Bracket Madness

I'm a little late posting our Family Bracket Madness Challenge...It should have been turned into the blogging world around 11 AM this morning, but I assure you, that all family members completed their brackets in time for the deadline!

Well, the "dance" has started and has already proved crazy and entertaining.  We all watched the nail biting end to the Marquette/Davidson game.  Julia was the only one to pick the potential Davidson upset with them going to the Sweet 16, but unfortunately for her, it was not to be.  She also has Oregon over Oklahoma St...We'll have to see how that one ends.  It's looking like a promising win for Oregon at the moment...but, it looked the same for Davidson as well.

So, here you go!

DADDY'S PICKS FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Louisville, Ohio St., Georgetown, Miami (FL) with Miami (FL) Winning it All

MOMMY'S PICKS FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, and Miami (FL) with Gonzaga Winning it All

(I like the underdog...I know they're a number 1 seed, but let's be honest...They're a mid-major.)

ALEX'S PICKS FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Duke, Gonzaga, Georgetown, and Indiana with Indiana Winning it All

JULIA'S PICKS FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Duke, New Mexico, Michigan, and Temple with Temple Winning it All

and, finally...

DUKE'S PICKS FOR THE FINAL FOUR

Well, let's be honest, he only cheers for Duke...Go Duke!!

 

Party Planning

Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats

As, many of you know, I have time and time again offered up my services as a room mother for both Alex and Julia's classes.  This has given me much responsibility in terms of coming up with ideas for crafts, treats, and games.  It is unfortunately harder than it seems...Coming up with age appropriate ideas is never an easy task, but here are some projects I have come up with while researching Pinterest and the Internet.  They have all been successful party ideas for the kids at school!

Alex's version of a Valentine Garland done with First Graders...You live and learn...Next time, for Julia's class, each heart will have two holes two string the ribbon through!

 

My Version of the Valentine Garland

My Version of the Tin Can Snowman with help from my Helper, Julia

Ingredients:  Two empty canned food tins (1 larger, 1 smaller), fabric batting, felt, buttons, orange pipe cleaner for nose, Christmas decor for hat and scarf.  To make the hat...I simply used black felt to create the brim and wrapped black felt around a shortened toilet paper cardboard.

Alex's Version made during Second Grade Christmas Party

Julia's 'Merida' Valentine's Arrows

Simply Made With:  Foam Valentine's hearts, feathers, a skewer, and a pack of gum!

Julia's Valentine's this year:  We forgot to get a picture of the finished product, but when they were done, they were a pink fortune cookie with a Hershey's Kiss and Hug inside!  They were simple to make and easily folded into a fortune cookie shape.  They did need glue to hold the Hershey Kiss and Hug 

into place, however.

Ingredients:  felt, pipe cleaners, fortune, and Hershey Kisses and Hugs!

Alex's class made Valentine Wreath's for their craft at their Second Grade party!  They turned out great!

Ingredients:  cardboard wreath cut-out form and lots and lots of hearts cut from cardstock!

Princess Leia and McDonald's

 

 Julia's Fifth Birthday Party

Julia had a couple of unusual requests when planning her fifth birthday party.  She wanted it at both McDonald's and a Princess Leia theme.  McDonald's was easy...The Princess Leia theme, not so much.  After a little research and some effort, I managed to pull together a wonderful Fifth Birthday for the Birthday Girl!

 I simply took a black tablecloth and purchased some 'star' confetti and sprinkled across the tablecloth to help tie in the Star Wars theme.  Julia picked out some 'Princess' themed party plates and napkins since the Star Wars themed party supplies we found lacked Princess Leia images.  She was not on board with having a 'boys party!'  Each girly guest received a handmade Princess Leia bun headband made from brown yarn, a plastic craft headband, and lots of hot glue and Julia's two boyfriends received a set of Yoda ears made from green felt, brown yarn, headband, and more hot glue!  Julia just wanted simple cupcakes...I made them at home and sprinkled edible gold stars on top and put homemade 'Princess Leia' pokes in each one.

