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Preparing for Another Pirate Party

Posted on June 4, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last year, while at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, my almost four year old son fell in love with Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Sure, he liked it before we left for Disney. However, dancing around with Sharky and Bones, Mr. Smee, Captain Hook, and Jake sealed the deal. When we got home, he announced that he wanted a Jake and the Never Land Pirates fourth birthday party. Unfortunately, they did not have those items to buy so we improvised with what we had on hand.

For Chanukah, we were able to get JSL some Jake and the Never Land Pirate shirts from The Disney Store. He wore this shirt under his pirate costume for the Disney Junior Swashbuckler Soiree the first evening of the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.

His love for all things pirates continued and grew. While at Disney World for the 2012 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, JSL declared that he wanted another pirate party. I think meeting Jake again and having him write a special birthday wish in your autograph book may have something to do with it.

For his actual birthday, we found another new Jake shirt for JSL. Then we noticed that The Disney Store had Jake and the Never Land Pirate twin sized sheets. This was perfect for the new bunk beds. In addition to that, we splurged and got him the little Jake doll to go with the theme.

Now, less than a week away from the party, we are trying to figure out how to make it different. I have new pirate crafts, found a few Jake and the Never Land Pirate party items (not enough), and will be making the cupcakes the same since JSL requested them.

If you have had a pirate party, or have ideas, I would love to know suggestions on items that we may want to add to our second. Leave comments, links, or other items that you think would be helpful. Thanks so much!

Disclosure: Although we paid for our own trip to Disney World to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, we were given an incredible deal from Disney. Also note that Disney never asked us to blog about this event. As a long time Disney fan, it is my pleasure to share my experiences from the event.

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arts and crafts birthday brothers decisions Disney DisneySMMoms food glorious food fun jsl photos travel vacation yummy

Fun Classroom Themes

Posted on May 25, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

When I was teaching younger kids, one of the items that was fun was to pick a unit plan, theme, or other item to cover with the kids. In first grade, this would involve lesson planning across academic areas and lots of items for center activities. One of my favorites was for If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and also the Five Senses. Yes, there are days when I really miss that part of being in the classroom.

As the parent of a child in preschool, it has been fun to see what his teachers pick and choose each week to do with kids that are now 4 and 5 years old. Tuesday morning, we walked into the classroom and the theme was very clear.

The details in the classroom were amazing. There were dinosaurs romping all over the place. They were here:

Yes, there were even more dinosaurs over on the other side of the room. The best part: Laurie Berkner’s We are the Dinosaurs was playing as the kids explored the new dinoland.

When JSL went in the next day, I suggested wearing one of his dinosaur shirts. Little did we know that his shirt would be perfect inspiration for a project they were making. Check out their dino hats.

So my question to you week is inspired by my son’s creative teachers:

What theme in school was your favorite as a child? If you can not recall, how about a favorite your child has done or perhaps one you wish you had done.

It's Me

P.S. If you are in a dinosaur dancing mood, here’s a little Laurie Berkner video.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #204

Categories:
Aloha Friday arts and crafts Educational fun interesting jsl me moments photos school

A Preschool Mother’s Day Celebration

Posted on May 12, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Dear JSL,

This week, I have been really sentimental. I think the fact that you turn five in a few days has hit me. My baby is not really a baby anymore. When I keep asking you not to get older, you always remind me that you have no control of this. Thanks to all of this, I am trying to cherish our special time together more before you head to kindergarten. Yesterday, I arrived at school early to cheer you on during the fundraiser and parade. When you saw Mimi there with me, you were so happy and waved to her.

Then, it was time to head up into the classroom for the Mother’s Day celebration. The room was set up for all of the special guests to sit down near your table to watch a performance.

I managed to get a video of your class singing a special song, but I am not going to share that here. Thank goodness you were willing to do an extra performance of the song at home for me to record.

What I realize on the video is we really need to get you to an allergist since that nasal thing that is still pestering you. Oh well, I will work on that next week.

Once the song was over, each of you went to get a present to give to the mothers. You were so cute and came over to me. You were not sure if I should open it up there, but I did.

You handed me a homemade crown. The crown was wrapped around a treasure box that you had painted and decorated.

As beautiful as it was on the outside, my heart melted when I looked inside. This is what you and your fantastic teachers had come up with to surprise us on Mother’s Day:

We had our photo taken together, but my eyes were closed on the one that was taken with my camera. Once you were finished giving me the present, you wanted to show it to Mimi. Later on, I made sure to get a photo of the two of you together. I think you were the only child that had a great-grandparent there.

I am so glad that Mimi and I were both there with you. It was a wonderful afternoon that we all shared together. Thank you for being such a sweet, loving, and special little boy.

Love,

Mommy