Back to School Dinner

Having a "Back to School" dinner the Sunday night before school starts is quickly becoming a favorite tradition.  Each year I pick a goal/theme for the school year, and base the decorations and food off of that!  (If possible!)  I love spending the night talking about the goal, and getting excited for the year ahead.

Last year we did "Be Positive!"  My kids love to come home and tell me all the bad things that happened in their day.  While I want to hear that, I also don't want them to dwell on it either.  So for every negative thing they said, they had to tell me 2-3 positive things.

For the table I whipped up a couple Chalk Arts, printed a few be positive quotes, use a yellow table cloth, black plates, and Bee paper's I found at Utah Idaho Supply.

Super easy/cheesy Bee Brownies for dessert.

Another year our theme was WORK HARD!  I wanted my kids to learn that they can do hard things.  That we are hard workers at our house.

So of course a construction theme came about!

Nothing says work hard like hard hats!  Hobby Lobby sells great cheap ones!

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This year I am thinking the theme will be "Be Kind" because our world could sure use more kindness right now, and no better place to start than at home.

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So keep it simple, or go all out, but I promise you, you won't regret setting a family goal for the school year ahead!

Olympic Birthday Party

For my son's 7th birthday he wanted an Olympic themed party!!  It was so much fun!!  

When the kids arrived we had them make their Country flags, and did the march of the athletes to some fun Olympic music!  Of course my son held the Olympic torch at the front of the line!  

Then we did our Olympic games!  Each event had a sign like this to make it feel official! 

We did the Javelin (throw a water squirter as far as you can!) 

Shot Put- (Throw a Bocce Ball or any heavy ball... as far as you can!)

We did the Long Jump

Soccer Shoot Out

Other games... 4X100 Relay, Hurdles, Basketball, and a 100 Meter Dash!

And finally it was time for the Medals Ceremony!  We had each child stand on the podium!  Then my son award them all with a Gold Medal!

Then it was time to dig into the treats!

Gold Medals: Vanilla Oreo's with Fruit By The Foots!

Olympic Torches: Ice Cream Cones filled with Cheetos

Olympic Rings: Donuts!

Instead of having the kids bring birthday presents, we asked each of them to bring sporting equipment to donate to Camp Kesem!  My kids have more then enough toys, so we decided to pay it forward.  Camp Kesem was so grateful for our donations!  Nothing better then giving.

Host a Back to School Party!

My amazing Mother always hosts an awesome Back to School Party for her grand-kids!  They all LOVE it!!

The party always involves a yummy lunch, and of course cuteness!  Check out these awesome pencil Pringles, and pencil Rolos!  So cute!!

We usually just enjoy playing in water in her back yard, 

or one year we went to the splash pad!

One thing is certain.  We always make homemade ice cream.  THE BEST. Find out how to make it HERE or HERE. 

Cute themed toppings.... well of course!

So gather your family, gather your friends, and PARTY before school is back in session!

"Those were the Days" Music Centerpieces

"Those were the Days"  music theme luncheon.

Thank you to http://somethingcreatedeveryday.blogspot.com/2011/07/tiered-records-candy-display.html   for the great idea to use old records to make a 2 tier centerpiece.  Everyone loved the new and unique idea.  Most of the people that come to the luncheon are from the "Record" era!!   

To make the 2 tier centerpiece I just used nuts, washers, extensions and acorn tops from Lowes Home Improvement store.  So easy to put together and take back apart for a new use sometime!!

It's all about the final touches!

School is OVER, Summer is HERE!!!!

Getting through the school year is no small feat.  So when we finally do make it to that last day, it is time to CELEBRATE!!!

I love making a big sign to welcome summer!!

 I also like to get my kids a little something, nothing big.  Last year I got them bubbles, water balloons, a nice jump-rope, and some goldfish.  The tag said "You are oFISHally done with Kindergarten!  Not it's time to JUMP into a summer full BUBBLING with fun!  Mom and Dad are so proud of you we could BURST!"

