Ladybuggin'

Tomorrow is Elliana's 1st birthday party, and needless to say, there are ladybugs galore! In fact, even my students are ladybuggin' lately--we're in the midst of a spring theme and the kids are learning all about plants and insects. On Wednesday, one little girl brought in a jar before school and handed it to me: "Look, Mrs. M!" Inside was a clearly dead ladbug, laying motionless on her (his?) back. As I looked at it, she added, "She's playing dead." Ahhhh, I see!

Since she IS an Ellie-Bug and she DOES have a ladybug room (the walls aren't this yellowy-green in person, though)...




...we had no trouble choosing her first birthday party theme. Here's some of the stuff I worked on today (made possible by the fact that neither the girls nor I ever made it out of pajamas, or out of the house).

The "guest book":


I couldn't locate ladybug-patterned balloons in stores, and failed to order any online in advance, so red balloons and Sharpies it is!

Homemade birthday hat (again, failure to plan ahead and order online = shoddy imitation courtesy of Mommy...sorry, Ellie-Bug!):

Ladybug cupcake prototype (only 40 more left to frost!)...when Grandma Marmee asked what flavor the cupcakes are going to be, Keira told her they're "lady flavor":

The banner I made, which I'm actually pretty proud of--two years in kindergarten has given me at least a smidgen of cuteness capability!

Stay tuned for cake-face pics and more ladybug madness after the party tomorrow!