Balloon animals

Just for fun I decided it was time to learn to make Balloon animals. Does it have a point? Not really. But it's fun! :-) At a recent thing we were at, Jacob really wanted a balloon animal. There was a line, so I tried to talk him out of it. But of everything there, (it was a library carnival thing), he wanted a balloon animal. So we waited, and waited, and waited.

After 45 minutes of waiting (only to have the balloon pop an hour later), he was satisfied, and I decided maybe this would be a fun talent to have.

So I got balloons, and worked on it. and I found the simple dog isn't so hard. It's when you try the harder variations that we run into problems.

Like this.

No, I didn't make this. I wish I did. This is the elusive balloon turtle. I popped five balloons today trying to turn out a decent turtle. (I popped four more trying to do the bunny). But I got the hang of it and turned out a really ugly couple of turtles, and a funny looking bunny. I even turned out a decent hat.

For the record, I was able to find a few balloons, (with a pump, because you don't want to do the balloons without a pump), for 2 dollars at family dollar, but getting more than 12 balloons in a bag without a pump? Not so easy.

Finally I found them online ... and there is one awesome party store in Idaho falls that actually HAS twisting balloons.

Long story short ... I really stink at this, but its' fun to try. And the kids really enjoy it. Also, it's nice to know when they pop them, they are easy enough to replace.

Ward Party!

Last Saturday we had a ward party. And honestly, it was a blast. Whoever came up with this idea gets serious points! They had lots of animals. It was like a petting zoo, (it was over at a members house). Different people in the ward brought some animals. And we had a cookout.

These are the goats. Seriously ... those two little one's were about two days old! :-) It was so darling. And the short hay bales were so kids (human one's, not the goat kids), could climb in and out at will. They also had bunnies, chickens, chicks, sheep, and a hay ride.
Not to mention the kids total favorite ... the horses! Jacob got on a pony ... for about two minutes. But he got on! They had ponies and horses, depending on what people preferred.
Megan ... little daredevil. Was so excited to ride a horse! And she didn't really need help. (Somebody was leading it ... I promise). I actually walked alongside her, because I didn't trust she'd stay on the saddle.

It made for a very exciting day

when we got home from our very exciting day, Megan fell asleep (at 5:30!!! - and wouldn't wake back up), and the boys slept very well too! They had kid toys too, it was a house, after all. So there were slides, swings, and this climbing toy. When the kids got tired of animals, they'd play for a few minutes, grab a cookie off the food table, and be back out with the animals.

I'm not sure, but I think all the chicks actually survived the day! (Shocking considering there were ten little chicks and LOTS of children holding them).

Anyway, the kids had an awesome Saturday!