Lesson 173: Cars (& Trucks & Things That Go) Activities

What does one do at a Richard Scarry, CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO birthday party? Especially if one is between the ages of 2 and 4.

Well, after admiring the energetic bunting and exclaiming over the adorable produce cars, here are a few other suggestions.

Goldbug Hunt:

If you are a fan of these busy books, you are surely familiar with Goldbug, the friendly little creature who makes an appearance hidden on every page.

Seeking and finding Goldbug in different rooms around the house is a fun take on hide and seek, without forcing little kids to hide (or stay hidden.)

I simply looked at a picture of Goldbug and drew him as best as I could with a pencil on yellow construction paper. I then traced over the pencil with black sharpie, and there he was. Healthy, and happy, and ready to hide.

Goldbug was hidden on a painting in the family room, a quilt in the playroom, and a portrait of Hudson in the laundry room.

The children walked as a group into the room. Together we would all say, "Goldbug. Where are you? Hmmm." Then, as a group, they would scour the room until they found their friend.

This game was effective because the 4-year olds thought it was fun (not baby-ish), but Hudson was entirely old enough to play. In fact, the birthday boy spotted the first Goldbug!

Finally, as we moved from room to room, another grown-up would move Goldbug to a different location, so the children could return to that room and play again.

In hindsight, I wish I had drawn a few more Goldbugs and placed one in every room of the house, including bathroom, closets, and upstairs. The children really loved the game and could have played for a while if it had been set up well enough.

Vehicle Coloring:

Coloring is an old favorite of most children. Hudson is just learning how to do it, but it excites him. Samara, who is 4, continues to love it. Thus, we found some simple pictures of vehicles online, printed them off, and let the children have at it.

If I was a more particular mother, I may have insisted that the pictures look like Scarry's characters. However, after a fruitless search at Target for a Scarry coloring book and coming up short on Pinterest, I decided carrot car coloring pages were not necessary. Plain old trucks, jeeps, and race cars were good enough.

Silly Songs with Uncle B

Kids this age love to sing! While we were preparing their lunch, the children went outside, and my brother tried to engage them in a sing-a-long. Mostly they danced around, making up words to their own songs. But, I'd say the time was well spent.

Play Time with a lot of CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO:

No need to get complicated here, friends. Children love to play with toys, and my little boy in particular loves to play with all things that move; hence, the theme of the party. So, we got out every single car, truck, bulldozer, dump truck, train, van, and tractor we own, and let them have at it.

We had a great party!


Lesson Learned: Simple, but thoughtful.

Lesson 172: Cars (& Trucks & Things That Go) Decor

Welcome back to 2-year-old birthday party land! Today's agenda, a few more Richard Scarry themed decorations.

If you missed yesterday's post, check out Hudson's birthday banner here!

If you are interested in finding appropriately themed activities click here!

Creature Cupcake Toppers:

After making the Scarry themed bunting, I had some funny pictures leftover. I simply glued these silly creatures to construction paper, which increased their durability. I then taped toothpicks to the back and voile, cupcake toppers that set the tone for a magical and musical party!

Playful Produce Cars:

Richard Scarry is famous for his carrot cars, cheese cars, pickle cars, apple cars, and the fun, appropriately themed creatures responsible for driving them. In a Scarry world, anything can be turned into a car.

Taking a page out of his book, we attempted to make our own playful produce cars.

The wheels and drivers are from a duplo set. The produce is from, well, the grocery store. I simply cut out a square on the top of the various pieces of produce large enough to wedge the driver in.

Super simple!

In fact, writing this blog post took significantly longer than completing these projects!

Stay tuned for a few, simple CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO activities, appropriate for children age 2-5.


Lesson Learned: When it comes to party decorations, perfection is not necessary. Creativity is. 

Lesson 171: Simple Book Birthday Bunting

Hudson is obsessed with Richard Scarry's book, CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO. In the morning for at least an hour, he and I will peruse its 60-some pages gasping over every single bulldozer and dump truck and CAR!!! The experience is exceptionally exciting, every time through. 

Thus, Hudson's 2nd birthday party was "CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO."

All week long, I'll be sharing various details from the party, with simpistic tutorials and lots of pictures! I get overwhelmed by long party posts, so these will be concise and pointed. 

To begin, A Simple Book Bunting. This could easily be used for a birthday party or a baby shower. (I am not claiming originality here with the bunting. But I do think it is cute.)

I went scouring my local Goodwill, for surprise, surprise, a Richard Scarry book to cut up. I scored big time, with a small generic one (courtesy of Chik-filet) and purchased it for .99.

Also necessary, a pad of colored construction paper for $2 from Target and $1 clothespins from the Dollar tree. We already owned the twine. 

Total Cost for supplies: $3.99.

First, I made a generic pattern for the base of bunting. 

