Manly Tea Party

Tea parties aren't just for girls.

I am Momma Hear Me Roar is becoming one of my new favorite blogs.

Cheri is a momma of 2 boys and is always coming up with fun boy crafts and ideas.

Recently she threw a

little man tea party for her son.

It was full of

mustaches.

chocolate cake.

and neckties.

I loved it so much I had to share.

Check out the full details including the recipe for the chocolate mustache cakes here.

What little man wouldn't want to come to this tea party?

necktie sandwiches

I love how she made the napkin look like a shirt

chocolate mustache pettifors

disposable cups with mustaches drawn on

g.e.n.i.u.s.

Jana Alayra Concert

Wednesday night Aaron and I took Mackenzie to a

Jana Alayra concert.

If you have kids and have never heard Jana's music

go buy some today.

Your kids will love it

and you might even love it too.

We first got hooked on Jana's super fun children's music and DVDs when Mackenzie was a baby.

She has grown up jumping, singing, dancing and worshiping the Lord with Jana's songs

so it was so fun to get to see her live in concert.

Mackenzie's good friend Cailey Bea went too which made it extra fun.

Both girls had a blast singing, dancing and jumping with Jana!

Our girls even got to go on stage to sing and dance with Jana for their favorite song

"Jump into the light".

They thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Mackenzie is still talking about it.

Any other Jana Alayra fans out there?

Bean Bag Caterpillar Tutorial

A couple months ago

I helped Mackenzie make an egg carton caterpillar.

She thought he was the coolest thing ever.

She named him Samuel and took him everywhere.

Then Wesley got a hold of him.

That was pretty much the end of Samuel.

{Samuel}

After Samuel bit the dust

I decided to help Mackenzie make a sturdier,

baby brother proof

bean bag caterpillar.

We invited a friend to come over and take part in the crafting fun.

the final products

close up

I took pictures as we went along in case you all want to make a bean bag caterpillar of your own.

Step 1:

Draw and cut out a caterpillar shape body.

Step 2:

Cut a piece of fabric that is bigger than the caterpillar pattern you just drew.

Let your child decorate it with Sharpies.

Make sure to put a piece of paper under the fabric so the sharpie doesn't end up on your table.

Step 3:

Cut two pieces of ribbon for the antennas. Tie knots at one end.

Step 4:

On the backside of the fabric your child has colored, trace your caterpillar pattern.

Choose a coordinating fabric for the back of the caterpillar. Pin the fabrics (right side together).

In between the fabrics (near what you want to be the caterpillar's head) pin the two antennas down as shown above.

*Please note the ribbons pieces should be in the middle of the two fabric pieces. I have them on the outside in the picture so you can see the correct way to pin them.

Step 5:

Sew along your pattern being sure to leave a small opening.

Trim away the excess fabric and clip slits in the dips so the fabric will lay flat when you turn it right side out.

(see pic if this is confusing)

Step 6:

Turn right side out through the small opening you left and iron flat.

Step 7:

Recruit some little helpers to stuff your caterpillar with beans.

A funnel is really helpful but not necessary.

We also found it helpful to do it over a box so it's easier to clean up the spilled beans.

Step 8:

Once your caterpillar is stuffed with beans sew the opening closed.

I sewed over it a few times just to be safe.

Step 9:

Hot glue a felt eye and mouth on and

give to your little princess (or prince) to enjoy!

He's back!

Remember how my hubby left me for 9 days to go

down under?

Well...he's back!!

The trip was awesome

(I'm not going to lie I'm a little jealous I missed out on all the fun).

They learned a ton at the conference, got to network with some other pastors in New Zealand and got an overall lay of the land.

We are all so excited to see what God has in store for us in Tauranga!

Anyways, I wanted to share some pictures with you

of our future home :)

Isn't it beautiful?

This is of the beach in Tauranga, NZ

(the city we will be planting a church in).

Aaron and 2 other guys that went on the trip with him

hiked up "the Mount"

(that big mountain looking thing at the top of the picture)

their first day in Tauranga
.

They said it was the only clear and non rainy day they had in New Zealand.

Everything in New Zealand is super green and lush.

Apparently it's because it rains.

A lot.

Funny how that works.

(It pretty much n.e.v.e.r. rains in Orange County).

here's a view from the almost top of the Mount

Ah.

So pretty.

the boys

My hubby and 2 of our good friends that will be going to NZ with us

One tree hill in Auckland.

All those little white specks....

are sheep.

The boys also spent a few days in Sydney, Australia.

Aaron and I went to Sydney a few years ago for New Years.

It is such a fun city.

The kids and I missed Aaron so much while he was gone!

As soon as Mackenzie spotted Aaron across the airport she ran to him screaming,

"Daddy!!! Daddy!!! It's my Daddy!"

It was pretty much the cutest thing ever.

She loves her Daddy.

So do I :)

We are so glad to have you home babe!

Love you!

A little Anthro Inspiration

Oh Anthropologie

I heart you.

If I had a loaded gift card to Anthropology

I would treat myself to some of these pretties.

stitched sweater

racer jacket

ruffle top

paisley pencil

rainbow earrings

Wesley's first birthday party details

Between having family visit,

Aaron leaving for his trip

and potty training

I totally forgot to post the details from Wesley's first birthday party!

We had a casual surfer/beach themed party at park near our house for our baby boy's first.

Just food family, friends and fun.

We had a great time celebrating our little man!

Here are some of the details...

For the party favors I got a sand bucket and shovel for each child.

I personalized them with their name so they could know whose is whose.

For some birthday decorations

I made a pendant banner with all of my favorite boy fabrics

and hung it from the EZ up canopy we brought.

They were really simple to make.

I ironed interfacing onto the back of each fabric to make them a little sturdier, cut the pendants out with pinking shears, and then hot glued them all to a long piece of ribbon.

Super cute. Super easy.

I also made a few surfboard decorations out of felt and ribbon

to spice up the canopy.

They also helped tie the whole surfer theme together.

What's a party without food?

We ended up having way more than we needed.

We kept it simple with pizza, snacks, veggie platters, salad,

chips and dip

(served in more sand buckets)

the best homemade lemonade ever, water and ice tea.

And of course funfetti cupcakes.

Because a party is not a party without funfetti cupcakes.

The little birthday boy!

The park ended up being a great party location.

The kids loved to play on the playground, there was plenty of room for the kids to run around,

and the clean up was quick and easy.

I still can't believe my baby is one.

He's my little mama's boy.

Wesley and his daddy.

My two favorite guys.

Wesley is such a little monkey boy.

He climbs up the whole slide by himself.

I think Wesley likes funfetti cupcakes as much as me.

He polished off his cupcake like a pro.

The kids loved their buckets and shovels and where able to break them in with the sand at the park.

Wesley loves wearing glasses and sunglasses.

Here he is sporting his grandpa's glasses.

Silly boy.

(Doesn't he look a little like Aidan from John and Kate plus 8 in them?)

We had a great time celebrating our big boy's first birthday!