Sunday, July 17, 2016

Animal Jam Party

Serenity’s Animal Jam Birthday Party
Serenity is 8 years old!  So hard to believe!  The theme for her party this year was Animal Jam =)  She’s been an Animal Jam member for over a year now, and she still absolutely loves it.  You get to create animal avatars and journey around the world of Jamaa, playing mini-games and learning random animal trivia.  You collect gems and diamonds, and can use them to buy more animals, pets, dens for the animals to live in, and things to decorate the dens and for the animals and pets to wear.  It’s a lot of fun, and a nice intro to online gaming.  It’s run by National Geographic.
Serenity the koala in her beach house den =)
Serenity the koala in her beach house den =)
Anyway, we kept circling how to actually translate the game to a birthday party, and finally I asked her if she wanted to actually play the game on the computer during her party.  She thought that sounded like fun, but since we could just scrounge up 6 computers that did limit the guest list a lot.  Since we were just inviting 4 people (she insisted that DZ get a computer during the party, and that he be included in the sleepover, she is SUCH a great sister =), I realized we could actually do a slumber party too!  That led to Animal Jam Live!
So we turned our lego room into Jamaa!  With shops and everything.  All the kids received gems as they arrived, and they went upstairs to spend them buying a den to sleep in.  In the den shop we had three A frame tents, Maia’s lace tent, two crazy fort castles, and a cardboard house to use as bases for whatever den they wanted to build.  Then I had all my fancy fabrics, cushions, and the entire contents of my linen closet out for them to use to decorate the dens.  They built really creative and amazing dens!  Serenity chose the cardboard house, and turned it into a Beach House Den.  She used satin fabric in yellow and blue for sand and water, and a hula skirt for the roof.  Donovan made Cosmos Den, sort of a jungle feeling den using the a-frame tent and a green mesh camouflage netting.  Lillyan picked a Gingerbread House den, so she used the crazy fort pink castle and added lanterns and pinwheels for candy.  Abby made Peck’s den, using an a-frame tent and lots of different purple fabrics.  Liz made a Haunted Pet den. She used an a-frame tent, grey tablecloths, and the castle wall fabric.  I had to get out the Halloween tub so she could buy some cobwebs, bats and spiders.  It was such a surprise!  She wanted it to be spooky, and it did turn out cool! =)  Anika didn’t spend the night, but she still built a Snow Fort, which was beautiful!
You can see the paintings I did of the Temple of Zios, Bahari Bay, and Crystal Sands behind the dens. =) Serenity chose her favorite lands and I painted them on butcher paper using a projector to trace the outlines. It was SO much fun =)
You can see the paintings I did of the Temple of Zios, Bahari Bay, and Crystal Sands behind the dens. =) Serenity chose her favorite lands and I painted them on butcher paper using a projector to trace the outlines. It was SO much fun =)
Behind Abby's excellent Peck's den and her wolf mask, are the paintings of Mt. Shiveer, Appondale, and Sarepia Forest.
Behind Abby's excellent Peck's den and her wolf mask, are the paintings of Mt. Shiveer, Appondale, and Sarepia Forest.
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Cosmos' tree house den =)
Cosmos' tree house den =)
beach house in Bahari Bay =)
beach house in Bahari Bay =)
Liz made a haunted pet den. I got out all the Halloween goodies so she could buy webs, spiders and bats to decorate it =)
Liz made a haunted pet den. I got out all the Halloween goodies so she could buy webs, spiders and bats to decorate it =)
Passing out gem bags and getting ready for the first Hourly Spin!
Passing out gem bags and getting ready for the first Hourly Spin!
