Happy 4th of July America!!

Celebrating our freedoms today!

My daughter was inspired to create her own float after viewing our town's parade this morning ... and my son contributed to our red, white and blue patriotic decorating at home with his abundance of Legos:

Happy Independence Day to all in the U.S!

Kids Junior Olympics Party Games - part 2

Today I'll share more about our Junior Olympics Party we held last week in our backyard.

We had 21 kids – most of them between ages 5 and 11.

We had to start our games with an Olympic torch relay, of course! :-)

We ran around the cul-de-sac, set our torch in it's cauldron and started right off with Track and Field. Kids were paired up for a 3-legged race:

Shot put found 8 kids at a time rolling bocce balls, striving for closest to the golf ball target.

Our littlest ones got to try from up close:

Hurdles was all about the numbers – the colored bars of this lawn game are 1, 2, 3 top down:

Discus was a frisbee toss into concentric circles on the grass. For some of the games, we adjusted for the age differences by having the younger children stand a little closer than the older kids. Similarly we used a ring target for a child's lawn 'dart' game, counting points for the win.

We also had a badminton individual competition – how many vertical hits each child can get in a row.

In gymnastics we competed in a test of balance – standing on one leg for as long as possible:

Into the pool we went to cool off on this blistering hot August afternoon. We started with individuals competing against the clock two at a time, down and back the length of the pool. This should have been  an age-adjusted race, 5-7 competing and the 8-10s competing. We also did kick board races and relays with teams of 4 kids of assorted age and ability.

After each group of events we held a medals ceremony beside the pool, in front of a large U.S. flag.

It was so sweet to see all the kids up on the 'podium' receiving their medals with pride.

I went with simple felt circles and assorted red, white and blue ribbons:

 Of course, with the actual 2012 Olympics going on, I had plenty of tv time to work on a stash of medals. A little fabric glue and you can see the back side with just a little overlap:

I learned so much from this party, we'll have to do it again next summer and it'll be really smooth! Ha! The game ideas are really limitless, so have fun being creative with your events! We don't really get snow here, so I'm not sure we can do a Winter games, but that would be equally fun! See my first post for more about our Junior Olympics Party!

Kids' Junior Olympics Party Ideas

My kids and I just hosted 21 kids here for a backyard Junior Olympics Party. 

They had so much fun! We've been enjoying all the events on tv and it's totally inspired my kids to get out and compete! This is the first Olympics they can understand, so each night as we watch the array of sports it's a real education.

Water bottles with the athletes' names keeps things simple and organized. 

Girls in red, boys in blue along with "Junior Olympics 2012" and the iconic Olympic rings:

Our Olympic Torch was a sparkly silver party hat turned upside down. Orange paper and pink tissue paper create our "flames." An old jar candle holder becomes our Olympic cauldron centerpiece:

The party 'favors' and cheering accessories were ribbon wands:

Both Michael's and Lowes had 5/16 inch wood dowels. This was a good diameter in which to screw little eye hooks in one end. I believe they were 3 feet long and we sawed them in half.

I used leftover jewelry supplies  – two silver connecting rings on which to safety pin three assorted ribbons in our red, white and blue. I'm not even sure the rings are that necessary if you want to keep things simple. 

Ribbons flowed about two feet and were arranged in a bucket until our first medal ceremony:

The kids' ages ranged from about two to 11, not counting one precious newborn. :-) Our party was scheduled to go 4 hours – from 1 to 5pm. Half way through our competitions we retreated to the Olympic Village commissary for snacks:

The olympic rings' colors and design formed our food theme. We offered plain and blueberry bagels covered in cream cheese and colored cake decorating gel. Nutella colored our black 'ring.' The kids had their fill of bagels and bowls of similarly-colored fruit, thankfully brought by the moms.

One lovely friend used her pastry skills to treat us all with these scrumptious creme-filled cupcakes!

Go Team U.S.A!! 'Til next time when we look at the medals and games!

Red, White & Blue Patriotic Wreath

My daughter and I just made a patriotic wreath for our front door!

We braided three strands of wide ribbon: 

Then wrapped it around a square, white, paper flower wreath. We added a double bow of the navy blue satin for the finishing touch:

Happy 4th of July to America! Celebrate Independence Day!

Thank You Veterans!!!!!

 Thank you to our veterans on this Veterans Day!!

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
   will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, 
   my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you
   from the fowler’s snare
   and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
   and under his wings you will find refuge;
   his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
   nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
   nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
   ten thousand at your right hand,
   but it will not come near you.
You will only observe with your eyes
   and see the punishment of the wicked.

