Ethan's Star Wars Birthday Party

Ethan's 5th Birthday party was a huge success! I started thinking about his party before the baby arrived in October. After she arrived and the back-to-back holidays, my brain shut down until January.I ordered my invitations from PoshPaperGals, who let me edit her text a little bit. And began making jedi robes for each of the boys. This was the trickiest & most time consuming, trying to figure out sizes for our 14 guests. It was also the main expense. I used roughly 32 yards of fabric, but you can go to Joann's on a good day and find a great buy. Oh, yeah...the $40 matcha green tea powder - YIKES!Treat Bags? Um...no, that would be me making the custom Jedi Robe. But they did get a Green Tea Yoda Oreo, a light saber, and a Certificate of Jedi Completion.Fortunately, having a birthday right after Christmas was a great thing, because we had friends and family save wrapping paper rolls for light sabers (plus painters & electrical tape). If you had a summer birthday, you could make these out of pool noodles. We brought all our collapsable tunnels, huts, bikes & balls, to keep little boys occupied, along with some planned Star Wars themed activities. A tent and a big box were our "Imperial Empire Command Center" and "Rebel Alliance Command Center." The biggest hit of the party was Lance's pod racers, which he crafted out of a moving cart, a couple of boxes, dryer vents, flower pots & some spray paint. We had a short obstacle course (pod racing, bean bag toss with a cornhole set (asteroid toss), and taking a whack out of Darth Vader's pinata head. At that point, they were ready for to graduate and receive their light saber. Then, guess who arrived? DARTH VADER. They all took off running and pummeled him with their light sabers. So awesome. I decided to forgo some of the awesome food ideas on the internet, and opt for pizza & water (removing the label & replacing it with Star Wars wrapping paper - my new favorite trick). Oh yeah, that plus Carbonite Jello (Hans stuck in Carbonite). My sister-in-law, Libby makes amazing cakes (and also sells them!) and made the light saber cake. Never in a million years did I think I'd have such fun planning a Star Wars birthday party. But it was a blast. Happy 5th Birthday Ethan!!!

Check out my post here for how-to's on these & other great ideas from the fabulous internet.

Star Wars Party Inspiration

Getting Ready for our Star Wars birthday party this weekend! I have been up to my ears in "research" for the big event. Boy, there are some cool parties out there! I thought I would share some of my favorite ideas.CAKES: Here are some cute ones, as well as tons here on flickr. And if that's not enough, a simple google image search shows countless cake ideas. (Pictured cake found here.)

STAR WARS ON ETSY:
An etsy search, with the words "Star Wars Party" has lots of other inspirational ideas.
Like the cookies below (found here). Or these fondant cupcake toppers. And these cute downloadable party displays here. And what cute goodie bags!

INSPIRING PARTIES YOU'VE GOT TO CHECK OUT:
Just Jenn Recipes has super-duper cute food!
The Laws of My Life has a great idea for "Making your own R2D2".
Geek Mom features food & game ideas.
Country Cottage Needleworks has some really cute decorations, including a life sized R2D2. Her husband is so crafty!
Blissoff has some more cute decorations & food ideas.
My Creative Stirrings has cute R2D2 cups, light saber knives, and Ewok huts.
Aimee Austin has more good game ideas.
Make & Takes has more good game ideas, how to's and easy food ideas.

OTHER FUN DETAILS:
And I think a Death Star pinata would be awesome (here's an easy how to!), I figured the kids would rather have a whack at Darth Vader's head. Here are some more awesome Star Wars pinatas on etsy.
Here are some light saber "how tos." This and this one out of wrapping paper rolls. And this out of pool noodles.
Free Downloadable Star Wars Masks
a Jedi Robe pattern (I used around 2 yards of fabric per kid). If you used felt, it would save some time (you don't have to hem), but it would be more expensive.
Downloadable Coloring Pages
Invitations
Star Wars Sandwich Cutters and Cookie Cutterslight saber pretzels
I also had the idea of serving edamame (Yoda Ears) and some pineapple stars and grapes on skewers (inspired by Edible Arrangements), but I ran out of time and energy.

