Addie's Science Birthday Party

I asked Addie what type of birthday party she wanted this year.

Her answer: a volcanologist party.

Considering some of her classmates were a bit afraid of her erupting volcano that she took for share one day, I decided that might not be the best theme to center a party around.

So I started pitching the science experiments theme. To her. To Paul. And to a few friends.

The unanimous decision: go for it.

Except what I didn't know at the time was that we would have to switch the day from Saturday to Sunday, and we'd be leaving town for the 3 days prior to the party.

So I literally planned for weeks. And weeks. And researched. And found inspiration and more inspiration. Ordered supplies. Decided on party favors using these test tubes and adding our own experiment using UV beads.

Had a blast with Addie experimenting with the experiments. Nixed some. Added some.

Created invitations and tags with a digital scrapbooking kit.

And created a 5 page spreadsheet containing experiments, supplies, to do, to buy, to make, to create...and when I could eat, breathe, and sleep. All the details!

With the exception of it being 85 degrees and one of the littles refusing to let me put her down, I think it went off without a hitch might could be considered a success! But only because I had some of the best help ever! From friends who let me bounce ideas off of them to friends who helped the day of the party...

...to my wonderful mom and aunt and my most amazing husband, who always encourages me in these endeavors even though he knows he'll be neck deep in it with me! Seriously, it took a village!

My only regret? That I couldn't take more pictures! This little one had had enough traveling, change, and sugar but not enough food or sleep over the past few days. And she didn't go much farther than this if she wasn't in my arms!

Most parties I found online did experiments as a group, but with friends and siblings, we had over 20 kiddos. I knew keeping 20 kiddos attention and explaining everything as a group probably wouldn't work well. So we set up 6 experiment stations. There were 4 kiddos in each group, a parent with each child, a helper at most of the tables...

and instructions for each experiment.

Everyone had safety glasses and a lab coat with a scientist name tag. They got a bag to put their experiments and favors in as they rotated tables.

Each new station brought on a new experiment, and my favorite part was watching their eyes light up... 

...when they created science!

They had a blast!

Color Mixing, one of Addie's favorites, where we used non staining primary color tablets to explore making colors. I created "place mats" with a place for each cup to help guide them. They used the primary colors to create at least 3 other colors.

It's Snowing, straight from Steve Spangler. This amazing instant snow polymer rapidly expands from a teasooon of powder into a cup of snow. Then the kids got to play with it in our sand/water table and take some home too!

Lemon Suds was a combination of the Birthday Balloons/Erupting Volcano but with lemon juice instead of vinegar. The kids got to squeeze their own lemons (and add bottled lemon juice to make enough) and then add it to baking soda. They created a bubbling cup of lemon suds!

Ocean in a Bottle was probably the least successful. I used smaller bottles, and I think the separation of the water and oil would have been much more obvious in a larger 20oz type bottle. My mom and aunt prefilled the bottles with vegetable oil and let the kids add the water with a funnel up to a line we drew. They added a color tablet and sea creature and then taped it shut for safe keeping!

Buoyancy: sink or float I had my doubts about this one (and apparently some of the kiddos did too!), but this was another one of Addie's favorites! The kids counted out 12 paper clips and wadded them into a ball of precut aluminum foil. When they placed it in the water, you can guess what happened. But then they made a little boat from a second piece of foil, carefully put it in the water, and counted out 12 paper clips into it. And it floated! Addie's favorite part was adding as many paperclips as she could (many more than 12!) until her boat filled with water and sank!

Birthday Balloons, one where we had to promise the kids nothing would hurt them!
We used empty mt. dew bottles that they added vinegar to (a line I'd drawn on the bottle). I had prefilled the balloons with baking soda. They carefully attached them to the bottle and then all together raised the balloons to let the powder fall in. Their eyes got so big as the balloons expanded! I love how Addie's friend is looking up at Paul in the last picture. He was so sweet explaining the experiment to them!

I think one of the favorite experiments we did was at the end. Of course we had to erupt Addie's volcano. She and most of her friends loved that (after i promised everyone that no one could get hurt!). But the mentos and diet coke were a huge hit! i didnt even bother to take a picture of the diet coke geyser, but check out the kids faces!

After that, we grabbed some cool drinks, snacks and created our own cupcakes! (undecorated publix cupcakes my aunt went and bought at the very last minute because mine kept overflowing in the oven an hour before the party. crisis averted!).

I am always reminded at these things how blessed we are to have such sweet friends. I love these two girls so much, and I think they might love each other too!

I couldn't not include these pictures of Audrey Kate. This little girl played and played and played all afternoon. I've never seen her so dirty and so happy! She rolled with the punches and enjoyed herself! And I'm so thankful for my mom; she finally pried Anne Perry out of my arms before i passed out from the heat and went inside and fed her! She was much happier then!

one of my most favorite things about Addie's party was that she agreed to ask for no gifts but instead have everyone bring dog and/or cat food for one of our local humane shelters. We delivered them Monday, and I can't wait to share pictures from that!

this is the only picture i got of just the birthday girl. and it might not even count as a picture because she was moving so quickly! but she sure was cute in her special pink birthday glasses!

