- Apr 16

a family fiesta!

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Welcome Friends!

There’s nothing like the warm spring weather that's approaching

to put us in a FIESTA state of mind!

Perhaps you enjoy Taco Tuesday regularly,

celebrate Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) each year

you’re getting set to toast the upcoming summer season in a special way..

Whatever the circumstance, we have some fun ideas

- decor & crafts, games & projects and finger foods -

to liven up your festive get-together!

We both love any occasion that presents itself

to get family and friends together for a fun gathering!

A Family Fiesta

provides such an opportunity

while giving us the chance to expose our Littles to new cultures and experiences!

Today, Laurie and her Little D share their memorable ideas

and Laura will throw in an additional thought here or there!

Every party needs some festive decorations, don’t you agree?

We have some simple, Little created projects that fit the bill perfectly!

Cactus Prints!

Nothing reminds us of a warm weather fiesta like a blooming desert cactus. Help your youngest Littles understand what a cactus is by looking at pictures or examining one you have at home.

Follow up with one of the 2 simple projects, brought to you by Little D!

Option #1 - A Prickly Cactus!

Draw or cut out a cactus shape. (Older Littles can do this themselves) Take a plastic fork, dip it in paint and add your own “prickles” to your cactus. This is especially a fun activity for toddlers who are just learning to dabble with paint.

Option #2 - A Mosaic Cactus!

Draw or print out an outline of a cactus. Cut out small squares of paper (the size can depend on the age of your Little) - any color will do! Glue them on the cactus.

You can also add pom poms for desert blooms!

Shake Those Maracas!

This is an engaging activity for older Littles - preschool and above! And, of course, your toddler Littles will have fun as they shake, shake, shake!

You will need plastic eggs, rice or popcorn kernels, (plastic) spoons, masking tape, washi tape (optional), markers (optional)

Fill the bottom of the plastic egg with rice or popcorn. Close the egg. Tape the handles of the spoons together. Tape the egg in the base of the spoons.

It's tIme to decorate! You can decorate by using plain masking tape with markers OR you can decorate, using fun washi tape. You can also just leave your maracas as is!

A Grand Tip!

Putting the maraca together will probably be tough for toddlers,

but they can help by decorating with washi tape.

You can rip pieces off and then let them attach it where they’d like!

Shake! Shake! Shake!

Maracas… A Bonus Idea!

This is a little extra fun we found that will work for many ages! It would make your house look festive for your celebration and provide a personal touch, too!

Laurie found this instant download at Handprint Hive on Etsy.

Paint your hand and you have an instant maraca-playing-band!!

A Few More Frills for Your Fiesta…

Colorful Paper Chains!

Introduce your Littles to this easy activity that we enjoyed as kids! Provide colorful strips of paper and a glue stick for each Little and let them get busy! Toddler Littles (and some preschoolers) will need help looping the strips together in a chain while older Littles will enjoy making patterns! See who can make the longest chain! Once finished, hang the chains as beautiful garlands!

Tissue Paper Flowers!

Here's another long time favorite! Preschool and older Littles will really enjoy this project! Add bright colors to your fiesta fun with this idea! Fold three or more colored sheets of tissue paper together, accordion style. Then wrap a pipe cleaner tightly around the middle. Finally, gently pull the layers of tissue paper apart to make this vibrant decor!

No fiesta would be complete without a few fun activities for all involved!

Check out a few of our favorite games and projects

for Littles, Middles and Grands alike!

Mexican Jumping Beans!

Play Mexican/Spanish music and invite LIttles (toddlers and older) to jump around like Mexican jumping beans! When the music stops, have them stop jumping. Anyone who is still moving, moves out of the game (maybe they can play the music next). The last Little left is the winner!

Here’s One More Simple Option For You - This is a great time to use any musical instruments you have. How about those home-made maracas you made?! Younger Littles may be happier just dancing and running around until the music stops. This takes a lot of self-control!

Little D was moving so fast, I couldn’t get a clear picture!

Ojo de Dios!

Does anyone else remember making these when they were young? Elementary aged Littles will find this colorful project entertaining and even a bit challenging! Ojo de Dios (also known as God’s Eye) is a fun craft. Grab some scrap yarn (2-3 colors or more), a few crafts sticks (or even two sticks from the yard) and start weaving! You’ll find a great video with more detailed directions here!

A Bit More Fun for Your Fiesta…

A Human Pinata!

