Halloween in June?

So DD was invited to a Halloween birthday party tonight (A+ for creativity for that party mom).  And DD is of an age where costumes need to be "cool" and "dead".

yah that.

And there's nothing "cool" or "dead" in her closet.  What's a girl to do?

Mom's Idea # 1 - get out your plastic fangs and go as

Apparently, somebody else is going as a cool, dead, vampire.

Mom's Idea # 2: put on a sheet and go as

Apparently, dead but not cool.

Mom's idea #3 (we're running out here...)

Put on toga + wear a crown of leaves + put some celery in hair + run some red makeup down face (blood)

A bloody Caesar!  She didn't get the irony either...moving along...

Mom's idea #4 (this one I'm pitching to her after school - if she doesn't like it she better dust off those fangs)...

Get a cheerios box + tape a plastic knife to stick out of it + duct tape it to your shirt

Cereal killer.   (I would like to thank twitter for proposing this idea.  Twitter you're good people).

The take-away from this post: Moms get creative with tight deadlines.

Babies, Birthdays and Blessings

My baby is having another birthday. And with it comes great pride and a little sadness. Isn't it funny how we pull children forward - growing, learning and becoming - yet we - as parents - find it a bit hard to see them walk away from the baby years. I do anyway.

This week, our little play kitchen went to another family. I had a hard time letting go of it - because of the memories of making pretend dinner and pretend tea. Thing 1 however, had no, issues "I don't play with it anymore" Sigh...no you don't.

Now you can look at a book by yourself. You can colour great pictures. You can get the remote to work when I can't figure it out. Sigh...

With every year - you are growing - learning - becoming - the person who will take you through life.

I hope you will have courage - to be that person. I hope you have respect - for yourself, for others. I hope you have common sense - because a lot of people don't. I hope you are caring. I hope you honour your grandparents - because they taught your parents everything important. I hope you succeed. I hope you realize life is not a practice. I hope if you have regrets - that you learn from them and move forward positively. I hope something makes you smile everyday. I hope you take care of your body and your health. I hope you keep your empathy.

Because - to quote Robert Munsch -

I will love you forever
I will like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.

Kids Birthdays with Meaning

You have never seen children so happy as when they are clubbing a Care Bear piñata to death with a plastic baseball bat at a child's birthday party.

This past weekend we celebrated another birthday party chez nous - and again trying to do it with some meaning. This year's theme was 'ol skool - by that I mean games (non-electric, wait-your-turn, nobody gets a medal). The piñata was a huge hit (boy, kids have a lot of pent of anger).

Can you believe a "pin the tail on the donkey" could not - COULD NOT - be found in any stores. Instead, the choice was "put the flower in tinkerbell's hand" or "put the coin in Captain Jack's hand" game (wow - the marketing of it all). In a last minute (crap-do-I-have-enough-activities?!) moment - I put out a bunch of fabric cotton circles and the bin of markers - (the kids swarmed to colour faces).

Instead of the usual cheese pizza route - we went for healthy choices with a make-your-own sandwich bar (bagels, pitas, cream cheese, cheese strings, lunch meat - non-maple-leaf-brand, carrots, cucumbers, yellow peppers). The kids laughed over ARMPIT FUDGE. And piped it onto homemade naked cupcakes.

Then, we gave loot bags with meaning.

Now. I. have. a. kid-birthday-party. hangover. (that's when you've depleted all imagination and energy during a kid's birthday party) Please be quiet. Shhhhh.....

Armpit Fudge

As posted, tweeted and promised here is Armpit Fudge. The recipe comes via Loblaws cooking camp - it is so loverly easy and kids (well my kids) like the armpit part just as much as the eating.

Armpit fudge is great for the cottage, camp or birthday parties (birthday party post alert - coming next week)

Armpit Fudge (serves 10)

1/2 package cream cheese (4oz)
2 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tbsp butter
ziplock snack bags

Mix cream cheese,cocoa and butter in a large bowl. Add in icing sugar a bit at a time to blend well.

Once mixture is blended spoon (2 tbsp) into individual ziplock bags. Seal tightly.

Then - armpits at the ready - squish the contents of the bag to warm and mix smooth.

You can eat it "as is" or cut a corner of the baggie and let the kids pipe the fudge onto naked cupcakes for decorating.

For a birthday party - make ahead and store in fridge until ready

Parent Club Top Secret

Lots of stuff happening in the Parent Club. Overwhelming, stressful, exciting, dreadful stuff. The stuff that makes great blog posts and ridonkulous dinner party conversation (let the comments and invites roll in!).

Let us start with two words...ARMPIT FUDGE

(tune in tomorrow same bat time same bat channel)

The Present Closet

You have a present closet right? c'mon be honest!.

