Christian and his shadow

One of the moms in Christian's class came up with a fun idea for the first day of school.  She got as many students as she could to make these sculptures out of packing tape.  Then we went and arranged them in the classroom so Mrs. Poulson would see them when she came in for the first day of school.

Please don't mind the trash on the floor.  We made quite a mess getting it done.  It was really fun to make although we were a little pressed for time to get it done.  It is difficult to see but Christian chose some plastic food to put in the stomach and a picture of science equipment to put in the head.  We made it so he looked like he was raising his hand.  It took us about 3 hours in two different sittings.

One of the other kids put his head in his lap instead of attaching it and then poised it reading "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

We have had fun thinking of different things we could use him for.  With Halloween coming up, I bet we can come up with some fun ideas. 

In case anyone is interested, here is the link describing how to make your own sculpture.

Summer Countdown

Normally I am full of trepidation this time of year.  I wonder "What am I going to do with them all day, every day?" But, after all the end of the year projects, make-up work, performances, field trips, dramas, olympics, field days, etc, etc, etc.  I am worn out and ready for some flexibility and fun.  We have been working on our Summer activity list like we did last year.  We had so much fun keeping track of all the fun we had and keeping those ideas fresh in our minds last year, we just have to do it again.

We have also started a tracking system.  I have ordered little bracelet charms from here to keep the kids motivated to work on things during the summer.  We are tracking how far they run, how far they bike, how many pages they read, and how many hours they practice piano.  We will also be working on the reading program from the Public Library and earning free books from Borders and Barnes and Noble.

Looks like it will shape up to be a fun productive summer!

14 Days of Valentines

I started a tradition a few years ago that we really enjoy. From the first day of February until Valentines Day, I give the kids a small treat or gift. I just finished putting them together for tomorrow. I try to have all of them ready in advance so I am not scrambling every day. I still have 2 or 3 that I still need to get but the rest are ready! Even though they are almost the same every year, the kids don’t care and they get so excited. One year I even made a giant heart shaped puzzle with a message on it and gave a puzzle piece each day. The kids really had fun using sticky tack and putting it together on the wall. If I get a chance tomorrow before they get home from school, I may do that again this year.  This year I found a cut little mailbox at the Target Dollar Spot that I will put them in and raise the flag. I wish I had one for each child to have their own. I will allow them to open the mailbox as soon as everyone is home from school!  Here is a list of the fun treat and gift ideas that I use. I just print out the little message on colored paper and cut them into hearts to tape onto the item.

I love your little tootsies! (tootsie rolls)

You’ve always “mint” the world to me! (Andes or York mints)

You always help me out when I’m in a (Crunch bar)

You are the greatest - Bar None! (granola gar)

You Warm my heart! (hot chocolate mix)

Let it be posted, you’re the best! (Post-it pad & pencil)

“Soda” you know I love you? (small can of soda)

Kisses, just for you! or Smootches, just for you!(Hershey's Kisses)

You’re so cheesy, you cracker me up! (cheese & cracker pack)

I couldn’t bear to live without you! (cinnamon bears)

You are my sweetart! (Sweettarts)

I don’t mean to be “gushy” but, I love you! (Gushers fruit snacks)

You make me smile! (Walmart fruit snack smiles)

No TWIX, I love you! (Twix candy bar)

You're worth more to me than 100 GRAND (100 Grand candy bar)

You're EXTRA special to me (Extra gum)

Don't SNICKER, because I love you. (Snickers candy bar)

HUGS & KISSES, just for you. (Hershey Hugs and Kisses candies)

I love your BUBBLY personality (bubbles)

Just POPPED by to say Be Mine (bubbles)

Valentine you make my heart float (bubbles)

I’m BUBBLING over with love (bubbles)

The other tradition we have, is that Paul brings home a balloon for each of the kids. They sure love balloons and Paul loves to pick them out! What do you do to make Valentines Day special?

Halloween 2010

I can't believe I forgot to take pictures of the kids in their costumes!  How dumb is that?!  I did remember to take pictures of our annual Halloween dinner.  We have a fun, kid friendly dinner before going out to trick-or-treat.



Mummy dogs



Flies in Jell-o
(the kids insist on this every year)



Monster smiles



 

Crystals!

A few days ago, we decided to do some experimenting with growing crystals. Working outside on the deck, we tried 7 different methods, with a variety of ingredients. Some recipes called for epsom salts, others used bluing, and still others called for Borax. We have seen success with 5 of the 7 so far.

The green lumps are crystal growing on small pebbles and sea shells.

The white snowflake-like crystals are created by evaporation on a black piece of construction paper.

The rainbow crystals are growing on small sponges. The jar with yellow liquid has crystals growing on a pipe cleaner Christian shaped.

