the code or contraption can use the walkie talkies to find the next clue after solving is completed.  Do not open the next ‘Mission Envelope’ until both the code and contraption have been solved for the current ‘Mission Envelope’.“

Laser Maze

Licorice TNT

Pop Secret Popcorn

Root Beer Floats

I scooped the icecream into jars ahead of time, so the kids could choose their flavor or icecream and soda. They really enjoyed these!

Party Foods

Basically I put out some of his favorite red and yellow foods to stick with my color theme. Watermelon, pineapple, salami and cheese and crackers, popcorn, and licorice, lemonade, and Koolaid!

Secret Agent Cake

I made a red, yellow, and chocolate checkered cake with my homemade white butter cream icing. Then I made marshmallow fondant to create the decorations.

Buttercream Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Marshmallow Fondant Recepie

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
  • 3 TBSP water
  • 2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
  • Crisco

Directions:

  1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
  2. Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
  3. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
  4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
  5. Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
  6. Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
  7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
  8. Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
  9. When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
  10. Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.

May the Fourth (Star Wars Day)

This is the first time that we have celebrated Star Wars Day. We had tons of fun with our snacks while we watched the movies.

Light Saber Popcycles

I made these Light Saber handles from felt. I used hot glue to hold them together and glued buttons on as well. We go though a bag or two of these popcycles a week at our house (even in the winter). My youngest loves that now his hands don’t get cold.

Light Saber Pencils

Since we are having school at home because of COVID-19 stay at home order, we got to use our Light Saber Pencils.

Wookie Cookies

We made our Wookie Cookies with a gingerbread recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup melted butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ginger
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • White Chocolate Chips
  • Chocolate Melts

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Once dough begins to form a ball in the center, dust generously with flour.
  2. Cover dough with plastic wrap or wax paper and chill for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  3. Dust a smooth surface with flour, and roll out a section of the dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
  4. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter slice out your Wookiees. Wookiees are tall, so you may want to stretch out the head and feet! Place on parchment paper on a baking sheet, and score the cookie’s surface with a fork to look like fur.
  5. Bake at 350˚F/180˚C for 10-12 min.
  6. With melted chocolate in a piping bag, add the bandolier, eyes and nose.
  7. Add white chis to the bandolier.

Star Wars Snacks

We used Teddy Grahams for our Edible Ewoks, donut holes for our Death Star Donuts, and Rolos for our Han Rolos!

Light Saber Pretzel Rods

Definitely the favorite snack of the evening. I dipped pretzel rods in melted candies and chocolate. Then I added round sprinkles for the buttons.

7 Leia Dip

Last we had 7 Leia Dip with Trooper Scoopers for dinner!

Gender Reveal Cake

Since we are stuck at home for COVID-19 pandemic, no one could go with me to my ultrasound to see the baby gender. When I got home I made a gender reveal cake for the family to cut open and see the gender of baby. I also Zoom called extended family members so that they could be apart of the excitement too!

  1. I mixed up a white cake mix then add either blue or pink food coloring for the reveal.
  2. Then I greased 2 heart shaped cake pans and put half of the mix into each pan.
  3. I baked them according to the directions on the box and then let them cool.
  4. I mixed up some of my homemade buttercream to cover the cake with. 1 cup butter, 1 cup Crisco, 4 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 tablespoon milk (if thick).
  5. Last I colored the left over food coloring blue and pink to decorate the cake with, I wrote “Brother or Sister?” on the cake.
  6. My husband cut open the cake to reveal the gender during our Zoom call with family!
Baby Sister!

Family Christmas Minute-to-Win-it

This year we decided to try some fun family time for Christmas. We played a few Minute-to-Win-it challenges together. Our family has a large age difference, so we tried to choose games that would be equally challenging for each of all.

Deck the Halls

Deck the Halls

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Cardboard Tube
  • Ruler
  • 6 Christmas Ornaments

Directions:

  1. You have just 1 minute to…
  2. place the ruler across the upright standing cardboard tube. Be sure that the ruler is smack in the middle so there is the same distance on each side of the tube.
  3. Then hang all 6 ornaments on the ruler (3 ornaments on each side of the tube).