Here's how it all turned out!

3 Months

A look Back: 1 Month, 2 Months

Something's Got to Give

I'm running out of time in the day.

More babies means less time for certain things. So as I start out the year of 2011, I'm thinking of goals and priorities. One big goal: To run a Half Marathon. (Did I really just type that?) I'm exhausted thinking about attempting this. I ran a Half in 2007, and I know how much work it takes to train. And I only had one baby! Now I have 3 - one of whom is still nursing and just now sleeping through the night. So it seems like an insurmountable task. But Lance is supportive, and is willing to watch the kids & help me make it happen. We'll see how it goes. I will not feel bad about bailing on this one.

My next goal is not to be on the computer during my kids waking hours. I don't want my kids to be sucked into computers, tv and video games. And let's face it - they are taking in every bit of how I spend my time. So any computer work will be done during naptime & bedtime. This is also prime time for folding clothes, dinner prep, and countless other tasks which cannot be completed during the children's awake hours. So, that leads me to my next change of 2011: I will be blogging very little. I love blogging, and don't really think I spend much time on it. However, I'm trying to make every minute count. So you will be hearing less from me this year.

And finally, I will be taking less hot, long showers. If you know me well, you know that I'm not very good at leisure activities. Painting toenails, blowdrying hair, watching movies...I spend the whole time thinking of all the other things I could be doing with my time. Long hot showers are about the only time I can sit (or stand) still. But as I think about the way I spend my time, I realize that these need to go. Not to mention that the planet will thank me for conserving water. (But back massages. I cannot give those up.)

What about you? What are your goals for this year?

How To Make Soup

File this under brilliant. How to make soup. No list of ingredients, just a basic "how to" from things in your refrigerator. If only I listened to my mother better, I would be an expert in this. She can also just "throw together" soup from things in the fridge. She would even throw in aging salsa or the remainder of a ketchup bottle! Photo and recipe from Hey That Tastes Good!

Things from the fridge soup: This is not a recipe but a process. Use whatever you have left in your fridge! (I abbreviated her process below. Please see her website for the full instructions!)

1. Thaw stock, if frozen
2. Chop all your vegetables.
3. Cook meat, if using
4. Saute veggies.
5. Once vegetables are soft, add tomato if you are using tomatoes.
6. Add salt, pepper, spices.
7. Add the stock. Maybe water. Simmer.
8. Add whatever starch you are using (unless you're using pasta).
9. Add cooked meat back to the pot. If using pasta, add it now. If you're using tofu, add it now.
10. Dump in all your greens, if using. Cook just until wilted.
11. At this point, you are done!

Even More Christmas!

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone had as wonderful a Christmas as I did. I was really excited about this Christmas because let me tell you - Santa Did Well. Ethan got tons of Star Wars guys, and Katie Belle got a giant doll house. And while I'd love to give you some details, I don't want to put out any spoilers on the interwebs. But all I will say, is that Santa does not pay full price.

Or even half price.

Really, Santa sometimes only pays pennies on the dollar of what I would have to pay. So the kids scored big time this year.

Homemade Gifts, 2010

Welcome to Homemade Christmas, 2010! This is my third year to trade homemade gifts, and I love it for a number of reasons. Before I get to the gifts that I made, I'll tell you what we received. From other family, we received a car-cleaning-kit, homemade jams & honey syrup, chocolate rugelach, and a some framed photographs. For 2 years, I have been meaning to make vanilla, but it requires a bit of curing (recipes range from 2-6 months), so i never get started early enough. I was originally inspired by this beautiful post (from Design Mom, complete with instructions). And then by this gorgeous presentation. Mine weren't quite as glamorous, but still, I was pleased with the results.
I also made some Blueberry Jam (made with blueberries picked from a little Amish boy we met this summer). And I threw in a few chocolate chip cookies, because it was looking a little sparse. Then, I made these fabric buckets based on this tutorial. You might remember this one I made a while back. Pretty much all of this was done before October, so it was not a mad dash to finish with 3 little ones on top of a cold, busy Christmas season. What fun! I'm already looking forward to next year's projects (If we do this again next year).

