First of all she wanted a piñata. Easy enough. Except my searching only came up with 2 options, one a regular ladybug and one with Marionette as Ladybug, but both way expensive. Solution? I made my own. It wasn't too hard. First I ordered an 11x17 color print of a Miraculous picture I found online so it would be ready when I needed it. Now for the fun part (I mean, if you like cutting cardboard). I cut two 11x17 ovals from a box (reduce, reuse, and recycle!) as well as a long strip of cardboard about 6 inches wide to connect them. Along the sides of the long strip we cut one inch slits and bent those in so the finished product was about 4 inches wide.
Just a side note about cutting cardboard, I hate it. It is so hard. Or, it used to be. I love using old cardboard boxes so when I came across this electric cutting tool from Tomboy Tools, I had to have it! This has been a game changer! Now EVERYTHING is made of cardboard! Mine, by Tomboy Tools, is pink. I couldn't find a link to it, but here's a similar product on Amazon (unsolicited link. I am not getting paid, I just really like this tool).Next, just hot glue each tab down, guiding it along the edge of the first oval, leaving about 5 inches unattached at the top to put goodies in. Then attach the other side, similarly, reaching in through your opening to press the tabs to the oval.
Now that it was assembled, we got to decorate. Red tissue paper from the Dollar Tree was layered on one side with a glue stick. Red crape paper was cut into strips to go long the edge. This is the most time consuming part. We folded it in half and only glued half. The other half was cut into fringe. These were over lapped for full coverage. Finally, the color print was trimmed into an oval and glued on the last side. It was perfect. It cost less than $5 and all four of my children helped in someway. It was fun to work on this with each of them. Unfortunately, I didn't think to start taking pictures until after it had been hit a few times. So you get to see the thing falling apart instead of in it's perfect condition. Just imagine that it's perfect.
Once everyone got their Kwami (and their candy, of course) from the piñata, we then got to make our Miraculous jewelry on which to wear the Kwami. The girls love beading bracelets and necklaces so this is was big hit. Some of the Hatchamals had holes in them so they strung up really easy. Others were tied on and some of the girls got creative with attaching the egg part and putting the little critter in it (sticky tack or tape was needed to make it stay, but it was cute).We are not superheros yet. We need masks. Just a minute to decorate the masks, put on the Miraculous jewelry, then we were off to save Paris. I had thought some clues and riddles and bad guys would be really fun here, but it just didn't happen.
People, please don't beat yourself up if something doesn't happen the way you envisioned. We all have a lot on our plates. Just do what you can do and know that it is enough. YOU are enough!!
Instead of some complex, save-the-world, escape room, epic thing, we set up an obstacle course. They had to run through hoops, climb the slide, down the rock wall, through the "laser trap," over the jungle gym, hop through more hoops, and balance their way across to the finish line. The kids enjoyed it and some ran through it more than once.
I already mentioned that the only thing I could find in my searches was food. I didn't do a lot of fancy food. We had pizza and garlic knots and chicken nuggets and veggies and fruit . But I will post the cake. I didn't make it this time. Folks, I just don't have time to make everything. This time I made the piñata, maybe next time I'll make the cake. I ordered this cake from a local store. My daughter chose strawberry moose AND blueberry jelly filling with buttercream frosting. I told them I would be adding an action figure so they left room for me. I think they just did a fantastic job. I could not have dreamed that it would be so cute.
We finished the night with a sleepover. Those staying over stayed up to watch Miraculous Ladybug for a little while (thank you Netflix). My husband got up to make pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage for breakfast. Everyone had a really good time.
And there you have the outline for most of my parties: Destroy something, make something, play something, watching something, and most importantly, eat something. Keep it simple and have fun. Life is to too short to worry about that you didn't do, just enjoy what you did. Blogs and facebook only show you what other want to show you. What I didn't show you was the messy state of my house despite my best efforts. It didn't show my constant battle with fatigue and depression. It didn't show you the fight my girls had over the pinata (one daughter wanted to keep it a surprise, the other one argued that it was her party, her idea, her pinata, and she wanted to help make it). We all have it friends: mess, conflicts, and personal struggles. Take comfort and know that God loves you and is cheering you on. He catches you when you fall. He celebrates your successes and cries with you over your disappointments. Hang in there. You are enough!!
