Ahoy Me hearties.....It's A Pirate Party

My lil' man had a Pirate Birthday Party a few weeks ago to celebrate with friends and family.

If you've been reading my blog for sometime now you then y'all know that I love to

throw my children a nice birthday party. 

This is fun for me, I get to be creative and please them.

Make it memorable for them.

I keep their parties to a reasonable budget each year. 

A budget that comes in way below the cost of a

"store bought" party....with a little creativity and smart shopping for bargains I can spread party dollars a long way.  

This party started with a recent pirate obsession of his.  When I asked him what kind of party he wanted, he was sure a pirate party was in order.  A  halloween costume started the ball rolling for him.

He's at a stage where he enjoys dressing up for make-believe.  It's a magical time for a child, when their imagination alone can keep them busy.

I made the invitations on the computer on parchment looking cardstock and then we burned the edges to make it look old....rolled them like scrolls and tied them with jute twine and sent them out to his guests.

I headed to my local craft store (with a 40% off coupon in hand) and picked up an unfinished pine trunk.

Which I began to sand, paint, distress, seal, and finally (the fun part) embellish.  The stain was left over from an old project, the ribbon 40% off, the thumbtacks, (or nail heads if you will) from the dollar store.  The hardware cost $3 total, handles and latch.
Until it eventually looked like this:

.

A few party goods from local stores....each package costing under a dollar.  Red straws marked down to .25 cents a pack left over from July 4th sales...Yippee...I love me a good bargain!

A few party decorations I made on the cricut and computer....

  Signs for the food and favor tables...

I then tied cordinating ribbon around black candlesticks.....

The treasure chest was filled with book party favors and topped off with "jewels"...  The pirate ship did double duty as a decoration and it was also his present.  A creepy skull picked up from Michaels crafts in the halloween isle for authentic pirate-ness.

The craft table was laid out with a length of drawing paper as a runner and I drew a treasure map on it....which the kids added to while waiting for more party guests.  The polka-dot boxes held party dress up goods. 

As they arrived each guest got an eye patch, hoop earing, bandana, and a make-up beard or mustache finished with a pirate tatoo.  When they were through transforming they decorated paper swords.

Even the swingset was decorated...this became his ship when we added a mast..but the wind soon spun it around, hence the reason it is a bit crooked in the photo.  Pirate flags were made on 12x12 scrapbooking paper with the cricut.  A template can also be made on the computer instead and you and have your birthday child cut it out with you in advance.

The food was laid out in the dining room to avoid the outdoor bugs.  Those treasure chests held a small sub sandwhich and bag of gold fish for each child. They helped themselves to some "Grog" aka rootbeer or shark infested punch.

The foods were given unique pirate themed names....cheeseballs became fiery cannon balls, doritos were ships sails, and baby carrots became peg legs to make it all more interesting and appealing for the kids.  It's amazing what a child will eat when you give it a unique name. 

They played games like pirate tug of war, captain says, and Walk the plank in the pool.

 

Black balloons were filled with water for cannon balls.  The kids got into teams and tossed them back and forth until they were the last one standing with a cannon ball.  The adults joined in that one too.

When it came time, everyone piled inside for cake and .they giggled as they arrrghed their way through the Happy Birthday song, the kids lips turned blue as can be from the cupcake icing......

Pirates and a pirate ship paper cutouts were placed on the cake to dress it up a bit...

In the bottom of the treasure chest was a copy of the book Treasure Island for each child who could read.

They were each told that books should be treasured along with their

childhood imaginations.....

So when all was said and done this lil' guy of mine...

Had a great birthday celebration.  He told me it was his best birthday yet.....so we'll see about next year!

I hope you are all well.  I'm still pressed for free time but I have a few new autumn  posts almost ready, just waiting for a few finishing touches.

Be back soon!

Take care,

Dee

Happy Birthday, My Baby

To my son...my baby,

You are a gift sent straight from heaven, we are so lucky to have you.  The past five years with you has been such a blessing to our family.

You are so very smart.  You amaze me all the time with your BIG words and how you use them.  You ask so many questions that I sometimes think you are maybe writing a book, lol! 

What a curious little boy you are and I love answering you...no matter how many times you ask.  That is how we learn.

You have such an awesome imagination.  I love how you can get lost in play, that is one of the most beautiful things about being a child.  You are in full gear now, pretending to be anything, anytime and anywhere! 