Addieboo, I think one of the greatest compliments on your 4th birthday party came from one of your friends: that was the coolest birthday party ever! But the smile on your face and the excitement in your voice was all I needed to know it was worth it!

Happy 4th Birthday Addieboo! We love you!

Wicked Glasses

My aunt took me to see Wicked while we were in NYC last week.

One word: thrillifying!

I don't think I'll ever look at the Wicked Witch of the West the same!

When I saw these glasses on stage though, I knew Addie would love them. So my aunt and I brought a pair home to her. All 3 girls got cups, but the $19 sunglasses were a NYC splurge for Addieboo!

Swankified!

and while they won't be de-greenifying much of anything...

I think she was the proudliest munchkin i know!

thank you nana for the fun trip and totally wicked shades for Addie!

Christmas Time Part 1: Home

One thing Paul and I decided when Addie was born was that we would, if at all possible, be at home Christmas Eve and always Christmas day. We've been fortunate to always wake up (sometimes earlier than preferable) in our own beds on Christmas morning.

This year, my aunt (aka Nana) was able to come a few days before Christmas for a visit. We all loved having her here, but I think the girls might have enjoyed it most of all!

Papa Ray and Mama Pat invited us to spend some time with them in the country at the ranch on Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful night, and the girls loved spending time outside with everyone!

Christmas Eve is traditionally an open most of the presents time for us, so we came home a little early and opened some presents.

I think Anne Perry liked her backpack!

All the girls loved the little girls ride on horses. Some were just more serious about them than others!

And before we knew it, it was bedtime. Everyone jumped in their Christmas pjs, and i acted all crazy (as you can see from Anne Perry and Addie's reactions) in an attempt to get a picture next to the tree. Two days later, we found out Audrey Kate had a double ear infection. It explains a lot about her not-so-cheerful self in the pictures below and otherwise lack of pictures of her altogether because she was constantly in my arms! :(

Everyone headed to bed except mommy and daddy. We got everything together for the girls Christmas morning, our breakfast and breakfast for our neighborhood firemen.

Needless to say...it was a late night.

Addie woke up first Christmas morning (surprise surprise) to find her special gifts. Next year, I'm thinking they will all only get stockings because the stocking contents (for Addie at least) were the biggest hit initially!

Or maybe we'll just get them all a bag of M&Ms and some blue candy canes and call it a Christmas!

Really though, Addie loved her scooter and the little girls haven't gone a day without playing with their dolls and strollers (which i never got a picture of). All three of them love Addie's doll house!

we had a very relaxing christmas day complete with our traditional breakfast casserole brunch and staying in pjs most of the day! i'll have to admit, pretty perfect in every way!

Tucker's Baptism

about two weeks ago, we all piled in the car (including my mom) and headed to Raleigh for our sweet nephew's baptism.

the trees were gorgeous, and i'm pretty sure addie's head nearly exploded seeing so many beautiful colors!

i have two words to describe the trip there and back: long drive!

but it was totally worth it!

it was such an honor to be a part of this special weekend to celebrate baby Tucker and be there to witness his baptism and the commitment of Judson and Anna's church to support them and teach him about God's love.

there were grandparents, a great grandparent, a great aunt, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends to celebrate this handsome boy!

anna's mother was so sweet to host a delicious lunch following the service that included this beautiful (and yummy I might add) cake.

tucker got lots of loving on from everyone, but i loved this picture. a beautiful lady and handsome baby!

the weather was perfect; and our girls, along with at least six other cousins, had a blast playing outside!

but what's a party without tarheels cornhole?

my aunt flew in from atlanta

and while our littles weren't too keen on stopping to take a picture, they loved seeing their nana!

tucker's apparently a great little helper

and an even better sport. this kid was surrounded by girls (with at least one fussing at all times) and took it with stride! (love this picture of my mom and her 4 grandchildren!)

he even let Addie hold him!

that is until he'd had enough! so i scooped him back up and loved on him while we headed back inside to his sweet mama.

and while addie loved baby tucker, she absolutely adored aunt anna and uncle judson. i'm pretty sure she would have stayed with them 24/7 had she been given the opportunity!

my brother only planted a few unnecessary things in her head (like showing her food and insisting on me building her a volcano that could erupt...more on that later!),

but it was all worth seeing these two together!

getting to love on this baby boy!

and be with this gorgeous family!

aunt anna, uncle judson, and baby tucker, thank you for including us in this celebration. thank you for spending the weekend with us, helping to entertain our girls, and just loving on them! it was an honor to be a part of this special event; and we loved every minute of our time with you.

"But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

Luke 18:16