We also had fun painting on black construction paper with our solution and then when it dried it was sparkly.

We couldn't get one of the experiments to work, although we tried it twice. The other jar with green liquid will be rock candy but takes at least 7 days.

Christian, our resident scientist wannna-be gathered and prepared all of the supplies and was very scientific and careful about conducting the experiments. And.... bonus! We passed off a requirement for Cub Scouts in the process. It was a successful couple of hours of keeping the summer crazies away. Check out other fun ideas for kids on my side bar.

I am sharing this on Get your craft on Tuesday (even though some may argue it doesn't qualify as a craft) and Works for me Wednesday.

A couple of requested recipes- snickerdoodles and playdoh

A couple of weeks ago at a gathering, I was asked for the following two recipes. They are some of our favorites. So here they are:
Paul's Favorite Snickerdoodles
½ c butter
½ c shortening
1½ c sugar
2 eggs
2¼ c flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp soda
¼ tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar
1½ Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400º. Cream butter, shortening and sugar together. Add eggs. Blend in dry ingredients except 2 T sugar and 1T cinnamon. Roll dough into balls. Roll balls in mixture of 2 T sugar and cinnamon. Place 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 8-10 min. They are done when they crack on top but are not browned. If overcooked they will not be soft. However, placing them in an air tight container with a slice of bread can sometimes restore moisture and softness.
Christian loves to make these! Kids love to roll them into balls and roll them in the cinnamon and sugar.

My favorite Soft playdoh
1 c flour
1 c water
1 Tbsp cream of tartar
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
½ c salt
food coloring

Mix all ingredients and cook over med-low heat. Cool. Knead. Store in a sealed container or bag. Kids love to help add and mix ingredients before cooking. This stuff lasts an amazingly long time in the refrigerator. I recommend making a batch for each child so they can choose their own color and have plenty to play with.

My kids love to help me make both of these recipes. In fact, I think we will be making playdoh tomorrow afternoon! We love to do bubbles in the summer too. Be sure to check out our recipe for those here.

Our Summer Bucket List

I saw this idea on a blog and decided it would a good way to keep us motivated to do fun things together this summer. It also gives tangible evidence contrary to the "we never get to do anything fun" comments. We began with the disclaimer that this is an idea only list and by no means a guarantee! We have already checked off a few items. Although it is somewhat childish, this also helps me feel a little better about being the "mean mom" who makes their kids do chores during the summer.

We have been talking about "team Bruderer" and how we need to work and play together as a team. Last night for Family Home evening, we had a short intro and then went out to work in the yard. While Dad mowed, the kids and I weeded and replanted peppers that were destroyed in the worst wind storm last week. Because it was light for so long, we were able to work until 9:30 or 10. After we cleaned up, we took a couple of blankets out on the lawn and did some not so serious stargazing. We also did plenty of squirming and giggling. (Gardening, check. Stargazing, check. Summer fun, check.) We talked about constellations, and the possibility of other solar systems with planets with people on them. It was interesting to talk to my 7 and 10 year olds about the nature of their Heavenly Father, that we are His children and that any other children He may have on other planets would probably look like us rather than little green men. Christian then went so far to suppose that Heavenly Father would want them to know of the plan of salvation too and therefore they would probably have scripture too. Scripture written by different prophets. It's amazing where a conversation can lead. Paul and I have decided that this will be a fun, productive summer solstice tradition.
We will be making this list work for us and having a lot of fun doing it!

A few Christmas projects

Loved this idea at Thrifty Decor Chick and so decided to make our own. Check out the tutorial if you want to make one too! Here is a picture of how ours turned out: I imediately thought "stringing things on a long wire" sounds like a preschool project! So while I glued the tops on (a necessary step), Emma began stringing our Dollar Tree ornaments on a coat hanger. A not so easy twist of the pliers, a pretty bow, and we've got a beautiful decoration that I will be keeping around for quite some time!

When I saw this reindeer I wondered where she got it and then happened to see them at Dollar tree and had to have them 2 for $1. I used them with some leftover ornaments like this:

This floral arrangement took me forever to do! Just kidding, I don't have that kind of time. This is a garland I just bought for 60% off at JoAnn's. I was surprised it really looked this good! Gotta love the really simple!

Dollar Tree at Christmas time definately Works for Me! I even found the same brand Christmas village they were selling a JoAnn's 60% of 4.99. My favorite Christmas supply store DOLLAR TREE (mentally put it in twinkly lights) still beat that sale price! I'm participating at WFMW and over at A Soft Place to Land for DIY day and Today's Creative Blog fo Get Your Craft On. Check out all the great ideas.

