Rainbow / Colour Party

With a 9 and 6 year old - its been easy to recycle and turn upsidedown decorations ;)

 

Miss N asked for rainbows and bright colours and a piñata and pass the parcel.
{after changing her mind on a lalaloopsy party .. phew!}

I love a good theme so fleshed it out a bit, to help me with games and craft ideas.

The big colourful birthday party details.


Activities:

On arrival we had bubble blowing, drawing with chalk on concrete while waiting all guests to arrive

Rock Painting:

I purchased a 15kg bag of river rocks from Bunnings.
Everything else was left over from the Art Party

Hot dog Rock by Miss G

 

Facepainting:

 

Love older kids who take charge of party activities.

Miss G gave everyone Rainbows, icecreams, cherries, suns. $6 Face Crayons from Riot.



 

 

Spray Bottle Painting:

 

The Kids LOVED this activity. It was hard for everyone to wait their turn as I only had 4 waterbottles for 15 kids. I filled a waterspray bottle with a big squirt of acrylic paint and half filled with water. I bought a cheap white double bed sheet and hung it over the fence for them to spray. It's so addictive to spray colour out! I wanted to not share too! Will do this activity again!

 

 

Pinata:
Our first store bought piñata. I didn't have time to make one. The week he was in our house Miss N fell in love with him and didn't want to break him at first. But that didn't last. There may have been screams of smash him smash him. Kids love piñata's in my experience. The anticipation is palatable.
I have to buy a replacement for a room decoration. We got used to the little fella :)

 

 

Balloon Stands:

A lovely friend lent me these concrete and pvc pipe stands. Very handy and versatile!
For balloon towers blow up balloons and tie together in bunches of four (tie two balloons together, then tie two pairs together - no string just the balloon ends) then you just push each bunch onto and around the pipe. Keep adding bunches until pipe is covered. Easy to dismantle. Every kid wanted to take balloons home, so each got a bunch.

Rainbow Cake:

I'm no baker so I have to steer my kids to easy made cakes when perusing the internets :) This was a quick easy cake made from one round cake - my favourite types! I love it when a cake works.

 

 

Pinterest Food ideas :

 

Wafers dipped in chocolate dipped in 100's and 1000's. Easy and colourful. We also served marshmallows with choc and an M&M on top. Potato Chips and Freddo frogs and nuggets.
Miss N's favourite food.

 

 And I let the Birthday Shirts Here out early to wear for her colourful birthday.

 

Yay! And all my parties are done for the year!

 

I can't believe I said no parties this year. Kids really do love it. A bit of a stress but worth it.  I only wish we could invited all our friends and family. I'm thinking I'm going to have to start having school friends, family, church friends multiple parties!! The past couple years my kids have had school friends/class by default but I've been so sad that we didn't have everyone else. Next Time!

Traditions and Rituals for Families

Perhaps it's because I'm lazy.

{True Story.}

Or maybe there really is something to be said for Family Traditions and Rituals.

{Probably}

I've found I'm much more motivated when there is a reason or tradition.

Because you can't mess with tradition.


Lately I've lost my zest for most things {what!? you can tell!? I'm never here}

I never update this blog, or do anything worth blogging

Between work, Relief Society President, hours of kids homework I just don't have desire.


This week I had another realisation about traditions. For years now I've been wanting to celebrate Christmas in July. Just because. It's silly and no reason, but why not? Of course we had about 5 things to do on the 25 of July so I thought it won't happen.. AGAIN. Anyway I woke up Friday the 24th and thought just do it. Just do it tonight anyway with whatever you've got.

And you know what? There was a pep in my step. I lovingly decorated that table with whatever Christmas decorations weren't up in the roof. We hung a star light. I made a roast dinner with trimmings and dessert. We played Christmas music. A child played Christmas songs on the  piano.

I put in effort.

Lately I'm not in the mood for cooking, or preparing or crafting or doing much at all.

The thought entered my mind that I really like traditions. And reasons.

Having a timeline, an expected due date, a deadline. Without, I do nothing.

As an adult with not many {important} deadlines I think family life can really slip by.

When was our last proper fancy homemade dinner? {Easter?}
When was our last extended family get together {Easter?}
When was the last time we celebrated something {Miss G's Birthday}
What was the last thing we created together?
When was the last time we ALL sat and talked together? {Family Home Evening}
When was the last time we went on a random spontaneous outing?{School Holidays}
When was the last time we put thought and love into decorating? {Christmas in July}
When was the last time we watched the Sunrise?{Last Year}
When was the last time we watched the Sunset? {Winter Solstice}
When was my last date with the MR? {our birthdays 7 months ago?}
When was the last time we celebrated anything?


I've realised most of these things happen for our family around traditions and holidays.

Now not all traditions are good. Some traditions bring stress and hard work. It HAS to be this way because .... Just BECAUSE... it's tradition. Now I'm all for only doing what works and getting rid of stuff that doesn't. But maybe, just maybe I need that tiny bit of stress.
That tiny bit of EXPECTATION....

I really feel that tiny bit of expectation is important for me.

Life has been a little overwhelming, a bit busy, a bit in the doldrums, a bit repetitive - which will always make one lose desire {who isn't over cooking, cleaning, washing, homework?}

But give me a reason, a tradition, a ritual.

And it makes it a little easier for me to have a fulfilling life.

Might be time for me to add some more traditions to our life.


What are your favourite family Traditions?



Simple Family traditions that we use

Attending Church weekly
Monday Night Family Night
Friday/Saturday Movie Night
Watching the Sunrise once a year {used to be on Queen's Birthday or Easter}
Celebrating Birthdays with as many large candles as your age, birthday letter and crown, choosing your own breakfast and sticking candles in it
Birthday Shirts
Celebrating Winter Solstice with a fire and watching sunset
Photographing the Eating of the first mangoes of the season
Back to School Dinner
Easter Monday at the Dam
Visiting the place we got engaged each year and having a picnic with the kids
Going to the Ekka
Making Advent Calendars
Measuring Day {the same day each month we measure the girls and make a excel spreadsheet}
Its measuring day, its measuring day can be heard sung out on those days by the girls
Climbing on the Roof with Daddy
Grandparents Christmas Dinner
Sewing Christmas pillowcases and a million other Christmas Traditions