Super Mo!

Hi, My name is Jackie. 

And I have a party planning problem. 

I have said it before, and will say it again, when I plan parties for my kids, they are meant to be parties for kids. 

Well, what the heck does that mean? 

Yes, there are decorations and yummy food, and I don't doubt adults have fun at my fetes, as there usually is a decent amount of alcohol too. 

However, the focus is the kids. 

Pinterest is both a blessing and a curse when planning a themed party. So many of those fabulous ideas I see floating around party blogs and Pinterest don't really seem all too kid friendly. The hours put into tablescapes and adding labels and stickers to everything typically goes unnoticed to the preschool set. I will admit, I'm the one usually drooling over the matched sets and contemplating how I can budget to order every item off Etsy or some other site. But then I remember my audience, and so instead, I plan games, and activities of which the participants are expected to be actively involved. 

Yes, I expect the kids at my parties to do more than just sit there quietly and drink from mason jars filled with fruit infused water and eat finger sandwiches. 

This time, they were asked to run, jump, and even climb over picnic tables. (I'm crazy like that!)

It all started with one declaration by Moira about 8 months ago, 

"Mom, I think I want a superhero party!"

The rest is history!

Superhero Pose!

It all started with capes!

17 felt capes in shades of red, blue, purple, and yellow, each adorned with the wearers first initial. Except of course for one of our littlest superheroes, P.J. got both his letters. Cutting the felt using a template I created was the easy part. I cut the letters out of reminants free hand and adhered them using a combination of felt glue and hot glue. The difficult and most time consuming part was sewing velcro on each. May I recommend making a friend who has a sewing machine and can use it? That would have saved my poor fingers. But hot damn, they came out cute!

Next up were decorations. I kept it kind of simple this year. Mo recently discovered Wonder Woman! I searched high and low for party items with her, however they cease to exist. Instead, I took inspiration from her colors, red, blue, and yellow. I hung streamers, found red and blue stars at the local party store, and made a birthday banner using scrapbook paper, and sparkly pre-cut letters. 

Favor bags were simply brown lunch bags. Each child's superhero name, picked by Mo, was written add a hand drawn star, and bam! DONE!

When guests arrived, they received their personalized cape and came into the dining room. Each child chose a mask and added shapes, numbers, and letters of their choosing. Thank God for foam stickies! No glue necessary.

Next up, we played a game of pin the letter on the superhero. 

No, she couldn't see. I swear she couldn't!

While the kids played the game, the materials for the masks were cleaned up and then dinner was served.

After dinner, we headed outside for the superhero obstacle course. 

I used foam noodles from 5 Below, some chairs, our picnic table and our playhouse. The kids had to step through each circle, jump over the two hurdles, climb over the picnic table, run to the playhouse to save a stuffed animal who had been stuck in the playhouse then run back and tag the next person.

I loved seeing the kids run excitedly with capes flying behind as they tackled each obstacle.

the birthday girl mid hurdle

climbing the picnic table

After the obstacle course, the kids had some free time to play throughout the back yard. That moon bounce we purchased last year came back out for our superheroes to practice their jumping. I had some chalk out near the driveway for the kids to practice their superhero art. I also left the obstacle course in tact as some of the kids enjoyed jumping and climbing again and again. 

While the kids were playing, my good friends manned the photo booth. I absolutely love this idea! Just laid a blue sheet on the ground. Mo and Maeve decorated the buildings for me, while I cut out a sun and some clouds from construction paper. Lastly, I added some word bubbles and ta-dah! One fabulous photo booth! 

After play time, we headed inside for cake, candy, and Happy Birthday wishes! Our birthday girl recently discovered Reeses Peanut Cups and so her wish for cupcakes of that flavor was granted as I added a full size peanut butter cup at the bottom of each cupcake and a mini peanut butter cup on top. 

The other batch was simply devil's food cake or yellow with vanilla icing and red m&m for decoration. 

I did manage to get a little Wonder Woman into the decoration thanks to Mo's Little People!

After dessert, we still had a little more superhero activities to complete. Prior to the party, I had asked my sister in law, Colleen, if she would play the role of the villain. Mo deemed her the Pink Flamingo Villain, as pink & flamingos are Coll's two favorite things.