Unintentionally, though fortunately, I was able to fit three triangles per piece of paper. 

After cutting out enough, I made a smaller, similar pattern for the inside that I used with the pages from the Scarry book. Though not all pages featured vehicles, I did my best to choose pictures that did. I also made sure the pictures were not the same color as the background triangle.

Black construction paper for the letters popped nicely against the playful pictures.

I made a second line that hung on my mantle and featured Hudson's name and new age. 

When he saw the pictures of his favorite vehicles hanging on the wall, Hudson knew something special was in store! The shrieking and pointing and gasping and smiling were clear signs that the bunting was a hit!

For more CARS and TRUCKS and THINGS THAT GO decorating ideas click here! 

For themed activities click here!

Lesson Learned: Little boys love trucks. And if you embrace this fact, they will love you too!

Lesson 66: A Beary Merry Birthday

Y'all, seminary is intense this semester. My brain is experiencing serious philosophical overload.

I have never felt so un-smart in my whole life.

Do not feel bad for me. This is probably good for my pride problem. 

However, as a result, my blog has suffered. Even though this platform is meant to balance my rigorous, academic side with my free-spirited, creative side, I am currently in overdrive, solely focused on finishing this taxing race of Masters-dom. I'm nervous that if I slow down for one moment, I won't be able to get going again.

All of this is to explain why this post only provides pictures from Hudson's 1st Birthday Party, rather than including cutely formed alliterations, puns, or surprising commentary.

I just don't have the energy. 

Lesson Learned: Bears and Baby Boys are the Best! (If you can bearly bear all the bears, then you are a grrrrrrrump.)
(Did you see what I did there: alliteration, pun, and commentary.)

BEAR BIRTHDAY SIGN

BEARY BEARY BEAR CAKE

CUPCAKES & BARK COOKIES

BEAR BUNTING

(My friend made this. Isn't it adorable?)

BEAR TREATS

(We also had teddy grahams and trail mix.)

BEAR PICTURE FUN

BIRTHDAY BOY BEAR 

(For opening presents ...)

Lesson 61: Guest Preference Card

Do you want to go where everybody knows your name? And you're always glad you came.

Of course you do. It is good to be recognized, known, and considered. I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I hear of consistent customers giving their Starbucks baristas Christmas presents. Why the gift? Most likely these coffee servers pay attention to regulars' orders and go out of their way to remember preferences.

What a refreshing thing Jesus says in John, "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." Part of the hope for Christian's is that Christ has specially prepared a place for us in his Father's house, that we may remain with him. I cannot even imagine how amazing Jesus' hospitality will be.

With hospitality and consideration on our minds, we also recognize that it is good to know and care for others. As a host and a friend, it is wonderful to be able to serve guests, but how much better to do so in a way that specifically pleases them. How cool to already know your company's drink order, favorite ice cream flavor, or salad dressing preference?

I'm not talking about creepily stalking people before they show up to your house. I mean paying attention the first time they come and preparing things specially the next time they return. 

My friend's mom apparently keeps an index card in her recipe box with a list of her friends and their drink/food preferences. So for example, Katherine: Cold water. Two ice cubes. Lemon if available. 

I can envision this saving time and confusion when setting the table. Similarly, what a simple way to make guests feel welcomed and loved!

Cheers!

Lesson Learned: A little note taking can go a long way.

Lesson 49: Ten Ten Ten (A Week of Numbers)

I love Wikipedia. I know most of you have been accessing its massive amount of material for years, but only since marrying Mark less than four years ago have I possessed a personal laptop which has been responsible for reducing desk chair irritation, upping my online footprint ... and reminding me that there is a website out there dedicated to informing people about everything.

In the past few months, I have asked Wikipedia, what is a Graham Cracker (oddly it involved a Presbyterian minister), why is Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection" so famous (turns out everyone from Willie Nelson, to the Dixie Chicks, to Blaine from Glee have covered it), and tonight, just what is so great about pistachios?

We don't normally buy pistachios in this little household of ours, but my friends (and my new acquaintances), we are celebrating a big week here. If you've met me at any stage in life since 7th grade, you know what I am talking about.

No, not Columbus Day, though if you look here, you can briefly read about my stint as old Chris.

This week, we celebrate the best day of the whole year, my favorite day of all time ... 10/10!

Lesson 12: A Party for 100

At 22, I had the opportunity to travel to Afghanistan with my dad for 6 weeks. (Another story for another day). While there, I was asked to attend the wedding of a man's daughter who worked at the hospital. I did not know either the bride nor the man, but somehow I found myself in a highly decorated room, filled solely of woman who were clad in the most sparkly, bright colors you could ever imagine. There was choreographed dancing and massive amounts of food. To say I was out of place in my everyday clothes and head covering, not understanding more than 5 words of Dari, is an understatement.

