Pixie Hollow: the great pixie dust hunt
The forecast called for rain, but right around 4pm the sun starting shining … just in time for 15 pirates and fairies to come visit for K & C’s birthday.
As much as my husband might disagree – I’d say that I’m not a crazy crafter; I don’t have a scrapbook addiction or a closet full of material or cake making supplies, I don’t even have a craft room – just a table in the kids play room. But I do enjoy making things. It’s my way of saying I care, and I think you’re wonderful and important. Important enough to spend 3 tries getting the spacing right on homemade labels, or sitting up making tutus, or painting old headboards into magical signs…. Because I work so much, and feel I have so little time to show them in the little ways some people get to every day, I love to make our kids birthdays something fun they’ll remember – and to show our friends and family a good time for making the effort in their busy lives to come and celebrate with us.
So for me, the fact that the sun came out yesterday… that was fabulous.
I showed you a few “before” shots in my last post… the old headboard I got clearance from an antique shop (That Cam had to re-assemble) – turned into a “welcome to Pixie Hollow” sign. I got the drawers that I put the tutus and swords in from the same place for a couple of dollars – a few ‘lost things’ to add to the Tinker bell flavour.
The wire hangers that started to look like wings… turned into great little wings with some tights and glitter glue and elastic for arm bands. Every little fairy got a tutu and wings and each little pirate got a sword and eye patch.
Everyone was invited to make their own magic wand or pirate hat and colour pictures from pixie hollow with the incentive of winning gold coins that they could later add to their treasure.
The flowers that our kids made dressed up the yard in Rosetta fashion, and the bunting I sewed from old felt hung over our back porch.
A few other fun touches included pixie dust (sprinkles) in little velum bags that I made labels for and sewed shut (just rip off the top and sprinkle on cupcakes) – and some surprisingly easy to make meringue mushrooms that might be found in Neverland.
We ordered magic wand cookies from a favorite baker in our old hood ‘geek sweets‘ – that were a hit, and made chocolate and coconut puddings alla the July Martha Stewart mag for the adults.
My favorite part of the party was the treasure hunt to find the lost pixie dust. Matty led the charge and all the kids were thrilled to find hidden fairy doors and sparkling pixie dust… and finally the treasure chest – filled with gems and coins and a gold pouch for each little one filled with magic pixie dust. The looks on their little faces were priceless. It was magic in motion. THAT is why I stay up late making things.
The night ended with big hugs and big smiles. Everyone went home with a goody bag with pixie/pirate goodies and some fairy dust pillow spray made that we made from distilled water, lavender and chamomile essential oils and witch hazel … we’re told it helps little minds to calm and sleep … but for our little fairies the idea of spraying it around the room was too intoxicating (in more than one way) to help with sleep.
Today my little fairies turned three. A lot of twin parents say that the first six months of their childs’ lives were a blur… not for me – I remember this day three years ago very well – and most of the days in between. There is always a pull at my heart to spend one extra minute with that one, or help this one out with that one extra little thing. I never feel like any of our kids get enough of our time, and yet I know they are incredibly happy and feel very loved. There are just so many competing factors for time, that it seems the ones who deserve it the most often don’t yet it in my world… I was so happy that this weekend they did. And Kate and Charlie – in case you read this one day long after I’ve let go of the notion of writing about our life’s adventures – I want you to know that I am proud beyond words of who you are, and excited by each new piece of who you’ll become as it is revealed. My heart is so full with love for you and your brother that sometimes I am paralyzed by it – the urge to hug you and never let go, and not miss a moment of your precious little lives and the amazing people you are becoming is overwhelming. Cured only by the joy I see in your faces when you learn something new, discover something you didn’t know existed, or walk, climb, bike, soar on your own … you are incredible little girls and I love you all the way to the moon. And back.
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