Hoppin' To 9

 Have I ever mentioned Lucy is obsessed with frogs?  Not the cutest animal, I admit, but it's her thing.  So when she asked me for a "small frog birthday party", I wasn't surprised.  I was a little stumped.  How does one make a frog birthday that is age appropriate for a 9 year old?  

I'm always up for a birthday party planning challenge so I got right to work.  She gave me her "small" list of friends she wanted to celebrate with and gave me the location.  Out lake house...naturally because frogs love to swim.

One might be surprised at how many frog related items there actually are.  I certainly was.  I set up the long dining table with a few froggy centerpieces and lily pads. At each child's seat there was a frog bucket hat, a frog tee, and frog gummies.

I knew the girls would spend most of their time swimming.  Especially since Lucy had requested a special boat ride to the water park.  But I also wanted to have a few things for them to do in the evening and the following morning.

The "activity" table had personalized green water bottles with a bowl full of frog stickers to decorate them, a frog piñata, and frog garden stone painting kits.

The piñata served as a great decorative centerpiece until we used it.

Here's a look at the food bar before the food actually arrived. The girls dined on green grapes, green applesauce pouches, green Gatorade, green bags of chips, and sadly NOT green hot dogs.  Any idea on a  green main course kids would actually eat? Yeah, me neither.

 

In lieu of a birthday cake we decorated cupcakes with little frog figurines.  The girls loved them and were very specific about which pair of frogs they wanted.

Since it was a sleep over, I thought it would be fun to give the girls a favor that could be used at the party.  I found these cozy frog blankets and stuffies on Amazon.

And that's what it looked like until the party started...

These pictures make me smile every time I look at them.  These girls truly had a frog-tastic time!  Such sweet friends.

The fun didn't end there either.  Just a few short days later we celebrated as a family on Lucy's real day.  She got balloons at the bus stop, birthday cake, and sibling gifts.

You sure are loved little Lu!  Happy Birthday!  It's been an incredible 9 years.  I can't wait to see all that is  to come with you.

Back To School...It's True

After the past two school years, I'm finding it hard to believe that it's true.  We really are going back to school and in person!  Now if we could just get those masks off of my sweet kiddos faces...in time...I'm hoping anyway.

Well, here we go again.  Three kids and three schools.  I am happy to say they are all in the right places for this school year.  I'm not lying though, it would be nice to streamline this one day.

So let's start with my oldest.  Jack is back at the same middle school he as been at for the past 2 years.  He is in 8th grade this year and needed a full replinishment on his uniforms.  I think the kid grew 5 inches over the summer.

Next up is my Maggie. Sweet girl has been tossed around schools during this pandemic and is doing it again.  Maggie starts a new middle school this year for 6th grade.  I know she is in the right place and I know good things are to come.  But, I'd be lying if I didn't say this is going to be a big transition for all of us.  Her first day was riddled with excitement and nervous energy. 

You've got this sweet girl!

And then there is the baby.  Lucy is off to 3rd grade this year at our local elementary school.  I think she scored the biggest with the first day being a breeze...same school as the past 3 years and it's not middle school.  

She even got to participate in the fun elementary school meet and greet.  And guess what?  Lucky girl got just the teacher she had wished for all summer!  We are excited for a thrilling 3rd grade year Ms. M!

To wish all my littles {who are now not so little} an AMAZING first day of school I left a treat for them at the breakfast table.  And lest you think a Maze Pen wouldn't excite them, you are wrong, they were very grateful.  And even more so when they found the $5 tucked away in the back.

Happy First Days of 8th grade, 6th grade, & 3rd grade.  I know you all three will do AMAZING!