The dens cost 25 gems, and they started with around 30.  The kids spent a few gems on plushies in the plushie shop. We pulled all the stuffed animals and arranged them on the shelf by size, and charged 1 gem for small, 2 for medium, and 3 for large.  Serenity bought Snowy right away, that was very important.  Eric set up an hourly spin for them to get more gems. (You get a daily spin on Animal Jam, and the kids always ask to at least get enough time on the computer for their spin because if you go every day the multiplier for the spin goes up.  So we knew we needed to have spins at the party =)  The kids LOVED this.  After the den shop emptied, I put out the furniture shop with lots of decoration, pillows and blankets for them to spend their gems on.  They bought lots of silk flowers, scarves, leftover party decorations from old parties, all kinds of things to make their dens really cool!  And at bedtime, Eric had a “Midnight Sale.”  He sold them glow sticks and flashlights to enjoy in their dens at night.  I’m fairly sure they did not get a lot of sleep.  DZ maybe crashed a bit after ten, and they were fairly quiet by 11, but at midnight Abby and Lillyan ran down the stairs to tell me Serenity hit her head and was crying.  She and Liz had moved into Anika’s Snow Fort, and there wasn’t space for them both so she rolled into the little bench which was the only thing we left in that room when we turned it into Jamaa.  I put them back in their original dens, and didn’t hear any more from them till morning.  Morning came REALLY early, before 7am.  So in true slumber party tradition there was very little slumbering.
Eric said I should be in a picture, but I didn't actually sleep there =)
Eric said I should be in a picture, but I didn't actually sleep there =)
Setting up for a midnight glow stick sale so the kids could spend their last gems =)
Setting up for a midnight glow stick sale so the kids could spend their last gems =)
Besides decorating their den, we also had an Animal Jam photo booth.  They have one in the actual game too =)  I put out all the dress up supplies, and if you’ve ever been to our house you know we have lots of dress up stuff.  I made each Animal Jammer a new felt mask too, designed to look more like the animals in Animal Jam.  So Serenity got a purple koala with aqua blue swirls, DZ got a snow leopard in black and red with red flames, Anika got a white arctic wolf with yellow lightning bolts, Liz got a cat (actually an arctic fox since the game doesn’t have a cat, but it looked the most like a cat) in pink and blue.  Abby got a wolf in lavender, and blue with black moons, and Lillyan got an otter in green and pink with stars.  They were fun to make, I kind of want to make more in more colors, but I resisted making extra choices.  Oh, I did have on extra Snow Leopard that was my first attempt at a mask.  Eric claimed it =)
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The girls had plenty of time on the computer too!  And Samantha, our friend from Texas, met them online!  That was a fun twist we could have with a LAN party.  The cool thing about having your animal jam buddies in the same room with you is that they could go on adventures and work together more easily!  So Serenity got to do the Lost Desert adventure with people she actually knew, and they could get much further than when you are playing with random people.  And Lillyan cured Serenity of her fear of phantoms.  Phantoms are little black and purple bad guys, and they show up in a lot of the adventures, so Serenity hadn’t played those kinds of adventures much.  Lillyan helped her get over her fear and she has been loving all the adventures since.  Like the Search for Greely and The Hive.  Fun stuff!!!  And it was so cute listening to Lillyan encourage her, she is so sweet!  But after an hour or two on the computer they left to go back to Animal Jam live!  Made me so happy =)
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Playing the Hidden Desert =)
Playing the Hidden Desert =)
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Lillyan helped Serenity be less scared of phantoms, and now she loves Animal Jam even more!! She's been playing adventures all week =)
Lillyan helped Serenity be less scared of phantoms, and now she loves Animal Jam even more!! She's been playing adventures all week =)