You’ll need one courageous and willing Middle or Grand (or a teenage Little) to be the Human Pinata! You’ll also need an old shirt for him/her to wear. To begin, tape several pieces of wrapped candy to the T-shirt (while it's being worn). When ready, the Human Pinata lets young Littles chase him/her as they try to grab the candy off the shirt!

Tortilla Time!

For this game you’ll need paper plates (one for every two people), a hole punch, yarn and flour tortillas. Players compete in teams of two and each team will choose one person to be the catcher. Each catcher will tie a paper plate to his/her head - to do so, punch a hole on opposite sides of a paper plate and string yarn through. Each catcher will wear the plate like a hat with the yarn tied under his/her chin. To play, the catchers’ teammates (the throwers) stand a few feet away from their partners, each holding a tortilla. On the signal “Go!” each thrower tosses the tortilla and tries to get it to land on his/her teammate’s plate. The first team to get a tortilla on the plate (and keep it there for at least 15 seconds) is the winner!

Do You Remember This Tik Tok Sensation?

The Tortilla Slap Challenge was popular a few years back and it will have everyone - from Littles to Middles to Grands howling with laughter! Two players (any age) go head to head. While holding a flour tortilla in one hand, both take a drink of water without swallowing! They play a quick round of Rock, Paper, Scissors and whoever loses gets slapped with a tortilla (don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt)! The real challenge for both players is keeping the water in your mouth for both the game and the slap that follows! Whoever keeps the water in their mouth, wins the round! FUN! FUN! FUN!

Check out this video - Laura’s Middles taking on the challenge!

Pay close attention to ALL the giggles!

You can also add a fiesta twist to simple classic games for Littles to play… Limbo, Pin the Tail on the Donkey (or Llama) and Hide and Seek where the caller counts in Spanish are all great options! Your Littles will love them all and will burn off excess energy, too!

Whether you’re serving a meal or grazing all day

having a few festive nibbles on hand adds a tasty touch!

You know that simple and easy is our motto and each of these "recipes" fit that bill!

Salsa Bar Tasting!

What is a fiesta without chips and salsa?? Go shopping and pick up your favorite salsas or grab favorite recipes and create away! There are many, many recipes on-line. Try to include different levels of heat - mild, medium, hot - as well as a variety of ingredients - fruit, corn or beans could add a fun flavor!

You could also have a Salsa Heat Off! Invite family members to bring their own favorite salsa, store purchased or homemade. Display them anonymously and have people vote for their favorite. You could even try a Great Guac-Off! Challenge family members to create a new guacamole recipe and bring it to the gathering to share! Prizes could be given, too!

Are you looking for some more ideas and recipes to make your salsa bar extra special? If so, check out this fun site we found - How To Create a Salsa Bar from Lady Behind the Curtain.

Walking Tacos!

How simple are these?!? Many people know about this hack for making portable tacos, but in case you aren’t aware (or just need a reminder of this fun option), here you go…

Walking tacos are deconstructed tacos made right in a bag of chips! Begin by taking a snack sized bag of Fritos or Doritos and crush them up in the bag! How fun for Littles! Open the bag and fill it with taco meat and all of your favorite toppings! All you need is a fork… you can even eat your taco right out of the bag!

Walking tacos are a wonderful option when serving a large crew on a budget - they are a perfect party food when hosting a birthday party or on game day. Laura’s family often has the ingredients on hand for a quick summer meal at the lake!

Fiesta Fruit Kabobs!

Give your Littles the job of making these fun kabobs! Choose fruit to represent the colors found on the Mexican flag - red, white and green. We used strawberries, bananas and green grapes! Cut the fruit into bite size pieces and thread them on to toothpicks or skewers.

Older Littles will have making patterns with the fruit!

Churro Puppy Chow!

Puppy Chow is always a family favorite so for this occasion we added Nutella and cinnamon sugar for a Mexican inspired twist! YUM!

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups of Rice Chex

• 2 cups of Nutella

• 1 cup sugar

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 Tablespoon cinnamon

• 1 cup powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix the sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour the sugar mixture into a large brown bag.

2. Put the Rice Chex in a large bowl and set aside. Meanwhile, put the Nutella in a glass bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. Microwave for 30 more seconds. Stir again and pour over the Rice Chex. Fold in the Nutella carefully to avoid breaking the rice cereal.

3. Once mixed, add the cereal mixture to the brown bag filled with the sugar mixture. Fold the top of the bag and shake! (Your Littles will love helping with this step!)

4. Once coated, pour the Puppy Chow onto a baking sheet that’s been covered with parchment or waxed paper. Let the Puppy Chow sit for about an hour. (If you can, that is!)