Jingle Run

Jingle Run

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • 18 Jingle Bells
  • 18 Cups
  • Empty Cup (across the room)

Directions:

  1. Place a bell under each cup and spread them out on the table.
  2. Place an empty cup several feet away. (We put ours in the living room behind us).
  3. You have just 1 minute to…
  4. uncover 1 jingle bell at a time and run it to the empty cup across the room.
  5. Place the bells in the cup one at a time.
Jingle Run
Jingle Run
Jingle Run

Jingle Bell Race

Jingle Bell Race

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Straws
  • Masking Tape
  • Jingle Bells

Directions:

  1. Spread out the jingle bells on 1 end of the table and place a line using masking tape across the other end of the table.
  2. In under a minute…
  3. use the straw to blow the bells across the table across the tape line.
Jingle Bell Race
Jingle Bell Race

Snowman Slide

Snowman Slide

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Plastic Cups (with snowman faces)
  • Balloons

Directions:

  1. Arrange the snowman cups at one end of the table.
  2. In less than 1 minute…
  3. players stand at the end of the table and slowly release air from a balloon to knock the snowman cups off the other end of the table.
Snowman Slide

Snow Fall

Snow Fall

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • White Balloons

Directions:

  1. Players keep one hand in their pocket and try to keep two white balloons up in the air for one minute.
  2. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking away a balloon.

Candy Suck

Candy Suck

Materials:

  • 1 minute timer
  • M&M’s
  • Straws
  • Plates

Directions:

  1. Player needs 2 plates with 10 M&M’s on one plate.
  2. In less than 1 minute…
  3. Use the straw to suck up the M&M’s, one at a time and place them on the second plate.
  4. Try to get all of the M&M’s to the second plate in less than a minute.
  5. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking M&M’s.

North Pole Pop

North Pole Pop

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • White Balloons
  • Mittens

Directions:

  1. Player puts on mittens and has 1 minute to pop the balloon. (It’s much harder than is sounds.)

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Hershey’s Kisses

Directions:

  1. Each player needs 6 Hershey’s Kisses.
  2. Players place one hand behind their back.
  3. In less than 1 minute player opens all of the Kisses with one hand.
  4. You can adjust the difficulty of this challenge by adding or taking Kisses.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa

Christmas Tree Stack

Christmas Tree Stack

Materials:

  • 1 minute Timer
  • Green Plastic Cups

Directions:

  1. In less than 1 minute…
  2. players stack up a pile of cups like a pyramid.
  3. Then place them back into a single stack.
Christmas Tree Stack

Here is our Thanksgiving Minute to win it post

Chocolate Freezer Pies -14

He wanted chocolate freezer pies again this year… he just loves these.

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz. Hershey’s bar
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • 16 oz. Cool Whip
  • 2 Prepared 8 inch Graham Crust
  • 1/4 cup milk

Directions:

  1. Heat the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted.
  2. Beat the cream cheese and add the remaining milk. Add chocolate mix and beat until smooth.
  3. In a bowl, fold the chocolate mix into the cool whip and blend until smooth.
  4. Spoon the mix into the crusts. I decorated the pies with some extra cool whip and shaved chocolate bar for my son’s birthday.
  5. Freeze for 4 hours.

Art Birthday Party -10

We had an Art Birthday Party for Raegan’s 10th birthday. There were several art stations set up outside and then we had the food inside.

Decorate Your Own Cupcake

Materials:

Directions:

  1. I printed out pictures of wooden paint palettes and laminated them to place the cupcakes on. Then I placed a cupcake of each color on them.
  2. I made chocolate and white cupcakes and used different colored frosting for them (the kids could have iced the cupcakes themselves too).
  3. I added different sprinkles to the plastic paint palettes and placed a cupcake in the middle of the palettes.
  4. The kids could choose a paint palette and decorate their own cupcake.

Creative Juice

We had blue Koolaid in our Creative Juice, but you could choose anything that your child likes. I also found these crazy straws for the kids!

