Grateful Sunday

Sadly, our summer ends this week.  My two oldest start school on Wednesday.  I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with them.  We have only gone camping for 2 nights this summer, but I've spent the rest of the summer just soaking up our family time.  I've been very busy just trying to keep them busy.  I was talking to another mother who did not understand why it makes me a little sad to send my kids to school.  I like to be around them and spend time with them.  I am grateful that I am a stay-at-home mommy.

Arts and Crafts Thursdays - Gooseberry Pottery

This is technically our last Thursday this summer - so I wanted to finish our arts and crafts Thursdays off with a bang!  Plus, it was my oldest daughter's birthday and she has wanted to go hear for years!

There was something for everyone.  I. painted a heart box, G. painted a red eyed tree frog, and M. and I. worked on a cupcake box (gluten and egg free, of course!)

Gooseberry Pottery has no idea who we are or that we were even taking pictures.  They were so great to work with.  I was a bit worried about having 3 kids there and just making a mess.  I didn't give my kiddos the benefit of the doubt - they are awesome!  Plus, this place is so kid friendly!

Little M. can handle polka dots pretty easily.

In about a week, we get these back!  We are so excited!

This was a fun way to celebrate a birthday.  We were asked several times if we were taking friends, and I was thrilled to hear I. always answer that she likes to do these types of things with just her family!

Rainbow Pudding Pops

Ahhh - summer days!  We have had a blast and I've worked really hard to try to keep my kids busy and with plenty to do.  One morning, we whipped up rainbow pudding pops, from Secrets of a Super Mommy.

It was actually my friend's idea to do them together.  After trying to co-ordinate our schedules for a couple of weeks, we gave up and just did them on our own.

It was something all three kiddos really got into!  Plus - gluten, egg, and peanut free makes a happy little M.

The pudding is just mixed up like normal, separated into bowls that you color, and added to the cups in layers.  Lastly, we added a stick and popped them in the freezer.  When they were ready, I ran a little hot water outside the cup and they popped right out.

Truthfully, they were WAY too big, we have been working on eating these for the past week!  But the kids haven't gotten bored of them, or are any less excited to eat them again - bonus!  I'm just saying when we do these again, we will use little dixie cups.

But after a summer day, these hit the spot!  We hung out in our back yard and ate them after dinner!  Yummy!

Arts and Crafts Thursdays - Snakes in the Grass

This week's art came straight from here.  After the butterflies that we did a couple of weeks ago, G. wanted snakes! 

It was pretty straight forward.  The hardest part was making the snake fat enough that they could cut it out, but thin enough to look like a snake!

I love watching I. and all her detail.

After we drew and painted the snakes, we cut out grass from green construction paper.  We glued the grass to the blue paper and used white paint and a paper towel to dab on clouds.

I love how I. weaved her snake in and out.

G's snake

M.s snake - with the cutest smile.

Some Inspiration for this Wednesday

HGTV Design Star Emily Hendersen's office

India Hicks office

I'm not sure where this came from (looks kind of like a BHG), but I love the mix of patterns on the pillows (and I love any banquette)



I WILL make that pillow someday

After my blanket blooper, I'm needing a quick little something that will give big results and help me get my mojo back!  Suggestions?

Blanket Blooper

There is a lot that goes on around here that doesn't go all swimmingly.  I just usually choose to sweep them under the rug, so to speak, and move on.  But for some reason, today I am showing this picnic blanket!

This is the first time I've sewn with oil cloth.  I just wanted to back the quilt I pieced with something waterproof.  I loved the idea of this fabric.But then I started sewing it.

 Yeah, that would be a seam!  Oy!

I should have pinned - now I have to unpick and start all over!  And pin this time! 

It will be worth it, right?

Grateful Sunday

Whatever

There is so much that I love about the above photo - so much!

I am grateful for:

• summer time - we are hitting this summer out of the ball park!  We only have 2 1/2 more weeks and we are going to fit in just as much as I possibly can.
• summer time dinners - where corn on the cob and a fruit salad count as a meal.
• fresh basil
• worn in flip flops
• tan lines on my kiddos

What are you grateful for?

Random.org chose Jackie and Bryan as the winner of the Elmer's Kits!  Congrats Jackie, I'll pass on your info to Elmers.  Thanks to all!

Elmer's Craft Kit GIVEAWAY

I have so much fun crafting with my kiddos and the Craft Camp this week was such a blast!  Elmer's is generously giving away craft kits for you to have your own crafting experiences.  This giveaway includes 1 adult kit and 2 kid's kit.  The adult kit includes:  CraftBond Gel Pens, CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick, CraftBond Tape, Runner Painters Markers, X-ACTO Zigzag and Scallop scissor packs, X-ACTO punch, and X-ACTO 8” Scissors.   We especially loved the scissors, and the gel pens!  The kids kits include:  CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick, CraftBond Glue Spots, Project Popperz Markers, and a Mini Bi-Fold Foam Board.  My kiddos loved the Glue Spots and they were really easy for them to use.  The markers are big and fat and colorful!  The kits will be packaged differently, but everything inside is the same.

Lucky Readers!

 

In order to enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite thing to do together with your children.  Do you like to craft, read, go out for ice cream, ride bikes?

For another entry, tweet this giveaway or post it on facebook.

For a third entry, become a follower. 

For every entry, leave an additional comment - winner will be chosen randomly from comments on Sunday, July 17th.

Good luck!

Elmer's Kids Craft Camp

This week, we put on a Kids Craft Camp, sponsored by Elmer's.  They sent us a huge box with 5 kid kits and 1 adult kit!  We were super excited - even the box is super cool!

Then we opened them, and I., my craft loving girl, started salivating.  Each child's kit includes: CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick, CraftBond Glue Spots, Project Popperz Markers, and a Mini Bi-Fold Foam Board .  The adult kit included:  CraftBond Gel Pens, CraftBond Extra Strength Glue Stick, CraftBond Tape, Runner Painters Markers, X-ACTO Zigzag and Scallop scissor packs, X-ACTO punch, and X-ACTO 8” Scissors. 

What a package!

We invited a couple of friends and started crafting.  After looking at all the supplies, I decided to make Mr. Recycled  Head Men.  We've started sprouting wheat, but that should take about a week until it is ready to be popped in for hair.

The glue spots were really easy for even the little ones to use.  The markers worked on the cans. 

I showed the kiddos some ideas of what we were working on and then let their imagination go.

We always snack when we craft - caramel corn was the snack for this camp!

The little girls heads - they thread some beads for necklaces

the boys' creations

So many smiles!

 The whole family of heads - won't they look cute when the grass grows in.  I'll have to update it when that happens.

There was also some painting and some friendship bracelet braiding going on. 

All in all - it was a really fun afternoon!  The kids each took home their own kit and were thrilled with having an afternoon to craft.  I think they are completely satisfied with what they made - they are going to be thrilled when the grass grows! 

Thank you to Elmer's for this amazing afternoon.  Even better - check back tomorrow for a FANTASTIC giveaway!