An out-of-the-way-kids-don't-know-catch-all of presents and presents for re-gifting for just-received birthday invitations. Filled with goodies bought on-sale, end-of-inventory or just happen to be interesting.

Because A.) one does not want to go to a toy store with children looking for a birthday present because meltdowns, fights and guilt purchases arise. B.) one does not always have the time to go birthday present shopping when there are deadlines, piano lessons and last-minute soccer practices. C.)on sale is just good math!

Love generic presents - long live Crayola! Crayola "anything" married (yes, I wrote "married") with a pad of construction paper, stickers & glue sticks - and - you've got a great prezzie (and no that's not a Crayola plug - buy Laurentian if you want but Crayola's better ). Books are also great go-to boy or girl presents. Everyone could use another book (at least I think so).

hmmm...other generic present-closet-worthy prezzies...hmmm - cartoon dvds, soccer balls (who doesn't love a ball?), ooohhh! kid cookbooks & lil' aprons (geez...reminds me - where did the rice crispie no-cook-cookbook go? - did I lend it to you? Do you have it? We'd like it back please).

Where's your present closet? What's inside? Do share!

Blog Block

I've got a heady case of blog block right now. Apologies. I've got oodles of things I want to write about...

• the EECC auction I attended this weekend
  
• meeting Jack Layton
  
• baking 72 mini quiche and 24 cupcakes within a two hour period
  
• hosting a fan-ta-bu-lous birthday party with 9 screaming Things
  
• going out on a date with my husband and NOT taking a purse (this is HUGE - never happens - the date nor the forgetting the bag)
  
• anxiety and antivan (former; horrible, latter; loverly)
  
• 14 year old boy; Brandon Crisp being finally found (hoping his family finds peace of memories of happier times together)
  
• hearing of a boy in the U.S. who shot his own dad

I write. I delete. I write again. My head is all over the place with all of these things. I just don't know where to start...

Birthday Parties - Shaving Cream Art

This is a fun activity for preschoolers and school aged kids. It's messy and uses Papa's shaving cream (which causes huge giggles!).

Remember that food colouring stains EVERYTHING so cover the table (cover the kids too if you think they are clumsy at all). The video below shows how to make shaving cream art with paper. You could do it with card stock, paper plates...I prefer using a dollar store 8x10 artist canvas (cause then it looks more "on purpose" than "I couldn't think of anything else". Plus the paper would be wet for taking home in a loot bag -- the canvas drys quickly..

My method is a bit different from the video (less messy - more kid-centred) -- look below for my shaving cream art step by step instructions.


Shaving Cream Printer - Amazing videos are here

You need:

1 can of shaving cream
food colouring
artist canvas
straws
large spoon
(cover table and kids with plastic!)

• place artist canvas in front of each child
  
• help the child spray a small circle of shaving cream on the canvas (they love spraying it - but keep an adult hand on the bottle to control spray)
  
• have the child choose their food colouring colours...drop two drops of each colour in various places on top of the shaving cream
  
• use the straw to swirl the colour around the shaving cream
  
• use the spoon to remove the shaving cream from the artist canvas

The food colouring will sink through the shaving cream and stain the artist canvas into a masterpiece.

It's a cheap art activity for birthday parties (Maman loves a deal!), messy art (kids love messy), and it requires absolutely no talent at all. Great loot bag item!

Kid Birthday Party Planning

Hosting, yet another, birthday party this weekend. Since it is an 8 year old party -- I'm trying to keep it kid-centred (with parental intervention for fires and fights).

Here is the general plan...8 kids to celebrate 8 years old (ok - really 9 kids bc Thing 2 doesn't get counted in the birthday invitation equation). I have employed two - count them two - helpers for the day (13 years old and 11 years old respectively - young enough to be "cool" for the 8 year olds but old enough to be responsible help for the Mom).

In the three hours of the birthday party - we shall;

eat cheese pizza

make shaving cream/food colouring art (it's pretty cool)

dance (high school musical 3 soundtrack no doubt)

cover naked cupcakes with invisible frosting (FUN!)

decorate t-shirts

dance some more

make a puzzle necklace (still thinking about that)

open prezzies

Wondering about the invisible frosting? Well, we just aren't big on frosting here so a few years ago I invented "invisible frosting". In a (washed and empty) applesauce container I put a tsp of icing sugar and add a bit of water to make "invisible frosting". With our "invisible frosting paint brushes" (dollar store paint brushes which are kept on the baking shelf and not the art area) we "paint" the invisible frosting on to the naked cupcakes. The perfect edible glue for "fairy dust" (coloured sugar) or sprinkles.