Rice Krispie Paint Brushes

Ingredients:

  • Rice Krispie Treats
  • Food Coloring
  • White Chocolate Melts
  • Craft Sticks

Directions:

  1. After I made the Rice Krispies I cut them into rectangles and placed a craft stick into the bottom of them.
  2. Then I melted the white chocolate and added different colored food coloring to it.
  3. Then dip in the Rice Krispie treats to look like paint brushes with paint on them.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients :

  • Crescent Roll Dough
  • Cream Cheese 8 oz.
  • Marshmallow Cream 1 can
  • Colored Fruit

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan and then cut out a sliver one one side and a hole to make it look like a paint palette.
  2. Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
  3. Mix together the Cream Cheese and the Marshmallow Cream to spread on the Crescent Roll.
  4. I cut up different colored fruit red strawberries, orange mandarins, yellow pineapple, green grapes, blue berries, red grapes.
  5. I placed the left over fruit and dip in a platter for our guests.

Vegie Pizza

Ingredients :

  • Crescent Roll Dough
  • Sour Cream 1 tub
  • Ranch packet
  • Colored Vegetables

Directions:

  1. I spread the Crescent Roll dough on a pizza pan and then cut out a sliver one one side and a hole to make it look like a paint palette.
  2. Then I baked it according to the directions on the can.
  3. Mix together the Sour Cream and the Ranch packet to spread on the Crescent Roll.
  4. I cut up different colored vegetables red cherry tomatoes, orange carrots, yellow bell peppers, green cucumbers, green broccoli, purple onion.
  5. I placed the left over vegetables and dip in a platter for our guests.

Crayon Cans

Materials:

  • Tin Cans
  • Crayons
  • Glue Gun
  • Ribbons

Directions:

  1. I glued the crayons around the tin cans.
  2. Then I glued a ribbon around them.
  3. I placed the plasticwear in the cans.

Living Photo Frame

I used some large cardboard boxes and paint to create a living photo frame for the kids to take pictures in.

Tie Dye Station

Materials:

  • Tie Dye
  • Paper Plates
  • Rubber Bands
  • Plastic Bags
  • Sharpie
  • Something White to Dye
  • Bucket of Water
  • Plastic Gloves
  • Paper Towels

Directions:

  1. Write name on a plastic bag.
  2. Place the shirt in the water and squeeze out all of the water.
  3. Twist or tie the shirt with the rubber bands.
  4. Put on gloves and pour different colored dye onto the shirt.
  5. Place the shirt in the plastic bag and keep it there for 2 hours.
  6. Rinse it out in the sink before washing alone for the first time.

Sidewalk Chalk Station

I placed sidewalk chalk on this table.

Rock Painting Station

I placed rocks and paints on this table.

Slime Making Station

Materials:

  • Glue
  • Sta-Flo
  • Food Coloring
  • Glitter and Sequins
  • Bowls
  • Large Spoons
  • 1 Cup
  • Plastic Bags
  • Sharpie

Directions:

  1. Write child’s name on a bag.
  2. 1 cup glue mixed with 1 cup Sta-Flo.
  3. Keep mixing until thick enough to hold in hands.
  4. Add food coloring, glitter, or sequins.
  5. Place the slime in your plastic bag.

Sand Art Station

Materials:

Directions:

  1. Using the funnels, place the sand in the stars.
  2. Glue on the lid.

Canvas Painting Station

I put out little canvas’s and paints for the kids to create their own masterpieces.

Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Cake -9

For my son’s 9th birthday, we tried a new ice cream cake recipe. He loves mint, chocolate, and ice cream… and Andys Mints as well! This cake has a brownie base and ice cream and other delicious toppings!