I also set up a pet shop with the brilliant idea that the kids could choose their own fabric and I would make them a pet to their specifications, just like they do in the game.  I bought a pattern from ikatbag.com, Menagerie.  It’s a great pattern, very simple, and with minor modifications can be used for a wide variety of animals.  And that’s how I stayed up until two a.m. on my sewing machine after the Animal Jammers were tucked into their dens.  Lol.  I am nuts.  It was really fun though.  I managed to get Anika’s done just before she went home.  She wanted an arctic wolf to match her mask, and she chose a pretty blue pattern with solid blue accent.  I used the fox design from the pattern mostly and just changed the nose a bit.  Then Lillyan and Abby came to the pet shop, and they wanted a Sugar Glider.  Well, of course the pattern didn’t come with a sugar glider, so I combined Kangaroo and part Dragon with much bigger ears.  They turned out cute and crazy, in a rainbow pattern for Lillyan  and black and pink spots for Abby.  They look just a little alien though.  Liz wanted a cat, which was way easier.  I made that in the morning, so it was a good thing they got up so early.  Serenity wanted a fox with a blue zebra print and yellow accents.  I just finished hers two days after the party, but she loves her.  She is even making her accessories all on her own!  And she tucked her into her den tonight. =)  I love it, my kids so rarely play with stuffed animals it’s particularly happy.  Donovan originally wanted a turtle, in phantom colors (purple and black).  Then he wanted to have one exactly like Abby and Lillyan.  So I switched his animal to another Sugar Glider, but I talked him into keeping it phantom colored because I didn’t want to make exactly the same thing again, and that was what he picked when he was not copying the big kids =)  He loves the loooong tail he can swing his sugar glider by =)  And then he made her a jet pack!  He got toilet paper rolls and some strips of fabric, tied it to her back, and stuffed colorful fabric inside for fire.  I LOVE it!
Serenity made Sunnywind a crown =)
Serenity made Sunnywind a crown =)
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Donuts.  Of course =)  OK Country Donuts outdid themselves this time, making bunnies, koalas and tigers in wild colors, just perfect for Animal Jam.
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It was a great party!  Serenity’s first words to me in the morning were, “I love my party Mama.”  And DZ asked if we could have Animal Jam all week.  So, success!  They have made new dens every night, and are thoroughly enjoying Jamaa and their new pets.
The kids have made new dens nearly every night this week =) DZ made this volcano den =)
The kids have made new dens nearly every night this week =) DZ made this volcano den =)
Serenity made this snow palace.
Serenity made this snow palace.
Big group hug after presents. So sweet! =)
Big group hug after presents. So sweet! =)
Another view of the haunted pet den
Another view of the haunted pet den
The felt masks I made =) Originally I was going to make a bunch of animals in different colors, but then I texted to see if the girls could tell me what animal/color combinations they actually liked, so I made one for each person. =)
The felt masks I made =) Originally I was going to make a bunch of animals in different colors, but then I texted to see if the girls could tell me what animal/color combinations they actually liked, so I made one for each person. =)
Our tech master getting it all set up =)
Our tech master getting it all set up =)
Jammart Clothing =) I sorted out accessories into the blue cabinet.
Jammart Clothing =) I sorted out accessories into the blue cabinet.
Here we have the masks, hats, tails, wings, capes, and extra animal ears. You can buy all those things in animal jam, so of course they were necessary for the party. I loved that we got to use things I'd made for years, and they all played with them! So fun!
Here we have the masks, hats, tails, wings, capes, and extra animal ears. You can buy all those things in animal jam, so of course they were necessary for the party. I loved that we got to use things I'd made for years, and they all played with them! So fun!
She put on her unicorn horn from her 6th birthday, wings from her 7th, and the mask from her 8th. LOVE!!!!
She put on her unicorn horn from her 6th birthday, wings from her 7th, and the mask from her 8th. LOVE!!!!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Christmas Advent Activity Plans