Thankfully, I was approached by a beautiful, energetic girl with long hair, who much to my delight, spoke English. She chatted away about her family, her sister's arranged marriage, and her household duties. She was my age exactly, 22, and I distinctly remember her stating proudly that she could cook and serve a meal for 10 people. For you seasoned dinner hosts out there, this may seem like nothing, but at the time, all I could think was, "I may be able to boil enough noodles for that many people, if I could find a big enough pot." How odd, I don't recall the specifics of the arranged marriage conversation (a foreign concept to me), but I clearly remember the part about her hosting abilities.

Ya'll ... 6 years later ... this past weekend ... I successfully planned a party for and fed 100! Jesus definitely still has me beat with 5,000, but I was psyched!

How to accomplish this? Know the right people! Party planning is all about delegation. Do what you do best and in the areas you lack know-how, find someone who has it.

First, we all know the crown jewel of a pig pickin' (which is what this party was) is ... the pig. If the barbeque is sub-par, honestly, what is the point? That is why if you plan on throwing one, I highly suggest being friends with a person who owns and operates one of these.

Now, you may be thinking, "Katherine, where would one find such a friend?" The answer ...  Clover, SC. This particular one-of-a-kind roasting trailer is the property of a guy at our church, whose uncle has a welding business. I don't think that such a person should be too hard for you hunt down. If we can do it, so can you.


Next, every good party needs a good cake. For this, it's beneficial to know a baker, capable of creating delicious, sugary wonders out of her own home. Funny, a sweet woman like this one just described happens to attend our church. She was responsible for this awesome treat! Every single bite of this cake was eaten, including the red graduation cap. Our 7-year-old guest made sure of that! I think I ate Trey's diploma.

(Note also the pictures of folks in graduation attire behind the cake. These are our graduates with their spouses! I unassumingly took pictures of them together that morning at the graduation ceremony and printed them off at Rite Aid on the way home. Fun detail.)

A party supply warehouse is also helpful. I suggest living on the church property as we do. You will then have access to enough tables, chairs, coolers, drink coolers, and corn hole boards to greet and seat everyone.

Also essential, laborers. Carriers, movers, drivers, collectors, planters, diggers, doers. Luckily, I'm married to one of those. In the days leading up the party Mark moved 50 folding chairs, 6 long tables, 3 sets of corn hole boards, 2 colorful rugs, and a partridge in a pear tree. He also mulched the yard, got tons of ice, washed dishes, collected firewood and s'more sticks, made 5 gallons of sweet tea and 3 gallons of pink lemonade, took care of the trashcans, and happily reassured his slightly frantic wife whenever her lists seemed a little too long. Here is the superman in action.

Finally, the last group of necessary people for a successful party are phenomenal guests! We invited six, unconnected, proud families and many good friends. Together we celebrated the completion of seminary in style. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was light, and the weather could not have been more perfect, but the guests are what really set this party apart. Thank you to everyone who made this sweet time possible.

Here at the end, I'd like to list a few ideas that added a little something extra to the party!

1. Corn hole tournament - A good hour was spent diligently drawing out a bracket for 30 teams. This means that 60 people participated, including Andy's 80 year old grandma! These brackets are easily attainable online. Our tennis pro friend kept the games rolling so we could finish before dark, but the tournament was a great way for practical strangers to interact and get to know one another.

2. Picture Decorations = Party Favors - Our group of friends has had three or so years of good times. Behind the main food table, on two strands of twine, I hung pictures representing these times. Naturally, the graduates were featured the most (as it was their party), but I tried to include others as well. People love to see pictures of themselves, and it was a fun little trip down memory lane for us all. At the end of the night, guests were encouraged to take home pictures as a favor!

3. Carport Coziness - The afternoon heat here in South Carolina can be something fierce. Thus, we attempted to spruce up our carport to offer guests a pretty, comfortable, shady seating option! Throughout the course of the evening, this spot was used by at least four different groups of people.

4. Finally, I had fun myself! - When a host looks and acts stressed out, everyone instinctively feels the need to help ... which means guests are then working, not partying! In order to accomplish this,


- Plan, plan, plan! Have as much done the day before the party as possible, so the day of, just last minute details need to be attended to.

- Eat the food (and get yourself a drink). You are always your better self with a full stomach.

- Roll with punches. Everything will not go perfectly. Accept this fact beforehand, and resolve to have a good time regardless.

Party planning is definitely a skill that can be acquired with age and practice. I was raised in the home of a meticulous party planner, having the good fortune of observing seamless parties thrown by my mother. I have continually learned through the numerous parties and showers thrown by my awesome seminary friends and through the miracle working women at my church.

In the end, I think the thing turned out alright. My Afghan friend would have been proud.



Lesson Learned: At a party, more is more. More guests is a bigger tournament and more fun. More food means leftovers. Having leftovers is never a bad thing!