We started challenge #4 by discussing the idea of characters. I realized it is a difficult idea to explain without using the word character. We talked about that a character is the who the book is about but that ‘who’ doesn’t need to be a person – it could be an animal or a thing. I tried to use some simple examples such as the pigeon in Mo Willems Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (example of an animal character), and Thomas the Train (example of a thing character). I sent Kaitlyn, Eileen and my niece Lyric to find a book with a character they all loved. The two younger girls really had no idea what they were doing, as I quickly realized when they both brought me ABC board books. Kaitlyn understood but was bringing me books she liked with more obscure characters. I went to her bookshelf with her to find some more well known characters that her sister and cousin might also like. First I suggested Curious George and was met with a look of disgust (not really sure why). When I pulled out Pinkalicious her eyes lit up. I quickly found Purplicious, and Goldilicious and rounded the girls up on the couch. We read each of the three books and then I explained their task to them. We were going to plan a dinner party and invite Pinkalicious to Dinner.
Now that they had picked the character it was time to get started. First Kaitlyn helped me pick the menu.
Don’t worry we didn’t eat mice for dinner – it is to read mousse. From this I found some recipes online and made a grocery list. My nieces were with is for a few days and they are vegetarian, which is why we had risotto for the main course. My kids LOVE risotto so I thought this was a good fit. There wasn’t too much for me to prepare. I had made coloured devilled eggs for Easter so this was pretty easy. All you do is soak the boiled egg whites in water with red food colouring for about 30 minutes before adding the yolks back in for devilled eggs. We found a pink brie recipe and pink risotto recipe online. We bought a mix for strawberry mousse at the grocery story along with pre-packaged raspberry lemonade. Not to much work but a successful, and kid friendly menu.
Before heading to the grocery store we decide to paint some pink pictures for the walls of the kitchen to decorate. This was inspired by the art class which Pinkalicious had in the book Purplicious. I got out the three paint palette trays I had picked up at the dollar store a few months ago and mixed red and white together to make a variety of shades of pink. I gave each of the girls a large piece of painting paper and let them create.
I love how Eileen has become so meticulous with her painting. She decided she would paint a cupcake and took her time and patience and it looks like a cupcake!
After we returned from the grocery story the girls set the table with Grandma while I worked on the food. We searched the house and pulled out everything pink we could find. I managed to find 8 small pink plastic plates along with cutlery from our Princess Tea Party last May. I also found some streamers and random balloons in the craft bin in the basement.
After that Kaitlyn quietly disappeared – and I didn’t realize how long she was gone unit she came back upstairs with her creation! She had decided that we needed a real Pinkalicious for our party so she made one! This was entirely her idea and it was AWESOME!
She also decided that Pinkalicious needed a proper invitation so she disappeared back downstairs to her craft centre and returned with an invitation.
Front of Invitation
Inside of Invitation
Everything was ready so the girls ran off to get dressed. They found the fanciest pink dresses they could in their closets. The table was set and Pinkalicious was waiting for her hosts!
Appetizers were ready to be enjoyed. Yes, I know the crackers are not pink – I could not find any pink crackers in the grocery store.
Our pink risotto!
Finishing off with some yummy pink mousse (not mouse).
It was a fun afternoon preparing and a fun dinner for everyone! Now I think I may just have to take the girls to see the Pinkalicious stage show before the summer is over!
Mommy's Lessons 