Friday, February 7, 2014

Parent/Child Valentine Dance!!


I've always wanted to do some type of daddy/daughter activity at church!  I'm so excited that it's going to finally happen!  Now we just need participants :)  At the moment we have around 40 people signed up...so fun! I thought though - why stop at father/daughter?  Why not mother/son? And why not some mother/daughter or father/son time?  So, in the end, it's turned into a parent/child dance :)  it doesn't have the same "ring" to it as Father/daughter dance, but that's ok :)

At our Valentine's Dance, we're going to have a sit down dinner, a craft you can make for your loved one, a few games and of course - dancing!  I've created a board on pinterest that my organizers and I are pinning to so I thought I'd post some of our findings here.  I love pinterest and gathering all my ideas onto one board...but what's better than one board? one blog! :)  so, if you're also interested in planning a Valentine's Day Dance party with intergenerational attendees...here are some great ideas I found!

First, when you come in, get your picture taken that we will print out and give to you...here are a few fun backdrops we could do...
party picture idea - for Linda - not too hard! would look cute outside with a palm tree in the background ;)
which i found here
OR this one...
party picture - another adorable idea for Linda for the pictures!!
whose link is broken

And lastly, we realllly want to do this one - with the help of clings from the dollar tree hopefully we can :)
Is it not adorable?!
Next on our list is games.  I pinned a few, but we've decided on just these two.  With the crafts, food and music I don't think there will be much time for games - but these seem to fit right in!
Musical Hearts Game.  Like musical chairs, but you perform the task that is written on the heart you are standing on when the music stops.
Musical Hearts!  This is a wonderful group activity.  Lay the hearts around the room on the floor and play some music.  Have everyone walk, dance, skip, jump around the room while the music plays.  When it stops, everyone has to put a "toe" on a heart.  If you have a lot of people you can just say to "stand near" a heart.  Then, everyone near that heart has to do what it says!  For example, I wrote, "hug someone", "high five everyone around you", "turn around 3 times", etc.  I like this game because no one is a winner or loser...and it's fun to watch people be silly :)
Hands-On Preschool Math:  Estimation Station for Valentine's Day #preschool
Using either candy hearts or M&Ms like pictured below, we want to fill up some baby food jars and put one on each of our tables.  Then, we are going to place pieces of paper next to it where people can write their name and estimation of how many pieces of candy are inside.  After everyone has guessed we can see who is the closest - and they get to take it home! :)
BIG List of Valentine's Day Crafts! ~ from TheFrugalGirls.com ~ you'll love all these fun projects to make with the kids, share with your sweetie, and spread some love this Valentine's Day! #valentine #thefrugalgirls

We are also going to do a Cake walk and some members of our church are going to make some goodies that we can use as prizes.  We are going to charge 50 cents to play to raise a little money (since our dinner is free).  Here are a few goodies we are thinking of making...
BEST Rice Krispie Treats  It must be the world's EASIEST Dessert since every 8 year old Girl Scout can make them.  BUT there are hints, tricks and DIY Tips to make them just a little bit better than the rest.  NEVER HARD, always soft and chewy and a few tips to dress them up pretty to stand out on any buffet table... THESE ARE BETTER!!!
Who can resist rice crispy treats? :)
Valentines sugar cookies pink red hearts sweets cookies white dessert sugar recipes valentines day
We were thinking of putting out some heart cookies with icing and sprinkles that everyone can decorate!
Softbatch Funfetti Sugar Cookies - Move over cake mix. These easy, super soft cookies are from scratch & loaded with sprinkles! Recipe at av...
These look so delicious!  Funfetti cookies!
Red Velvet Peanut Butter Blossoms..pss Laurie I wonder if these could be made without peanut butter?
I want to make these...although if you know me at all, you know I do NOTHING with peanut butter...nor do I suggest that you take anything with peanut butter to any public event.  I have actually made these for Christmas and just made sugar cookies - you roll them in a ball, roll them in sprinkles, cook them, take them out of the oven...wait maybe a minute so they aren't super hot, then put the kiss on top.  you don't want the kiss to melt but the cookie needs to be soft...it's all about timing :)  oh, and while they're cooling - DON'T touch them.  The kiss will hold its shape pretty well  if you leave it alone :)
party food
I hope we can do this!  I would love to have a chocolate fountain and have lots of different fruits that can be dipped!  how yummy and messy!!
Of course, we can't forget the crafts!  I plan on putting out paper, hearts, scissors, glue, etc on one table so that everyone can make a Valentine for their loved one that they came with :)  I am also going to put out loom bands (everyone seems to love these :)  I also found a cute foam craft picture frame project with hearts so that they have a frame they can take home with them to put their picture in :)
party craft - cute, cute, cute
For those that are too little to do the loom, or don't want to, I thought this was genius!  Tube bracelets!
party craft - make a valentine for your loved one...these are cute :)
I thought I might put out a few examples of Valentine's as well - and these are cute!
We are also thinking of making a prayer wall where you can post a prayer for a loved one...here or far away.  And of course, you can't have a party without decorations!  Here are a few that I thought were adorable...but of course, we will also be making a trip to the Dollar Store to see what they have :)

Valentines Day Decor, Valentine Garland, Wedding Garland, Heart Banner, Valentine Photo Prop, Paper Heart Garland, Red Heart Garland, Hearts
Here's one idea...
party decoration - these are cut from a magazine...but they could be made from anything!
and another...
Valentine Garland
and how cute is this idea that you can find on etsy?
party decoration - very cool way to hang streamers...but seems very time consuming...?
And lastly, I thought the streamers and the hanging decorations were very cute!

Have a great Valentine's - whether you have a date night with your sweetie, a quiet evening with the family or go to a Dance!  I can't wait to post some pics from our fun time together!  Enjoy your loved ones and cherish every moment you have with them!  Most importantly remember...

"Love the Lord your God with all your Heart with all your Soul and with all your Mind."  Deuteronomy 6:5

A few pictures from our event.  I forgot to post them after the fact and then my phone died...and I lost all of mine :(  I had some cute ones of my kids and the photo ops too :(  But, I got some from a friend and thank goodness she took some otherwise I'd have none!! So, here are a few of our actual event!
Me and the Hubby decorating! (well, I am...he's just supervising ;)
Testing one of our photo ops...I got some really cute pics of the kids doing this.  so bummed I lost them!
DJ hubby getting all set up :)


Balloons!!! Can't go wrong with lots of balloons.  That alone kept the kids entertained!
 
My daughter showing off her card she made :)
my son...who can't take a regular pic...always has to make a goofy face :) you can see the little dollar tree jar with hearts in it that we used to guess the number.  We let first place at each table take the candy jar, and second place got to take the balloon attached! :)
And of course - lots of dancing!!  We asked for requests weeks ahead of time from every generation - what was their favorite love song?  We got some good ones :)





My kids and friends enjoying the yummy spaghetti dinner :)

My kids and I posing at our "outdoor" photo op.  Yes, we are in short sleeves...it's Ft Lauderdale in February :)  Your outside photo op may be a bit different ;)



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