Celebrating 5 years old -- Ninjago style!

Our group of 7 all dressed and ready to party -- Ninjago-style!!  Can you spot our 2 ninja's, a Master, Nya, and Lord Garmadon?? 

Max turns 5 next week and we had a cousin party for him last night.  He LOVES Lego Ninjago and chose that to be his theme.  It should be no surprise since martial arts/TKD is a family hobby and sport of ours.  Fone and Mario were great planners and helped out so much with the shopping, preparations and running the actual party.

Here is a quick run down of the party with ideas, pictures and links...

Scrapbooks/Coloring pages:  Fone is so good at organizing this, getting them printed and put together.  We just found coloring pages online and printed them. 

Goody bags:  filled with candy, fortune cookies, Lego crayons (in the 5 ninja colors found here), and Ninjago stickers

Food:  First off, we got ninja plates and napkins.  Our local grocery store gave me some take-out Chinese containers to use for fun.  The boys used chopsticks and did such a good job trying.  Max requested corn dogs, french fries, and strawberries.  Hee, hee - I love the things they pick!!  So, he got that, plus a few other things to tie in the Ninja theme.  Here were our fun Oriental/ninja type foods that we served...

 ~Sushi and Maki rolls~

(Rice Krispie treats cut up and wrapped in fruit roll-ups and Swiss Cakes cut up)

(Again the Rice Krispie treats with fruit roll-ups and Boston Cream rolls cut up)

~Snakes stabbed with swords~

(gummy worms stabbed with sword toothpicks)

~Dragon Scales and fire sauce~

(black tortilla chips and salsa)

 ~The Crush~

(for the ninja's power and strength to crush their enemies, but the kids told me the pop was for the crush that the ninja, Jay, has on Nya - too funny!!)  

~Snake Fangs~

**Bugles - I forgot to take a picture**

 

 
Here are some pictures of the boys eating dinner and working so hard at using their chopsticks....

I *hate* posting pictures of me.  I share pictures of Neil plenty, but me - not so much!  Tonight, Neil stole the camera and took a couple and when I was going through the pictures to post here, I thought I better post the ones of me as well.  I need to just chose to be happy with who I am, how I look, even though I am a bit "fluffier" than I used to be and thank God once again for this season in life where spending time with my kids is more important than hours each week toning my body.  

Isn't he lovely???!!!  Oh yeah!  :)

 Games:
**Sensei says (like Simon Says)
**Wii game (don't remember the name of it - but it's a ninja cutting up fruit with his sword)
**fun with balloons and noodle swords - the kids had so much fun bopping their balloons around
**Attack your enemies (a simple game of bopping the balloons hanging from the ceiling with noodle swords) -------again, I rarely post pictures of our basement because it isn't pretty.  Someday when time and money allow, we will get it finished it off. Until then, it's not-so-pretty....

Thank you, God, for our sweet blondy boy, Max.  He is so funny, full of life, and so stinkin' cute.  Your life shines so brightly through him to each of us, and he is such a blessing to our family.  Please be with him over the next year and bring Him even closer to You.  Amen!  

 Happy birthday, Max!  We love you!!! 

Candlemas 2013

 Today was the end of the Christmas season in our house - one of the last celebrations of Jesus in his infancy - Candlemas/Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.  It's so nice to not have to rush like most people do right after Christmas and take down the tree and put away decorations.  We enjoy them for the entire month of January and get to take them down at the beginning of February. 

We played it pretty simple for celebrating today's feast day.  We read about the Presentation of Jesus and had a few snacky things that went with it....

~Pierced Hearts~

"Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2: 34)

(marshmallow hearts stabbed with toothpick swords and Playmobil swords)

 ~Widow's olives~

"There was also a prohetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.  She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.  She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer."  (Luke 2: 36-37)

(black olives to symbolize Anna being a widow)

 ~Jesus is the Light~

"Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."  (Luke 2:  29-32)

(candles - using Pirouette cookies, Keebler. Fudge Stripes, and easy icing for the flame)

Candlemas lands on Groundhog's Day, and I found this cute rhyme which also ties in an end of winter prediction....

 "If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Winter has another flight.
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Winter will not come again."

Other great teas and ideas to celebrate Candlemas....
**21 ideas from Dawn
**Loveliness of Candlemas Fair
**Candlemas tea from Alice
**Two  posts from Jessica

Happy Baptismal Anniversary to Pookey!!

We celebrated Pookey's Baptismal Anniversary this past week...  

++ May God continue to bless him as he lets Christ's light shine through him each and every day!! ++

Epiphany 2013

 Man, am I playing catch-up!  I have yet to post anything on Christmas and have a couple posts in mind to share still.  All in the busy life of a mom with 7 kids!  That's alright - I know I'm right where I need to be focusing on the most immediate and am just fine posting things to our blog a little later than usual.  I hope all of you understand and don't mind either.  :)

We had a wonderful Epiphany....  every year, Neil and I give the kids 3 gifts for Epiphany, just like Jesus was given three gifts.  We used to give three gifts for each kid, but it ended up being WAY too much stuff and money.  This was the first year, we gave group gifts...  their first gift was a John Deere lunchbox full of our favorite chocolates.  Their second gift was a date out to the movies (which with our family size happens once or twice a year, so it was truly a treat for us all!).  And, their third gift (which will be used later this year) is a trip to Disney World.  (we kinda cheated on this one because they already knew about it, but thought it was still very appropriate to call it their third Epiphany gift).  Here is a picture of our Epiphany books, our own stuffed "Humphrey", 3 Wise Men, and their 3 gifts....

 
We were blessed enough to join a local church group that brings in the 3 Wise Men who share their story and time and even a special gift with the kids.  The kids really thought this was neat - it was the first year we took part in this and I hope we can join them every year. 

 

One of my favorite parts of Epiphany is the play our children put on.  We were especially blessed to our have our own little baby "Jesus" this year.  Even Pookey thinks so (see picture below - he just can't get enough of her either!).     

 

"There were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entertaining the house they saw the child with Mary his mother.  They prostrated themselves and did him homage.  Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."  

~Matthew 2: 10-11