Bugs Party!

Our little angel is now three! We had a great day celebrating yesterday - Daddy had the day off work and we went to the Zoo. And then Emma chose to have a picnic for tea but it had to be 'curry!'

And then today we had Em's Bugs Party! Which was lots of fun! Twelve of Em's friends came dressed as little bugs - they all looked adorable. Emma was a beautiful lady bug. We started the morning with a bugs hunt and then a friend from Playgroup did a few 'bugs songs' with the kids - which went really well and the kids did some great dancing! After that it was time for morning tea - which was of course bug food - spider lollypop, cheerio butterfly, grape caterpillar, ladybug cupcake etc.. My friend Gillian made the amazing Ladybug cake - she is one talented lady. We held the party in the Lighthouse - which is a little house linked to the church and playgroup so it meant we had access to the sandpits and playground. My pretend niece Laura whose 13 was great at entertaining the kids managing to get them to fly round the playground like butterflies!

I had great fun with decorations - I love parties and planning so I thought of the theme a long time ago and have been buying things since... Bugs was a fun and easy theme to do and the internet is great for inspiration. Some sites I love are www.familyfun.com and www.littlies.co.nz.

All Em's friends took home a packet of swan plant seeds (I did try to grow some but there still little!) And a lady bug/beetle plant stake. Emma receieved beautiful presents and was truly blessed! All in all it was a perfect day! And then tonight we went out and celebrated that my brother Dale has been given the all clear from Cancer! What a great day!

Where have I been?

Two words really.. Light Party! Let me start from the beginning.. About five weeks ago I stood up in church (a miracle in itself...) And said I was keen to do a Light Party - but was only going to do it if I got the helpers. For those who don't know a Light Party - is a positive alternative to Halloween - meaning the kids come to the church for a massive party instead of going trick or treating. The Light Party celebrates life and all the good things so no nasty costumes are allowed. Well after my annoucement in church I had masses of people willing to help and donate money, stuff or time. So my time has been spent looking after all the little details in regards to this - and I have loved it. On Friday night during a boogie with the kids at the start of the night I almost felt a little choked up to see 150 kids just having pure fun!! They all had party trumpets so the noise at the start was spectucular! The night was run with different game stations and the kids moved round the stations in teams. Some of the stations were a bouncy castle, messy food station, a box maze (the youth group did this and it was beyond incredible!), inside games, outdoor games and a glow stick lolly hunt room. And of course a parents cafe for coffee and cake for parents. It was a perfect night weatherwise after a very rainy week. I think I'm still a little tired from the whole planning thing - but I am also still buzzing too - just every little detail worked out and I give all the credit to the guy upstairs who looked after everything... Yesterday when I was at playgroup someone said to me that there child had said they wished everyday was a light party day - so I think it was a success to the ones who matter most too! Now for next year... I think next year we'll start planning in June instead of 5 weeks before though... I was running around like a headless chicken on the night so no time for taking photos - but here's a photo of Emma in her cowgirl outfit!!