Thanksgiving traditions

One of the blogs I follow asked for ideas for Thanksgiving traditions. As I responded I realized I haven't recorded here the things have become part of our month of November. We have two traditions that my kids absolutely love! A few years ago we made tukey hats. We put on some music with a good beat and danced. That particular song will forever be the "Turkey Dance Song" at our house and we do the turkey dance every Monday night during November. I had no idea it would become a cherished family tradition, as silly as it is!

Don't pay any attention to the laundry in the background. We put everything on hold to Turkey Dance!

The other tradition is to make a thankful tree. I just got some brown and white craft paper at the craft store, drew and cut our a brown tree and glued it onto the white. Our is about 3'x4'. Then I went and had it laminated. This way I don't have to make a new tree every year. I have also seen a branch stuck in plaster paris used as well. I like to paper one for storage purposes. Then we take leaves (I save time by buying big packs at Oriental Trading because we go through about 150 every year) and throughout the month write things we are grateful for and hang them on the tree. On thanksgiving afternoon or evening, after we are finished with extended family activities, we read all the things we wrote outloud as we take the tree down to get ready for decorating for Christmas.

General Conference activities

I love General Conference. My kids even look forward to it, especially this year since we have the 8:30 church schedule. Over the last few years I have looked for creative ways to hold the kids' interest while we listen. We encourage them to listen as much as they can but 8 hours of speakers is a little much to ask of kids ages 8,6,4, and 18 months. Some activities we have enjoyed have been:

• a Greg Olsen print puzzle of Noah's Ark (It's a 500 piecer so it takes us a while)
• match the apostle game
• activities from our Sunday box
• "hear that word" bingo with candy
• various healthy snacks
• packets from various websites

Here are some of the resources that I have found on the web:
http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3101&Itemid=429

http://www.theideadoor.com/General%20Conference%20Page.html

http://lds.about.com/od/puzzlesgamesquizzes/Puzzles_Games_Quizzes_Crafts_and_Other_Activities.htm

If you have any ideas or resources to share, we would love to read about them.

Our plans for Spring Break

This spring because of circumstances (we are trying to sell our house and get a new one built), we are taking a staycation. Paul is taking 3 days off and we are going to see and do lots of things around our area as if we were tourists. We will eat breakfast out, do picnic lunches in the park etc. We plan to spend most of the daytime hours out and doing. We will not let ourselves work until kids are sleeping peacefully in their own beds and then we can sleep in ours.

We want to have a plan to get us up and going in the mornings, just like we would do on an awaycation. Here are some of our ideas so far:
Treehouse Museum
Fat Catz
Sweet's Candy Factory Tour
Monsters vs. Aliens 3D
Kennecott Copper Mine
Discovery Gateway
Planetarium
Tracy Aviary and Liberty Park
Eating out (the only thing Emma wants is to eat at McDonalds)
decorate Easter eggs
play Easter games etc.


I think it wll be fun, and economical, both financially and timewise.
What unique vacations have you taken?

My first giveaway! A science booklet

Here I am doing my first blogosphere giveaway! We'll see if anyone checks in or if I will just experience the sound of crickets. Enter BEFORE MARCH 7TH!!

Do your kids like science? My son Christian, when he was 6½ years old informed us that he wanted a chemistry set for Christmas. I searched everywhere and found nothing that satisfied me. The kits I found were $20 and basically included experiments with vinegar and baking soda...period! We had been there and done all that. So I started researching on the internet. I found some great websites and some things from my old teaching files and compiled my own book. There are more than 25 activities from the vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, to crystal gardens, to electrical circuits. The experiments use materials you can find at your grocery store and craft store. There is even a supply list on the back so you can gather it all and put it in a box, making a kit to use for a gift.

This booklet is a great to combat the summer doldrums! Making my own science kit worked for me! Check out more on Works for me Wednesday over at We are THAT family.

Leave me a comment to enter to win a copy of this fun booklet.

**Using a highly scientific (or seemingly so to this techno challenged mind) process at http://random.org/sequences/ we have a winner. And the winner is....Fairion. I will contact you by email! Happy experimenting!

Anyone else who may still be interested in the booklet, you can leave me a comment and we can work something out for the cost of copying and postage.

WFMW - Road Trip Fairy

We have a wonderful little fairy that visits us on road trips. She has an irridescent rainbow dress, violet hair, beautiful wings that fly fast enough to keep up with us on our trip, can be invisible when she wants (Mom has only seen her once), and of course a magic wand! She purchases and wraps small gifts (usually dollar store items) that can be played with or occupy children in the car. Each child's gifts are wrapped in a specific paper so they know which are for them. When we stop for a rest, every couple of hours or so, the kids can search the car to see if the Road Trip Fairy visited. This keeps our children occupied and surprises that are ongoing. It also cuts down on the "are we there yet?" and "He's touching me!"

