Pre-School Party & Lots Of Peeps

Shall we start with Lucy's pre-school Easter party?  More on the "peeps" later...and it's not what you are thinking.

I really adore Easter.  The colors, the weather {usually}, the change of wardrobe, and most importantly the real reason.  However, I can't remember a time when I have been party-mom for the pre-school Easter party.  I'm pretty sure I always opt out of that one with the thought of Jack's looming birthday on my plate.

Whatever the reason, that all changed this year.  Come sign up time, it was the last shin-dig left! I snatched it up just knowing I had to do at least one of Lu's parties this school year.

I'm thinking I couldn't have picked {or been left} with a better one.  So much cuteness in that classroom and so much fun to prep for.

I mean can 3 year olds get anymore darling?  If I could, I would bottle mine up and never let her grow up.

So, we started the party with the egg hunt.  An easy hit with this age.  Lucy was in a scramble to collect as many eggs as she could, but most importantly, the "golden egg".  I can't be for sure if one even existed, but when she found a shiny pink egg...she was positive she had won.

These cuties lined up on the wall for an Easter picture.  And yes, Lucy really posed like this.  Then sweet Ms. L offered to get a picture of us.  I was hardly dressed the part {I mean I haven't been to yoga in a week due to TAW, so I just HAD to go pre-party}.

And although, Lucy really had a special outfit in mind for me to wear to her party, she quickly forgot about it and accepted me as is.

Inside, the kids said their blessing before we started the activities.  Stop the cuteness!

Each kiddo had this fun plate of snacks waiting for them...carrots, peeps, bunny gummies, bunny crackers, and a bunny cup filled with fruit.  I even cricuted all their names on the Easter cups...and added our grass placemats.  It was super festive.

The little ones played a very simple {and age appropriate} game of Bunny In The Basket {that I totally made up} and then decorated felt Easter eggs.

Come party closing time, the kid's had a plethora of goodies to take home with them...Easer bubbles from the game, personalized cups, and a craft.  Not to mention that big basket of eggs from the hunt.

Before we left, I had to get a picture of Lu with her sweet sweet teacher.  We are truly blessed to have such a lovely lady for Lucy to spend her school days with.

Now on to those "peeps".  If you've got Easter on the brain, I'm sure you are thinking of the marshmallow candies.  Been there...done that.  I'm talking about real peeps....like PEOPLE!

The kids and I planned for an Easter Egg dyeing session this Friday after school.  Well, this anticipated event turned into a party!  And if you know us, you know we LOVE a party.  The more the merrier.

Before I knew it {and I assure you I was happy about it}, we had 9 kids and 6 adults gathered on the back porch dyeing away.  That's a lot of peeps at the Cibula house.

The best part or possibly the most ironic part {and I can say this because they are all my newest and greatest besties} the majority of our guests were Jewish.  We definitely tossed out some witty titles for this blog post. Ha!

This was a first for me, and most certainly for them.  It was such a gift to share our traditions {and reasons} behind it with them.  Not too mention I adore their company, as do my kids.

So the egg dyeing began with a table full of supplies.  The kids and adults alike had great fun.

Our little impromptu party with the peeps turned into dinner and a sleep over!  Can't get much better than that.

Eggs are dyed...check.  We've shared our tradition with some unsuspecting friends...check.  Celebration at school...check.

Now all that is left is to wait for Mr. E. Bunny....

Hippity Hoppity Easter Is On It's Way...In March!

For me there is just something so unnatural about Easter falling in March.  And although I don't like it {not one little bit}, I have come to terms with it.

Falling right off the heels of St. Patty's Day {and Teacher Appreciation Week}, I have jumped straight in to all things bunny, basket, pastel and egg related.

You better believe the Easter decor came out and the rainbows were packed away at the stroke of midnight on March 17th.  I do believe Easter does deserve it's due decorating time.

We also scurried to make Easter treats for our classmates. I feel like we were just putting stickers on rainbow lollipops.  My littles could not wait to give these out.  They bolted out the door with them this morning and this all I had left to show for our hard work.  

There were also some darling pink and yellow ones.  Easter colors just put a smile on my face!

And from there we've also hopped over to our neighborhood Easter Egg hunt.  And that leads me to another reason why I don't care for Easter in March...it was chilly!!  Hence the hodge-podge of attire they are wearing.  I could hardly blame them, it was freezing at times.

Despite the cool temperatures, they had a great time.  And as you can imagine they couldn't wait to bust into those eggs.  As a matter of fact, one said child did not wait!

And with that, we are welcoming an early Easter!  Before we know it the Easter bunny will be hopping by.  Hippity Hoppity!

The Royal Ball

I was cordially invited by my husband to a Royal Ball this weekend.

