Samantha's 10th Birthday

With Samantha turning ten this year, I felt a little sad wondering if she wouldn't want to do our traditional birthday parties anymore.  A lot of her friends don't even have parties and those that do, often plan them away from home (the bowling alley, the bounce house, the movie theater, etc).  Before I asked her about it, I came up with an alternate idea -- something that would make this birthday party even more special, but would still be fun to have at home.

She was 150% on board with the concept and her friends, who all love coming to our house, were just as excited as her to be on the invite list.  She spent weeks talking about it and asking questions, and I was tickled pink to put everything into place.  I remember telling Steve that this was some of the most fun that I have had planning a party ... and I've planned a lot of parties over the years.

The idea was to do a "mystery party;" one where the guests were all suspects/characters and it was their job to solve the mystery by interviewing the suspects and piecing the clues together.  They each had costumes and props (that I provided by digging through our dance costume bin and then supplementing with other things).  I rearranged furniture to make room in the living room and decorated with the theme -- the circus!

Sophia was my assistant for the party -- helping to prepare favors and set up.  She was also privy to a lot of the information/details, where Sam was kept in the dark about most of it.  I bought Sophia a clown costume on clearance after Halloween and it was perfect for her.  Jimmy dressed up as a lion for the circus and I was a clown.  Jack's attire was pulled together at the last minute and he made the the best snake charmer I ever saw.  The mustache just cracked everyone up.

The circus banner cost me 10 cents to make.  I love creating statement decorations for next to nothing!  It was a free download that I printed on my color printer, cut out and then hung using ribbon on clearance for 10 cents.

We brought in the popcorn machine from the garage and the guests snacked on popcorn while they were arriving.

A couple of the props and some of the favors.  Each guest took home a gumball machine and a lollipop.  They also got to keep their clipboards from the interviewing process. 

To put their favors in, I set out simple white gift bags and let them decorate them with their name (using stickers) and a few other embellishments.

Jack (minus his turban), joined in.

There were so many great parts to this day, but the best one was this: Steve had been in Texas for work leading up to the party.  We all accepted that he was going to miss it and that I would be on my own to run the whole event (including the mystery part of it) by myself.  We had texted each other throughout the day and I assumed that he was still working at the plant down there.  It turns out that he finished up early and grabbed a 5 am flight to arrive home in time.

He knocked at the garage door a couple hours before the party and we couldn't believe that he had come home to surprise us.  I *may* have shed some tears.  It was the best surprise ever.

I put him to work immediately popping the corn!

The premise of the mystery was that someone from the circus has stolen Eloise, the star elephant.  The guests did not know who had done it (even the one that did it was not sure), why she was stolen and how she was stolen.  They had to read their scripts and work together to solve the crime.

(This was the poster that I made to hang over the dessert table).

I began by explaining who the various suspects were:

Again, I made this to help create a visual for the guests:

And we talked about the "crime scene:"

Soon it was time for everyone to put their name in the ringmaster's hat and I drew them out, one at a time, to assign the suspects.  I handed out their costumes and props and we began.

SO MUCH LAUGHTER AND FUN!

The guests took turns reading their scripts int he "interview chair:"

I gave the girls a little bit of guidance, but they worked as a true team and solved the mystery -- who did it, why and how.  (I was so pleased).

It was great timing because the pizza was delivered a few minutes after they finished the mystery.

And then it was time to open gifts.  Sam is so genuine when she opens presents and personally takes the time to thank everyone.  I want to believe that I trained her well!

We finished the evening with cupcakes and ice cream and more party favors (elephants soaps and circus chapstick).

Sam requested marble cupcakes (something so different for her) and they turned out great.  My assistant, Sophia, was instrumental in helping me put together the animals and rings of fire for the toppers.

Singing happy birthday to my "double digit girl."

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The next weekend, we celebrated with family.  Steve grilled burgers (the whole menu was put together by Samantha) and we carried through with the circus theme yet again.

