LEGO Theme Birthday Party

This was our 8-year-old's first "real" birthday party and the Lego theme was so fun to play with (literally)!  If you're looking for more ideas for your own Lego party, I hope you will find inspiration here.

This was my first attempt at cake pops.  I saw the smiley face idea online (easily adapted to Lego minifigure heads) and they seemed like a great treat for his class at school; always fun to share treats with your friends.  My previous post goes into more detail on their creation.

 

Did you realize that the official LEGO website has these fun printables and so many more?  It was my 10-year-old who informed me of this wonderful "free" decoration.

However, the trick is to actually find them!

  

1. Go to "Products" (top bar)

2. Once on "Products", you can select "City", "Star Wars", or "Super Heroes".

3. On each of these pages you will see "Comic Builder" (top right); click on it.

4. Build your comic on the page provided.  I selected the page with one single full-page frame.  It's pretty self-explanatory and you'll get the idea once you start.  

5. I added 4 minifigures per 8.5x11 page.  You can adjust the size larger or smaller to fit the page.  There are also many other Lego items (trees, flowers, Star Wars ships!!, etc.) to select from.

6. Copy and paste your page to Microsoft Word and print it!  It's that easy! (Be sure to select "photo" in your printer options or the images will come out streaky).

7. Cut out characters, laminate, then cut out again for a clean look!  I love having our own laminator; knowing we can reuse these neat Lego printables again!  Boys bedroom decor!

 

 

How fun are these Lego minifigure and brick molds (trays)?!  I ordered them to make ice cubes, finger jello, or chocolate but they didn't arrive in time.  That hasn't stopped us from making ice ever since the party though. I've also seen people make Lego crayons and soap out of these; creative!

...and the Lego birthday cake!  

This was my first time making fondant and creating any kind of "fancy" cake.  If I can do it, you can do it!  Be forewarned though: it is a loooong process.  I have a new found appreciation for why *real* cake artists charge the prices they do.  A future post will detail the process for building this cake.  I didn't have it put together until after 2am, so it was fun to hear our children giddy over the finished product in the morning.  ...then I went back to bed!  Our 10-year-old added the "real" Lego guys and ladders to the cake, making it into more of a construction zone.

I wasn't sure how colouring would go over, but most of the kids took to this activity; drawing their own Lego minifigures.  Thanks to an idea on Pinterest for these pages.
See the square pretzels?  Lego-ish.  ;)

Guess how many Legos in the jar.

Pose and have your picture taken with Lego friends!

I thought these would make for a fun picture to include in thank you notes to friends who came to the party. 

Ideally, these would be square mini-pizzas, but we're not living in a perfect world. ;)

See the cute Lego minifigures cut-out on the wall?  Another cute Pinterest idea for Lego decorations.

Lego Bingo was a hit ~ great game and totally free printable!
Link to the thoughtful family who shared it via Pinterest!

Such a fun birthday!

LEGO Minifigure Head Cake Pops

This was my first attempt at the infamous "cake pops" ~ Lego minifigure head style!  Yes, I realize they are far from Bakerella-perfect but at least they are somewhat recognizable and the kids enjoyed them.  Perfect party or bite-sized treat to send to school on your child's birthday. 

Honestly, they weren't all that difficult to make; easier than I anticipated. Healthy?  Not in any way, shape, or form.  If I had time, I would have at least made the cake "healthier" by scratch, but as time would have it, a red velvet cake mix sufficed.  I basically followed Bakerella's instructions for the cake based on these cute cake pop smiley faces.

Where I differed with her was on the icing.  If nothing else, I avoided the partially hydrogenated oil in the store-bought frosting.  I've never cared for the taste of that stuff anyway...  So, my icing (or "frosting" per the American language) consisted of my usual recipe: butter, icing sugar, vanilla, and milk.  Just for the yumminess factor, I also added cream cheese.

The gist of making your own icing is pretty simple.  You're looking for a creamy, smooth, and spreadable texture.  Soften and beat about a 1/2 cup of butter and a 1/2 brick of cream cheese with your first cup or two of icing sugar (American terminology: "powdered sugar").  From this point on, you just continue to add in the icing sugar and tablespoons of milk until you get to the consistency that you want.  Do NOT add a good dousing of milk unless you want to go purchase another bag of icing sugar; add it only as needed.  (Believe me, I've done this several times in the past few decades; you would think I'd have learned by now....).  When you are at the approximate consistency you want, add about a tsp of vanilla and you're done.  This is the icing/frosting I use to mix into the crumbled cake (per Bakerella's instructions).

