"A" is for Apple: Tres Amigos celebrates Rosh Hashanah

Written by: Gina 

I can't even begin to explain my excitement when I found out that it was my turn to host Tres Amigos right before Rosh Hashanah- The Jewish New Year. Although we are Christians in my household, I chose to do "A is for Apple/Shana Tova" party for many reasons... As a mom I feel it is important to educate my son on different cultures, religions and heritages. After all, we could all thrive on being tolerant of others. :-) I've also ALWAYS been intrigued by Judaism. I absolutely LOVE everything about it and enjoy educating myself and others on the traditions. So with that said, here is Tres Amigos' Shana Tova party!!!

                                                    Menu:

-Challah with honey nut cream cheese 
(side note: BEST CREAM CHEESE EVER)
-Apples N Honey (For a sweet New Year)
-Applesauce
-Homemade Apple Strudel Muffins
-Noodle Kugel
-Quiche
-Dried Apples
-Cucumber water
-Apple Harvest Punch

Crafts:

Homemade RED playdough-

Rosh Hashanah Apple book-
-Apple Book (Michaels-$1.50; Apple scrapbook paper, mod podge, paint brush, apple stickers, Rosh Hashanah symbols)
*Trace the apple book onto the scrapbook paper, cut out and glue with mod podge, Using the Rosh Hashanah symbols, cut out and glue onto the pages. You can even write under the picture what it is and why it is used. Decorate with stickers. Your child now has their own homemade book for years to come.

Bumble Bee Thumb Prints- (Since Bee's make HONEY)

-Black construction paper, yellow paint, popscicle stick, white crayon
*Using your thumb and your child's thumb, dip your thumb into the yellow paint. Using your thumbs, place them all over the black paper creating "bees". Use your popsicle stick to create the lines on the bees body. Finish by drawing the wings and antennas on your bees. You now have a collage of yours and your child's thumb print bumble bees!





Apple Tree-
-Beige construction paper, green paper, brown paper, glue, scissors, poem, 10 small red pom poms

*Trace your child's foot on the brown paper for the stump of the tree. Then trace your child's hand on the green paper for the top of the tree. Glue the stump and top of the tree on the beige construction paper. Then glue the red pompoms onto the tree. Lastly, glue the poem onto the beige paper.

1 Amigo

3 Amigo

2 Amigo

More

Thank you to Jayme and Dominic for coming down from Orlando to visit with us and share in the fun!

The Tres Amigos meet The Tres Little Pigs

The Tres Little Pigs

Host: Jessica V. 

There once was a story about Three Little Pigs. They were smart, handsome and very strong. One day their mommies wanted to make a mod podge picture of the big bad wolf huffing and puffing and blowing our houses down!

The wolf wasn't too successful because the Tres Amigos decorated a PIGGY BANK. They saved their all of their money and built a strong brick house which saved their house from being blown away.

The Tres Amigos laughed... sang...  read... and ate their way to a mess. Playing together and eating together keeps them friends forever.

    

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Projects:

1. Mod Podge the book The Three Little Pigs onto a Canvas

 

Supplies needed:
Mod Podge Glue
Elmer's Glue
A copy of The Three Little Pigs book
Scissors

Step 1- Cut out all of the book pages then choose the specific pages you want your canvas to have.
Step 2- Arrange the pages over the canvas and Elmer's glue down all corners. 
Step 3- Mod podge over it and let it dry overnight.
Step 4- Hang.

2. Paint a Piggy Bank

  

Supplies needed:
A white ceramic Piggy Bank
Sticker Letters
Paint
Paint Brushes
Glitter Glue

Step 1- Stick letters on the pig to spell your name
Step 2- Paint the piggy bank in whatever pattern or design you want.
Step 3- Add glitter to areas that you desire. 
Step 4- Let dry.
Step 5- Put loose change in and display on shelf.

Food:

Pigs in a blanket
Egg and cheese, wrapped in bacon
Pink strawberry milk
Pink juice
Bananas dipped in chocolate (pigs in mud)
Pink fruits (watermelon and strawberries)

A BIG thank you to Maxine, Skyler and Dylan for filling in while Gina and Luke were home sick. 

We love you all! 

xo

The Tres Amigos Playdate- Upcycled Birthday Party

When we realized that both Jessica and Gina had weddings to attend on the day of Bradley's Birthday Party, we were all so disappointed. After going through so much together during pregnancies, baby showers and births, it was a huge disappointment to all of us that they were not able to share in the excitement of Bradley turning one. When I realized it was my turn to host the next playdate, I decided to to plan a recycled birthday party theme for the week after his real birthday party. My goal was to re-create the Cookies and Milk/Cookie Monster theme through left over supplies from his party.

When I set the buffet table, I made sure to use many of the same items I saved from Bradley's party. I hang the Happy Birthday Bradley sign, that was made by my friend Heather at MyPartyPartners@comcast.net. I used the extra table clothes that we had left over from that party and made sure to display the Letter B that I made from cookie crisp cereal.  I also had extra got milk mini cups and straws so made sure to have vanilla, strawberry and chocolate milk. Then, I served bagels with egg, tuna and chicken salad as well as fruit and snacks for the kiddies. For dessert we of course had an assortment of COOKIES. Lastly, I made sure to save Mason and Luke the party favors which included the music clappers, Cookie Monster cake pops, and the got milk? Magic Straws .

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Activity 1: Monster Straw Art

You will need:
Washable Colored Paint
Straws
White Card Stock Paper
Googley Eyes (assortment of sizes)



Since I had tons of left over barbershop striped paper straws from his party, I wanted to make sure we used them for an activity. First, we took globs of paint and placed them on white card stock paper, then we used the straws to blow the paint around to make unique splattered designs. To incorporate the theme of cookie monster and his googly eyes, we placed different size googly eyes on each glob of paint to create friendly monsters. We all loved our finished product!

Activity 2: Recycled Fill and Spill Bank

You will need:
Empty Oatmeal Container or Baby Formula Container
Colored Card Stock Paper
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon (optional)

Stickers (optional)

Empty tops of baby jars (used as coins)



In sticking with the idea of recycled materials around the house, we made a fun toy for the babies to practice their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. First we used a scissors to cut a slit on top of the container. (Depending on the age of each child, depends on the length and width of the slit you make.) Make sure you can place a baby jar top nicely inside without difficulty. Next, we glued card stock around the outside of the container and glued stickers and ribbon that was left over from the birthday party around the perimeter of the container for decoration. At around 8-12 months of age, kids start to love filling and spilling objects, this activity is perfect for that.

Looking forward to our next playdate at Gina's!