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Brownie Mix
  • 1/2 cup Oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 1/2 quart Mint Chip Ice Cream
  • 1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1/2 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pure Peppermint Extract
  • 8 oz. Cool Whip
  • 1 bag Andys Mint pieces
  • Green Food Coloring
  • Andys Mints

Directions:

  1. Make brownies according to directions on the box. Line a 9×13 inch baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake according to the box directions.
  2. Cool completely, then place in the freezer to chill.
  3. Stir the ice cream until it is smooth enough to spread.
  4. Gently spread evenly over the brownies, then place in the freezer again.
  5. Heat the cream over medium heat until hot and bubbly.
  6. Add chocolate chips and stir until smooth, then add peppermint extract.
  7. Let cool to room temperature (so it doesn’t melt the ice cream).
  8. Drizzle an even layer over the ice cream.
  9. Sprinkle some of the Andys mint pieces over the chocolate and freeze.
  10. Add a layer of cool whip and more Andys mint.
  11. I made some of the cool whip green to write “Happy Birthday” on the ice cream cake.
  12. Freeze for a couple hours. Pull out the ice cream cake to sit out about 15 minutes before cutting to serve.

Purple Succulent Wedding

We had a beautiful rustic wedding with lots of purple and succulents. I created a lot of DIY items for the wedding and my family helped with all of the food as well. I ordered most of my larger Succulents on Amazon. I also ordered some smaller Succulents on Amazon too. I also made my own wedding cake.

Cousins

Wedding Announcement

I made signs with my Cricut that said, “My mom”, “and My dad”, “are getting married”! Then we took the kids to the farm where we wanted to have the wedding and took pictures with them.

Family Unity Sand

I found some champagne glasses at Goodwill to use for our individual sand. Then I found the large clear glass vase with the marble topper at Goodwill as well. I added a scrapbooking sticker that says “Family” to the vase. I bought the colored Sand on Amazon. Then during our wedding ceremony we took turns pouring our individual sand into our family sand vase!

Place Setting Jars

We placed rocks in jars and wrapped the jars with burlap and lace. Then I printed our names on the cards and attached them to craft sticks, and stuck them down into the jars.

Drink Table

We had lemonade, tea, and flavored water at our drink station. I found clear plastic glasses with sliver glitter on them. I also found the black “LOVE” sign and spray painted it with silver glitter. We used pails for the sweetener and stirring spoons. The large white pail in the back that says “BLESSED” has the ice in it.

Cake Table

I decorated my wedding cake with succulents and twine. I also made purple cupcakes with buttercream frosting and added blackberries to the tops. We got our white plates with silver rims from Amazon along with the silverware.

Taco’ bout LOVE

We had Qdoba cater our wedding since we just LOVE tacos! We also brought some extra things like black olives, jalapenos, diced onions, and tomatoes to add.

Center Pieces

I found small dishes and bowls at the Dollar Tree. I filled them with purple and green chocolates. Then I planted some of my succulents in some small pots. We sliced a log tree from the backyard to place our succulent plants on.

Here Comes the Bride

My oldest son played the Wedding March on his keyboard as I walked into the barn. My youngest son and my step daughter held signs that I made that say, “Here comes my Mom” and ” Here comes the Bride”. And my dad got to perform our wedding!

Dancing

My oldest son has always LOVED music. Since he was a toddler he has played instruments and danced when he heard music. He helped my husband and I create our playlist, and he stunned us all with his amazing dancing skills as well!

Monster Truck Birthday Cake -4

My nephew came for a visit over his 4th birthday so I made him a #4 Monster Truck cake.

Ingredients:

  • Yellow Cake Mix
  • Eggs
  • Oil
  • Chocolate Mini Donuts
  • Chocolate Frosting
  • Oreo’s
  • Green Icing
  • Monster Trucks
  • #4 Candle

Directions:

  1. Bake the yellow cake according to directions in a 9×13 baking pan.
  2. Let it cool and cut the cake in half longwise so you have 2 long pieces of cake. Then cut one of the pieces in half. Shape on your cake board in the shape of the number 4.
  3. Cover the cake with chocolate frosting.
  4. Crush up some Oreo’s to create a Monster Truck track on top of the cake.
  5. Place the donuts around the side of the cake and us the green icing to add some grass between the donuts.
  6. I also used the green icing to write “Happy Birthday”.
  7. Place the number 4 candle and the Monster Trucks on top of the cake.
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