Our old neighborhood would all gather together on the last day of school and have a HUGE summer party!  Everyone would bring a treat/snack to share, and then they would set up a huge slip-n-slide made from old billboards.  It was such a blast!  So gather your friends/neighbors and CELEBRATE!!!  Summer is here!!!   

BEE POSITIVE Centerpieces

This was a fun theme to have a speaker come to share ways we can stay positive.

These gorgeous mum's were on sale for $2.99 and by adding some chevron and black paper they fit into the "BEE" theme well.  One person at each table got to take home a beautiful flower.

Thank you to www.seshalynparty.com/event-party-planning     for sharing the wonderful printable of the darling bee!!

I picked up the banner at Dollar Tree if you can imagine, and just covered what was on it with the bee's and letters,...it made it very affordable and easy!!

"You're One in a MELON" Centerpieces

Guest Post from Doris!

Nothing says summer like Watermelons

We turned a red sand pail from the Dollar store into a Watermelon  for this centerpiece.

With just a little cutting and gluing the place mats took on a watermelon look.

This was just a very inexpensive, simple theme.

Super Bowl Party

My parents had us over for a super fun Pre-Super Bowl themed Family Home Evening.  The food was so fun, and so delicious I just had to share!

The tables were so cute!!!  My mom made theses place mats using brown and white construction paper!  Easy, yet so cute!  She found the fun cups and centerpieces at Zurchers, and the table cloth at her local grocery store Dicks!  

My sister-in-law Heather made this super cool stadium style relish/chip tray!  She saw some ideas on Pinterest and then made it her own!

My Mom made these super cute football chocolate covered strawberries, using a melted Hershey Bar, and melted white chocolate.

and these super cute deviled eggs!  Just add the football stitches with green onions!

A "pig skinned" football!  I made a regular cheese ball, and then rolled it in bits of bacon and then shaped it like a football.  I used a knife to cute the football lines.  So easy.

Cheese Ball

Doris Garner's Recipe

16 ounces cream cheese

1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup minced green onions

1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup mayonnaise

*I like to add a little fresh garlic, or garlic salt!

Place cheeses in small mixer bowl; let stand at room temperature until softened.  Add onion and Worcestershire sauce; blend on low speed.  Beat on medium speed until fluffy, scraping side and bottom of bowl.  Cover and chill.  Shape mixture into one large ball or many small ones.  Roll in chopped nuts or crushed cracker crumbs, or parsley.  Serve with crackers.

I have these fun football cookie cutters found in this set here (anyone local is welcome to borrow them!) 

These helmets look harder then they are.  Simply frost the helmet part.  Then using white frosting, put into a Ziplock bag, cut a small corner off and use it to make the face mask and ear hole. No fancy frosting tips used here...

I used the same Ziploc baggies to frost the lines on the footballs too.  No they are professional, but I'm here to be real, not a pro.

Sugar Cookies

Carolyn Reese

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cream of tarter

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp vanilla

5 to 7 cups of flour (I usually do 6)

Mix ingredients together in order given.  Dough will be stiff.  Roll out about 1/2 inch think and cut with cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 for 9 minutes.

Butter Cream Frosting

Natalia Garner

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

Pinch of Salt

5 Tbsp of milk

1 tsp vanilla

5 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup Karo corn syrup

Cream together shortening and butter.  Add pinch of salt and vanilla.  Gradually add powdered sugar and milk.  Blend well.  And corn syrup last, beating an additional 3-4 minutes.

Bubble Gum Birthday Party

My daughter is obsessed with gum.  So for her 4th birthday we did a Bubblegum party!  It was so much fun!

I had her hold a little balloon in her mouth for a bubblegum picture for the invitation

Made these fun yet easy cupcakes!  Here's how; Make cupcakes.  Frost with white frosting, and put M &M's on for the "gum."  Turn an ice cream cone upside down, put a skewer through it, and slide the cupcake sideways onto the skewer.  Add a little M&M on the cone with frosting for the last touch! 

Decorate with pictures, gumballs, gumball machines, and your cupcakes of course!

Pin the quarter on the gumball machine was a hit!  We also had a bubble blowing contest!

This party would be fun for almost any age!!