The Road Trip Fairy works for us! For tips that work for others visit We are THAT Family

General Conference packet!

I found this packet that an amazing lady posted on her blog! It has activities updated with all of the changes to this point. It's worth a try! I am thinking we may give rewards (bribes) for how much they can fill out. That way I may actually get to listen.
Here is the link:
http://coloroftheskyinmyworld.blogspot.com/2008/09/october-general-conference-packet.html

Here is another great one! http://deseretbook.com/conf.pdf

Thank goodness for creative people who are willing to share their time and talents.

Fun fall activity

My kids have a hard time this time of year because I wont let them get out Halloween decorations and activities until Oct 1st and the novelty of a new school year has worn off. Yesterday was a Saturday in which friends were scarce and imaginations were dormant. In other words, Mom was going nuts! So we pulled out this fun activity to make suncatchers. It was easy and the kids had a good time. After I did the cutting, Emma even had a blast making her own creation. In fact, a friend came over while we were in the middle of it and they told them they could play after they finished.

All you need is:

posterboard or cardstock, tissue paper, clear contact paper

Draw a large leaf or apple shape on posterboard. Cut it out. Then cut out the center in the same shape leaving a frame border. Cut two pieces of contact paper big enough to cover your shape. Stick the shape on to one piece of contact paper and then cut small squares of tissue paper and overlapping them, fill the center of your shape. Then cover with the second sheet of contact paper. Hint: contact paper is easiest to get smooth if you start from one side and work to the other. Don't worry if it isn't completely smooth, just make that the back.

Hang in a sunny window!

My good idea for Sunday

My kids love Color Wonder books and markers. We took them to church for them to color during sacrament meeting but I didn't like the idea of Backyardigans or The Incredibles invading the spirit available for them to feel. Then I found that a kind lady had put together all of the activity and coloring pages from the Friend at this website: http://www.ldscoloringpages.net/ and an idea came to me. We bought one of the blank Color Wonder drawing pads (about $3.75 at WalMart) and I took some time to print pages from the website onto the Color Wonder paper. They still get the joy of using Color Wonder materials without the worry of marker on their church clothes.
Today, Paul (I was incredibly sick at home) gave them one sheet each. He gave Emma a coloring page and the boys a hidden picture each and they lasted about 20 min. with the one page! We don't get out any entertainment stuff until after the sacrament. Hopefully these will help our children stay in the right frame of mind as topics from the pulpit filter into their minds. I get discouraged when I feel they are not listening and understanding the wonderful spirit there but I am often surprised at what they do pick up.

Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere!!

This morning we pulled out something that we haven't done in a while...bubbles! Even the word seems like magic. I make a bucketful of bubble solution (I'll post my recipe below) pull out the large bubble wands found at the dollar store as well as other bubble devices and we have a blast! Today the kids were trying to bite the bubbles and really enjoying themselves giving me a good chuckle. Whenever I need to see that my kids are still cute despite the arguments I can always pull out the bubbles.:)

Homemade bubble solution
Exploratorium recommends :
2/3 cup Joy or Dawn dishwashing soap
1 gallon water
2 to 3 tablespoons of glycerine (available at the pharmacy or chemical supply house.)
Pour the water in large container.
Add liquid detergent and gently stir.
Add rest of ingredients and stir.
Set aside for four hours before using to allow bubbles to settle. If the bubbles get too stirred up and don't work as well, just let them sit undisturbed for a few hours and they will be good as new.

Bubble Wand ideas!
commercial wands
bend pipe cleaners to make your own shaped wands
Use gum drops and toothpicks to make geometric shapes and hang from string to dip. (Do not eat gumdrops after using)
Use your hands, forming a circle with your fingers.
Use cookie cutters
Use telephone wire to braid and bend your own colorful wands.
Use your imagination to find other things around the house.

Giant Bubble Wand
Materials
String
Two drinking straws
Bubble solution
Large, flat baking pan
Directions
Thread a length of string through two straws.
Tie the ends together to make a loop.
Leave as much slack string between the straws as you like, depending on the size of bubble you want.
Pour bubble solution into a large, shallow baking pan.
Hold one straw in each hand, leaving the string hanging slack between them.
Dip the straw-and-string loop into the bubble solution, then lift it out slowly, taking care not to break the film of bubble solution.
Pull the straws apart until the string is taut, then hold the bubble film in front of a fan or the wind and watch a giant bubble take shape!


Group Activity

I have also made huge batches in a wading pool for large groups. You can have a child stand in the middle and using a hula hoop, raise a bubble around the child. Just make sure the pool is on a very level surface. This will only work a few times until the solution is too weak and needs to settle again.

It works for me!

I am linking to Try and Tell at Mom Tried It.