Following the basic cake pop instructions, I formed slightly elongated circles (think minifigure head shapes) and stuck them on the sticks.  I used little dabs of chocolate to attach half of a mini-marshmallow to the top of each "head" and put these sticks in the freezer for about 10 minutes.  I was a bit apprehensive about the "dipping into chocolate" part of this project, but it wasn't a big deal at all.  It's really more of "rolling" in chocolate than dipping.  Each head was rolled in the chocolate, then tapped repeatedly (and not too hard) on the side of the pot/bowl to get the chocolate thinned out.  After leaving them propped up in a large piece of styrofoam for a few hours, they were good to draw faces on.

For the drawing of faces, I wasn't sure which direction to head, so I opted for black icing.  In hindsight, I should have purchased the edible pen that was available in the cake decorating section.  I read that the edible marker/pen doesn't exactly work all that well, but the black icing wasn't that great either.  I used a toothpick to draw the black icing faces.  It would be insightful to find out what the best alternative is for drawing faces on any cake pops; do share!

Would love to see your creations!

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Book Review ~ The True Account of Adam & Eve

If you are looking for an accurate Biblical account of Adam & Eve for your children, look no further.  Beautifully illustrated by Bill Looney and written by Ken Ham, this book is one that should be kept at arm's reach.  Of this 64-page book, the fabulous 38" fold-out section in the middle of the book makes if difficult to keep reading; you just want to snuggle with your children as you search out every inch of the panoramic views of the earth before and after the fall of man.

Jesus coming to save us from our sins means nothing to a world that doesn't know the history of mankind from God's creation of the world.  The True Account of Adam & Eve briefly addresses the first 5 days of creation, then heads into the crux of the story: Adam & Eve, the first two humans.

The unfounded theory of evolution is taught as fact in nearly every secular institution around the world.  By virtue of necessity, evolution would brand the story of Creation at God's hands and the creation of man and woman little more than fairy tales.  However.....

God is truthful.  God's Word is truthful, infallible, historically and archaeologically accurate; it has never failed and never will.  Knowing the true account of how sin came into the world is of utmost importance.  Otherwise, how will people understand the significance of God loving us beyond comprehension to send His sinless Son into the world to free us from the eternal penalty for our sins? 

I love that this book begins with Bible passages to read with your family.  It's not just any story; it's the story of our great, great, great, great, great, great, great,.....etc. grandparents.  Ken Ham also brings up questions that tackle why things are so messed up in the world today, why God instituted marriage between one man and one woman, why fossils aren't a result of millions of years, why sin is such a big deal, and why we look forward to a time when there will be "no more curse."

Delve into this book with your children.  It's the story that brings life out of death.  It's a story to have on their minds as they fall asleep.  It's the story to read and study further when they are alert during the day.  Encourage them to ask questions, dig into God's Word, and wrap everything in you around the fact that God didn't allow Adam & Even to live a hopeless existence after their fall into sin.  He provided the ultimate rescue for those who would seek Him with all their heart; the only way to spend eternity in close relationship with the One who loves us more than any other ever could.

I was happy to review this book for New Leaf Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.  The True Account of Adam & Eve was published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing.

Book Review: Tangled Ashes ~ by Michele Phoenix

Tangled Ashes was the first fictional novel I have read in a long time.  Locations, historical buildings, and events that occurred during World War II reflect an accuracy that surrounds fictional characters.  Knowing this book was set during the Nazi occupation of France, I looked forward to reading it.

Marie and Elise are two 17-year-old girls, forced to grow up overnight when France is invaded by the Nazi regime.  To support their families, they take on jobs at Nazi headquarters, Meunier Manor.  When questionable changes begin happening, the girls must decide who to remain true to and which version of "the truth" is the real thing.  

50 years later, main characters, Becker (Beck) and Jade, are two wounded souls; each seeking solace in different ways.  Beck has come to France as a skilled architect/woodworker to tackle an immense castle renovation.  He finds himself fighting the same emotional, self-medicating battle that he yearns to be free from.  Jade, who seemingly has everything put together in her life, is fighting a battle of her own.

As characters' lives begin to unfold, mysterious events of vandalism at the castle put individuals on alert.  Seeing how puzzle pieces fit together weaves an intriguing story where the past becomes the present and choices are forced on everyone involved.  Even 50-years later, decisions made by Marie, Elise, and others involved are affecting lives.

