MEGA BLOKS House Party

Lucky us; we were chosen for another great house party! You may recall that Meo got a ton of free LEGOs from a house party we had in the past, and that we also got to try a bunch of free Burts Bees Products at another House Party. This time we go a whole bunch of MEGA BLOKS for free! Link had a small set of these he had gotten from Memere and Pepere....now he has a giant box full and the boys love playing with them.

This party pack came with a big bag of BLOKS and two sets themed around cars and ramps. One featured race cars and the other featured rescue teams. My guys really love playing with cars AND ramps...so obviously we were very excited to be chosen for this party!

The night before the party, Robbie and Link were busy putting the sets together so that everyone could see how they looked "set-up" before they were deconstructed into an inevitable party oblivion.

For the party we decorated with some of the favors House Party.com has for free downloads on their site, as well as provided coloring materials, and lots of yummy food including a "MEGA BLOKS cake" made from angel food cakes, cherries and cool whip.

MEGA BLOKS cake, homemade oatmeal pumpkin muffins, sliced mango and sliced pineapple

Meo helped himself to two pieces!

We were fortunate to have lots of friends come to our party! The "older" kids (the ones Meo's age) actually spent some time building and playing with the cars and ramps before everything was destructed by the baby crew (mainly Link).

Link and Jordan

Amy and Marilla

Charlie teaching Link how to cut cake

Pumpkin muffins!

Mara and Link

Meo liked hanging out with Amy

Jordan and Brooke

Charlie playing a tune for Mara

Robbie

Allison and Link

Ryker and Meo singing together

Charlie

Link and Liam

Henry checking out his gift bag

Everyone got to go home with a little vehicle of their own, which was pretty cool, and a coupon for more MEGA BLOKS. I think everyone had a good time; we certainly had a lot of fun playing with all of our friends. We are so thankful you all came to visit us!

Burt's Bees Baby Bee House Party

I was selected for another house party, this time for Burt's Bees Baby Bees. In case you don't know, House Party is a website where they list various products that you can sign up to have parties for. You simply create a free account, and when you see a product you are interested in, you fill in a simple application. If you are selected, they send you a "party pack" with all sorts of free stuff and all you have to do in return is host a party and take a group photo proving that you did it. You get to keep all the stuff, plus they give you little gifts to hand out to your guests. Here is the website: http://www.houseparty.com/. You can read about my previous LEGO party here: LEGO Duplo House Party.

Here is what was in our party pack:

 

1 Baby Bee^® Cream-to-Powder, full size
1 Baby Bee^® Original Shampoo & Wash
1 Baby Bee^® Calming Lotion
1 Baby Bee^® Multipurpose Ointment
1 Baby Bee^® Kissable Cheeks Balm
1 Baby Bee^® Face & Hand Cloths
1 Baby Bee^® Sweet Memories with Keepsake Photo Box to raffle off or give as a gift to a new or expecting mother
1 Healthy Child Cookbook to raffle off or give as a gift to a new or expecting mother
1 Baby Bee^® Memory Matching card game
12 Informational coupon cards for $2 off Burt's Bees Baby Bee^® Products
12 Burt’s Bees^® tote bags
12 Baby Bee^® Cream-to-Powder sample size
12 Informational coupon cards for Burt’s Bees^® Baby Clothing

 Today was party day, so the boys and I made some yummy treats and put up decorations for our guests.

Since Burt's Bees thing is that they are all natural and free of harmful chemicals (which is why we like them for us and our boys), we wanted to make sure that the food we prepared was representative of that mindset (plus that's how we eat anyways). I also thought it would be fun if everything we made had a honey theme, since bees are the mascot of Burt's Bees. So we made apple carrot muffins that used local honey instead of sugar, organic fruits and veggies, and whole wheat organic flour. I also made peanut butter honey cookies that were made with lots of local honey, natural chunky peanut butter, cage free organic eggs and organic whole wheat flour.

This morning, Robbie squeezed several lemons and made some fresh honey lemonade; perfect for a spring party. We jusrt happen to have glasses made from recyled glass with bees and "bee happy" embossed on them which was also perfect.

Also on the table were fresh strawberries, the products we received on display, totes full of coupons and samples for our guests, a gift box and cook book that we raffled off, and a big packet of "Save the Bees" seeds. I felt it my duty to make my guests aware of the peril of bees, how their numbers are dwindling and how planting certain flowers and herbs can help them. After all, not only do bees make honey that is delicious and nutritious and used in products like Burt's Bees, they are also crucial in the pollination of our flowers and crops. Without bees, we'd likely perish.

I decorate the house with some little bee things I made as well.

Beeswax crayons for the kids to play with

My computer desktop for the occasion

I invited about 25 friends to our party, but in the end only two could come, both of which happened to be named Amy! I think Meo was a little bummed that none of his friends were there to play with him, but he ended up having a lot of fun playing with Daddy all morning, and I enjoyed an intimate party with two wonderful ladies. As you can see Amy B. brought her newborn baby and Amy W. is about halfway through her pregnancy with her first baby girl.

Link had fun rolling around baby Jordan and sliming him with drool.

Meo played with the babies a little too.

Meo actually did a great job of helping Jordan keep his pacifier in.

I am really grateful for these wonderful Amy's for coming and spending the morning with us. There is always so much to talk about and to learn from with other mamas (and mamas to be). Motherhood is an incredible journey made better by friends with shared experiences! And of course thanks to Burt's Bees and House Party for the free stuff!