Coll "stole" the bag of candy just as the kids were finishing their dessert. I searched around the dining room, asking where it was, while the kids saw the Pink Flamingo Villain just out the window trying to run off with it. They headed back outside and chased Coll around, while she tossed Superhero fruit snacks, candy, and some other little superhero gifts. 

Our last activity was inspired by the Price Is Right. Mo had seen an episode where they had to punch through paper to get some prize. Immediately she asked if we could do it for her birthday. Thankfully, I found a tutorial here. 

This was a huge hit (Literally and figuratively) and the perfect culmination for our superhero party!

The presents are unwrapped. The streamers have been taken down, and the birthday girl is enjoying her new role as a five year old. This party was a lot of fun for me to plan and host and I do hope the kids enjoyed it too. 

My party planning activities are on hold now until December when we have a first birthday to celebrate.

Thank you to my dear friends for their help and the always talented Ashley Pierce Photography for the photos!

Planning a superhero party? Check out my pinterest board here. 

Five

1826 days ago my life changed forever.

It's hard to even remember what my life was like before.

In one day, one major moment, my life, my world changed forever.

Five years ago, April 1, 2008 Moira made her grand entrance into this world. For the long story, click here, while here is the short sweet story.

This face changed it all.

My first born, my dearest sweetest Lovie Girl. 

Confident does not describe her. I truly wish I could bottle up and sell the belief she has in herself. She knows she is faster, stronger, and smarter. No one can tell her differently. 

From that moment she took those first steps just short of nine months old, she has never stopped moving. Kicking a soccer ball. Running laps around the front yard. Hitting the wiffle ball across the lawn. Her athleticism already evident. 

When pregnant with Margo, we again decided to refrain from finding out the sex. Person after person asked if we were trying for the boy for Bryan. The answer was no. We don't need a boy. 

We have Mo. 

I mean that in the nicest possible way. We don't need a boy because all those things traditionally associated with a boy are her favorites. 

Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and without pause, she responds "A runner girl". Her favorite attire: jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers...well...actually...super fast running shoes. Her best friend asked her mom why Mo doesn't like dresses. Mo's response, "I only wear dresses on the first day of school. the last day of school, and for Church".  

She chooses the Phillies and the Union over Princesses and dolls....most of the time. She loves music, playing with her guitar and ukulele. She loves to sing duets with Maeve, usually drawing from Mumford & Sons or Of Monsters and Men. 

She's easy going, gets along with everyone and seems to have inherited her quirky personality from her mother. She has no problem meeting new people. 

She excels in math already and has begun trying to spell and write. She loves school and can't wait for Kindergarten. 

She's funny, silly, and happy and I feel so lucky I get to be her mommy!

And now, let the party planning commence! 

Wiggly

"Mommy, where does the Tooth fairy live?" Mo asks, her eyes focused on me waiting patiently for the answer.

"Um, I don't know babe. What do you think?" I respond.

The questions have been coming on and off the past few months.

"What does she do with the teeth?"
"How does she get the money?"
"Will I hear the poof when she comes in my room?"
"How did she get to be the tooth fairy?" 
"If I'm awake will she know?"
"How does she get in the house?"

Up until last Friday, when she would ask, "When am I going to lose a tooth?" I would confidently respond, "Not until you're probably six." 

Then it happened. Running into the dining room in a panic, she screams, "My tooth! My tooth is bleeding! I hurt it! I hurt it!" 

I put down the towels I am folding, anticipating the worst. I wonder how she hurt one of her teeth, as she is only eating an apple. Coming close, the panic is across her face.

"It's bleeding Mama. I was just eating an apple and now it's bleeding!"

"Open up Love." I ask, "Let me see what's happening."

Her teeth are all okay. Everyone except her bottom left center baby tooth.

Moira's first tooth as an infant, is now the first tooth she has loose as preschooler.

We both are panicked. She, because it feels weird and is a bloody. Me, because I worry that it is too early. She won't be five until April 1. Four is too young to lose a tooth.

I google and seek advice from various friends online and discover that four, nearly five, is on the younger side of normal.

My baby's got her first loose tooth!

Terrified that pizza, bagels, or anything else will hurt, she eats yogurt for dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Finally, dinner nearly twenty four hours later, she devours sweet and sour chicken. The tooth remains intact.

Day after day, the tooth gets looser and looser, but remains attached.

Until Tuesday evening, holding on by a thread, Bryan begins negotiations.