I don't believe this book lacked for interest.  However, I was disappointed that there was minimal Biblical outreach.  As a Christian-authored novel, Tangled Ashes possibly offered more potential Biblical discussion by way of the "questions" section, where you could dig deeper into the hows and whys of the story.  In addition, while remaining true to Beck's tormented character, the reader is given fill-in-the-blank cuss words; I don't care for that aspect.  I feel the author developed Beck's character well in my mind without the addition of said words.

Knowing that the author actually grew up in the setting of this book and enjoyed the beautiful historical buildings she describes makes this book feel closer to "real life".  Michele Phoenix holds these places in high esteem and brings her cherished memories into your imagination.

I received this book from Tyndale in exchange for my honest review.

Review: #8 The Imagination Station ~ Battle for Cannibal Island

I've been a fan of the Adventures in Odyssey radio series since it's 1987 inception.  Our children absolutely love listening to Odyssey stories on CD.  They are (by far) a family-favourite activity and as a bonus, everyone quiets down to listen.

Our seven-year-old son is such an animated listener.  He's the one who tries to play Wii games sitting down and ends up standing on the couch, jumping with each character jump (at least until I notice and tell him to stand on the floor to jump)!  Even with Adventures in Odyssey, some of the stories become more suspenseful and he is the one quite literally sitting on the edge of the sofa trying to hold his sounds-of-anticipation down...usually unsuccessfully.  It doesn't matter how many times our kids listen to the AIO stories; they still get excited about them.  The thrill doesn't dissipate with age either ~ I guarantee we'll all still love them in our 90's.

I noticed a couple years ago that there are Adventures in Odyssey books available.  "The Imagination Station" series currently ranges from volume #1- #9 and is geared towards children aged 7 and up.  Going by our childrens' interests and reading levels, I could see this being a hit with ages 7-10.  I know they will be slightly challenging for our 7-year-old but I've heard other children his age read quite fluently so it is on-target with what many 6 or 7-year-olds would be reading.  It will be a very easy read for our 10-year-old but knowing how much he likes Adventures in Odyssey, he will be thrilled to read both #8 and #9. 

Battle for Cannibal Island is rated by Flesch-Kincaid as grade level 2.1.

In this 8th book of the series, Patrick and Beth are taken via the infamous Imagination Station to Fiji in the 1850s.  They meet missionary James Calvert, and are inadvertently brought directly into the midst of cannibals who have been burning Christian villages.  James Calvert's desire is to follow God's calling on his life to reach out to these people.  Self-proclaimed 'king' Toki is the head of this cannibalistic tribe and he vehemently spews out his hatred for God and Christians.  Will Beth and Patrick come to understand what it means to die to self and live for Christ?

Admittedly, I've heard of James Calvert before but don't know much about him.  Lately, we have been reading various missionary stories and I know there are books about his time as a missionary.  Reading Battle for Cannibal Island followed or preceded by James Calvert's life story would be a great way to extend this adventure.  I love that while this is a fictional account of Patrick and Beth's adventures; James Calvert is a real-life person who reached the "unreachable" to share God's love and message of salvation with them.

Thank you, Tyndale, for giving us this free copy to review.  Our boys will love it!

Review: #9 The Imagination Station ~ Escape to the Hiding Place

Escape to the Hiding Place is the newest (#9) volume released in Adventure in Odyssey's "The Imagination Station" series of books, geared toward ages 7+.  Interlacing adventure, historical fiction, real people who lived during the time period, and extolling the virtues and promises of God makes for excellent reading material that children (and parents) will love.

In this book, Patrick and Beth find that the Imagination Station (which is like a time machine) has transported them to Holland...and not at a peaceful time.  They have arrived during World War II and are immediately thrown into a potentially dangerous situation; they are needed to help save a Jewish baby's life.  They learn that faith in God and relying on Him in any situation is what real courage is.  In the words of the book, Corrie Ten Boom states, "God doesn't always protect us from danger, but He's always with us when we face danger.  And that's enough."

Beyond fiction, this book brings world history and Godly peoples' lives into the forefront of the reader's thoughts.  What a great way to introduce the life of Corrie Ten Boom into your child's growing interests.  Corrie Ten Boom's family saved hundreds of peoples' lives during World War II, hiding them in a specially-built room in her house.  Fear of the Germans and all that could happen to them if caught didn't keep Corrie from doing what God wanted her to do.  That's one of the most important lessons your child will walk away with after reading Escape to the Hiding Place. 

