Sunday, April 28, 2013

Sports' Party Decor

Daniel and Samuel shared their party this year.  Their birthdays are only 1 month and 3 days apart, and considering their friends are the same, I opted for the joint party this year.  Having it together meant picking a theme that worked for both boys, and a sports' theme was EASY and so fun.

Here are a few of the details:

The Theme
I found these napkins at Deals for a dollar.
I knew they were exactly what I wanted 
and based the entire party around them.

The Invitation
I bought primary color scrapbook paper,
 then found this navy with white stars paper 
and went to town.
I simply wrote a short poem and 
used their ages as each boys' "jersey" number.
I created it in Word, 
then cut the star paper with my Cricut.

The Welcome Banner 
I wanted something on the front door.
The sports' balls were used on the birthday banner - 
which now hangs in their sports' themed room.
I created and cut it all with my Cricut.

Balloons and Banners
Daniel loves blue, and Samuel loves green.
Two team colors.
I strung balloons with fishing line.  So easy and cute!

The Games
I used things the boys already had to create games.
Then added signs to them.  
In "Shoot for Two,"
the kids shot orange balloons 
(filled with candy for weight)
into the goal.

"Which Little Slugger Brother" Game

The Food Table

Signage for Samuel
who was turning 3

Signage for Daniel
who turned 4
(I ended up putting all of these
in their room!)

"Keep Yourself Hydrated"
I got these free printable water bottle labels
from BumpSmitten,
a site that's no longer in service.

"Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jacks"
Got the Cracker Jacks from Sam's 
and already had the Baseball bin in the boys' room.

"Fruit Helmet"
Found this idea on Pinterest and loved it.

"Grab 'Em While the Dogs are Hot"
These mini dogs were too cute.
Got the idea here.

The Food Table again

Blue #4 Jersey
I just bought shirts and iron-on transfers.
BUT white ink doesn't print in printers, 
so I did a light gray which looked white 
when ironed onto their bright tees.

Green #3 Jersey

Favors
I bought drawstring backpacks from Dollar Tree
and filled them with sports' erasers and inflatable balls.

Favors' Bag Tags

D and S
The boys each picked out their letters
at Hobby Lobby,
then chose their favorite sport scrapbook paper.
We modge podged it onto the letters.
Made for sweet centerpieces!

D - FENCE
No sports event is complete without D-Fence.
Posterboard and scissors.

The Basketball Hoop
This was hung above the cake 
with the boys' pictures in it.
I have no clue how I got this idea.
I had an old sewing hoop and 
immediately thought, 
"That's a basketball goal."
I painted it orange, then bleached 
some blue ocean net from Oriental Trading
and placed it in the hoop. 
I hung this with fishing wire!

I loved it!

The Cake
Made by my Mom's friend, Cathy.
She's SO good.
Delicious and cute.

"Score Big:  Go for the Cake."

Games Indoor
I had a game planned for each sport outside.
BUT it rained.  So games were held indoors.
We used white balloons as baseballs,
 and I used red Sharpies to draw the stitches.
I cut pool noodles in half as the bats.
SO MUCH FUN.

Shoot for Two
Little Tikes basketball goal with
orange balloons filled with candy.

The game I created.
Guests had to guess which 
"Little Slugger" brother did what.
The winner went home
with a concession stand prize pack.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Daniel is 4!

 Can you believe this?!  I definitely cannot.  

At 4 Years Old, Daniel:
Weighed 39 lbs.
Wore size 4T in clothes.
Wore size 11 shoes.
Was super busy and helpful.
Loved Thomas the train, STILL.  :)
Was always wanting to play outside.
Loved to drive his John Deere tractor.
Was a good eater...  Would try anything once.
Loved barbecue sauce.
Asked tons of questions.
Was very curious.
Liked to have an understanding or answer about everything.
Went to Minister's School in Kentucky.
Saw friends from Missouri and Ohio.
Enjoyed Easter!
Loved being surprised.
Had lots of dreams in his sleep.
Could tell us about them when he woke.
Got his 4 year shots.  Cried.
Ate ice cream at "Cherry" Yum afterward.
     (it's actually Plum Yum,
     but he thinks the fruit on their sign looks like a cherry.)
Sang all of the time.
Was so excited about his birthday.
Talked about birthdays all of the time.
Made up games.
Was always pretending.
Was quite bossy.
Thought everything should be "his" way.
Woke up sleepwalking or dreaming every single night.
Loved having his picture taken.
Had lots of friends.
Met no strangers.
Loved going shopping, getting out, making friends.

Who needs toys?!
The boxes are much more fun.

This boy loves his Mimi.
He has her heart.

Playing with Karaley...
Making her feel right at home.
Where is she?!

Waiting to see his Easter basket from Mimi.

He asked so much about when his birthday was 
that I got creative and made a link countdown.
He really liked it!  It helped him to visualize it.

Playing with the couch cushions...
Building a tower, of course.
Again, who needs toys?!

Being a good big brother.
Pushing his little brothers in the swings.

Picture day at Mother's Day Out

On the morning of his 4th birthday,
his first birthday card came in the mail.

Pop sent him a birthday check...
He was so, so, SO happy about it!

His birthday present from Mom and Dad...
Birthday #4 is so exciting.

His new soccer goal from Mom and Dad!

What to do on your birthday?!
Shovel compost into our new garden.
Daniel LOVED this.

We got ready to head out to Grandpa's farm 
on Daniel's birthday, and we noticed that it was
minutes away from the actual time he was born.

We love this boy!

Riding Grandpa's four wheeler on his birthday...  
What could be better for Daniel?!

Riding on a tractor with Grandpa!
That's what was better!

He (or actually his Daddy) wanted fish for his birthday.
The Catfish House, it was.

He was so thrilled over his caramel pie!

We asked Daniel what one special thing 
did he want to do for his birthday.
He answered easily,
"Monkey Joe's."
So, we invited his cousin Natalie 
and went the day after his birthday!

It was a blast!

Happy boy!

Daddy got them their first baseball mitts!

He shared his sports' birthday party with Samuel!
His #4 "jersey" was made by Mom.

He loved his birthday...
every single part of it.

Mimi got him "rainbow" sidewalk chalk
because he really likes "all the colors."
He loves rainbows and scribbling with all colors.

A BALL SHOOTER!
The only toy he really asked for.

Mimi did good!

His jersey...  
Cannot believe that our first born Daniel is 4!