Happy Birthday Thing 1

Today is Thing 1's birthday. No more sleeps. No more waiting. IT IS TODAY.

Thing 1 is 8 years old (insert gasp here). I still see my baby in that face. I still help put clothing on that little body. I still cuddle those bones in my lap. Yet, I do realize that Thing 1 is now officially a KID.

We are at a point in parenting - where we have to bite our tongues, save discussions for later and not spell out words (d-a-r-n i-t). We are at a point where "is Papa Noel real?..." is a serious question backed by curosity and fear.

I always thought kids would be less maintenace as they grow older. However, their stuff gets bigger, thier needs get more expensive and you get simply addicted to being there.

How to Make a Pinata

When Food is the Enemy at Birthday Parties

We once went to a birthday party where the birthday child had a sever peanut allergy . When the (homemade peanut-free) cake came out one child pulled out a container of dates and fruit.

"He can't have cake - no refined sugar".

Some studies have shown that children with autism can benefit from gluten-free, casein-free diet. Let's not forget; lactose which is intollerable to many.

At birthday parties, I think it is important to recognize that to some people (children and adults alike) some foods are the enemy to digestion. Trigger foods can cause discomfort - not what you want at a child's party.

One never knows the food restrictions of children. Giving plentiful choices is important at a birthday party; cake and a fruit tray. Cut veggies and pizza. Cheese and crackers. Popcorn and dry cereal. Juice and water.

Always ask parents - when they r.s.v.p. or drop their child off - if the child has any food allergies or sensitivies. Food can be the enemy - but it shouldn't be a party-pooper.

Birthday Party - Low Low Low

That Low Low Low song is sung around the house a lot lately...apparently Thing 1 hears it on the school bus (it may be an inappropriate song -- who knows -- all I hear is the "low low low" part). Anyway, in this phrase I've found the inspiration to have a Birthday Party - Low Low Low. Meaning; low maintenance, low cost, low stress. Mission impossible?

Following the magic party equation; number of party guests = child's age + 1 (or maybe 2 to include sibling).

activities #1. Playing with outdoor stuff we already have (smart huh?). Have tents, play parachute, have slides & swings. Supervision to prevent accidents and bleeding required.

activities #2. Creating with stuff we already have (yes, did consult the crayola.com website for ideas). Here is how to make use of your craft cupboard; markers + paper bags (30 per pack for $1) = paper bag puppets. Little fabric crowns (20 per pack for $1) + glue sticks + Popsicle sticks = king or queen stick puppet. Supervision so that children do not colour on each other required.

Also, have a (large) paper bag pinata -- which instead of hitting with a stick (which, even with supervision, not such a good idea). Each child pulls on a string hanging from the bottom of the pinata -- one of the strings will make the bag come apart spilling its goodies. What are the goodies you ask?...being anti-candy for youngish children we have; mini-lipsticks (4 to a pack for $1), icky looking plastic teeth (6 to a pack for $1), obnoxious noisy blowing horns (8 to a pack for $1), small plastic wild animals (10 to a pack for $1). No, this isn't' the loot bag -- just part of the activity budget; which at present stands at $8.00.

As a fall-back; have plastic Easter eggs (from Easter) and plastic spoons for an egg race.

These are easy-breasy activities that can be done indoors or outdoors. But you get the drift of my theme. Keep it Low Low Low!

Will take some (unprofessional) pictures of those puppets to share with the Club.

Share Parent Club

Parent Club is a blog/website full of tips, activities and resources for Canadian families.

It is read by tens of people every day. Be sure to share with the club by e-mailing your comments, experiences, rants to info@parentclub.ca.

In the coming weeks, Parent Club will be sharing a product review (food related this time - Yum), road trips with kids - you ok back there?..., planning an easy birthday party and novel loot bag ideas - without the novelty factor.

Share the Club with a friend today!

Reader Feedback: Birthday Tips

"At Child A's fourth birthday we made decorated "binoculars" I made them ahead of time by stapling together two TP rolls and adding a string, on the string I had attached a tag to write the child's name on. A bunch of stickers and fancy metallic markers and we were all set! The next year we made crowns and tieras. My husband cut out the party hats from pieces of Bristol board and we bought a bunch of shiny beads and stickers from the dollar store and of course more markers!

Each year we made our own "pin the something on the something" game, first year was stick the spider on the web, Child A drew the big spider web and the year after it was stick the spaceship on the solar system.

(submitted by a Parent Club reader)

Birthday Tips - at home

A few tips for the "Location: Our House Birthday Party".

How do you fill the time?

• Combine activities. Have the child make their loot bag item; be it a hand print on an art canvas, a decorated t-shirt, a pot & seeds combo, a painted bird house, or other craft. (e-mail Parent Club if you need more ideas!)