 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”
   and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
   no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
   to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
   you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
   I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
   I will be with him in trouble,
   I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
   and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91 (NIV)

ICE-y Cool Summer Ideas

Ice. What would a summer be without it? Backyard parties, picnics, soccer games, road trips - nothing would be the same.

Since we're heading into summer and we'll all be using ice by the bucket full ... I'm going to share my tips/habits and ask you to share yours in the comments, too!   :-)

PARTIES:

A night or two before a party I'm hosting, I'll fill a large storage container or two with the ice from my ice maker, then let it refill itself...until I have as much as I need for that occasion. Our freezer is rarely packed to the gills, so this works fine for us, but you can also fill plastic bags that can squeeze around your freezer food more easily. Then, I consider what's in the ice maker as my reserve.

What about you? Do you send hubby to the store on an ice run right before your party? Have you ever run out?  :-)

COOLERS:

One of my pet peeves is the melted ice sloshing around the bottom of a cooler making soggy paper labels peel off the condiments. Although, Grey Poupon and others are now label free.  :-)  I like to freeze water in the small "disposable" storage containers. This way the melted ice is contained AND can be used as drinking water if needed:

Plus the larger ice bricks don't melt as fast as ice cubes. Also, I put ice cubes in gallon or half-gallon ziplock baggies, as they can cover more ground, so to speak, of the items you wish to keep cool, yet contain the water when melted.

Our cooler used to have a basket that would hold little things above the madness below ... but I couldn't find it before our recent picnic outing ... note to self: check sandbox ... that also helps prevent the mushy labels. I pack condiments because I prefer sandwiches with fresh toppings - what about you? Do you put lettuce and tomato on before you head out, or in a little tupperware to be added right before eating? Wraps travel better and can be made longer ahead...with no bread to get soggy. What are your picnic tips?

TRAVEL/ROAD TRIPS:

My thrifty ways balk at $20 beverage receipts at EVERY gas/potty stop on our road trips ... and with the four of us, those stops are frequent. So, a beverage cooler is a convenience AND savings. Plus if our travel destination is the beach, the convenience and savings continue.

I pack mostly plain water, then something extra for each of us: a large juice bottle to refill the kids sippy/straw kid cups (watered down, of course); Perrier & iced coffees for hubby and flavored waters for myself. Plain and flavored waters are perfect for freezing ahead of a trip, too. So, they do double duty as ice in our cooler:

By day 3 of beach vaca, they're thawed and cool. Of course, you can't do this with carbonated sodas, but everyone has water in their coolers, right?!  :-)

Please share your summer ice tips in the comments!

Remembering on Memorial Day

For the widow down the block ... 

... flowers, a card, and a friendly visit. 

For all of us remembering loved ones on Memorial Day ... May God keep us all in His care and fill us with peace. Thank you to all the members of our armed forces and their families!!! May God protect and care for you!

HOPE for 9/11

To remember the victims of September 11, 2001 and their families ...A simple project to honor the lost, the heros.
I have hope in Christ that He will continue to heal the hearts of the families and guide their futures. I think of and pray for you all today.Thank you to all who serve and sacrifice.

Sweet Summer Berry Treat

Dessert at our house often looks like this:Assorted berries of the season (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) and bananas ... topped with whipped cream ... one big bowl ... FOUR forks ... ready ... dig in!!!!!!
When Daddy makes it, we also add cashews and melted dark chocolate. Our kids love sitting together at the kitchen island & sharing, so it's healthy, fun and easy peasy!
Going, going, GONE!
What's your favorite "healthy" family dessert/treat?

Red, White & Blue

Happy Saturday, everyone!
I thought it's about time I got a little festive for the 4th of July! It seems with every relocation, I lose a little more of my patriotic decor. We're often traveling that week, so I rarely have opportunity for red, white and blue themed entertaining anyway. But I did find a little American flag that I nestled into a reed diffuser; and added a red satin ribbon accent:And pulled out this neat red silk cording:I made a little "Freedom" tag, and with the cording, embellished a cute candle jar. Independence Day is one week from today! Let's celebrate our country's unique heritage.

NOTE: I just added 5 x 7 print sizes of my art in my Etsy store.

Independence Day!

Enjoy some inspiring and patriotic 4th of July celebrations tomorrow everyone!Thank you men and women in the military! We value your sacrifices!
(Project info: Glue small pewter cross charms and a glass bead accent to tall colored glass bottles - for fun, casual summer vases!)

A Memorial Day Thank You

Thank you to all the men and women in our armed forces! Past or present, we appreciate your service! We appreciate your sacrifice!ps: I was going to post a nice photo of the flag flying in front of our house ... but then I came across this image of my sweet patriotic Ava from last 4th of July... with her little red knickers showing... cutie pie!