Balloon Glow

This post is long overdue, especially since the Balloon Glow was oooh, 2 weeks ago.

Indianola has a hot air balloon festival every year in August, which is funny because I grew up in New Mexico and Albuquerque has a balloon fiesta every year in October. I once heard that the balloon fiesta in Albuq. stemmed from the one that began in Indianola, but I don't know how true that is.

The festival lasts a week and includes a balloon glow. It's held at dusk and involves the crowd counting to 3 to get the balloons to light up. It's pretty neat and Sweet P LOVED it this year. She kept saying "1, 2, 3 GLOW!!!!!"

Here is our night in pictures:

Where's the Mouse? Felt Game

If you haven't tried Pinterest then you should because it is fun and fun is good. (A little Dr. Seuss for ya). Anyway, the point in saying that is to say that now I don't have to scour the internet to find that idea I saw, I just look at my Pinterest and there it is! I love that and I love that I don't have to say "I don't remember where I saw this idea..." Now I can always credit the creator! All that to say that I found the cutest felt game on Pinterest and recreated it today while Sweet P and I played in the basement.

This project took about 5 minutes to pick out and cut the felt, draw the details and set it up for Sweet P. She had a great time finding and then hiding the mouse for the Farmer. This will be great to use to practice colors and I've debated writing letters (because she's already starting assigning houses to Gammie, Lily, Mommy and Daddy) on the roof of each house. Without further ado, here is this super easy craft.

The Craft: Where's the Mouse?

What you need:
several small pieces of colored felt, including one small gray piece for the mouse
black Sharpie or marker
scissors
large piece of black felt or a felt board

Cut colored felt pieces into the shape of a house. I did 8 houses, but 6 would be fine. Cut out a mouse from the gray piece of felt. Draw details on the houses and mouse. Hide the mouse under a house and ask your toddler "Where's the Mouse?" Or talk about the colors ("is the mouse under the pink house?").

Easy, right?!

Variations: hide a piece cheese and have the mouse find it, hide letters under the house, cut out other animal shapes

The possibilities are endless!

Note: In hindsight I probably shouldn't have done 2 green houses, but we can always eliminate one if it gets confusing for her.

Felt Owls

Once upon a time I told you I'd break down the elements of Sweet P's owl-themed birthday party and I never did!!! Sheesh, broken promises. Or are they? I didn't say WHEN I would post them did I? Well, better late than never.

I came up with the idea for these owls after seeing this AMAZING owl party at Snowy Bliss. My owls are not quite as large (mine were about the size of my hand), but this was my inspiration.
Sadly, I do not have a template. I drew it out on a sheet of paper, but since I don't have a scanner, I'm unable to share it with you. I drew the shape of the owl, a D for his stomach, circles for the eyes, triangle for the beak and wings, and cut each piece out.

I pinned the pieces to the felt and cut away. I made a practice owl and ended up making a few pieces a bit smaller on the next owls because of how the first owl turned out. He is now Sweet P's owl and we love him, but I do wish I'd made his tummy a bit smaller to begin with.

I made each one different for each of Sweet P's guests and this was definitely a labor of love!

The Craft: Felt Owl

What you need:
Embroidery floss
Large needle
Several different colors of felt
Batting or stuffing
Sewing machine for sewing the owl together
Buttons for eyes

Hand stitch the eyes, buttons, stomach, beak and heart, star, moon or unique piece to the front of the owl. Place the wings on the front of your owl facing inward and lay the back piece on top. Pin the back, front and wings together. Sew around the edge of the owl (remember to leave an opening to pull the owl through!). Pull owl right side out and stuff. Hand stitch to close.

Tada! You have a stuffed owl.


Note: Kiddos with baby siblings didn't get button eyes just in case they got a hold of the owl.