Water Blob How To

I originally saw this water blob on interest from the Clumsy Crafter

We really want to do it for a birthday party but we needed a trial first... So here is our first attempt!

Materials

large roll of plastic sheeting

duct tape

water!

So really it is pretty self explanatory! You lay it out duct tape the edges leave one small edge open to put the hose through slip it in and fill!

FYI: USE THE MOST LEVEL SURFACE POSSIBLE!!

I learned this from experience. Hubby and I had a very interesting afternoon trying to stop the blob from imploding on itself down into the corner of the yard.... After it was already full of water it was IMPOSSIBLE to move!! 

I bailed after it was filled because I could not stop it from rolling away! We got dinner and hubby fixed it! Isn't he great!! I still have no idea how he fixed it! But I love him!!!

M2 loved crawling around on the plastic sheeting before it was even filled!

 I LOVE THAT HAPPY FACE!!

Holding the hose inside!

We now have 2 very happy very tired little Monkeys!! Yea for bedtime!!

We are planning on doing this for M2's birthday party! I think we will make a few smaller ones and maybe add some soft toys and food coloring!!

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Chore Charts

So I honestly am not real thrilled about chore charts... most days it feels like it is more work for me than it is for the kids.... but I KNOW that they need to learn responsibility to everyday I summon up as much patience as I can get and we DO OUR CHORES! 

Usually this also involves a review of our virtues first ( From We Choose Virtues) 

I AM OBEDIENT, I AM PATIENT, I AM HELPFUL is a repeating mantra in my head...


Anyways here is our chore chart! 

I found some cute clothespins from Michaels in the Dollar Sections! So when our chore is finished we put the clothespin on the chart. 

Throughout the day you can also loose a clothespin (i.e. Not being nice to your sister...)

Then you have to earn it back! 

We don't finish them all everyday, but we try. They are not all done perfectly but we try. It really is a good lesson for M1 because she is a bit of a typical firstborn perfectionist! 

We don't do rewards for our chores in our house. It is something that is just expected. We expect everyone to chip in and help. To look for ways to be kind. And to learn to be responsible! 

Any other really great ideas for chores??

How to Make Your Own Sock Monkeys

Since Daddys pet name for our girls has always been Monkey we decided our theme for M2's 1st Birthday was going to be Monkeys!! I have been searching around for sock monkeys online hoping to purchase a few but they are expensive!! Since I am always feeling kinda thrifty I found this great tutorial on Craft Passion for How to Make Sock Monkeys!

Sunday after church I started working on them! (Thanks Daddy for working outside with the girls for a few hours!)

I finished them later than night took about 3-4 hours total! Not bad about an hour per monkey!

Here is a list of supplies

1 pair tall socks (stripes is easy because it is easy to match up the stripes)

Thread

Batting or Stuffing

Small piece of felt

Embroidery Floss

Sewing Machine

Scissors

Needles

To follow the tutorial check out Craft Passion HERE

M2 was definitley interested in what those Monkeys were!

M1 wanted her picture taken with them!

Playing on the deck together!

A basket of monkeys!!

Anyone have any really great Monkey Party Ideas for Me??

Handy Manny Saves the Ice Toys

Ice Play

It has been hot here lately. As I am sure it is everywhere else so we got out our Manny Tools and started chopping away at our ice blocks! What a great way to cool down.


I froze some toys in a nice big bowl then set it in hot water for a minute to help it release from the bowl! It worked great!

M1 was all business in TOY RESCUE MODE! 

We have to rescue the frozen toys!!! I love her imagination!

Poor Rusty.. I am pretty sure he was shaking fear or cold?? I asked her M1 said BOTH!

A great way to get M2 to cool down! Her chubby little baby arms and legs keep her HOT! She is the warmest kid I know! Must be here Daddy's Italian Blood!

They chopped... (I love M2's face like what are you doing that for?)

Giving her sister a turn and cheering her on! What a great big sis you are M1!

Working together to get the Job DONE!! (HANDY MANNY) I believe she was singing the song as she went along too!

Dumping water on it to see if it goes faster!

Eventually it migrated into the pool to float and play and melt and they slowly freed the toys one at a time! I think next time I am going to freeze some colored ice inside of it too!

Cheerio Necklace Lacing

Simple Fruit Loop and Cheerio Neckaces!

Elastic Cord + Cheerios or Fruit Loops

M1 made these necklaces previously when we were getting ready for our flight to Florida for vacation! She then had a necklace to eat for our early morning breakfast plus a string to restring new necklaces for entertainment value on the plane! (whatever keeps them happy - on the plane that is)

We might have tried it out a few times!

We are planning to make a whole bunch of these for the kids at M2's first Birthday Party!!

More recently she has been stringing together all cheerio necklaces for M2 to munch on! Such a sweet big sister!

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Homemade Lava Lamp Science

Home made Lava Lamps are so much FUN!

All you need

a fun shaped bottle

water

oil

food coloring

and an Alka Seltzer Tab

1. Fill the bottle 3/4 full with oil (clearer oil like vegetable works better than olive or canola)

2. Fill the rest of the way with water

3. Add food coloring (you can make it pretty dark)

4. Cut up the alkaseltzer tab and put it in one little bit at a time making sure you let it stop fizzing before adding more (or it might overflow)

5. Be sure all fizzing and bubbling has stopped, put your cover on, and shake!!

(I did this and then reopened it a few times to make sure the pressure was all released)

TADA!!

M1 and M2 are both mesmerized by it!

You can add a flashlight at night for another dimension of learning! 

or if you have a light box it would be fun to play with on there!

For a great science explanation visit Science Kids

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Marshmallow Mansions

Marshmallow + Toothpicks

Do marshmallows get hard in your cupboard no matter what you do??

I get serious about this. 

My last bag of marshmallows was twisty tied, 

then clothes pinned, 

then double bagged!

 AND THEY STILL GOT HARD!! 

herumph!

Maybe next time I will double tie, clothespin and bag... Do you think that would work?

I am doubtful!

Good thing we are resourceful and come up with some other interesting things to do with marshmallows... 

So we built some marshmallow houses...

 And Marshmallow Fairy Mansions...

 We talked about letter building and spelling... Great foresight here.. How many toothpicks do you need to make an A, how many marshmallows? 


It was interesting to see how M1 worked hard (I swear I almost saw steam on this one!) to think ahead to how many she would need!

Other ways to play:

Here we used marshmallows (that were hard) in 

our Pretend Cooking with Real Food Post

The Outlaw Mom Made Homemade Marshmallow (they are beautiful)

Create Play Teach painted Marshmallow Here

The Decorated Cookie has some Fun ideas for Marshmallows on a Stick

Do you have any great ideas for our hardened marshmallows?? 

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