"I'll call the tooth fairy and let her know it's coming out tonight" he explains.

I offer to help, and my advances are shooed away.

"No mommy. Don't come any closer. Don't touch it!" she squeals. "Don't touch my tooth!"

For nearly an hour, Bryan, Moira, and I do si do around the living room, as we attempt to bribe, guilt, and persuade Mo to help her get the tooth out.

Finally, with the threat of a phone call to the Tooth Fairy informing her of the lack of progress, Mo grabs a piece of soft pretzel. Biting in with her front teeth, the tooth pops out, immediately she pulls it out, hands it over to Bryan, makes eye contact with me, and begins crying.




The anticipation must have been too much, as she wails for a good two minutes.

But then, it's pure, unadulterated excitement. She is giddy as she shares the good news with Maeve, and later both my mother in law and parents over the phone.

I still don't know where the Tooth Fairy lives, how she gets in our house or most of the answers to the other questions Moira asked. However, we did find out when she would lose that first tooth.

At four years, eleven months, two weeks and four days, Mo's first tooth came out. 

Let Down Your Hair

Okay, so Maeve was three nearly two months ago.
Her party was almost two months ago too.
I never shared the fabulousness that happened here.

I'm slacking. 

I am.

The thank you cards just went out even though the presents have been unwrapped and played with for some time. 

I bowed out with planning this fete as it was only 5 weeks after the birth of Margo, here . Even so, we were able to still pull together a great and memorable day.

WE is the important word here.

I must offer my sincere thanks to Meghan, Ashley, Bryan and most importantly Lynsay, for their help in making it a success. There is no way I could have done anything quite like this without them. 

And so, finally, I present a Tangled party for one special three year old. 

The super talented Lynsay took over as the decorating committee for the party. Currently she has a nearly one year old little boy, so this girlie theme became a bit of an obsession.  She began with Rapunzel's hair and face peering through our front door. Welcoming our guests, the braid continued out the third floor playroom window. Talk about making a first impression!

Lynsay also found this adorable birthday bunting off of Etsy to match our Rapunzel theme. 

Using some of the materials Meghan gifted Maeve, we created her party bags. They were filled with numerous Rapunzel related swag including brushes for our own locks and stickers. 

The kids began the party at our dining room table with coloring pictures of Rapunzel. They got to add as much hair to their photo as they desired. Notice the adorable Pascual the chameleon party blowers fashioned by Lynsay spread all over the table and the absolutely adorable party hats. 

Each hat had a braid attached with a hair clip. Once home each child could attach the clip to their own hair. 

As is a major item in the Tangled movie, the kids created their own lanterns using white paper, stickers, and crayons. I later found out they were such a hit with one set of guests, the girls repeated and repeated the lanterns at their own house the following few days. 

We then headed to the living room for a game. Throughout Tangled, various Wanted posters are found throughout the kingdom depicting the thief Flynn Rider. In each poster, his nose is drawn in some different or funny way. To mimic this, I gave each child a small white square with their name on it. They designed their own nose and used that to Pin the Nose on Flynn Rider. 

Lunch followed our game. 

What would be more appropriate at a Tangled party than buttered noodles? 

They also feasted on grapes and pretzel braids, while the grown ups devoured pizza. 

After lunch, we returned to the living room. Rapunzel carries a frying pan throughout Tangled to keep her safe, and so using that for inspiration we played another game. Having found small sticky lizards in the party section of Target, the children took turns attempting to toss their Pascual into the frying the pan. This was an easy and cheap game which was a huge hit! Each child was able to keep their chameleon once the game was over. 

Instead of my usual baking, I permitted Bry to order cupcakes. 

Who am I kidding? 

My hands were full and so I gratefully enjoyed the cupcakes for kids and cake (chocolate chip cookie dough) for grown ups, Bry ordered from our favorite local bakery. 

Below is one of the first photos of the five of us. 

As is our usual conclusion, we ended the party with a pinata. Filled with candy, Princess fruit snacks, and various princess goodies given to us by Meghan, the kids took turns and pounced on the spread. 

Overall, this was one fabulously fantastic birthday party for one feisty little three year old. I am forever indebted for the help of my friends and family as I could not have done it without them. 

