Happy Birthday Baby Boy! {birthday letter to my 5 year old}

Today, my "baby boy" turns five, and in keeping with family tradition, I wrote him a birthday letter as a way of remembering a few of the little details that make him so special.  Here is my birthday letter to my youngest son on his 5th birthday.

To my darling baby boy,

Today you turn five, in less than two months, you will be starting "big" school.  I am so happy that we have had so much time together before this big step in your life.  I will always treasure our lunches, walks, crafting sessions, and snuggles on the couch reading stories.  I am slightly sad to see you getting older and more independent, but I am so proud of the sweet little boy you have become.  Here are a few of the things that make you so special:

• You love to snuggle on the couch (with "big blanket") and read stories.

• When you grow up, you want to be an "X-Men" hockey player, and you want to be #11 (like your older brother).

• You are super-funny, and you always like to make Daddy and I (and your brothers) laugh.

• Your favorite color is green, and you always want to eat your cereal out of a green bowl.

• Your favorite show is Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and you chose it as the theme of your birthday party this year.

• You love music, and I often catch you singing when you don't think anyone is listening.

• You had a great time in Florida this year, and you often talk about the fun we had at Disney.  (You were a pro at Jedi Training Camp!)

• You love playing hockey, soccer and baseball... and you are so happy that it is finally "your turn" to have your own teams and jerseys... instead of being dragged around to all your brothers' practices.

• You stick your tongue out when you are concentrating.

• You are shy with people you don't know, but you really come out of your shell around family and friends... and when you get on a stage.

• You always ask me to sing you a "soft song" when you go to bed, and your favorite is "Mum-a-bye" (aka "Hush Little Baby").  I love that you still play with my hair as I sing.

I love you all the way to the moon and back... plus a little more each year.

Love,

Mommy xoxo

PS (I apologize in advance for the fact that I am going to cry like a baby on your first day of school.  I hope I don't embarrass you too badly.)

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever. -- Winnie the Pooh

Summer Reading List

One of the items on our summer checklist this year is... make a summer reading list.  First, the boys and I came up with a list, and now we will get the books from the library and read them together.  Today I am sharing our new summer reading list.

Fun, right?  Don't you just love seeing your children reading during the summer months.  I know I do!

To download a copy of our list, right click on the picture above, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo.

Or... why not try making your own list?  I bet your little ones have tons of great ideas.

I think creating a summer reading list is a great way to encourage kids to read (and help prevent the "summer slide").  What are your best tips?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Party Loot Bags

Loot bags are always a challenge for me when I am planning a party for my boys.  I want to give the guests something that goes with the party theme, but I like to choose something that won't end up in the garbage as soon as they get home.  Here is the loot bag idea that I came up with for my son's Jake and the Neverland Pirates party.

I found reusable cups at Walmart for $1 each.  Then, I added a little bag of cookies, a beaded necklace, and a gold coin.  I made custom tags on Picmonkey, but if you would rather something you can just print easily, you can use the generic "pirate booty" tag that I designed.  Just right-click on the picture below, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 4 X 6 photo.

Cute, right?

I hope the party guests will really like this Jake and the Neverland Pirates loot bag.  I know my little birthday boy is excited to share them with his friends.  

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Pirate Hooks

I am planning a Jake and the Neverland Pirate party for my youngest son, and I thought it would be fun to make pirate hooks for all the party guests.  After the party, the hooks (that don't go home with our guests) will be added to our "dress up bin".  We love playing pirates!

Want to make your own pirate hooks from cups and tin foil?

1)  Start with a square piece of tin foil.
2)  Roll up the tin foil and "squish it".
3)  Cut a little hole in the bottom of the cup.  Make sure it isn't too big.  The tin foil needs to fit tightly in order to stay in place.
4)  Place the foil through the hole, pull through, and twist into the shape of a hook.

That's it!  Do you have a little pirate that would love dressing up with this pirate hook?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like this pirate party post.

Spy Party {pom pom target practice}

I am currently planning a DIY Spy Party for my middle son's 7th birthday. Given that he and his friends will be training to be spies, I knew I needed some sort of target practice, but I didn't want to give all the kids guns, so... I thought it would be fun to make some pool noodle pom pom shooters. I got the idea for a pool noodle pom pom shooter from FSPDT.  (You should totally check out her version if you get a chance.)

For our version, I used black balloons and "moustache/secret disguise" duck tape.  Cute, right?  I love how easy and inexpensive these were to make.  Here's all you need to do:

1)  Use a serrated bread knife to cut a pool noodle into short pieces.  I made mine slightly taller than the width of the duck tape.

2)  Cut the top off a balloon with a pair of scissors.

3)  Place the balloon onto the pool noodle, and tie the top into a knot.

4)  Secure the balloon to the pool noodle with duck tape.

These are perfect for my son's spy party, but they would be fun any time.  My boys have been playing with them ever since I made them.  Trust me... they will keep your little ones entertained for hours!

Do you have a little one that would like these pool noodle pom pom shooters?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Celebrating the Last Day of School

Monday was the last day of school for my two oldest boys, and we had a lot of fun marking the special day.  Here is how we celebrate the last day of school in our home.

First, I always pick my boys up from school, and we go for ice cream.

Then, the boys run through a "finish line".

I think it is a lot of fun to have end of the year traditions, don't you?  I don't do grading gifts, but I did treat the boys to new books and a special treat.

How does your family celebrate the last day of school?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Turquoise Summer Wreath

I don't get a lot of time to work on "grown up" craft projects, but yesterday I finished a new turquoise wreath for my front door.  It was really easy to make, and I love how it turned out.

Isn't it a fantastic summer wreath?  I really like the blue grapevine wreath, and the flowers are so bright and cheerful. 

Here is what the wreath looked like when I bought it...

Then, I spray painted it, and added some fun felt flowers (that I made using the tutorial you can find here).  These flowers are really simple to make.  All you need is some brightly colored felt, scissors, a glue gun, and a few buttons.  

I am really enjoying my new summer wreath. What do you think? If you make one, let me know how it turns out.

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the simple Summer wreath I made here.