I made the elephant out of fondant frosting and it turned out pretty cute.  It was exactly what Sam had requested.

Reading her cards out loud -- why does she look even older here?

A ukulele from Grandpa!

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The next morning was her actual birthday, so we began the day with our traditional cinnamon rolls for breakfast, followed by birthday treats for her classmates at school -- dirt brownies.

And we eventually ended the day with dinner at Relli's and birthday presents at home.

The last ten years have just flown by.  I look at pictures from when Samantha was little and I remember those days so vividly.  She still has the same big brown eyes and round face, but her "little girl" features are changing.  Her legs and arms are so long and she is starting to carry on adult-like conversations with us.  We allow her to stay home by herself for short trips into town and to ride in the front seat of the vehicle.  While a selfish part of me wishes that she never grew up and would stay my little girl forever, I am enjoying the experience (for now!) of her new independence. 

Here's to the start of a new decade!

Halloween 2018

Halloween was a FULL day for us, as it always seems to be.  Fortunately, Steve traditionally takes the day off work and this allows us to "tag-team" and visit as many classroom Halloween parties as we can, including costume parades. 

We began the morning with Jack's costume parade through the middle school (both levels) and Jimmy was the cutest lion ever, bringing up the rear.  So many of the girls cheered his name because they know him from the countless hours that he spends up at the dance studio.  He was loving every single minute of it.  Then, we ended up back in Jack's classroom where we kind of sat back and watched the party.  I had made rice krispie treats and witch hat cookies and those went over very well with the kids.

Afterwards, Steve, Jimmy and myself headed home for about an hour and a half to prepare for the festivities later on at our house and the parties at the elementary school.  I left early (while Steve finished up with Jimmy's lunch) and went to Sophia's classroom where I was in charge of one of the crafts.  We made the most beautiful (and relatively easy!) stain-glassed spider web that the kids could hang in their windows at home.  I had practiced the craft the weekend before with Sophia, Sam and one of Sam's friends.  We worked out any "kinks" and it turned out great!

Once her party was over, it was time for the girls to get into their costumes for the outside parade.  I made a few trips backs and forth to the girls' rooms (and Steve was there with Jimmy too) and in no time, they were ready to go.

We watched the parade outside and spent a great deal of time commenting on how nice the weather was.  It was a bit windy, but SO much nicer than past years.  In fact, I was leery when we woke up to rain that morning, but the skies cleared up -- and I almost wished that I had my sunglasses with me.

After the parade, Steve gathered up 3/4 of the kids and took them home.  I stayed at the school for Sam's party where I was in charge of the game and the "icky" food item.  I opted to go with "Pin the Eyeball on the Zombie" which the kids all loved.  (In fact, when we got ready to leave, people were posing with the poster outside for pictures!  Ha!).

The "icky" food item that I made for her party was a BRAIN CAKE.  It turned out freakishly good and it took a little bit of convincing to get the kids to actually try it!  But once they realized that it was completely edible, there was hardly any left on the plate at the end of the party. 

After Sam's party, we packed up and headed home.  Jimmy was napping and the other two kids were spending some time with Steve and Grandpa.  Spaghetti sauce was simmering on the stove (I had made meatballs on the weekend in preparation) and the salad was already prepped.  I had also made homemade applesauce (a favorite among the kids) and there were lots of desserts to enjoy.

By 6 pm, the kids were dressed with their Halloween bags in hand, ready to go trick-or-treating.  We loaded up in the golf cart and zipped around the neighborhood until just after 7 pm.  Most of the kids were chilled by then and had PLENTY of candy!  Back at home, they sorted and compiled (Momma ended up with most of the peanut M&Ms and Reeses!) and were clean in their beds by 8 pm. 

Later when I checked on them, every one of the kids was sound asleep by 8:30 pm.  Definitely a Halloween to remember ...!