So it wasn't exactly Royal,  but that is what the girls soon called it.  First they were sure Clay and I were getting married {again, I suppose}.  When I tried to explain that it was actually a Charity Event that really didn't toot their horns. Not nearly exciting enough.  So the next best thing was a Royal Ball.  And so that is what it became known as.

Clay and I did have an amazing evening for an incredible cause.  I can't tell you the last time I've gotten dressed up in sequins.  Maybe Prom circa 1995?

The event was created to raise money for Mercy Care, a non-profit health care foundation.  Their work is so valuable and it was such an honor to be a part of it.

We were having such a grand dinner and animated time bidding at the silent auction, that I only got a few phone pics.

But, you better believe I had my phone ready for this next picture.

That good looking gentleman {other than my hubby} is Javy Lopez.  I have seriously been obsessed with him and the Braves since way...way...way before I was married.  Hello...amazing or what?

*swoon*  My younger self would have been so jealous!

And with that my Royal night was complete {and pretty much my entire year}.  So fun...thank you hubby for a FaNcY night out...xoxo

Teacher's Farmers Market

The week of all weeks has arrived.  I kid you not when I say this event has been months in the making.  And believe it or not, I have thoroughly enjoyed every meeting, brainstorming session, budget conversation, crafting party, and even our "sweat shop" {as it soon became known as}.

Our Teacher Appreciation Committee was incredible.  We were like three little jigsaw puzzle pieces who fit together perfectly.  Seriously, I think these gals may be my new besties...love ya girls!  For goodness sakes, our kids have even become best friends.

I'm still trying to figure out how to function without them now that the culminating week has ended.  *sigh* I'm pretty sure those feelings had something to do with us volunteering to man this event next year.  My wheels are already turning.

But, that will have to wait.  It is due time to share a few pictures of a fantastic week of celebrating what I like to consider some of the most important people in the world...TeAcHeRs!  As you well know by now, I have an incredibly soft spot in my heart for educators.

We decided to go for a Garden/ Farmer's Market theme for the week.  I'm pretty sure Maggie's garden party served as some inspiration for the idea.  As our minds got to working, the theme just seemed to fall right into place.  We had so much fun creating a Farmer's Market right there in the school.

Our fab principal gave us our very own room to utilize for the week.  Having our own space to create was an exciting and daunting task.  We had bulletin boards and about a bazillion shelves to fill.  However, it all came together and we were mighty pleased with the outcome.

We sent out the agenda to the teacher's and staff the week before.  We wanted them to come to school hungry and ready to be appreciated!

Since it was a Farmer's Market, we had fresh fruit available throughout the week.  The teachers would sometimes grab something with their breakfast or pop in for a mid-day snack.  It was adorable and more importantly, functional.

The room had one bulletin board and a super large white board.  We immediately knew it needed some work to give the room the feel that we were going for.

 We had posters all over the school with these fun phrases {and a few others too!}...

 We made sure to feed the staff breakfast and lunch everyday of the week.  We also threw in lots of sweet treats.  Many of the meals were donated or discounted by the community.  Other items were sent in by parents.  We were overwhelmed with the generosity of everyone.

We did our best to keep every meal within the theme of the week.  The food was delish and the staff was overly appreciative.  It just made our day!

We also gave the teacher's a little goody every day of the week.  I'm ashamed I didn't get pictures of the two big{er} give aways.  As you can imagine, we were busy!

Anyway, on day one, they all got a travel coffee mug with the week's logo.  Any of them used these every day of the week as they came in to get their morning coffee.

Day two we delivered a long stem rose to every staff member with a tag that read "HFE Teachers will you accept this rose?".  The timing was insanely perfect with the Bachelor finale being the night before.  Everyone was chatting it up.

Day three, we delivered Garden Snail Mail to the teachers.  The kids had signed up to fill in these thoughtful letters.  We rolled them up and tied a packet of seeds to them.

On day four, each staff member received a brown clipboard with their initial cricuted in green.  {That is where the "sweat shop" term emerged from}.  It was a daunting task, but they were super cute in the end.  We hung a tag to each saying "Thank You SOW Much."

And on the last day, everyone got a flower pot filled with their favorite things.  Amazing parent volunteers made this possible.  There were some precious pots rolling in all morning.  The best part was watching the staff go through them and ooh and aww at all the goodies inside.

When we wrapped up the week it was so incredibly bittersweet.  On the one hand I was EXHAUSTED and in desperate need of a three day nap.  But on the other hand, the week was so incredibly special it was hard to see it go.

As much as I get a high from the decorating and creative part of it all, honestly the love and appreciation expressed by the teachers, staff, and administration was worth every minute of it.

It felt so good to treat these deserving people.  I've been there and I know how much a "take out" lunch is a GIFT.

One last word...Teachers are really special people who work very hard!  Treat them well EVERY chance you get!

Until next year...