The Holiday Party Tradition

For several years now, I've been hosting parties for Joey and Johnny and their friends for most of the major holidays. Well, some folks might not consider Valentine's Day a major holiday, but if it's worth celebrating, we celebrate it at our house.

So, today was party day. Joey and Johnny and their best friends got together to do crafts, eat too much sugar, and have a blast.

First the kids helped decorate picture holder magnet heart frames. The moms put the pics in, and the kids put stickers on the outside.

Second, we decorated cupcakes. It was a small snaffu on my part to put the undecorated cupcakes on the table where the kids could see them. A few got eaten before there time. No big deal, really, but we decided cupcake decorating was definitely the second activity.

Third, we made their Valentine's Day Bears out of spray painted paperplates. I like texture, so there's an undercoat of cinnamon-colored paint and then a top coat of rough stuff. There are so many neat crafts you can do with paperplates. At Christmas we made a Santa Claus complete with arms and legs. Anyway, we used brads again. I think they are just great for attaching things together. I never have any luck with glue and staples are ugly. Plus, the brads make for movable joints. The kids did real good on this craft. Even the youngest participated. Now, if they would just make a hole punch that a preschooler could really punch with, we'd be in business. Mostly the problem is that it's hard for any of us to punch through the plates, and each plate needed 4 holes.

Fourth, we played Bingo. Joey decided Bingo was next;-) He had even made his own Bingo cards. Problem was that he doesn't quite understand what's needed to make a 'real' Bingo card. Oh well, they were pretty, and a few of the older kids went along with playing a game with them. Everyone's a winner at our house. Single elimination if you win. Thankfully the kids have not caught on that I sortof help the winning process along a tad if you get my gist (I can see everyone's cards).

Fifth, we made these glass heart ornaments. To make them, you pop off the top loop hanger and pour in paint and glitter. Don't expect them to dry anytime this year unless you turn them upside down and let the excess paint drip out;-) But, the paint and glitter sure is a pretty combination.

Sixth, the kids AND MOMS went wild to Disco Inferno and other songs from OUR youth while dancing with Valentine-themed scarves. Long live Disco!

Seventh, we did one final craft. I just love kid handprints done with paint. Sometimes just for the sake of handprints, but sometimes turned into animals or angels or other cool things. Today was a basic print of both hands upside down in a heart with the sentiment, "You Touched Myt Heart" on them. I call these heirloom crafts because they are more for the sentiment of the mom or grandmom than for the kids although they do enjoy the tickling sensation the paintbrush makes on their hands!

Wow! It was fun, and I'm tired!!!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone.

Pics are here.