Ember's 12th birthday party

Ember's 12th birthday isn't until July, but we celebrated in June because some of her friends had some vacation plans that coincided with her special day.  We went with a crafty Young Women's theme, making things that pre-teen girl may want or need.  We also conducted a science experiment that worked supremely well, ate Sprinkles cupcakes, had pizza and a movie, painted our toenails, and did a lot of giggling.

The best part was Ember's birthday present surprise.  We told her the party cost a lot of money (which it didn't) and we didn't have much left for a gift, so please don't be disappointed and act surprised or excited when you open your gift in front of your friends.  We got her a cute little 300 piece puzzle of some Boston Terrier puppies, her favorite dogs.  She didn't act disappointed at all, and she was a really good sport.  So I called her new phone number from my cell phone and her puzzle box started to ring.  She got confused, opened it up and dug through the puzzle pieces, until she found her brand new (old) cell phone!!!!!

Best surprise gift ever.

Our science experiment was putting white flowers into vases filled with water and food coloring, to see if the flower petals would change colors.  We chose the value colors, since Ember is turning 12 and going into the Young Women's program.  Faith was the control for our experiment, so it stayed white.  Then we made divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity, and virtue.  Virtue is gold, so we did yellow twice.  The petals did absorb the color from the water, and they were so beautiful!

 They all started a beautiful, pure white

 I love this one, you can see the yellow and green at the edges of the petals.  So delicate, and so much fun!  And even hours later, now that I'm blogging, the colors are so much richer and more pronounced.  I recommend this science experiment to all kids with a white flower and food coloring!

Here's Ember opening her presents, she had so much fun with her friends!

Part of the party was arts and crafts, so I did a couple things I found on Pinterest.  The first one was my favorite... I've been Goodwill and D.I. shopping for MONTHS to get old wooden frames, no backing and no glass, and then I had Austin attach small cup hooks to the frames.  The girls spray painted the frames whatever color they chose to match their bedrooms, and they ended up with necklace holders that hang on the wall!  I FORGOT to take a picture of all the girls holding up their frames around their faces, which would've been a super cute shot, but I was busy making sure no one forgot their shoes as they walked out the door.  So here's the frames by themselves:

Then we got out the Old Navy flip flops and fabric scraps from my cupboard and from JoAnn's, and tied bows around the flip flops to decorate them for summer.  The girls made some really cute patterns, and again, I forgot to take pictures.  So here's a pair I made for myself and the one's Grace made.

The girls got nail polish as a door prize, to go with their cute new shoes, and everybody had a blast.  

 Sprinkles cupcakes, which are overrated and overpriced :P

It was a laid back party compared to the first two I did this summer, but the girls this age wouldn't have had as much fun with a pictionary or Lego game.  So in just four short weeks my baby girl is going to be 12 years old, a Young Woman, and we are so proud of the lady she is becoming.

Love you Ember girl, Happy Happy Birthday!!!

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