Our Thanksgiving + Rory's 6th Birthday Party

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

I hope you all had a great holiday. I know we did! This year's Thanksgiving was very low key as we hosted my parents. But this year was exciting for me because Rory asked if we could watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (one of my favorites) and drink hot chocolate. I can now see our traditions coming to life with the kids!!! 

Our yummy Thanksgiving menu

And Rory's Thanksgiving menu...my sad 30 second attempt at a "turkey" sandwich. {I had the kids color a turkey and then I had them laminated to create placemats for them.}

Rian turning a napkin ring into a bracelet! My fashionista!

And once the table was cleared, we got to work setting up for Rory's birthday party the next day. 

Rory at 6 years old:

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A race car driver.

What's your favorite color?

Green.

What's your favorite food?

Peanut butter sandwich.

What's your favorite thing to do?

Play legos and play games.

{This was in Rory's November writing/illustration folder from school.}

{these was taken almost two years ago, but I thought they were fitting considering his future dreams!}

Welcome Happy Campers!

A camp fire

Along with the goldfish crackers, we had pretzel "twigs" and "wood" chips (potato chips).

Grill cheese and hot dogs were on the menu

Chex mix as trail mix

{The campfire was created by printing out the fire and securing a toothpick with double sided tape, chocolate hazelnut creme filled wafer twists and whopper candies}

I had a table set up so that the kids could color birdhouses. Rory and Rian's birdhouses

Rory specifically ask for this game. So I put together his version of pin the tail on the donkey.

He also asked for a green tent piñata, and well I couldn't find one, so I made it! (My step-by-step instructions are at the bottom of this post if you want to know how.)

Before:

After:

By the way, IT WAS FREEZING!

Don't mind Rian! She's just getting in a quick nap!

The goodie bags had a s'mores kit (a hershey's chocolate, mini marshmallows and graham cracker bears) and goldfish crackers in it and the kids also took home the birdhouses they decorated and their piñata goodies with a balloon.

Going through these photos I realized that they are blurry, some because Rory and Rian are moving around and others because I think there is something wrong with my camera. So sorry in advance.

A Star Wars box filled with Star Wars-themed goodies from Nama and Papa!

In-line skates from Grammie!

Opening the gift that Rian got him...

...Star Wars walkie-talkies

By far my favorite photo!!! <3

Legos!

This was at the top of Rory's birthday wish list. However, this particular set is retired which means that not a lot of stores carry it and if they do it's limited in stock. The day before Thanksgiving Rian and I drove to one of the not-so-great parts of town to the only store that had it in massive holiday traffic just so that this little boy would smile like this!!!

He has asked to wear this shirt everyday since he got it. Nana did well!!!

How cool is this shirt! I might be snagging that one from his drawer!!! Thanks Tia Jackie!!!

More clothes from Tia Pat!!! He was much more excited than it shows, I promise.

And a gift card from Tia Becky (Yay!) and gifts from his friends rounded out his birthday.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave Rory a gift!!!

How to Make a Piñata

You'll need: Elmers white glue (I used 4 - 4oz bottles)

                    Newspaper

                    White computer paper

                    Recycled food boxes

                    Packaging tape

                    Crepe streamers

                    Hot water

To start, first construct the frame of the piñata. I used recycled food boxes because I knew they would already have corners made, making it much easier to form the tent. Make sure to frame out a hole so that you can fill it once the piñata is done. I just cut a piece of recycled box slightly larger than the hole to cover it. Tape the frame together with the packaging tape. Once you are satisfied with your frame, it's time to paper mache. If you've never done this, it's super easy, but equally messy. As you can see I placed grocery bags under the framed piñata. Cut or tear the newspaper into strips. They don't have to be perfect, in fact they should vary in size and shape to accommodate the different areas of the piñata. Now make the paper mache glue by mixing equal parts glue and hot water. (4 oz of glue to 4 oz of hot water). Once your glue mixture is completely mixed, dip the strips of newspaper into the glue one by one, pulling off any excess glue runoff. This is the messy part! Layer the newspaper, connecting the frame. Do only one layer at a time, allowing each layer to fully dry. I let the weight of the paper mache newspaper help create the sway of the tent at the peaks.

Don't worry about covering all of the recycled boxes just yet. The first layer is about creating the shape and making sure all of the fame is connected by newspaper.

 Once the newspaper is completely dried (I let it dry over night). You can add your second layer of paper mache using computer paper. Using computer paper as your final layer prevents any variation of the newspaper or box designs from popping through your finished piñata. Repeat the second layer of paper mache just as you did with the first, continuing to cover the entire piñata with the computer paper (newspaper and framing). You can see at the top of the photo the flap that is covering the hole. Cover that in computer paper paper mache as well.

Once the second layer was dried I drilled holes at the top and inserted twine so that we could hang it.

(I also added twine on the corners of the tent for stakes per Rory's request.)


Now you are ready for the crepe streamers. Starting at the bottom of the piñata, glue a strip of streamer side to side, working all the way around the piñata. As you begin the next strip up, make sure to overlap the rows of streamer so that the upper row covers the glue seam of the row below it. Work your way up until you get to the top. Don't forget to glue streamers to the flap covering the hole. Trim any excess streamer hanging over the edges.

I created the tent door by cutting a triangle and two angled strips out of black construction paper and adding a piece of twine to finish it off.

 If you have any questions about the piñata or any of the party details, you can leave it in the comment section and I'll be happy to answer it there. :o) 

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back soon with some of our holiday fun. Tomorrow is December 1st and that means that Ralphie, our elf should be arriving soon!!!

xoxo
-aMie