The Window Clings Really Work!

Do you ever see an amazing idea online and wish that someone you actually know would try it out first, before you waste your time money.  I mean, are these professional mommy bloggers even real people?  I have a sneaky suspicion they are not.  I mean, what real person can come up with a new creative idea everyday, and keep a spotless, perfectly decorated house and constantly smiling, cooperative children, all the while maintaing a beautiful, successful blog?  There's no such thing.  The only logical answer is: They are FAKE!  Or maybe I'm just making myself feel better ;)

Anyway, Just thought I'd let you know that we were your guinea pigs for the window clings many people have been pinning on pinterest.   Here is a link to the recipe.  We had a cousin staying with us for a few days, so while E was napping, I let the girls give it a whirl....

Well lookie there!  They actually work!!

And they are quite beautiful with the sun shining through them.

  We even made some special clings to show Daddy how much we miss him

Now YOU give it a try.....and while you're at it, try out another project so I can copy you :)

We're On a Pirate Adventure! We're Off to Treasure Island....

Anyone recognize those lyrics?  If your kids watch Dora, you may have heard them a time or two...or three...or three HUNDRED. LOL  Anyway, my kids are very familiar with the Dora Pirate episode because they actually have it on DVD.  Lucky me!  Eli has especially been digging pirates lately, since he has his very own pirate costume at GiGi and PawPaw's house.

As the kids and I were on a little expedition at my parents' house a few days ago, they both kept pointing to different trails and saying "let's go in that tunnel" and "I wonder where this will take us.  It dawned on me that this is the perfect place for a treasure hunt.  Who did not dream of getting a treasure map, as a kid, and finding real treasure???

So I ran off to dollar tree to find some dollar store treasures. Then, I went on a little expedition myself, measuring distances, marking landmarks, and burying the treasure box.  Lastly, I grabbed some brown paper, burned the edges, and drew (I use that term loosely) a treasure map.

 After dinner that night, PawPaw was excited to show the kids the rolled up paper he found.  "What do you think this could be?" He asked them.  After throwing out a few suggestions, Lan decided it must be a treasure map.  Since we were going on a treasure hunt, we figured a little pirate attire would be useful :).  Then they went to work right away studying the map and searching for the first landmark.

 The map said to start at the fence post with a red bow on it.  Lan spotted it right away.

 Then it said to take 20 giant steps and look to the left to find a pole with a yellow string.

 Now that we found our second landmark, let's review the map again.  

 It says RUN to the pond and find a flag

 Would you check out that little tongue hanging out?!?!

 Lan found it!!!

 Now take 18 giant leaps to the tree marked by a circle.

Take 10 baby steps, turn right and take 15 more baby steps.

 Then skip to the tree marked with the green triangle.

 Eli says "Look!  A green triangle!"

 Now go through the tunnel (trail).  Lan knows exactly what the map is referring to

Take 8 GIANT steps......

 "X" marks the spot!!!

 Wow Wee!!!  A REAL treasure box!!!

 What's inside?

 Still in shock....

Hooray!  The treasure is ours!!

Time to make the trek back to the house....

 ....and enjoy our loot!!!

Nature Walk...And Painting Too!!!

Let me start this blog by saying how thankful I am for ridiculously creative people that come up with WAY better ideas than I could even begin to think of, and then share those wonderfully creative ideas online!  I am determined to make this Summer interesting for my kids, and hopefully every summer to come.  Why should kids be bored in the summer?  Why should they put their brains on hold and become numb by watching endless hours of TV?  And why should they drag every toy they own into every square inch of the house making mommy go absolutely insane??? HaHa!  I have found that in order to keep happy, energetic, creative kids (and a relatively clean house), I should provide structure and fun, engaging activities.  This, in turn, gives them a happier, SANE, and more energetic mommy :).      

Since we are at my parents' house right now, I decided we would take advantage of some of their wonderful property and plant life.  We threw on some clothes, grabbed them each a bucket, and I tasked them with finding lots of different nature items.  I challenged them to find interesting items with all different textures and shapes.  Of course, we had to watch them carefully to make sure they didn't get into something dangerous.  I learned what poison ivy looks like the hard way :/.  After they had collected buckets full of nature treasures, we spread out a large piece of paper and poured up palates of paint, and used our nature items to create a beautiful piece of art.

 Eli thought his hands worked better than the nature items

 And Aunt Connie brought them a sweet treat to cool them off.  Being a little artist is hard work!