Airplane Party: Visiting Teaching

This year I was asked to decorate for my ward Relief Society Birthday party. This is an organization with in the Mormon church where we help teach the sisters in our ward. You can learn more by clicking here. 

Anyways our budget was really small and so I did my best to work with what I already had in my party stash or as many free items I could get my hands on. In this post I will do my best to break it all down so you can copy this party for future parties. 

This party theme would be perfect for any church activity, baby shower "welcome to this world," missionary farewell, or any kid who loves airplanes. Obviously change up a few things but the overall decor could work for any travel party.

  We set the mood for the party with the invitation done by Mimi's Dollhouse that were boarding passes to flight #2013. 

Each guest brought her boarding passes and just like a normal flight, they handed it to the flight attendant and proceeded onto the "plane." 

 (I think they are laughing because they are thinking who is this new girl in the ward snapping pictures of me lol)

Next the passengers who were waiting to board the plane took passport photos. 

I used free AAA maps and just pushed pinned them into the wall to create the back drop. I used as many maps as I could throughout  the party because if you are a AAA member you get maps for free. You cant beat free :)

Next, the passengers took their seats and we had an opening prayer and invited them to get their "in-flight" snacks which included:

Veggie cups

trail mix

orange slices

apples

bananas

chips

brownies

lemon bars

cupcakes

Printables found here

After snacks we passed around the "IN-FLIGHT BEVERAGES." We even went as far as pushing a cart around. We were trying to go with the theme as much as possible.

 Printables found here

(please remember I am pregnant ;) )

For the program we started with this funny opening:

Welcome to flight #2013.
We are prepared for takeoff. Please make sure your attitude and blessings are secure and locked in an upright position. All self-destructive devices should be turned off at this time. All negativity, hurt and discouragement should be put away. Should we lose altitude, reach up and pull down a prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your faith is activated, you can assist other passengers. There will be no baggage allowed on this flight! The captain has cleared us for takeoff. DESTINATION VISITING TEACHING!

We then showed a "In-Flight" movie on Visiting Teaching that they have on our church website. following the movie, each "flight attendant" (member of our Relief Society presidency) stood up and talked about their "destination" and what they had put in their survival bag for each guest. 

 Isn't this vintage airplane propeller flipping awesome? thanks to a facebook request, I had friends donate some decor for the event. 

Next, I created the banner by cutting up a free map and clipped it onto string using mini clothes pins you can buy at any craft store. Super easy! The back drop is a shower curtain and the table cloth is a window treatment I am not using anymore since moving to this new home.  Call me a hoarder but I save anything like this even if I am not currently using it. 

Using washi tape, I decorated the clothes pins to decorate simple paper sacks.

In the survival kit, the ladies included tips on how to spiritually take care of yourself first, better ways to report your visiting teaching, how to minister to your sisters, and a book mark with the responsibilities of visiting teaching. Lastly and my favorite, how to have better communication with your visiting teaching partner. The ring represents giving them a "ring" on the phone and your partnership together ;)

I hope this helps the next person planning a Relief Society activity or any party. 

I want to give a big thanks to Holly with Mimi's Dollhouse who provided all the printables for this party and will have them in her shop soon. 

Sisters

Something about having my sisters with me just makes me SO happy. Especially since moving to California I have been super lonely. I am so use to being a lot busier with parties, family functions etc and I miss my family more than anything. I feel like this is such a huge chapter in my life and with my parents on a mission in Hawaii, I have been dying to share it with someone in my family. So when I moved into my house my sisters came to help me get settled and to make some decorating decisions. We ended up not doing much house stuff rather than go exploring of the neighboring cities. I also feel like a tourist here so it was fun to see what is right in my back yard.


We went out to eat a lot because I  do not like cooking when pregnant. They helped me decorate my home, we watched a chick flick, shopping, paradise cove where we ran into Orlando Bloom (no biggie) and where I was attacked by a seagull, no lie. I screamed so loud I made a big scene. This dumb bird literally took my meat out of my sandwich which was in my mouth. Nothing like a giant scary bird flapping in your face! All in all I am so glad to call this women my sisters!

20 Weeks

I am not a big fan of pregnancy pictures but I know there will be a time I will wish I took pictures. Today I am 20 weeks and feeling big and uncomfortable already. I am excited to be having another boy  and I look forward to seeing how cute Jaxon is as a big brother. 

BABY REVEAL PARTY

Yesterday started out with a peek at this little bundle of joy. Best news is that it is healthy and growing strong. Since my husband couldn't be there with me for the ultrasound, I decided to do the reveal together later. The tech just wrote it down and I then delivered it to a family friend who made a cake for us very last minute since all the bakeries needed 24 hr notice.

 I am normally one who plans a party WAY WAY WAY  in advance ( my son's first was planned before he was born) but for some reason, call it lazy, pregnant, me being sick or just being normal lol, I didn't decide what I was going to do until about 4 hours before family came over to my house. Heck, I didn't even set up until 30 minutes before. 