Photography courtesy of Ashley Pierce Photography 

Checking Out, Checking In

Reaching down, I grab the gallon of milk from under the carriage. My eyes glance and meet hers.

Crap, she's awake. 

It is inevitable, that Margo would sleep the entire grocery shopping trip only to wake upon entering the checkout line.

Silently, the prayer enters my brain.

Please God, let her go back to sleep, or just be quiet while I check out.

Exhaling, my hand grabs the other plastic jug. I shimmy around the cart, and place them both on the belt. As I continue unpacking, the noises begin. At fir'. st, just grunts, but then the gasps and gulps that indicate pending unease.

Quicker, quicker, quicker, I unpack.

"Can I have candy, mama?' Maeve asks, hanging precariously on the edge of the cart.

"yeah, me too! Me too!' Mo adds, jumping up and down.

I wipe the sweat from my brow between loading the bag of apples and granola bars. Reminding the girls of the lollipops they had just enjoyed, it's coming.

The cadence of her whimpers have changed. No longer quiet, the crescendo hits the air.

Margo is done.

I am not.

"Mommy, Margo's crying!" Mo eloquently points out.

Suffocating the desire to respond, "No shit!, I take a breath in and through gritted teeth say, "I know babe. Can you talk to Margo baby while Mommy finishes with the groceries?"

"Um, nope. I'm playing with Maeve."

Again, I take another breath, listening to the compassionate voices in the aisles surrounding me. Echoes of "Poor little thing" meet equal part "I don't miss that" and a few audible sighs.

"Shush" I start, "Shush Margo Baby. We're almost done."

Her cries continue, however food remains in the cart.

"Mommy, Margo's still crying" Maeve adds, rolling her eyes from behind the cart. "She not stopping!"

"I know baby, but I have to finish putting the food out and pay." I say. "Margo will be okay."

"Would you mind if I try putting the pacifier in her mouth?" she asks.

I didn't notice her, but at some point the woman had put her cart behind.

"You'd think people would steer clear of this aisle" I joke, "you know with the crying baby and crazy looking mom."

She shares a smile, "Oh no, " she says, "I just love babies and it looks like you need a hand."

As I continue emptying the cart, I hear the nonsense talk we often make towards babies.

"You're too cute! You need to stop crying." she says to my screaming baby.

Her cries subside for a moment.

My eyes meet the lady's.

"Thank you" I say as I place the last of my groceries on the cart.

"Ah you're welcome" she starts, "I just came from a funeral. I needed this. She is so cute and she just made my day better."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry". I say just as the cries begin again and Mo grabs my hand.

"Margo's crying again, Mama!" Mo says in her sing song voice.

I look to her, just as the cashier interrupts, "M'am I'm all done".

Etsy, Bitsy, Teeny, Weeny

I'm back on the Monday Listicle wagon, hopefully for good!
(Blowing kisses to Stasha and all my Listicle buds!)

I almost feel like Wendy, from the Stamping Rules knew I was back as she suggested this week's topic. Being consumed with diapers, nursing demands, and attempting to referee two very stubborn little girls in between, I sometimes find myself overwhelmed. In those moments, where my patience is tested, it's those little things that save me.

Today I'll share

Ten little things that currently bring me joy during a chaotic day alone with three little ones

1. Nap time

2. Peanut Butter Granola crackers

3. My daily phone call from my mom to check in.

4. HGTV, Bravo, Food Network & Ridiculousness on MTV

Ridiculousness - Full Episodes

5. Giggles during lunch when Maeve reenacts this scene from Despicable Me



6. The smirky smile and coos from Margo after finishing nursing.

7. After successfully strapping three kids in car seats, placing the key in the ignition and hearing the engine roar.

8. Overhearing Mo share, "Maevie, you're my very best friend!" ten minutes after telling her "I no love you no more! You not my sister!"

9. The seven minutes of alone time in the hot shower while Margo sits in the bouncy seat mesmerized by the waves and the older girls sit on my bed engrossed in an episode of Imagination Movers.

10. That sound of the key in the lock at the front door at the end if the day. I exhale and silently celebrate another successful day of surviving motherhood!

What about you? What brought you some bit of joy or satisfaction today? Link up with Stasha & company

First Rule of Fight Club

First rule of sleeping through the night is the same.

You don't talk about the baby who may or may not have slept 10:30 - 4:45 last night.

I expect to be up all night tonight.