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!

Christmas Time Part 4: Papa Al's Party

our final christmas post isn't really a christmas post at all, but it happened during our augusta christmas week. it was a celebration of paul's mom's husband, albert, turning 70! it was supposed to a surprise, but apparently 60-70 year old individuals men (mainly fellow attorneys and judges!) couldn't keep the secret (not my observation! just the facts! ;) we didnt even tell addie until the day of to make sure she didn't tell!

surprise or not, it was a fabulous party! papa al was surrounded by family and friends young and old to celebrate his 70 years young!

i'll go ahead and apologize for the over abundance of pictures of dancing little girls! of the 370 pictures i took, i actually edited 145 of them, and i'm pretty sure half of those were of dancing little girls! not to worry, there were many others not posted here!

but onto the party! everyone got there early; and papa al might have been suspicious, but i think he was still pleasantly surprised!

gramma had a special kids table set up with crayons and coloring pages and stickers (oh my!) and cool cups! can we say life saver!?! it also proved to be a fun hiding place for all 4 of our girls!

one of very few pictures i got of baby john the whole week. he is so cute, and his little personality keeps coming out more and more! and anne perry is all about kissing things she loves, and her daddy is absolutely one of those!

the little girls were a bit hesitant of all the music and people, but they did get down a little and dance and play with the big girls (my left arm would disagree but here's the proof!)! and see addie dancing away in the background? that kid loves to dance!

and was there ever dancing!

addie and kira had a blast dancing with others...

...and with each other. and when they weren't dancing, they were crawling around all over the place (!?!) because that's what almost 3 and 4 year olds do!

addie had the most fun jumping...and being a pretend guitar!

if i heard when can we have cake once, i heard it a zillion times! love these two big girls, and they love their cake!

thankfully at some point grandpa saved my left arm (and right hand for that matter!) and audrey kate let him hold her; and after that, she let ms. gail feed her cake!

balloons anyone? :)

thank you for a great celebration and fabulous party gramma, and happy 70th birthday papa al!

Let's Party!

Who knew how much fun (and work) it would be to pull off birthday parties for our girls.

Invitations. Planning. Cakes. Decorating.

But I think this year tops the list

...in fun.

and in work!

I should have known the first birthday party would have to be rescheduled when the first cake started like this:

Thankfully having to reschedule because Addie was sick gave us a little more time to create this:

and put the finishing touches on all these Sweets...

And after all those sweets, we had to make sure we didn't cause any cavities.

My favorite part used to be the cake. Now I think it stresses me out! But after my friend Anna told me about gum paste, life cake decorating became so much easier! Thank goodness for googling cake ideas!

Addie's appliquéd outfit, made by Rie Rie with fabric that Gramma helped choose, turned out pretty cute if I'm allowed to say. And after threatening bribing her with time on her playground, I actually got some pictures!

But I think this has to be one of my favorites!

The party was more than I could have ever imagined! The rain held off so we spent most of the time outside.

Daddy grilled 300 56 hot dogs.

And so many sweet friends and family came, all the way from Atlanta and Augusta!

 

(I would have never made it without my aunt, Nana! She called me Thursday and asked to come help! Thank you Nana for all you did!)

And even sweet Kennedy (Thomas' baby sister) came in her sweet lollipop dress! Can we say adorable?!?!?

But after everyone ate, it was time for cake. And for a little girl who sings Happy Birthday all.the.time. to everyone else, it was pure bliss to hear everyone sing Happy Birthday to her! And it was that moment that caught me off guard, as everyone begin to sing. Friends. Family. Moms and Dads. Children. I didn't know Happy Birthday could be so beautiful until it was sung by people who truly love my little girl and our family! Blessed. So very blessed!

I loved watching her face and smile! And finally it was time to really blow out the candles!

The pull pinata was a huge hit! Since we had so much candy inside waiting for the kids to make goodie bags with, there were small toys: rings, necklaces, bubbles, bouncy balls, etc in the pinata.

Oh. And a handful of suckers. You think the birthday girl was excited here! (thank you Erin for taking these pictures!)

As I look back on this day and the days (or weeks) preceding it, I am reminded at what amazing, precious friends and family we have! I had family helping me finish painting the kitchen. More family here the day before and day of tirelessly working to get things straight and ready. I had friends who helped me bake cakes, make chocolate covered goodies, had Addie over to play for the morning, even one who brought a yummy mexican dip to the party, and two in specific that were fervently praying for things to go smoothly. And then there's my husband who kneaded color into gum paste and stayed up late with me to finish the cake in addition to everything else he did!

Amazing. Precious. Selfless. Wonderful.  

Thankful. Blessed. 

Happy Birthday our Big Girl! We love you 

and so do many, many others!