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Jan 7 2016

lego superhero birthday party

Posted by hayley
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(A comprehensive party supply source list can be found at the end of this post.)

Our kids get big invite-all-the-friends birthday parties every other year. 2016 is a PARTY year and we did it up big for Bug turning four!

Bug has a crush on all things Avengers right now. He especially enjoys the Lego versions of all the superheros, so naturally we put together a party to follow suit. Below is the invite I designed and sent out to his friends (the real version of all these things had Bug’s given name, of course).

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

We moved the studio table into the living room to create a coloring station.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

I designed the large scale party decor to be printed at Office Max as black and white “engineering prints.” It’s only $3 for a 24″ x 36″ print! I added the color with crayons and mounted them on foam core with spray adhesive.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

As we waited for all his friends to arrive, the kids colored pre-printed superheros or designed their own Lego characters.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Awhile back we were gifted two big bins of Lego Duplos as hand-me-downs. They came in handy as a little activity center during the first part of the party too!

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

The food table was decked out with a Lego wall, oversized superhero signage, and themed snacks.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

A vast majority of the party was DIYed, but I draw the line at a homemade cake (to thine own talents be true)! Instead, I ordered a plain white cake with the blue and red dollops along the bottom. These Lego Avenger characters were found on Amazon and were easily popped on top, each holding a color coordinated candle.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

No superhero party is complete without costumes. It’s a good thing Handsome is home right now to help, because for a solid 2 days I zoned out the world and sewed 11 different capes for Bug’s friends. Initially they were displayed on the wall using small Command hooks.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Once all his friends had arrived, we held a “Caping Ceremony.” Each child was called to the front and learned which superhero alter ego they would take on for the remainder of the birthday celebration. In lieu of typical party favors or candy, all the guests got to keep their handmade capes.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

After everyone was fitted with their superhero identity, they stepped into the studio where I had a green screen taped to the wall. I took photos of each kid in 2-3 different poses…

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

… and then used my Photoshop skillz to transform them into actual superheros! (more info here)

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Because I had to do the editing work post-party, a print of each child’s finished picture was included with the “Thank You” notes for Bug’s gifts.

A January birthday means unpredictable weather, so I try to plan indoor party games. We prepped small boxes with paint and made a “hammer” out of a kleenex box, a paper towel roll, and duck tape. Then the kids took turns throwing “Thor’s Hammer” at the blocks from behind a tape line on the carpet in an attempt to knock them all down.

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Bug’s friends also tested their superhuman strength with a couple rounds of good ole’ fashioned Tug-o-War! I honestly wasn’t sure if playing this inside would lead to casualties, but the teams were evenly matched (each team won once) and no one got hurt (all the praise hands!).

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Gifts and cake rounded out what proved to be a pretty SUPER celebration!

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

Bug and Handsome Lego-ed the night away together until Bug slipped into the best sugar-lego-superhero-too-much-fun coma that a brand new 4-year-old could ask for. Party success!

Lego Superhero DIY Birthday Party | greyhouseharbor.com

*****
party supply sources:
spray adhesive, yellow dot fabric, silky cape fabrics, striped candles, cake, beverage server – Walmart
green screen, Avenger Lego figures (cake toppers) – Amazon
invitation – created it myself in Photoshop
oversized “engineering” prints – designed myself and printed at OfficeMax
sheets of foamcore – dollar store
lego coloring pages – free printable here
lego duplos – hand-me-downs, find similar ones here
lego statement wall – paper plates from Party City (tutorial here)
cake stand – plate atop a candleholder from Ikea
Thor, Ironman, Captain snack markers – designed myself
hulk power punch – green apple KoolAid
popcorn cones – made with scrapbook paper, hot glue and this tutorial
mason jars – Michaels craft store
captain snacks – strawberries, regular and mini marshmellows, blueberries
napkin & utensil holder – built it out of Lego duplos
clear jello cups – mini clear plastic pedestal cups from Party City
m&m glass cups – thrift store
Thor hammers – cheese blocks cut down, pretzel sticks
super hero capes – hand sewn by myself – silk fabrics bought at Walmart
blue & white rope – Home Depot
Thor hammer game – 16″ shipping boxes from Walmart, sample sized paints from Home Depot; hammer made from kleenex box, paper towel roll, hot glue, silver and black Duck tape.

