Pumpkins on Parade

Hosting parties is such a fun way to bring joy to others. Especially kids. Organizing classroom parties is a creative outlet for me and a no pressure way to connect with families of students, so win-win!

I swear by having a foolproof plan for little kid parties and this is it: TRAPP. This is my own little acronym I follow to ensure an enjoyable, successful, low-stress celebration. 

T- Theme

R- Refreshments

A- Activity

P- Program
P- Photos

What does this look like when it's executed? Well, I'm glad you asked! Autumn is here and provides a perfect opportunity to show how TRAPP works. Introducing "Pumpkins on Parade"!

Who doesn't love a good theme party? Honestly, I don't trust anyone that doesn't! Theme is huge and really what inspires everything else. Kids love pumpkins and we do science/math/sensory/literacy activities using them in class, so celebrating with them is a natural culmination.

Refreshments are easily what people remember most at a party and coordinating snacks with the theme is mega fun for this Pinterest addict. I have pretty strong feelings concerning party food. I mean, if you can't appreciate cute, kid-approved theme snacks, then we can't be friends...ha! And you know what? Families are happy to donate ingredients and supplies when they know what you need and are given the chance to contribute. I always involve them in this process.

Wrapping little cutie oranges in tissue paper to look like pumpkins is a fun snack.

Having an activity for kids to do with their parents at the party is essential. The doing/playing/creating during a party allows parents to connect with their kids. I love engineering that! I always do as much organizing and prep work in advance as possible because the key to a successful party is smooth transitions. The students have a memory art piece they have created in class to give to their family at the party and then we are on to playing a simple game or making an easy craft project. A word about memory art: Anytime you can remind parents that you appreciate them and invite their support is a plus. Handprint, poem, or personality- driven art projects that go on display in their home and eventually make their way into child memory boxes accomplish that for sure.

Another word here, this time about the activity: Games do not have to be wild to be fun and projects do not have to be complicated to be precious. I have been to classroom parties that are out of control and it's not enjoyable- it's stressful. Likewise, projects need to be at the students' ability level or they will not finish it or create a mess trying to do so, which also stresses-me-the-heck-out. This is where trying the activity ahead of time and advance prep work come in handy. I do love Pinterest, but I've had my share of epic flops from things I pinned that looked 'so easy'. Better to find out what doesn't really work on my own time than in a room full of parents and excited kids in front of God and everybody, know what I mean? That way you can make changes beforehand to ensure everything goes smoothly at the party.

'Punch the Pumpkin' is a perfect low-key game with guaranteed winners when each cup has a gift inside.

Program and pictures are the last party aspects to discuss. Program is a pretty broad term for the song or skit the kids will perform but it fit for my acronym, so there you go. Parents LOVE watching their kids in action and anytime you can give your students a chance to get up in front of an audience and share you should. One cannot overemphasize the importance of this skill. Why not practice it during this time when they're motivated to show off and have fun? Which brings us to our final P...photos. Is taking pics classified as a love language yet? I feel like it should be!  I always set up a photo prop area where families can stage pics at the party. I act as photographer if the family wants to be together for a photo. I love seeing family photos from our party posted on social media because it serves as evidence that a connection was indeed made at our celebration and we had an awesome time together. Mission accomplished!

One last word on transitions because in case you haven't picked up on it, they're kind of a big deal. The agenda at the party doesn't necessarily follow the TRAPP order. Here is the party agenda I prefer to follow:
1) Start with the program. Kids can already be in position when guests enter the room and the performance begins the party with a bang!
2) Students pass out their memory art and sit with their family during the game/activity explanation. Then they are in position to actually do the activity together.
P.S. Always have someone besides you know what is going on at the party so they can help pass out supplies and field questions.
3) Eating refreshments after the activity is a good plan in case the activity takes longer than you think. I like to have some snacks packaged in a way that is convenient for kids to take with them and have later.
4) While eating or when finished, guests can take photos at their leisure. I make sure they know to sign out when they are ready to leave, have party favors at the door, and encourage them to share their pics on our class facebook page. And it's a wrap!
Do you have any fantastic class party themes or party formulas you swear by? I hope you'll share them with me. Let's hear how you create the joy!