The Birthday Girl and her Guests

I saw another blog on a Princess Leia birthday party with a wonderful idea for a game...Pin the Bun on Princess Leia!  A great neighbor sketched her out for me and the kids had fun being blindfolded while trying to pin Princess Leia's bun on her!

 My friends showing off my creations...

Julia's friends enjoying Happy Meals and fun!

A Fairy Princess

Julia has found a new love...ballet...It took us awhile to find the perfect teacher and perfect location for a dance class, but we have finally done it.  Her dance class is just as it should be for four year olds...Upon arriving, Julia donned her fairy wings, tutu, glittering headband, and wand.  She then spent the next 45 minutes fluttering around as a fairy through Fairyland, spreading fairy dust and jumping over toadstools.  Everyday since, she has asked if she has dance today...and, unfortunately, I have to tell her that she has to wait until Tuesday.  Don't worry Julia...Tuesday is just around the corner!

Finally!! A Lost Tooth and, Maybe, Braces?

As you can see, Alex is on cloud nine!  He has FINALLY lost a tooth!  It was only a week and a half shy of his 7th birthday.  And, Alex is officially the last one in this first grade class to have lost a tooth and, to our knowledge, may have been the last one in the entire first grade at his school.  It has been a long time coming, but the Tooth Fairy finally arrived at our home!

If you look closely, you may see that the whole reason that tooth finally fought free.  His permanent tooth is already popping up and ready to take that baby tooth's space.  Unfortunately, it seems oddly out of place.  It seems that Alex's perfectly aligned and spaced baby teeth have been no indication the placement of his permanent teeth.  I'm no orthodontist, but I would say braces are in his future!

Julia's Fourth Birthday Party with Friends

The night before the big day...I was up late making 'Hello Kitty' Cake Pops.  They looked so easy when I saw them on Pinterest...***Sigh***

It is a cute concept...The 'Hello Kitty' portion was rather simple; it was the cake pop portion that was difficult.  Next time, I'll buy one of those popper machines at Target!  The bow is just made of two heart shaped Cake Mate confettis with the nose and middle of the bow  as round-shaped Cake Make confettis!

Let's get this party started!!

OOOOHHHHHH  LAAAAAA  LAAAAAAA!

 

 Julia has a specific request for a 'Hello Kitty' pizza for her party!  The cake pops were my idea...The pizza was definitely hers!  It was rather simple...Just a pre-bought pizza dough with homemade dough to make the ears.  I used pepperonis to make the eyes, nose, bow, and whiskers!

Lunchtime!!

More lunch!!

The kids all got a kick out of playing Julia's new 'Just Dance' game on the Wii!

'Who Let the Dog's Out' was a favorite!  Ha!

Getting ready to enjoy some cake with friends!

'Hello Kitty' Cake Pops!

They were more interested in oooohhhhing and ahhhhing over them rather than actually eating them!  A lot of hard work just for the glory!!

Oddly enough, for a January day with a swingset still covered in Christmas lights...It was quite beautiful!  50s and sunny...No jackets for the pinata!  Originally, this was planned for indoors, but figured we would take advantage of the beautiful weather!

One last clobber to say goodbye to number 3!!

March Madness

OUR FAMILY'S FINAL FOUR PICKS

DADDY

Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio St., and Kansas
With Missouri winning it all!!

MOMMY

Kentucky, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Kansas
With Kansas winning it all!!

ALEX

Duke, St. Louis, Florida St., and Purdue
With Duke winning it all!!

JULIA

Baylor, Missouri, Loyola, and Kansas
With Kansas winning it all!!

DUKE

Duke, Duke, Duke, and Duke
With Duke winning it all!!

**This is posted a bit late and the tournament has already begun...and it already looks like Mommy might be winning this year's family tournament contest!!