Tutus and Cowboy Boots.

KB picked out this outfit all by herself. She put on a tutu and boots and just danced around the kitchen forever. Being a kid is so much fun.

School Program

Christmas has been loads of fun this year! Not that I haven't enjoyed previous Christmases, it's just that finally E & KB can get excited together, and there's something so Christmasy about that. They were in the school program together. Both mostly stood there (we're not a family of performers), but they were really cute when they stood there. Ethan was "disappointed" that the sticks he got were blue, not red. KB calls per pigtails "curlies." I don't know where she got that, but it's so stinkin' cute.Katie Belle cried when Santa appeared & Miss Julie held her tight to keep her from the big scary man. He did give her "candy corns" though (candy canes). So maybe he has redeemed himself.

2 Months

Picture taking is not easy with my first 2 children. So it comes as a surprise that every time I put the baby on the floor to take a few pictures, the kids are lining up to get their picture taken! It usually starts out something like this:Happy baby laying on the floor. Then, Katie Belle wants in on the action. So she snuggles up next to her. Then Ethan is next in line. They are vying to be in the middle of the photographs, so we move around so everyone gets a chance to get in every position possible in the pictures. And just like that, HEY! THEY ARE ALL SMILING! It's a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
Next, I ask them to move back and whatever they do, "DO NOT TOUCH THE BABY." Whatever. I give up. Looks like she likes it anyway.

Test Run: Yoda Oreos

I can't believe we're approaching Ethan's 5th Birthday! The years pass so quickly. It is unbelievable to me that he's turning five. That means he's halfway to 10. And that means he's halfway to 20. AAAHHH! Ok. Moving on...This year, guess what theme he picked? I'll give you a clue. This week we tested out a recipe for Yoda Green Tea Oreos. Instead of food coloring, it calls for Matcha, a green tea powder. I called around & finally found it at Teavana. I sent my husband for it, and it cost a whopping $40. Yikes! If I had known, I wouldn't have bought it. (I only needed one tablespoon!) But we did, so we'll be drinking lots of ceremonial green tea in the near future. Any of you ever used Matcha? Have any good recipes that use it?
And now, a retrospective glance at past birthdays! I started the blog shortly after E's 1st birthday, so it's fun to take a look back.
Ethan Turns One
Ethan Turns Two
Ethan Turns Three (The Blowout): Part 1 and Part 2
Ethan Turns Four

Snow!

How unexpected! Yesterday it snowed all day. Although we can't build snowmen, it was enough to get outside & play for a bit! We rarely get snow this early in the year, so it was a fun surprise!

Learning to Give

We have a lot of toys. Yes, E plays with almost all of them still, but the stash is only getting larger. So as we approach Christmas & his birthday, we decided to get rid of some. I wanted E to play a role in choosing some to give away. So last week, when his room was looking especially crazy, I decided that we would get started.After several hours (full of complaining about getting rid of his toys), this is what he comes up with:
A small pile of trash, beat up toys and undesirables. I know it's a process. I'm sure I'm the same way, just about different stuff. I want to give away my crummiest possessions. And even then, I cling too tightly. Funny what you learn from your kids, right?

Breakfast with Santa

This Santa pic isn't the world's greatest picture of the parents, but it's the best we've got of our kids with Santa this year. KB did not want to sit in Santa's lap.
E on the other hand was excited to tell Santa about his pillow pet. Several days later, we talked about writing Santa our letter. E's response? "Why don't you write him? You know I want a pillow pet, and besides...I don't know how to write."

Groundbreaking

E & KB go to the same preschool where I went many years ago. They are finally building and moving the school to a new facility! Ethan got to take part in the groundbreaking last week. Look at all those sweet kids with their hardhats on! Ethan was so excited to be one of the first to dig. What an exciting event!