Tags: birthday, birthday ideas, birthday party, bug, diy, lego, our life, superhero
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4 comments
Jan 4 2016

a toddler no more

Posted by hayley
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Bug's 4th Bday  |  greyhouseharbor.com

Born with a slick of black hair and a hearty appetite, our little Bug isn’t so little anymore. His dark baby locks gave way to a golden mop, but the love of food has remained. Except for pickles. “No way, disgusting.” Other things have changed as well. He politely declines a booster seat at dinner, recently upgraded to a big kid carseat, and slumbers the nights away high in his custom loft bed. His toddler obsession with all things construction equipment has faded into a fascination with good vs. evil; bad guys and superheros in battles of total destruction. No seriously — my couch cushions are crying out for help.

Frequently complimented by strangers for his expansive vocabulary and superior pronunciation, Bug is friendly to a fault. That Handsome and I (homebody introverts) produced such an extrovert is a total mystery. Making people laugh is his favorite thing and with his comedic timing and outrageous facial expressions, it comes easy. His preschool teacher has called him a quiet leader, always encouraging others to follow the rules and play fair.

“Happy Birthday Buddy! Know what being 4 means?! You get to wipe your own butt.” Handsome shoots me a sideways smirk and we both agree… Snuggly babies are their own brand of squishy fun, but big kids are RAD. Cheers to us surviving the toddler years and here’s to new adventures!

Happy 4th Birthday Bug!

Tags: birthday, bug
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1 comment
Dec 7 2015

bug’s first pet

Posted by hayley
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Back in September, Bug and I caught a beautiful insect. After some research we learned it was an Angle-winged Katydid.

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

A gentle and friendly little thing, we decided to attempt to domesticate him. Bug declared it his “first pet ever” (true) and named him Diggers. (They don’t dig at all, actually, but the name is a residual impulse from Bug’s fading obsession with construction equipment.)

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

Like any responsible pet owner, Bug bought Diggers a proper home and cut some maple tree leaves from the backyard for munching. We even got a book at the library with katydid characters and researched their life cycle online.

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

In the evenings, we would let Diggers out to stretch his legs and wings on supervised excursions. He wouldn’t get far, as katydids are more awkward jump-gliders than actual flyers. Quite the globe-trotter, this one.

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

Bug never worked up the courage to hold him. But he loved having a “pet” to talk to and call his own.

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

After all the maple trees lost their leaves, we kept our katydid happy with romaine lettuce. Sadly, after 2 months in captivity, Diggers passed away. I like to think we extended his life by a few weeks, as the cold weather would have had issued him the same fate even earlier.

With tears streaming down his face, I hugged Bug for a long time — the world of my sweet little boy rocked by the passing of his first pet. To him, the loss was so real and painful. But, through this beautiful green critter, God gave me an opportunity to help my son learn one of life’s hard truths. We talked about how important all life is, how we are only here on Earth a short time, and how we each have a special role to play in a much bigger plan.

Diggers played his role as “first pet” perfectly. May he rest in peace.

Pet Katydid greyhouseharbor.com

Tags: bug, pets
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1 comment
Nov 16 2015

bug bytes

Posted by hayley
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The Things Kids Say... greyhouseharbor.com

Above: selfie

“Mom, you’re taller than me, but I’m cooler than you.”

While eating our family meal at the table:
“When I grow up, I’m gonna throw you on the couch Mom because you make terrible dinners.”

At a restaurant:
“Bug, do you wanna sit next to me or Songbird in the booth?”
“Next to you so you can help me with my spills.”
(Glad we all know our roles.)

“Yuck! This water tastes like dinosaurs!”

Sometimes in the early morning stray kids climb into bed and snuggle with us.
Handsome rolls over and puts his arm around Bug…
“Keep your hands to yaself, Daddy.”
Handsome rubs Bug’s back…
“I said please keep your hands to YASELF!!!”

“Mom, you need to go clean your breath.”

“You’re tellin’ a rude, Dad.” (telling a lie)

Handsome: “Bug, you shouldn’t eat your boogers. Boogers are dirt.”
“I know dat. I’m trying not to eat my boogers this day.”
“How’s that going for you?”
“Not really well.”

Tags: bug, bug bytes
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5 comments


I'm Hayley. Wife and mother by day, DIY enthusiast by night. Fueled by sweet tea and jelly beans, I own power tools and know how to use them. Consider yourself warned.

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