Whooooo wants to Paint? Bird and Owl Arts and Crafts

I admit that I can be a bit of an overzealous party planner, and when I have a vision, I run with it!  For Ashlyn and Maddyn's joint Bird and Owl themed birthday party, I decided I needed to incorporate birdhouses in some way.  I took a stroll through Michaels and lo and behold, there are paintable birdhouses for $1!  What a perfect arts and craft activity! 

(All supplies to paint birdhouses can be found at Michaels)

 

I found these adorable paintable masks at Joann's for $1 each. 

I painted them beforehand, and viola, perfect photo prop for a bird themed party! 

To the right, you can see a basket filled with supplies to make sand art necklaces. 

The birthday girl painting a birdie! 

This picture is classic Ashlyn...she is always such a hoot!

Pretty girl wearing her sand art necklace she made at the arts and crafts table. 

Second party outfit!  

Yup, we anticipated her gorgeous party dress getting paint on it and were prepared.  Great news: the crayola paint is definitely washable, and her dresses came clean in the wash!     

Painting a birdhouse 

 Braeden loved making the sand art necklaces. 

He made one for various family members and friends! 

I didn't realize that the sandart kids I purchased at Michaels did not include strings to make them into necklaces, but we improvised and used leftover ribbon from the party decorations.  I think they turned out super cute!

 The arts and crafts table

BEFORE

The arts and crafts table

AFTER

Suffice to say, the arts and crafts table was a hit with the kids and adults alike! 

Say Cheese!!

Braeden says "cheese" for pictures now. At lunch at Sticky Lips on Sunday, he was being extra cheesy! Here are some of the cute pics:

Pumpkin Patch 2009

On Sunday, my family went to Stokoe Farms Pumpkin Patch and had an afternoon of fun!

Corn maze:

Pumpkin Patch:

My Pumpkin:

Annabelle, the cow, was born on June 1st just like Ashlyn!

Papa and Braeden riding the train:

Now Daddy's turn:

Playing in the hay:

Mommy and B:

Mmmm....Fried dough:

Road Trip!

Last week, we took an impromptu drive up to Canada to see the Niagara Falls with the babies. It was our first "day-cation" with the babies, and I must say went quite smoothly!

Chris looks thrilled....

Braeden being a happy camper in the backseat.

Mommy happy to be getting out of the house on a random Thursday! Braeden kicking daddy in the crotch....

We later switched over to the double stroller for fears of future fertility problems!

Checking out the Falls!

The ladies!

Me and my girl

Beautiful!

Whoops....left zoom on!

Take 2....Hershey Store....

We left without buying anything! Yay, willpower!

Starbucks Break

Time for B to stretch his legs!

Awwww....B's first girlfriend!

Okay, he just wanted to steal her juicebox!

The girls!

Daddy's little princess

Crossing the border where we witnessed racial profiling at its finest....

Braeden passed out before we got back to the States!

One random story from our trip.....While Braeden was running around the park, Ashlyn got hungry so I started breastfeeding her right in broad daylight. Now, I normally do not breastfeed in public, and when I do I use a nursing cover. However, I didn't have a cover with me, and I felt liberated being in a different country so I went for it. I was not flashing my boobs around...I was being discreet about it. As Ashlyn is eating, three Muslim men walk into the park to do their afternoon prayers. I felt so awkward and worried I was offending them! Luckily, they didn't seem to care or notice. But I have learned a valuable lesson, I am modest and am not the type that is carefree enough to just whip my boob out without warning! Timed perfectly, the very next day, the babysteal of the day was a hooter hider for 50% off....I snagged on without thinking twice!

Newest Pics

Ugh, I need a new camera....the quality of these pics sucks.....

A Very Merry Unbirthday....To Braeden!

Ugh, I cannot keep up with my blog! I will try my best to keep this thing current. After all the babies are growing up way too fast....I feel like I blink, and I'll miss their baby years! Case in point: On September 16th, Braeden turned 1 & 1/2 years old!

Being crazy as I am and loving to spoil the little ones, I threw B a half birthday celebration. Growing up, I loved the Disney movie of Alice and Wonderland. The unbirthday scene was a favorite of mine! Inspiration struck, and I do believe we will celebrate a half birthday or unbirthday every year for our kiddos. What a fun tradition! I know I would have gotten a kick out of it as a kid.....and I must admit Chris and I (probably me more than Chris!) got a kick out throwing the unbirthday party!

The inspiration:

How We Celebrated:

Half a present

Half a cake
(must sign up for a cake decorating class....my attempt was pathetic!)

Half birthday boy who loves any excuse to eat cake!Half Present time! Baby's first Bible storybook
(so it's a whole present!)