Well, this poor blog seems to have fallen by the wayside.  But I know next year I'll want to be able to find what I planned for Advent this year, and this is the first place I'll look.  So I'll go ahead and share my calendar!  With the new baby due in December, I am planning earlier than ever this year.  I think it's a nesting thing.  I've already ordered gifts for December birthdays, nearly finished the homemade Christmas presents for the kids, and have an Amazon wish list that contains everything I plan to buy for Christmas.  I'm NEVER this ready for December, but I kind of like it =)  Now if only the gift wrap fairy would visit this baby can pick whatever day she chooses to come. 

So here's the list.  Normally I would spread out the more exciting activities (Winterfest, Rhema) but this year I put them all the first week since I'm due the third week.  And yes, I'm ready to let go of this plan whenever baby girl decides to make her appearance ;) 



1.) Sunday, December 1st: Winterfest (lego advent sets in the bag)
2.) Monday, December 2nd: Rhema (Candy in bag, print Christmas Decoration scavenger hunts?)
3.) Tuesday, December 3rd: Gingerbread Houses (Candy in bag, assemble houses during school, cousins coming over to decorate)
4.) Wednesday, December 4th: Decorate Kids Rooms (Put new decorations in the bag?  Lights on the tent, tree, anything else?)
5.) Thursday, December 5th: Read (new books for the bag, Scaredy Squirrel and Quiet Book, and Magic Tree House)
6.) Friday, December 6th: Neighborhood Walk
7.) Saturday, December 7th: Ornament Making Party with classmates (buy cupcakes, make santa hats with strawberries and marshmallows)
8.) Sunday, December 8th: Grandparent Gifts (these are secret since my Mom may be the only one reading this.  If you want ideas, e-mail me =) 
9.) Bake Cookies (Make some during school with DZ, some after.  Take some to neighbors)
10.) Papa's Birthday one day early (Ask Dad if he'd rather come to us, or us go to him. Bake pie during school)
11.) Wednesday: Make teacher gifts (at least a card! Let DZ do Christmas tree letter matching.  Serenity wants to sew coffee cup cozies) 
12.) Thursday: Daddy's Birthday (Deliver teacher gifts also!!)
13.) Friday: Craft Day (bead necklaces in the morning) Can wear to winter concert.   Winter Concert
14.) Saturday: Backyard Game
15.) Sunday: Christmas Shopping (Each take one kid, and let them buy a gift for sibling and other parent? Or Angel Tree? Or cousins from the dollar store? Or order online?)
16.) Movie Night (prep & landing, plus buy special popcorn)
17.) Candy Cane Hunt
18.) Wednesday Donate somewhere (animals again? China?)
19.)Thursday (new app day.  Possibly new little computer too...)
20.) Friday Game Night (New Board Game Night)
21.) Christmas at Mom's
22.) Sunday: Puzzle **Also Christmas at Papa's House
23.) Monday: Watch Home Movies (I always put together a dvd with my favorite videos of the year for us to watch.  Otherwise they'd get lost in my computer and never see the light of day. =) 
24.) Tuesday: Nativity Story (stickers and read our toddler bibles)
25.) Christmas



Christmas Lights

Friday, February 1, 2013

Kindness Day

Wow, it's been such a long time since I posted!  I think I needed the break.  I've been doing lots of fun things since Halloween though, so at least I have plenty to write about!  I want to start with my favorite plan for this year, Kindness Day!



One of my plans for this year was to try and do one service-related activity every Friday.  I call it Kindness Day, and so far it is a big success!  The first week, I had Serenity look through her toys and choose some to donate.  I told her to pick one thing from each toy area.  Sometimes she chose things that she had outgrown or was done with, but she also chose a few things she actually likes.  I was so proud!

Week Two we did thank you notes.  I printed off a little page so all she had to do was fill in the blanks.  So for each note she wrote the name of the person the note was for, what she got, and then she finished the sentence, "I like it because..."  And she signed her name.  So it was quite a bit of writing practice in addition to gratitude practice.  We also tried to take a picture with each present to send with it.  We came down with the flu that weekend, so I'm not sure we got all the thank you notes written, but we got quite a few sent out! 



Week Three was chosen entirely by Serenity.  She was reading over my shoulder as I was looking for ideas for our activity, and she saw a salon gift basket.  Probably inspired by the amazing girls day she had with Aunt Jennifer and Raegan, she wanted to make salon baskets for girls at a shelter or hospital.  We bought cute buckets and filled them with nail polish, sparkly files, some jewelry, and chapstick.  They are super cute, but we haven't delivered them yet!   

Week Four was a sewing day.  We made cornbags for Grandma and Little Casey.  Mom had mentioned to me that she didn't have a single corn bag, and that little Casey often wished she still had some.  I happened to have a little corn left over from the last batch I'd made, so I let Serenity dig into my fabric stash.  She helped me pin them, she pushed the foot on the sewing machine, and she measured and poured the corn in.  They were SO happy to get their cornbags, I think Serenity was absolutely ecstatic!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Advent 2012

We're starting our Advent a little early this year, as we'll be doing stuff with our families on the actual day of Christmas. Which means I needed to get started planning earlier!  Here's the list I settled on for our traditional advent activities.  I also ordered Truth in the Tinsel, so I'm going to do more Christ related things when Serenity's school ends for the semester.  I haven't figured out that part completely yet, but this is what will go in our activity advent calendar.