Create and Appreciate

I have a new mantra these days...'create and appreciate'. I've come to realize that the level of satisfaction and fulfillment I feel in my life is directly proportional to the amount of creativity I am engaged in. When I feel a cloud of gloom hanging over my head, it's almost always because I haven't been exercising my creativity often enough or in a meaningful way. It doesn't have to be a huge project. Just making something that I can sense made a difference to someone else is all it takes to invigorate and refresh my outlook.

Similarly, when I start to feel jaded or sorry for myself because my life isn't perfect, (why do I still have that ridiculous expectation?),  I can almost bet it is because I haven't spent an appropriate amount of time reflecting on my blessings and showing appreciation for people that enrich my life. The truth is that all around us there are people that contribute to our ability to function and enjoy living, and it behooves us to recognize them and honor them for the role they play in blessing us.

Know what's really amazing? When I get to create and appreciate at the same time! (Hence the post title!) It's like a megaboost of energy to the spirit. I really believe that is how we human beings are designed. That we would be lifted up when we lift up others.  I'd like to take this opportunity to share my latest spirit boost in hopes that it triggers an idea to help when you are facing dreary doldrums or the get invited to the inevitable pity party that sneaks up on the best of us.



Chalkboard art is always in season. My sister
rocks at artistic writing! Add in some
artificial apples, pinecones, and berries...
and a theme is born. 

Like many churches, the church I attend observes October as Pastor Appreciation Month. One of the things we like to do is set up a display to collect notes, cards, and gifts that church members offer to each leader as tokens of their gratefulness for the love, support, and time these pastors devote to their congregation.  It needs to be eye-catching and functional so it can serve as a reminder each Sunday of our commitment to recognize these special people for their impact and encourage them in word and deed so they are strengthened and validated in their calling. Setting up the display with my PCM (Partner in Chaos Management) husband Mike and my best friend Renee (who also happens to be my sister) helped me realize the vision of creating, while the appreciating attitude came from expressing my gratitude in a tangible way. It's a powerful duo I'm telling you!

If you read my blog very much you know I'm a big fan of before and after pics, so no surprise that I'll be sharing those! I think the reason why I love transformation and decor so much is because I like to feel that I'm adding beauty to the world, not taking away from it, you know?

BEFORE- We start with a nice table and signage for the event.
Then we head to our storage unit and garage for all things rustic
and autumn!

AFTER- I get all the fall feels looking at this! 
Makes you want to break out the apple cider and a warm blanket, yeah?

Each pastor has a container for cards/gifts.  The large tin is to hold
the notecards and pens so people can write their messages on site.
Mixing materials like fabric, tin, wood, and flowers makes it interesting.

Doesn't this look cozy? Renee found these
wool scarves at after season prices last year
and nabbed them up. They work perfect with
our colors and contrast nicely with the wood
and metal.

Mums should be declared the official flower of fall, am I right?
 We used crocks, apple baskets, and wooden crates as our
planters (Mike is a MASTER at auction finds like these)
because terracotta uniformity is boring. Variety is
the spice of life!  

Obviously, the part that makes this all worth while is being able to give back in a small way to some people I greatly respect and admire.  I'm of the opinion that if you limit yourself to the Thanksgiving holiday to be grateful for your blessings, you have short-changed yourself on living abundantly the rest of the year.  Others have missed out on some vital encouragement that could have inspired them had you passed it on. The way you create and appreciate doesn't have to be decorating or volunteering at your church (although I highly recommend it).  You add to the beauty of the world in your own way. And when you do, expect a spirit boost that makes you glad you did. I still believe you create the joy that makes your life better!