Sisters

So sweet - Sisters!!! I see lots of baby dolls in their future. Hopefully, we'll skip over all arguments about clothes & boys! I love pigtails. I wish they lasted longer than 30 minutes!

Putting Up the Tree!

The best time of year is here! We've had fun putting up the tree. This has been a super-fun Christmas season already, and it's not even December!!! E & KB are giddy with delight, and are begging to open gifts already. (I vividly remember the feeling of waiting to open gifts. It was so hard!) Yes, I have the gifts wrapped & under the tree already. I have been squirreling away gifts all year long. 25 Days to Go!

Hot Honey Lemonade with Ginger

You know what is yummy, and feels great on the throat? This drink from Martha Stewart. You should try it.

1/2 cup ginger simple syrup (see below)
4 TBLS freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp honey
3 cups boiling water
12 whole cloves
4 lemon wedges
12 honey-drop candies (I didn't use this.)

Pour 2 TBLS simple syrup in each of four heatproof glasses or mugs. Add 1 TBLS lemon juice, 1 tsp honey and 3/4 cup boiling water to each. Stir until honey dissolves. Stick 3 cloves into each lemon wedge; drop a wedge and 3 candies into each drink. Serve immediately.

Ginger simple syrup (MAKES 3/4 CUP) : 4 ounces fresh ginger, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup granulated sugar

In a small saucepan, bring all ingredients to a boil over medium heat. Cook 2 minutes. Strain the mixture through a sieve, discarding ginger. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie

Did you have a nice Thanksgiving? We had a nice, relaxing day with my parents. We rotate Thanksgivings between Lance's folks & mine. When we spend the day at my parents, I try glean as much information about the meal as possible from my mama in anticipation of the day that I will host the feast at my house.

My mom always made turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potato, and cranberry sauce (and sometimes tofurkey)! Sometimes a few other things thrown into the mix. My mom cooks a mean Thanksgiving meal. This year I made this recipe for Pumpkin Pie, sweetened with Agave Nectar. It's so good, and not too sweet.

What about you? What do you traditionally eat? Do you travel? What are your traditions?

PUMPKIN PIE w/AGAVE NECTAR (and Whipped Cream)


2 cups pumpkin puree*
(or 15 oz. of canned organic pumpkin); 
1 9-inch pastry crust; 
¾ tsp pumpkin pie spice; 
1 tsp ground cinnamon
; 1 tsp salt
; 1 tbsp melted butter; 
3 eggs; 
¾ cup agave nectar; 
1/3 cup whole milk; 
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream



Real Whipped Cream Topping
; 1 pint heavy whipping cream
; ¼ cup agave nectar
;1 tsp real vanilla



In a large bowl, blend together two cups pumpkin, spice and salt. Beat in melted butter, eggs, agave nectar, milk and cream. Pour filling into pie shell.
2. Bake at 400 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Refrigerate until serving.
3. To make whipping cream, pour one pint of whipping cream into chilled mixing bowl and add agave nectar and vanilla. Beat with chilled beaters until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until serving.

* Pumpkin puree: preheat your oven to 450 F. Then, cut the top of the pumpkin off and remove the seeds and membranes. Cut pumpkin in half and place it face down in a baking dish. Add about a half an inch of water to the pan to keep pumpkin moist. Bake about 45 minutes until fork tender. Scrape the soft pulp from the skin into a food processor or blender. Pulse until pureed.


Christmas Flashback - 2008 & 2009

Approaching Year 3 for Homemade Christmas. I love, love, love that my family supports this idea! It has been so rewarding for a number of reasons. The siblings on both of our family sides exchange handmade gifts. Here is a flashback of past gifts I've given. Homemade Granola Cereal.
Chocolate Chip Granola BarsFriendship Soup Mix, with Cornbread Mix
And Coasters! I can't wait to pull my gifts together for this year!
Gifts that we have received: Candles, Paintings, Christmas Wall Hangings, Candied Nuts, Pancake Mixes, Spiced Tea Mixes, a Draft Dog, eco-friendly home cleaning kit. I'll post my Christmas gift after the holiday!