I encourage your family to expound on this historical fiction book by reading Corrie Ten Boom's biography.  Bring the truth of God's love for us and hand on our lives into a more vivid light in your child's heart.

Thank you to Tyndale for giving us the opportunity to review this lovely book.  I plan to purchase more of this series and look forward to future books; great Christmas gift idea too!

Review: Explore Meteor Crater & Petrified Forest with Noah Justice

Our children aren't the only ones who love the Awesome Science DVDs that Noah Justice hosts.  We already have 2 of them and were excited to receive the 3rd and most recent edition, "Explore Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest" for review.  It sure didn't disappoint; we all enjoyed this 30-minute episode.

I really didn't know much about the petrified forest or meteor craters before watching this program.  We plan to look for more books and photos of these areas.  The videography of this DVD is excellent (as all the Awesome Science DVDs are).  However, half an hour goes by too quickly!

More than just photos and the typical information regurgitated in evolutionary science texts, this DVD gives scientific evidences based on a Biblical history. 

In addition to this great DVD, there is an individual study guide available, allowing you to test your/your child(ren)'s knowledge regarding what they just viewed.  There are true/false questions, fill-in-the-blank questions, and "facts".  I like that this is all laid out in writing as it is easier to go back to details on paper vs in a video.  Using the menu options on the DVD, you could easily adapt this for homeschooling; select which topic you want to watch and then continue with the study guide based on said topic.

I can't recommend these DVDs enough!  Just tonight, I noticed that there are 3 new DVDs set to be released toward the end of October; can't wait to watch them with our family!

This book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.

Review: Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions ~ Volume 2

Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions (Vol. 2) is another excellent book written by the combined authorship of Ken Ham, Bodie Hodge, and Tim Chaffey.  Designed to give Christians a Biblical basis to stand strong on God's Word, this book does away with the "smoke screens" that unbelievers will throw in your path.

This book has 40 chapters, one  for each (you guessed it) supposed Bible contradiction.  It's interesting to follow through Biblical chronological history, the original language the texts were written in, and other fact-revealing methods of determining what some have considered contradictory scripture passages.

Even several supposed inconsistencies I had heard of before (that seemed so obvious as non-contradictory) are laid out in reader-friendly terms.  It's nice to have easy-to-relate answers to those who have questions.

The Bible doesn't contradict itself in any way.  As the book states, it is written to show you that the Bible is completely trustworthy.  If we have a difficult time understanding or accepting something, it doesn't mean it is false.  We need to look into the issue on a deeper level.  I believe that God has preserved His Word through the ages and the original manuscripts were inspired by God.  Reading this book has encouraged me to dig deeper into passages before glossing over information that appears more tedious or difficult to understand.

I have yet to read Volume 1 of Demolishing Supposed Bible Contradictions; it is now on my to-read list. I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

 This book is published by Master Books, a division of New Leaf Publishing Group.

Review: Beginner's Bible (app) ~ Zondervan

Zondervan recently release The Beginner's Bible as an iPad app.  This is a nicely put together app that is (currently) free.  It includes 6 free stories with corresponding puzzles, coloring pages, and games. 

Our 5-year-old daughter has the "Read and Share Bible" on our iPad; each story is purchased separately for $1.99.  This "Beginner's Bible" app comes with the free items mentioned above.  There is an in-app purchase available for 6 more stories, puzzles, coloring pages, and games; more reasonably priced than "Read and Share".  As time progresses, I'm sure Zondervan will continue to add new stories and activities.

The games are relatively easy for toddlers and a little too simple for our 5-year-old.  Our toddler loves Thomas the Train app-puzzles and took to these Bible story puzzles right away. Since our 5-year-old is learning to read, I like that the books have the read-to-me feature where words are highlighted.  She enjoys listening to Bible stories and the short-length stories are just the right amount of time to keep her 2-year-old brother interested in sitting with her. 

The stories themselves all come with interactive illustrations.  Our 2 youngest children both enjoy tapping on characters or objects to hear them makes sounds and/or move.  One thing that I like is that the reading continues and isn't disrupted by little fingers tapping on objects.  Some book-apps we have stop the reading-mode when something is tapped on.  Creators definitely had little children in mind when putting this app together.