A Whoot of Thanks

November 1, 2010

November is a time of Giving Thanks. We have so much to be thankful for this year and wanted this Play Date to be nothing more than a "Whoot of Thanks". We try and instill in our kids that each day is a day to give thanks. And "Welcome" hearts that are Thankful!

For the "Whoot of Thanks" Play Date theme, our inspirations came from a collaboration of fall, Thanksgiving, and Owls. We wanted to feature natural elements such as woods, moss and leaves to compliment this inspiration. In planning we knew we needed to create a unique outdoor play date that was whimsical yet natural. We started by contacting Anders Ruff Custom Designs to create the printable collection around our “Whoot of Thanks” theme. We then provided them our patterns and colors which included oranges, browns, reds, and greens.

All design elements for each play date are usually purchased or created in a “Savvy” way. When it comes to the dollar bins at Target or our local Dollar Store we try and see more than just the value of an item.The tree stumps that were made into toad stools were covered in plastic tablecloths which came from the Target dollar bins along with scrapbook paper that was laminated with a leaf for the kids to use as placemats.The table the kids sat at was also made with 3 hay barrels and a piece of plywood covered with a piece of burlap. With the left over burlap we made pennants to hang our “Whoot of Thanks” banner from.

We wanted to keep with the natural feeling and create owls made from pine cones that also served as décor for the table. This idea came to life with the help of a tutorial from Bristol Moms. We then added our own Savvy touches.

For each play date we like to incorporate a snack that is kid created with easy to make steps. In this case we turned to Amy Locurto of Living Locurto who came up with an “Owl Smore” recipe that made this possible.

The moss boxes were created from left over scrap 2X4’s and pieces of sheet moss purchased from the Dollar Tree. These were perfect for showcasing our “Whoot Corn” popcorn cones made from scrapbook paper, and as a platform for the “Cheese Pies” to be displayed on. Our centerpiece, our version of a "thankful tree", was also created with the natural elements of our own backyard. We simply placed a tree branch into a tree stump and dressed it with our Anders Ruff printables and colorful leaves.

We alway include a healthy snack that compliments the theme or season. For this play date we selected a full meal for the kids to enjoy. First, an adorable turkey made from fruit, cheese and vegetables. And second “Cheese Pies” made from biscuits and cheese baked on a stick. These choices made the meal kid friendly, nutritious and delicious.

We encourage and support reading. So every Play Date has a story that pertains to the Holiday or Theme. For our "Whoot of Thanks" we chose Twas the Night before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey. A fun read that made the kiddos laugh... A Lot!

We usually end the play date with something sweet for the kids to remember the day. Kolby Kakes edible creations baked the yummiest cupcakes, cake balls and owl cookie pops that coordinated with the colors and theme perfectly. She is a Baking genius.

The day was captured by the one and only Christine Racz of Racz Photography. She did an amazing job capturing all elements of the day. Including the Priceless faces of the kids.

We hope you enjoyed our Play Party......We give a "Whoot of Thanks" for YOU!!!

Smiles~

Amy & Bri