Isla's birthday party

Ok so I've been throwing kids birthday parties for it seems like forever.  But I've only gotten to throw girls parties with Isla.  So when she fell in love with a spy/crime fighting show and declared that's what she wanted for her birthday party, I about dies.  I mean really?  I've done that a million times.  But I've never done a princess party.   So after many weeks of trying to convince her I finally hit upon that she'd really just like to dance.  How to make that princess?  

Hold a Royal Ball!!!

So we did.  And of course these are the invitations you need for a Royal Ball even if they're a whole lot of work.

Isla helped me.  See?  Definitely worth the effort.

Isla did not want a cake even after showing her hundreds of castles and other princess cakes on Pinterest.  But she did fall in love with princess cupcakes so that was easy if not the huge castle I had in mind.  Luckily she has this many of those little plastic Disney princess dolls so it worked great.

Who knew it would be so much work to tint the frosting so many colors and use so many different icing tips.  Still easier than a fondant castle however.

And I couldn't resist decorating a little over the top.

First stop for the guests- you need jewelry to attend a ball.

And we need a castle to play in.  Luckily I've got one of those stashed away that I made for Isaac's birthday way back when.

And even luckier, we have a professional dance instructor that lives right next door and her name is Grams!  Ballet minor in college counts right?  She was so excited to come teach the girls a routine she'd prepared and it was super cute to watch them all.

Setting up the food while they dance.

Then it was time for the show.  Grams said she'd teach them a dance as long as I set up some kind of a stage to make it more magical for them.  Turned out pretty great I think- and super easy with dollar store table cloths.

That's a pretty happy 4 year old birthday girl.

Aria was staying with us for the weekend and was a little unsure of all these other princesses in the house but she was pretty happy to sit with Grams.

And I have to say just how different this was from my boy's birthday party.  Miles last party was Minecraft and there was SO much screaming and running.  It was actually silent for large stretches during Isla's party.  They were happy to eat quietly.  Happy to add stickers and jewels to their crowns and string beads onto necklaces.  It was kind of bizarre how quiet it was.

 A few more of them dancing because it was so cute.

Happy Birthday Isla!  You will always be our little dancing princess!

La Gallinita Roja

We love the McKee School!  It has been such an amazing preschool experience for all 4 of my kids and this was Isla's first year in the Spring show.  They did a version of the Little Red Hen and Isla got to be a piggy (un cerdito).  Pretty cute even if she's in that awkward, I forgot how to smile stage.

Miles was the rooster (el gallo).

They attend in the afternoon since Miles has Kindergarten each morning and the group is pretty small.  This doesn't bother me at all as they get more personal attention and time speaking Spanish.

NONE of my children have stage fright.  In fact they light right up and tend to be extra crazy and are pretty entertaining.

Isla was especially excited to do all the dancing that go along with the songs.

Miles is just a ham anyway- on stage or off.

Certificates for the year.

Super fun to watch these cute, funny kids.

And sadly, Miles is moving on to full time Elementary school so this was his last show.  And last hugs from these teachers who he loves.

They argued for a bit over who was his favorite but I'm pretty sure Miles is their favorite.  Totally a hard child to control but such a sweetheart and absolutely hilarious with his constant craziness and antics.

Just a few more of the show that I couldn't resist.

Dancing.  Love that foot.

Jumping.

Not sure what this dance move is or what that face is for.

It's your turn other pig.

And here's your part.

So proud of herself for saving the day.

And now it's my turn to say my part.

These two with their smiles and dance moves.

Isla's 4!

When did this toddler become a little girl?  It really snuck up on me.  Bright and early on her birthday morning Grams and Grandpa came over to deliver her present they were so excited to have won at a Baseball fundraiser.  Cute new doll house and furniture.

And then a few family present.  Isla is still at the fun stage where present cost next to nothing and she is happy to have everything- and since she's the only girl, there's actually a lot of choices.

Aunt Sam is the best.  Instead of giving Isla a toy, she took her out for a girl's day to get her fingernails and toe nails painted and then went to lunch.  What a treat for this little girl!

Teacher Appreciation at William Penn

I've been working in the PTA the past 5 years and have always been pretty happy with helping out and fulfilling my jobs.  This year I agreed to do the same job as the previous year.  Unfortunately the PTA president neglected to find people to do some of the jobs I was supposed to just be overseeing.  So in the end it became my work, and last minute as we were told those people were in place but really they weren't.  

So Teacher Appreciation week got thrown together last minute and was a TON of work without timely planning and a committee to help.  

Need to decorate the teacher doors?  A simple superhero cape that we had the kids write thank you notes on during a lunch recess.

Posters I made at home (all ideas stolen off Pinterest)

Capes from the dollar store with iron on teacher apples and their names.  These ended up being their own fiasco which I wasn't expecting.  We do brunches and lunches and treats every day of the week and include all the teachers and staff at the school, even the little gifts in their mail boxes.  Then on Friday we have an assembly to celebrate the just the teachers.  That's never been a problem before but this year one of the Resource teachers noticed the capes I was putting into JUST the teachers boxes and threw a little hissy fit talking to the principal and secretaries and PTA president and every single parent volunteer to tell them how upset she was that she wasn't as valued as the teachers were.  And unfortunately even if I'd wanted to make her one (which I couldn't as the dollar store was out of capes and it would have taken me 3 trips to 3 different stores to get capes, and more iron ons, and more ink just to make one for the whiney lady) I couldn't and was not going to do one more thing for this week that consumed my life for 3 weeks.

Teacher (and staff) mailbox treats.

Truthfully I was pretty exhausted and frustrated by Friday.  One other mom and I had pulled this all together in just 2 weeks and then were the only ones buying/preparing food, setting it up, cleaning it up (daily mind you), buying little gift, packaging them, putting them in mailboxes, decorating teacher doors, making and hanging posters, making and sending out flyers, getting trophies and gift cards, buying and printing and ironing and packaging capes.  And we did the assembly Friday solo too.  I was pretty frustrated but then we had the assembly and it was THE BEST.  Honestly almost cried.  It was so touching to see these wonderful teachers being celebrated and these sweet children loving them.  I am truly blessed to send my kids to a school with good teachers who work hard to not only educate them academically but to also mold them into the good little people they're becoming.  And they LOVE their teachers.  I'm really glad I got to see that!

See?  How fun are these super hero teachers.  They really are superheroes to me and my kids.

I mean how to you top this?  The whole class on their feet and trying to hug her?  Melts my heart.  And even though I will not be agreeing to do all this work again next year, I am glad that I did it this year so that these teachers could feel a little more appreciated.