During Christmastime I found a blog that teaches how to heat and bend candy canes. I bought cheap boxes of pink and red candy canes at the after Christmas sales with big plans. We would make candy hearts for Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day was a fabulously busy day spent out of the house, so it didn't happen on that day. I've always been one to extend the holidays, so our Sunday afternoon activity was making candy cane hearts.
These are fun and easy to make.
Process: Place candy canes on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake in a 250-degree oven for about 8 minutes. Let them cool for about 30 seconds, and then bend bend away. If they get hard you can throw them back in the oven for a couple minutes.
I've got myself four Valentines. They are the loves of my life, and I enjoyed the holiday loving them.
We began our day with donuts for breakfast. (Remember my New Year's resolve? I rocked January! February? Well not so much.)
For lunch it was Chuck E. Cheese.
My kids are loving this ride! In reality the ride had just ended as I pulled my camera out. I said, "Wait! I've got to get a picture." Cayben's quite the actor.
With our bellies full and our bodies feeling like only junk food can make them feel we did some shopping and test drove a couple cars.
In the late afternoon it was time for me to enjoy some one-on-one time with my man. What's a couple to do on a 70-degree Valentine's Day? We went on a mountain bike ride up Peavine. It was fantastic. The trail was amazing. I felt like I was riding in Idaho. Reno, I'm falling more and more in love with you.
Don't mind the acne. My face likes to think I'm 15.
Shay and I followed up our ride with some delicious Mexican food. Yes, if you're counting we ate all three meals out of the house. *feeling guilty* Oh well. It is what it is and I had a fabulous day.
February 11, 2007 was my favorite day. It's the day I became a mother.
The kids and I had a busy, but fun 7th anniversary of my favorite day, I.e. Cayben's 7th birthday.
We started the day bright and early with dental cleanings and exams for my older two. Cayben ended up needing a tooth pulled, which he was actually pretty excited about.
Next it was yoga class. The kids and I started taking a yoga class about a month ago. I love it. It's target audience is kids, but I get my yoga on with them.
The class is held at River School Farm, which is a beautiful little farm on the Truckee River. After Yoga we enjoy lunch by the river, and the kids enjoy feeding the chickens and goats.
Embrie had been requesting a picture of "the 4 blondies."
After yoga on Tuesdays we hang out in town since Embrie has dance class in the afternoon. Since this Tuesday was Cayben's special day I wanted to make it fun for him. Chuck E. Cheese's it was, but first we took him for a haircut.
Finally it was time for Embrie's dance class. None of her classmates showed up, so her teacher invited Solee to take the class with Embrie. The instructor was concerned that Embrie would be nervous taking the class alone. Are you kidding me? That girl loves ALL the attention!
Solee didn't stay for long, but it was sure cute while it lasted!
Shay picked Cayben up from dance and took him out for shakes and a movie. He had a fabulous time with his dad and a good end to his birthday.
Cayben at the theater
The girls and I finished up our day with a trip to the grocery store and then some much needed sleep.
My big boy is seven and of course we had a party to celebrate his advancing years. This year it was a Robot Party.
Let's start with the decorations and food.
The decorations were simple. I made these robot joke printouts inspired by these lunchbox jokes. I just used free clipart images and digital font to make mine.
I hung a big blowup "Happy Birthday" banner I've had for years.
Finally, my very favorite part of the decorations, a robot I made that fits over my Roomba robot vacuum (whom is my all time favorite robot). I had originally intended to make a robot recording of me saying robot things (with a robot voice effect of course) and putting it on the iPod and speakers inside the robot. In the end I opted to just make a Youtube playlist and have music playing instead. You can find my robot party playlist here.
You can't really see his glory in my crappy photo, but he was rad. Plus he moved around!
That is it for the decorations. I really am trying to simplify my parties.
The food was all robot inspired, tasty, and unhealthy. Oh parties! You get me every time!
Sour Cubes (I wanted to use mini jawbreakers but didn't find any.)
M&Ms
Cookies
Cheese Balls
Doritos
Spiral Pasta Chips
Now onto the party. The party started with eating and dancing. We had two games: a Robot Dance-Off and the Robot Stomp. The dance-off was just what it sounds like. We had two winners and they each got to pick a book for the prize.
For the Robot Stomp each child picked a balloon off the wall and then tied it around their ankle.
They stomped around like robots trying to pop everyone else's balloons. The last one with an inflated ballon won a book.
Next Cayben opened presents. I know it's out of order, but we had a scientist coming for the last hour of the party.
After presents we sang Happy Birthday and attempted to eat cake.
As per Cayben's request, I made a brownie ice-cream cake with caramel sauce.
Just as we started slicing the cake, the scientist from Project Science came. Back into the freezer the cake went. Well except for the couple of pieces that were already on plates. Solee and I had those delicious slices!
Project Science does hands on science parties. The kids got to make flashlights, see indoor lightning, touch an electricity ball, and other fun activities.
Just before parents came (and as they were coming) we fed the kids cake and sent them on their way with goodies.
For the goodies the kids got to choose from a robot claw or robot hand with an attached bag.
In the bag was a candy bar and bubbles, both wrapped in free printables.
Happy 7th birthday my sweet boy. Quit growing older on me please!
We celebrated Cayben's birthday today. Cayben has been looking forward to getting a ginormous birthday donut with his dad since Embrie's birthday.
Since today was his party, he just couldn't wait a few more days until his actual big day.
Shay and Cayben went out for donuts followed by a Jeeping adventure in the hills while I set up Cayben's robot party. Cayben even got to drive the Jeep! And a donut was brought home for me! Yay! We're all happy celebrators!