Thank goodness my hoarding of party supplies has finally come in handy as I spent ZERO time or money! (my kind of party)

It was so hard not to peek to see what it was, but I am so glad I didn't as I have seen this reveal idea on pinterest a million times and wanted to do something different but the lack of creativity got the best of me and so we went the cake route... and I am SO glad we did. This was such a fun way for my family to all find out together and who doesn't like eating cake :) win win if I do say so myself.

Our predictions... 

(Chase's brother is really into this party obviously lol)

HERE WE GO...

Let's just say I was shocked.

IT'S A BOY

 Jaxon got what he wanted!!

     Let's just say I would of bet money on it being a girl... I was VERY shocked and oh so wrong but being almost 20 weeks pregnant I am sure they got it right. Shoot- I already bought girl stuff because I was just that certain. However, I could not be more happy as I wanted a brother for Jaxon. I grew up with 5 bothers and 2 sisters and although my sisters are probably reading this I always wanted to hang out with my brothers more. I LOVED having brothers so I am so glad Jaxon gets to experience that. I also feel like I do better with boys, heck I have the hygiene of a boy, I have manners like a boy, I would rather watch a kid baseball game than a dance competition, and Jaxon is just such a mamma's boy that who wouldn't want a clone of him. 

   I wont lie though I did want to see that curly hair on a girl with a cute hair bow... maybe the 3rd, 4th, or 5th kid will be a girl, but until then I am so excited for scratched up walls, smelly socks, pee all around the toilet yet not in the toilet, and money in my wallet because I already have some boy stuff.

I WISH THIS VIDEO WAS BETTER QUALITY AS IT WAS JUST ON MY PHONE BUT TRUST ME IT'S WORTH WATCHING TO SEE MY SONS REACTION!

Party decor came from:

 mustache bash party

cookies and milk party

 Sprinkles baby shower

To see all my parties click HERE

Moves like Jagger

My kid has moves like Jagger. Every time music comes on so does this kid.

P.S. we are not lakers fans but my kid grows SO stinking fast that we are sick of buying him new clothes so they were the warmest thing he had for a cold night. My 2 year old is in 4t. If I find out this next child is a boy then I think I will pick up my game in his clothing department, but until then he will have to stay in his little too small pj's :)

*** please go full screen to get the full booty shake :)
*** also notice in the last video he ends with a bow and thank you. This kid is loves to be the center of attention... I wonder where he gets that from... (cough cough)

Valentines 2013

For Valentines day this year my friend and I took our kids to the elderly home to pass out valentines. Turns out these people do not like chocolate :) nor will they even take it just to be nice... lesson learned for the future. It was a good thing we had extra cards. Even though it didn't go quite as planned, Jaxon loved saying "Happy Valinti.... "( he then would trail off because he couldn't say Valentines) and dancing for all of them. Everyone of course commented on his curly hair and a few even asked to touch my pregnant belly. Weird!!!


The treats we made for the elderly was quick and easy with the help of a printable from I heart Nap time and button chocolate molds from Orson Gygi.

Jaxon also gave his girlfriend his gift he has been adding to for a week. He always asks for his girlfriend ever since meeting her at church a couple weeks ago. He is a ladies man already! You can find the cute printable from my amazing sponsor Mimisdollhouse.com

I then ended the night with my husband at home where as I was prepping dessert, I turned around and he had zonked out on the couch. Yep, at 8:00 pm he was sound asleep. The poor guy looked so tired that I just left him there to sleep which in turn actual became my present. I was able to just go to bed to :) I am a early-to-bed kind of gal and ESPECIALLY pregnant!

THIS ONE HAS TO BE MY FAVORITE. I PRESSED RECORD AFTER JAXON SAYING HAPPY VALENTINES DAY AT LEAST 4 OTHER TIMES TO THIS CUTE MAN.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9CyBiVxqQs&feature=youtu.be

Jaxon's Birthday

It's only 6 months late but I just found this post in my drafts and still wanted to share...

Wow time has flown by. This boy is the best kid I know. So sweet and loving.

 Yesterday we had a small birthday for him. Lots of attention with little decor.....actually there was no decor :(

 I was having a major inner battle of feeling guilty I wasn't throwing this huge party I had planned to throw in Utah. I throw other kids birthday parties but not my own kid :( Problem is, I have everything still in storage, and I didn't know anyone well enough yet to invite to a party. I know he doesn't care, but I cared. It has been an adjustment emotionally for me and I simply didnt have it in me to go all out. So we just brought doughnuts to the park with some of our new friends and ended with cake and presents with my in laws. He was so happy the whole day and kept saying, "birfday" and "supise." He had no idea there wasn't paper straws, gift bags, or an activity. It was a HUGE difference than his 1st birthday party, but it didn't matter... he loved it anyways.