You are so helpful and kind to others and you use good manners....even when I'm not there, as your teacher told me at back to school night!  I am so proud of you! 

You are the silliest five year old I know!  We can always crack up together, and can have fun almost anywhere!  You have the best sense of humor!  I love to giggle with you, yes, hands down a favorite thing to do with you.

  You are the best hugger-snuggler...EVER~!  You are such a SWEET boy.....stay that way.

You were given the name "Bass Master" because of the great fishing that you do with your daddy....boy, you can catch fish with the best of them! 

There are so many wonderful things about you that make me so lucky to be your mommy but I will finish up by saying Happy Birthday Baby......and many, many, more.

I love you forever and always, to the moon and back child.....

~Mommy~

XOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXO

Happy Birthday my girl....

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl.  A very special day for you today because becoming a teenager is such a big milestone.  

I simply cannot believe how fast the years have flown by already.  It seems only yesterday you were playing with dolls and having tea parties, now a young lady.  You have always been a pleasure to have as a daughter.  I am so grateful you are mine.  Easy going, kind hearted, honest, trustworthy and spirited.  You are a natural beauty inside and out.   I wish you a wonderful birthday sweetheart!

 What started out as a sweet little rosebud is now blossoming into a beautiful Rose. 

Love you to the moon n' back child,

Always & Forever,

xoxo,   Mom

Dusting off and Autumn Beauty

I want to thank all of you Sweet Friends. For understanding and being thoughtful, encouraging, and nurturing.  There is something reassuring about going through a tough time and knowing there's friends out there to share in your worry and offer up prayers, even if you haven't met them face to face.  If there's a way to feel a little better you have made me feel that, my family is awfully grateful for your thoughts and prayers more than I can express....Thank you.

 I have decided to dust off for the time being.....to hand the whole worry of the situation over and look forward.  I'm focusing only on a recovery for my father...positive thinking.  I will keep you all posted on the situation. 

So I am back to share a few good things that I have experienced this past season.  On a more positive note....

We decorated up the Farmhouse for Autumn in fall's festive colors.

I turned another year wiser and younger.  My sweet SIL made me the prettiest (and tastiest) chocoloate cake evah...

my favorite!

  We enjoyed a tasty fall Pumpkin Pancake Breakfast....

We also attended the annual Pinelands Jamboree that we love.

Local farmers brought their beautiful bounty.

Local BlueGrass bands entertained us with great music.

The sweet local family we purchase our produce from is there each year and we LOVE their truck that they deliver in. 

Personally I'm a Chevy girl, but this old Dodge was just
too pretty!

Our area has alot of Cranberry Farms.  Here is how we purchase them....by the pound from an old cranberry crate straight from the farmer.  Love that color!

Some of the old timers brought their laundry...hehe.  They had alot of working antique machinery on display.  Thought provoking for us homemakers!

My mother and I are going to try our hand at the craft shows, my father will be helping to make some new things between feeling well (we are hopeful).  We are excited and I think it might be a positive distraction for all of us.  It's something that we've talked about for a while now and it seems like a good time to try, the income will help.

  So we did some research when we headed out to some annual Craft Fairs this year.

We attended another favorite Country Craft Show...our local

Country Living Fair. 

Here's one of the beautiful handmade quilts that was hung on display to be auctioned off.  I wanted so badly to win this one....

I've posted about this location in the past.  It is one of my favorite historical places to visit and serves as a pretty backdrop for the fair with all of the barns and out buildings. 

This beauty was way out of my Budget but if I could have I certainly would have...

I love the colors and the history of this old sign!

There's also an antique car show we love to stroll through.  I loved the color of this one.

This reminds me of an old picture.  It could have fooled me in sepia.

Okay, I seriously want one of these for my front yard....
for decorative purposes! 

Corn shucking demonstrations...looked like fun!

Another Old Timey Entertainer from the front porch of the big house.

I loved this sellers items and their display.

Ahh love at first sight.....I would so drive this truck!  It reminded me of one of my dad's trucks when I was a young girl.

This country band played some great tunes as we were heading walking around.

I'll be posting a few more fall things as soon as I can.  Thanks for stopping by and more importantly for all your support and prayers. 
I am so thankful for all of you.

Take care,

xo

Dee