I haven't gotten to work that much lately. With the holidays, family visits and us being gone a lot I have not been able to do many programs. But tomorrow I get to lead a birthday party that I am super excited about!
When I lead a birthday party for this family this past summer the mom asked me what I thought of her idea for her daughter's party that would be six months later. I told her it was absolutely doable and I would love to be involved. So we have been communicating on and off ever since planning and organizing so that ten little girls can build their very fairy houses.
Today Sam and I built an example house today. Just to test it out.
Sam helped me pick out the pieces we would use and helped me hold things in place while we glued. She wanted so bad to play with it today and did not like that it was for work but she will get it after tomorrow so I think it will be okay.
The party should be pretty fun. We are going to go for a walk through the nature center's grounds exploring where fairies might live (and other small creatures in the woods) and allowing the girls to each find a few things to use for their house. Most of the materials have been collected and dried ahead of time. The girls will each go home with a kit and instructions for how to make their own fairy (provided by the family) and (hopefully!) a completed fairy house. I am only worried about all the gluing! Making this house took a lot of hot glue and the party is for a five year old little girl. I know that there will be some of the parents there to help out but it could be hard to get all those houses put together. We will see! Wish me luck.
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The Nitty Gritty!
Planning this party has gotten me thinking a lot about Sam's third birthday party. Since she is in preschool now and has some friends her own age (did I tell you all that one of the boys in her class gave her a hug and a kiss on the head at the Christmas party?!! It was so cute and me and the other mom almost died laughing!) I think this might be the perfect year for her to have her first big kid party! The pressure is on. My immediate thought was to check out this indoor gym type place where you can have those big blow up things and a pizza party. Sam loves jumping in those things and it would all be so easy.
However, with the passion that I have, Sam's love for being outside, and my experience does it seem wrong to anyone else that I would not be doing some kind of outdoor, nature related party? Why wouldn't I take the group of kids on a hike or to catch critters in a pond? I think the thought of my having to "teach" at the party as well as be the mom just stresses me out. And what if all the other parents think I am crazy and that the kids are too young?
The nature center does great birthday parties so should I just put my trust in another naturalist and go about this like any other parent? AHH! The pressure. Her birthday is not until March so if you know me you know that until I figure this out I will have many sleepless nights thinking about this and stressing out. So for the love of my sleep and sanity PLEASE leave me a comment and give me some advice on what to do about my daughter's third birthday!
I say let some one else do it so you can just sit back and enjoy it and have time with the birthday girl :)
Love the fairy house we might have to make some soon
Posted by: welcome to our wonderland | 01/07/2011 at 07:10 PM
The fairy house looks SO cute!
I'm not the one to help with birthday planning. I am already creating and buying loads of items for my daughter's 2nd {and Golden} Birthday party in July. sigh.
Posted by: Midwest Elle | 01/07/2011 at 07:13 PM
I have to tell you, Joseph's "Adventure Party" was the easiest birthday party to date. We did it late enough in the day that the build your own granola activity was more than enough food. The kids loved looking for treasures (pre-hidden in the grass along the trail). I packed a little goodie bag that my sister sewed with a compass, a magnifying glass and a bottle of water. Since the bags were made of fabric scraps, each bag cost less than $3 to make.
I just think that with your love of the outdoors, an outdoor party would be a huge hit.
Posted by: Mandy | 01/07/2011 at 07:16 PM
My youngest turns 3 in May & I've been trying to figure out something fun to do outside. I'd love to go crazy & throw a "mud party" where the whole point is for all the kids to get as dirty as possible. March seems like the perfect time! :)
Posted by: Debi | 01/07/2011 at 09:00 PM
Abbie- those fairy houses are awesome! I'm going to have to remember this idea for the spring when we aren't covered in snow :). I don't think we would find much out there right now. I always go a little nuts with birthday parties, and I do try to do as much as I can on my own. However, it is less stressful to sit back and let someone else take care of it.
Posted by: Amy A | 01/07/2011 at 09:51 PM
What a cute fairy house and what a nice idea for a party. We had a "big (in terms of # of kids)" party last year so the kids could experience a "big" party. This year we are back down to our usual family members! Building fairy houses sounds fun. We build from time to time around here but I think it would be nice to spend part of a birthday doing that. Thanks always for your inspiration!
Posted by: Angela | 01/08/2011 at 08:08 AM
Oops! It was make your own trail mix, but throw a jar of granola in there for fun.
http://www.inmandyland.com/2010/04/going-on-adventure.html
Posted by: Mandy | 01/09/2011 at 09:59 PM