Ada Shot Me

Princess Party: Activities

ada — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:00:42 +0000

As the family members were arriving, I had cut out paper doll princes and princesses available for the kids, as well as additional ones available to be cut out for any adults interested:

The kids playing with their paper doll princes and princesses

Once everyone arrived, they started the quest of the Holy Pail:

For the quest, I froze colored water in balloons with 3-4 taped-up pieces of paper with clues on them. Each of the clues had 2 numbers on it. After freezing them, Steven took the balloons off, then hid them around the yard. He told the party guests that a Fairy had come and stolen the Holy Pail, leaving clues outside. They then had to find the jewels, break them open, and decipher the clues the “Fairy” had left for them. I think it was pretty fun for all those who participated!

Princess Party: Food

ada — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:00:39 +0000

For Aurora’s birthday party, I wanted something that would be filling, but that I could revolve around the princess theme. This is what I came up with:

Food served: Princess and the Frog Eye Salad, Princess Power Potato Soup, Prince Charming Chicken Noodle Soup, Magic Marshmallow Wands, Princess Potion, Princess Garden Salad, The Soup in the Stone, Strawberry Shortcake Swords, and Terrific Tiara Taco Soup

And of course, what every princess party needs, a castle:

Princess Castle

I had a lot of fun with the food, and especially making the cake. I made the bottom with an 8×8 Funfetti cake, using the additional batter to make cupcakes. The middle layer I made with a Pyrex bowl using strawberry cake, and the top was made with a loaf pan strawberry cake, cut in half. The towers were made using frosted sugar cones. I then decorated with m&m’s and Starbursts, with a frosted graham cracker for the drawbridge. She loved it!

My Little Princess’ Party

ada — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:02:32 +0000

My little princess recently turned 3, and for several months has been asking for a “pink princess party”:

Birthday girl!

Over the next week I’ll show the highlights of her party!

Oh, and as a side note, my father-in-law is featuring me on his blog today, in an article I wrote entitled “Raising a Creative Child.” I’d love for you to go read it and let me know what you think! Thanks!

Don’t Let Temptation Crush You

ada — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:35 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I gave a young women’s lesson on the Holy Ghost. To start the lesson out, I gave kind of a cheesy object lesson with 2 cans of Sprite – one was full, and the other was empty. I put a picture of one of the girls in our class on the full can, and a picture of a celebrity on the other. I explained that the girl in our class had received the Holy Ghost by the Melchizedec Priesthood, and has remained worthy of the Holy Ghost to influence her life (thus the full can of Sprite – close to Spirit, right?) I then explained that the celebrity, on the other hand, may have heard about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but has not taken the necessary actions to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost in her life. I then listed some temptations that we may face day-to-day (cheating on tests, disobeying parents, and gossiping) and as I listed them, I put pressure on each of the cans. The can full of the Spirit (or Sprite) resisted temptation, while the empty can was crushed. I then likened this to how we can resist temptation when we have the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. At the end of the lesson, I gave each of the girls one of these:

Don't let temptation CRUSH you! Be worthy of the Holy Ghost

I think something similar could be done at a baptism too, or for primary. For those who are interested, I’ve made a printable for the crush saying, which can be found here.

TAD {Toddler Activity a Day}: Snip and Stick (18 mo+)

ada — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:00:07 +0000

In this fun activity, you give the child scrap paper, which you’ve pre-cut into 1/4 – 1/2 inch strips, scissors, a full piece of paper, and glue. The child uses the glue to draw a shape onto the full piece of paper. You use some sort of guide, such as stencils, to do this part. (We used cookie cutters to get the animal shapes we wanted):

Gluing the doggy

The child then takes the scrap paper strips, cuts them into smaller pieces, then places them onto the glued area to create a fun shape:

{heart, dog, and elephant snip and stick creations}

I let my Aurora cut her own pieces, and she loved it:

Snip - snip!

Cassie loved helping me cut hers, and also enjoyed sticking the pieces onto the paper:

And stick!

I think the highlight of the activity was being able to use the scissors, as I typically don’t allow it.

We used store-bought glue, but here’s a recipe to make your own: Mix 1/2 Cup flour with 3-6 Tbs water (until it’s the consistency of light cream) and simmer, stirring constantly, for five minutes. Add food coloring to make the shape stand out on the paper better.

Developmental benefits: