PJ Mask Birthday Party

The bug is lucky enough to have one of those birthdays right before Christmas. I love throwing parties and getting creative with decorations, but this year she wanted a PJ mask party. If your tv isn't constantly on Disney Junior, it is a new show where the children turn into PJ wearing super heroes. The problem being there is NO, absolutely no product available for this show.  So I tried to convince her on a princess party... No, Minnie Mouse party...No, ballet party...No. So I had to set out and create something from nothing.

First thing she decided she wanted, was to decorate Masks and to wear her PJ's. So that's exactly what we did. We invited all the children to wear their favorite PJ's.

For food, we did her favorites: ham and cheese sandwiches, popcorn, and fruit. I normally go crazy with food, but being pregnant and realizing that I always had a ton left over I kept it simple. Guess what nobody went hungry and no one cared. Especially not the other 4 year olds. The children had a choice of chocolate or white milk.

PJ mask colors are red, blue, and green, but the bug insisted on pink so we altered the colors to their pastel counter parts.

As a kindergarten teacher, I like stations and activities. Therefore, I set up my low coffee table with glue, stickers, and markers for mask decorating. A quick draw and lots of cutting later, I cut out masks for owlet, gecko, and cat boy. I used foam for the masks, as I wanted to use stickers and markers. We also did cookie decorating. It doesn't really fit with the theme especially when she chose christmas cutters, but the bug loves decorating cookies. So I couldn't say no.

Lastly, came the cake. The bug wanted cupcakes too, which with a peanut allergy attending the party it was easier for ingredients. I did do a small cake as we were having a family birthday party afterwards. We continued the pink theme and I used marshmallow fondant to make an owlet outline. Really, I should have taken pictures of all my different attempts at the owlet logo. My husband, who is more artistic than me even joked that he looked forward to doing it for me that evening. But I did it and I'm really proud of how it turned out. When your mother-in-law is a cake decorator the bar is definitely higher than most.

Over all the party was a success. Thanks to two older brothers the piñata was broken or we would have been there for hours. The children played in the play room and I heard from one little boy's mom that he had asked to have his birthday at our house, so I'll take it. 

4th birthday complete.

Nativity Scene Handprint Parent Gift

It's better late than never, here are the results of our Christmas parent gifts. 

They are a little time consuming, but they come out beautifully. I even did a set for my mother in law and great grandma using my daughter’s hand. For my mother in laws, I put two back to back and created tree ornaments.

The best part of this present is that it is a truly meaningful keepsake.

This is our second year doing this project. We found it last year over at Planet of the Apels. Over the two years I have learned a few tricks. 

First, it easiest to make a chart about which hand become which animal so they all face baby Jesus. Second, have the children do the hand print and then add all the extras later. The exception being the camel we have the children add an extra thumb print for the head and then a print for the neck. It's easiest to use a nice marker to make the manger, we tried finger prints the first year but it's just too much. 

Lastly, practice how you are going to do the writing including what kind of pen you are going to use. This year I started doing it on two sides and it looked awful. I felt so bad, my assistant and I spent a day pulling them off and re backing them. Go Miss OCD! Luckily my assistant loves me (or at least she pretends too), so she forgave my craziness.

Anyway, they came out wonderfully and I hope the parents cherish them forever.