Mackenzie 2nd birthday

Wow! I have a 2 year old!! Half the time I think it was just last year I was pregnant with her, hard to believe she is actually 2.

For her party this year I kept things simple. I planned to go more elaborate but things just fell through.

I did take a lot of pictures but, I didn't have a lot that turned out great, if you know what I mean. 

So we will just get started.

Everything took a lot longer than I planned so this was all the decor that got put up even though I bought a lot more and more in store! Oh, well. What will she remember in a few years? The decor or the fun? 

For food I wanted everything on a stick, that didn't work out so I did carnival food. Corn dogs, chips with nacho cheese (we also gave the option of doritos, YUM!), veggies in a cup (some had ranch at the bottom), fruit on a stick, and popcorn. For my gluten free friends I put some regular hot dogs on a stick. Sidenote: The food was yummy and kid friendly!!

Next we opened presents, Which was fun this year because she was actually into it! Then we had cake! I wanted to make cakepops to keep with my everything on a stick theme. Since, I hadn't tried it before I got scared off. Instead I went with ice cream cake cones.

The easiest way to do this was to flip the cones upside down into the cupcakes before you place in the oven. These turned out yummy!! Also, for my gluten free friends I went to a local bakery that bakes vegan and bought some cupcakes for them.

This is her "whooooo" chair from mom and dad. 

After this we let the kids run around and play. I put out a coloring table, her Ikea circus tent, some balls, made some homemade bean bags with socks and dried beans (just tie a knot in the top), and brought out her wagon. The wagon turned out to be the kid favorite.

My parents got her a trike for her birthday and that was the other favorite.

Overall it may have not been my most elaborate party thrown but, I think everyone had lots of fun. Mackenzie came inside almost brown from all the dirt which tells me she had fun.

Mackenzie also had a special message to share at her party!

That's right baby #2 is on the way!!

So next post will be a pregnancy update and then I think I will do a Mackenzie update/favorites. I haven't done one of those in a while.

Dorinda

Birthday: Adult scavenger hunt

I am so bummed! I completely forgot to take pictures of my birthday party! I loved it though, it was a complete blast! So, I will have to tell you all about it!

I decided to go ahead and have the scavenger hunt at the mall. I originally wanted to do the hunt around town with places that mean a lot to me but, this time of year you never know how the roads are going to be. Wanting to keep everyone safe I decided to have it at one location, our local mall. I called the mall to ask but, no one returned my calls. I also opted to not have everyone going into the stores (except one) just to not have any angry mall employees. So everyone met at the food court. Also, before I continue I want to thank my mom, dad, aunt Karm, and grandma for helping and being the check points. Extra thanks to my parents for babysitting Mackenzie.

After meeting in the food court everyone got the rules:

Thank you for coming to celebrate Dorinda's big 3- oh. Here are some rules before you go. This is an old fashioned foot race. Please no running ( 10 sec added to your time) but, do set a quick pace. At each stop you will have something to do. Don't get started until your whole team has joined you ( 10 sec added to time). Each completed challenge gives you a reward, (5 sec taken from your score. If there is a task you can't complete, just wait 3 minutes and then you can move forward.

And clue #1:

Dorinda loves to shop and Mackenzie loves to play. This may Dorinda's day but, Mackenzie always gets her way.

Answer: Kids play area

Game: Do you hear what I hear:

Using the Christmas tradition of shaking presents. Arrange the 4 gift boxes in order of least bells to most.

Everyone completed this challenge very quickly but it's ok. They got harder.

Clue #2:

It's time to go where you can hear the Ho Ho Ho.

Answer: Santa (I know, easy)

Game: Chocolate Unicorn

Christmas is a magical time of year and a unicorn is believed to be a magical animal. In this challenge one player must become like a human unicorn by building a chocolate tower on their forehead. Using only one hand stack 4 ding dongs and hold for 3 seconds. If the stack falls you may begin again but, no eating!

Clue #3:

Dorinda has turned the big 3-oh. Some girls wish they would never get old. Go to the store where girls' age no more but, don't go through the door. Mondo only lets Dorinda window shop and no more. 

Answer: Forever 21

This one made me laugh! 2 out of 3 teams went into the store! 

Game: Puzzle me this

This puzzle has no end time and Dorinda really can't rhyme. Complete the puzzle and head out the door. Before you go pick up the puzzle from the floor. Give to Karm and she will minus 5 seconds from your score.

There was no clue for the next stop. I made a hand made puzzle using poster board and marker. I bubbled lettered out "Old Navy". The puzzle was actually very challenging! They didn't have to complete the puzzle just solve enough to tell them where to go.

Old Navy is located outside and across the parking lot! This day was only 10 degrees. So they were allowed to run.

Game #4: riddle me that

My dad came up with a riddle for everyone to solve. Here it is:

Welcome to Dorinda’s Scavenger Hunt. Now is your time to shine. To get your next clue please help solve this problem.  I wish to place my Christmas trees in 5 straight lines. Each line must have 4 trees placed on it. I have only 10 trees. Following these rules and using the hints given above please draw the pattern which meets these requirements below. You may ask for 1 hint after 2 minutes of trying, and another hint after 2 and a half minutes have passed. There is a 3 minute time limit.

Clue #5:

You're almost to the end. Head now to where it began. The game will be determined by a challenge that fits in your hand.

Answer: food court

Game: wooden puzzle

You can now rest at ease just finish the tiny little piece. Time limit is no more. Finish and you may win. We won't know the score until every team is in. 

I had bought 3 miniature wooden brain teaser puzzles. I took them a part and then they had to put then back together. It took my dad awhile to figure out how to pull it apart! . It took 20 min for one team to solve. This was not an easy puzzle. In fact I even let them look at the answers but, that made it worse. All in all whole game took 50 min. It was a blast!

Afterwards everyone came over for cupcakes and hot cocoa. 

I did decorate my house and took pictures of the decorations! 

happy me with pretty decorations

These decorations were way easy. Cost less then $10 and took me 1/2 hour to make!

For party favors I gave Mustache bazookas as a thank you to coming to my fancy party. Winners (actually almost everyone because I bought too many) got a million dollar candy bar!!

Mackenzie and I showing your are 'staches!

Thank you to everyone who attended my party. You made the beginning of my new decade super special!

I think I should party plan!

Dorinda

P.s. comment below.if you need the answer to the riddle!