• Make food an activity. Decorate cupcakes, make individual pizzas, bead fruit loop necklaces.


• Update the ol' skool. Enjoy games of "old" like musical chairs (update it by using hoola hoops to stand in), duck, duck, goose (update to Dora, Boots, Swiper), Egg race (use those plastic easter eggs you just bought in April), pass the package (give newspaper or flyers a 2nd life by wrapping layers)


• Set up stations. Have a book nook, a dress-up corner, a lego land...and if possible keep the food to one area.

Keep the time to two hours. If the kids are young; write on the invitations that there will be a tea/coffee bar for the parents (a bit of an incentive to stay). If parents are dropping off their children; have a clipboard near the door for parents to write down their cell phone numbers.

Art tip...

If you are at a loss for something to do...surf over to HUGOESCARGOT. This francophone website has over 8,000 images available for you to print off and colour. From popular comics like Dora, SpongeBob, and Winx to seasonal and birthday images...it is a great resource.

(Birthday tip; print off a bunch of colouring pages and have a colouring table for the kids. Tons of fun and an easy activity for most age groups).

For the French Immersion, Francophone or Francophile families; this website has popular kids recipes, free games, crafts and song lyrics.

Birthday Party Season

There was no ringing bell to let me know that Birthday Party Season was a go. Don't they shoot a gun or something to let you know? It's the humane thing to do. Just kindly, but loudly, announce that Birthday Party Season is open and invitations will be pouring out of school bags soon.

The family calendar is scattered with two hour fete events across the next month. I do like my children invited to birthday parties, it makes me think that they do, in fact, have been socialized well enough to become a friend. What I like better is when both children are invited to the same party. This past weekend Child A was invited - Child B not invited. That's tough. What do you do with Child B? We went to the Dollarama to learn that buying a treat will make one feel better (isn't that a good education I'm providing for this pre-shopaholic?!).

It's hard to take one kid to a party and leave the other at home. Somehow, it just doesn't feel fair. On occasion, (when I know the parents and when the party is at a party place - not a home) I have asked a parent if I could bring both of my children to the celebration. I add that the uninvited child does not expect a loot bag (and I pick up something special for the tag along kid and give it to them as a treat for being the guest of the birthday gang). This usually works out. Kids don't need to be separated, I add a helping hand to the party (because I can't leave my littiest at parties just yet) and everyone has a good time. I have also, on occasion, paid admittance for the sibling to enter the play place. Fine with me as I understand that there is a party budget and I can certainly chip in a few dollars for my extra kid.

It just makes Birthday Party Season a little easier.

Birthday Party Postmortem

Postmortem

8 shrieking little girls
40 homebaked cupcakes (chocolate & vanilla)
2 extra large pizzas
2 Tylenol extra strength tablets
1 can of apple juice

One forgets how LOUD an assembly of little girls can be...it was a deafening party. The t-shirt decorating was a fun activity and it was good to split the girls into two teams. Team 1 decorated t-shirts (and quite artistically I must admit) while Team 2 went to the 'spa' in the living room where our favourite babysitter awaited them with oodles of nail polish and tatoos. Hiring a babysitter for extra help was so SMART. She cleaned up activities, watched over the playing and even tidied up the toy room afterwards. This is the teenager I would like my kids to grow up to be.

Teams 1 & 2 married to decorate the cups and bowls (see the theme -- pj party -- cereal bowls & juice cups to decorate and a t-shirt to change into). Then -- our favourite -- decorating cupcakes with invisible frosting.

Invisible frosting was created out of necessity as my kids hate frosting. We mix icing sugar with water to create an invisible paint and use clean paint brushes to administer the sugar mixture to the cupcakes. Then we sprinkle; coloured sugar, sprinkles, chocolate shavings...onto the cupcakes. Because of the invisible frosting everything sticks. Super fun.

The best part was when everyone left, the house was clean and the kids were just tired enough to sit quietly playing with their new toys.

Fortune Tellers

Remember origami fortune tellers?...Before Hanna Montanna, Pixel Chicks and barbie.com; little girls passed their time engaging in creative, hands-on play. Well, this craft is back in full force, as my child says, EVERYONE in her class knows how to make fortune tellers.

Thanks to youtube you can watch step by step video of fortune teller making. Templates are also widely available (google; origami fortune teller template).

As an educational support to this; we have located a template where your child can improve his/her French. French-FortuneTellerTemplate (yes, click that) will take you to a printable template (in Word or Adobe) whereby you can print, fold and have fun.

Note; if you save in Word to your documents you can customize the French sentences using the edit text box feature.