Lego Halloween Party..so excited!

Ethan is in third grade this year, and I always like to sign up to do the fall party.  We used to just have one homeroom mom for all year, but this way we all share the responsibility!  I like to do fall, since we don't celebrate scary (and some kids don't celebrate Halloween..and I always tried to cap the amount of candy gobbled down!), and then I can do what I want! (evil laugh? nah, haha!)

I'm planning a Lego party!  It's remotely Halloween, since I put a pumpkin on the letter to parents and ordered some orange legos, ha!  Seriously, it's going to be all kinds of fun.  This is what makes me miss teaching. ; )  

When I plan a school/class party, I usually plan a snack, game or two, a craft and/or a take-home thing or goody bag.  Sometimes we do "centers" and the kids rotate every fifteen minutes so they get to do all the activities in small groups.

This year, it'll be Lego-themed, but kinda minute-to-win it.  I'm just smooshing all the things I want to do together!  I ordered chocolate cupcakes with white buttercream frosting, and I've made (orange colored) white chocolate Lego minifigures to go on top (my cousin had the molds to share with me!!).  I've also requested fruit, veggies, dip, cheese cubes, plates and napkins in my parent letter.  

I bought a big tub of Legos, ordered sets of 100 little yellow "lights", and 200 mini orange legos, four sets of lego handcuffs, etc. to separate into tiny goody bags for the kids.  Free play will be our craft I guess!

Then..games!  One is Legos Don't Suck: Using a straw to suck up legos from a center plate and moving them to their own plates..child who moves the most wins a candy sucker prize!  (I have a peanut and corn allergy..so I have to find a sucker with no high fructose corn syrup!  Ideas?)

The next is Lego Twin Towers: Partner up, one partner gets to SEE the design example I demonstrate, and they TELL the other partner how to replicate it. Winner pair gets Twix candy bars.

The third game is Bridge Build in Pairs: Pairing kids up with different partners and a Lego pile.  They can use one person's left hand and the other person's right hand.  Work together to build a bridge that a tiny Batman car can drive under and a minifigure can walk over.  Winners get Lego handcuffs.

The fourth game is It's a Stick Up!: Holding a tongue depressor with their teeth/lips, they stack as many legos on the stick as possible.  Highest number gets lego handcuffs!

Last game is Lego Zip Line: Working in small groups, they will build a simple contraption to hold their lego man/minifigure.  It needs to hold him AND needs an opening/loop/hook to hang on the string/zip line.  They can take it to the string to practice.  They need to think about weight, speed, and durability.  Then they race to the bottom.  Who won?  Why?  (you increase the angle to speed him up, even out the angle to slow him, and gravity pulls him down.)  Now, we start over, lowering the strings s-l-o-w-l-y (the slowest wins!).  Tension is needed to maintain travel.  If we have time, we'll take off three legos to see if it still works!  Economy of building. ; )  

They will be playing with mine and a friend's legos for the games, so they'll each get a goody bag of brand new legos to play with, keep, and take home!  I also ordered 40 minifigures (from China, oops!), so they may or may not make it in time!  I think they might be off-brand anyway since they were only $9!  or used?  They looked so nice in individual cellophane packages.  (If you get a minifig for Christmas, act surprised!)

I'm excited for the party, I think it'll be fun!  I'm even planning to dress up.  I'm thinking a big tulle Alice in Wonderland costume.  I'll have to sew it since I'm too big for kids section, and sexy Alice is totally not my style.  Why, oh why, are those my only choices?

Here's a pin I love. 

isn't she precious??

I just need some help with the bodice..like what will fabric will I use?  and the design?  But I can totally find stripey stockings and a big black bow! : )  I haven't dressed up in YEARS! (unless you count that year I wore cowboy boots and a hat with pigtails.  That was almost a costume.) ;O)

What do you have planned for Halloween? : )  Have any great ideas for me? : )  or Legos you want to donate to the cause?!!  Hugs!

Thankful for soo much! : )

I've neglected poor little Blog for so long.  I get busy living and forget to document Life.  We had an amazing summer trip, and I never finished posting pictures.  I had a birthday, I'm officially forty-two, ha!  (As if I was faking it.)  And we had such a wonderful JDRF Walk this year..lots of friends who are just like family, and we've had soo much support and love!  And we just (didn't) celebrate Clay's two year Diaversary.  It's been two long years since D came to visit again.  We've grown together.

Roller Coaster CAPITAL of the world!!  (Carter is ready, obviously!)

He was going on the absolutely SCARIEST ride!  We all chickened out..especially after we learned there was a 1 3/4 hour wait!!  But this child did it!!

I have things on my mind.  Always do.  I always wanted a Titus/Timothy group to teach/learn from..and maybe I should be doing some teaching.  I'm not the youngest momma anymore, and I've lived and learned a little.  I'm not the most eloquent or perfect by any means..but a note to say I appreciate you can build bridges and soften hearts.  

American Girl in Chicago..first and LARGEST store!!

Did I mention GORGEOUS? and soo spacious for downtown Chicago square footage.

and we do love some Lego stores!

The most fascinating fountain in Chicago: Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.  The children's pictures change (1000 of their own kids) and the photos center with their mouth on the fountain..so the water comes out of their mouths even as the photos morph.  Beautiful art and soo many to enjoy it.

We got to visit the Bean (aka Cloud Gate), also in Millennium Park!

and we visited the Sky Deck at sunset.  Amazing looking west.  The kids are sitting out over the city.  No..I didn't join them.  I'm a 'fraidy cat.

It was formerly the Sears Tower, now called Willis Tower.  It's an amazing visit/sight at 103 floors high.  Love that we get to take our kids to see these gifts!

One of the girls by world-renowned Spanish sculptor, Plensa.  They are different from every angle, it's almost unimaginable..except they are real.  The look changes as you look from far at an angle to straight on.

One thing I'm gonna say just for today is to send a thank you note.  It bothers my momma heart (thanks to my momma) when my kids don't get a thank you note after a birthday party/gift.  My kids have to sit and write thank you notes, and they don't understand when they don't get one.  They wonder if their friend liked the present they took to the party, especially if they birthday child didn't say thank you or that they liked it.  I think we should take the time to write one today.  For the kind words we received on Saturday, for the small thoughtful gift last week (or for the time someone took to donate to our team!).  If I've ever forgotten to send you a note, I'm sincerely sorry.  I make notes for my notes, and double back to try to remember every single person and thought.

I still get to go on field trips..even in ninth grade, thank you, JESUS!!  We had a blast out on the trails at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville!  (His teacher and I also got to thank Alice Walton in person for this amazing facility right in our own backyard.  It felt awkward to ask for a photo..so we didn't.  We are uber cool like that.)

Maybe our society is moving into expectation, but I don't expect anything from you.  (Except a thank you note, obviously.  Just kidding!)  Maybe it's my Words of Appreciation Love Language talking. : )  Prayers for a blessed week for you..and lots of things to be thankful for!  Hugs!