26: Sing: Get new music, play it at home and in the car on the way to school.  I plan to order Laurie Berkner's Christmas cd, as both the kids and I love her music!  During the day and in the afternoon after school, I plan to play Christmas songs on the piano and on our handbells. 
27: Decorate Serenity and Donovan's Rooms for Christmas.  Serenity has a pink tree that we used last year, and we got Donovan some aqua blue ornaments for his room when they were on sale last year.  I don't know if we'll get him a tree or just hang Christmas lights in his room!


28: Rhema Lights/ get hot chocolate while there (bring sippy cup for dz)  Rhema is a church in our area that puts on a beautiful light show every year!  We loved it last year!  I want to go earlier this year in the hopes that it's not quite as cold. =) 
29: Read a new book.  We always get new books for our advent, and we love them all year long.  This year I'm leaning towards Pete the Cat Saves Christmas, as Donovan loved the first Pete book we got, or Sandra Boynton's Christmas Parade, as we all like that.  I have other ideas though if anyone is interested =)  *Let Serenity read it in the car on the way to school.
Nov. 30: Christmas Train ride
Dec 1: Gingerbread House Party: I invited Serenity's classmates to come decorate with us again because we had such a blast last year!  I plan to make the bases out of graham crackers, taking the easy route.  Hot glue rocks. =)  Print worksheets
Dec. 2: Nutcracker  I think Serenity is old enough to sit through the Nutcracker, and since she took dance this year it seems perfect.  (Teacher Gift Making: Pour pots) 
3: Deliver Teacher Gifts/Donate to some cause.  Possibly China, as she wanted to send our Operation Christmas Child boxes to China.  Or the World Wildlife Fund again, as she still loves animals. (Give to others...)
4: Candy Cane Hunt This is so much fun it's an activity we'll keep doing every year!  The challenge will be seeing if we can make it work for both kids!  Maybe different colored canes for each child?  (in the afternoon we might go shopping for sibling gift/Daddy/cousins... online and dollar store or Target?)
5: Angel Tree from School? Shop after school, take to school next day.
6: Movie Night (popcorn)  I haven't decided on a show, unfortunately our children still prefer cartoons.  Maybe just the Backyardigans Christmas episode. Or the Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus dvd with Neil Patrick Harris. Maybe I'll expand it into adult movie night and watch Miracle on 34th Street with Eric. 
7: Craft: Snow globes? Sewing felt tree to circle?
Dec. 8: Possible card crafting day? Leaf rubbing tree, handprint trees.  Butcher Paper Wrapping?  

Dec. 9: Santa and Cookie Exchange Party (possibly photos, spice shopping)
10: Christmas Manicures/ Fancy Dress Up Dinner/ carols around piano  Serenity got her first nail polish this year, so I thought she'd appreciate a "fancy" day. =)  I may like Fancy Nancy more than she does, but she reminds me a lot of Serenity.  Loves words, loves dress up =)
11: Grandparent Gifts (handprint/) craft?/  Truth in Tinsel shepherd day?  Won't put my pin of this up here, as Mom is usually my most faithful reader =) 
Dec 12: Winter Concert at school and Daddy's Birthday
13: Christmas Tree Campout (make fake fire for "smores")  Serenity and Daddy love sleeping under the tree!
14: Baking cookies again: Share them with neighbors
15: "Snowball" Fight  Possibly also "snowmen"


16: Backyard Game Day/Game night
17: Christmas with Papa
Dec 18th: (Parent Observation Day at Dance) Mail our Christmas Cards
19: Watch Home Movies  We always watch our home movies from the last year one night.  It's a great way to get me to actually transfer them from computer to a dvd.  =) 
20: Our Christmas (special breakfast, probably monkey bread)