Morning Art.

Winter seems to last forever even though it's really just begun. You know it's bad when your 5 year old starts saying he wants it to be summer and last week when he asked you to wear shorts AGAIN, you let him.

This week is record cold temperature here, But compared to the high of -18 last year I would definitely say this year is a heat wave.

What did we seriously ever do before Pinterest? It's the biggest bank full of any and every idea when it comes to crafting and what's even better is that a 5 year old can have his very own board to pick and choose what he wants to do.

Yesterday we were Pinterest overachievers and completed 4 different crafts. And Harrison did two more on his own before bed.

Ice Cube

I've been trying hard to keep the boys busy with activities this summer. We have been on a quest to try a new park every week (as weather permits) during these warmer months. We have been on some scavenger nature walks, trips to museums, library and of coarse our weekly trips to the donut place & ice cream place.

We have also practically lived on a sandbar, beaches and our whale pool for the last month. The late summer heat & humidity is in full swing in Minnesota.

I pinned this pin Ice Cube  a few months back. Sometimes on the "blah" days I let Harrison pick out something I have pinned on Pinterest to do. Late last week he chose Ice Cube. I let him pick small items to dig out or that became "treasure," and put them in the tub.  Next he picked green food coloring and we put it in the freezer. I think he ended up asking 10 times within an hour later if the ice was frozen yet (it took 2 days to freeze).

This was really fun, I just wish it would have lasted longer and so did the boys. The pin showed using plastic hammers and screw drivers, but meh; we used the real stuff. A bit dangers I admit, especially since Harrison wasn't wearing shoes. As a disclaimer, no toes or fingers were smashed during the smashing of this cube. :)

 

 

 

 We already have a brightly blue tub in the freezer filled with more "treasures."

 

 

 

Feel Good.

This is a feel good post. A post that takes you to your elementary desk.

Yeah, remember when the teacher came by with that big glob of shaving cream? First you would practice your spelling words and them you would clean your desk.

Those were the days.

Today we cracked down to TV time. It feels like we have been living in an igloo for three months now. Winter is so long. It's turning us into couch potatoes. Well before we start growing eyes, we decided we need to encourage more activities (more Pinterest) and more structure to our days, especially on the days the kids are home.

Harrison goes to pre-school 3 days a week and Miles goes to daycare 2 days a week. I know it's not in my cards to be a full time stay at home mom, it's not. I am no super mom and I totally convinced if your kids aren't in preschool or daycare, you are a super mom. Our kids need daycare and pre-school. We need a break from each other and I am not ashamed to admit that. I like idea they are going part time....it's giving me the best of both worlds...time for me to be an awesome mom and time for me pursue my passion and keep the house in semi-order.

So here is to a beginning of no more couch potatoeism.

Pinterest Post: Painting with shaving cream

 Painting with shaving cream...do you love this idea as much as I do?

I got this idea off a Pinterest link to make Easter eggs, but this paint can also double as bath tub paint. We also tried Bacon & Eggs in a toast cup, Skinny Baked Mozzarella Sticks, Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies, Rice Krispie Cupcakes, Healthy oatmeal peanut butter chocolate chip snack bars & Baked Corn Dog Nuggets in the past couple of weeks. The mozzarella sticks were amazing and the corn dog nuggets turned out pretty good. On the dessert side the Oatmeal peanut butter bars were ok, the Rice Krispie cupcakes were pretty yummy, but after the frosting dried, they weren't half as yummy. The biggest disappointment came from the Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookies, absolutely nothing more than a chocolate chip cookie, not that there is anything wrong with chocolate chip cookies, but I was expecting something more...apparently I had my hopes set to high. I am hoping to pin more real food and less of that yummy chocolate stuff! I'll keep you posted if I run into anymore winners!

Now on to painting!

Pinterest: Noodle Painting

It's time for another Pinterest post and this one like many others this one promised a mess!

Who would have thought spaghetti noodles and finger paint? I pinned the idea from HERE.

I wasn't sure how this would go over especially with the texture of the noodles and paint. At two years old a lot of children have aversions to sensory and some children don't like to get dirty. Harrison was a little hesitant at first, but after a little reassurance from me he dug right in. This is definitely the most fun we have both had painting. After snapping a few shots I dug in too.

 Love these two faces--he's getting so expressive!

After noodle painting we baked a batch of peanut butter mini chocolate chip cookies---so yummy I thought I would tease you with this photo:

Happy Monday!

Cookie Cutter

What did I do before Facebook, blogging, ETSY, and now Pinterest?


Pinterest has so many ideas---SO MANY!



Here is the latest pin: Cookie Cutter Painting

No paper required.

 Embracing a toddler, embracing messy.