Your Daily Moment of Zen

Bug was watching a Minecraft video and was moved to get up and dance to the music. It kind of looks like he is imitating dance moves, but he is not - those moves are 100% his.  Just thought I'd share because it makes me smile every time I watch it.

A Pinterest-Inspired Post

So, I haven't posted here in ages because I've been fairly consumed by the preparation for, and the taking of, our trip to the Outer Banks.  It was my kids' first time seeing the ocean, and it was amazing.  I will be making a series of posts about that in the days ahead.  But first, during the preparation stage, I wanted to share a few Pinterest-inspired ideas that helped make the trip easier and more fun.  (If you are not already on Pinterest, you should go sign up now.  All that stuff you've been hearing about it is not just hype - it will seriously change your life.  Go now, I'll wait.)

Okay, first is this excellent universal packing list.  It was very useful and it did actually help me remember several things that I would have otherwise forgotten.

Next is this "Are we there yet?" progress bar.  The original idea called for some string or a ribbon strung across the inside of the car and used a clothespin, but I used an adhesive road tape similar to this one instead, with a car that I cut out with my Cricut machine and laminated, then stuck it on the road with a rolled up piece of packing tape on the back.  I moved the car along the road as we traveled, so the boys could see how far we'd gone and how far we had to go.  I used it on the way back home too.  It definitely helped put the distance in perspective for them.

Another Pinterest idea I used was to make these super simple tray tables for the kids out of $5 cookie sheets from Walmart and some velcro (illustrated instructions can be found here).  The boys really dug them, but I must offer a disclaimer:  when they get tired of them and take them off and drop them onto the floor, they make such a loud bang that you will think another car has crashed into yours and you will have a mini heart attack.  Every. Single. Time.  But they were perfect for eating, coloring, magnet play, etc.

Finally, I used this idea to make little goody bags to pass out every so often as we traveled.  I filled them with simple things like a hot wheels car, a magic ink coloring pad, a prism, etc.  The original pin said,  "To keep the kids happy in the car, create mystery bags to be given to them about each hour or two. They get a map with each city marked, and they have to follow the route and ask for the bag when we get to that city. Bags are filled with snacks and small toys and games."  I didn't do the map part, I just gave them one whenever they were getting cranky or overly wound up; I would just announce, "Guess what time it is?!" and they would gleefully reply, "Time to choose another bag! Yaay!" and peace would be restored. 



And since I am sharing Pinterest ideas, here is a BONUS tutorial I'd like to share on how to make the perfect wedding gift for your bestie.  I was so thrilled with how these turned out...

Step 1.  Stalk your friend's Pinterest boards looking for ideas.
Step 2.  Find this pin on etching glass to add personalization.
Step 3.  Pore over friend's wedding registry looking for glass items; choose pretty champagne glasses.
Step 4.  Quick trip to Joann and Hobby Lobby to get supplies.
Step 5.  Use Cricut machine to cut out designs on adhesive vinyl and adhere to glass.  (Borrow perfect font cartridge from your fabulous sister-in-law if necessary.)

Step 6.  Paint on the etching cream and cross fingers.
Step 7.  Wait 20 minutes; rinse off cream and remove vinyl; wash well.
Step 8.  Enjoy the awesomeness!  Can you tell I'm quite pleased with myself?

And BONUS #2, did you know that you could make something so pretty out of toilet paper rolls?!

Touch-A-Truck Event

Today, we went to the (apparently annual) "Touch-A-Truck" event in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  I had never heard of it and noticed a friend's post about it on Facebook a couple days ago and decided to check it out.  The boys liked it a lot.  At first, I didn't think Bug liked it nearly as much as Monkey - the occasional loud horns and sirens scared him and made him cry and cling to me a few times - but later, when he was on the phone enthusiastically telling Grandma all about it, I realized he enjoyed it more than I thought.

The school bus was a favorite of both boys.  Both are fascinated by them, and neither had ever been on one.  I am hoping the experience helps eliminate the mystique of riding on a bus, instead of adding to it...

Not sure why Bug's hair looks so red here!  Just got his mop chopped this morning before we headed to the event.

Monkey hanging out the window.

Free popsicles, woo-hoo!

Monkey on a Mowing Monstrosity.

Bug checkin' it out too.

Trying on some fireman gear

Driving the fire truck

Humvee and soldiers.

Sitting in the sling for the gun turret on top.

Tangent:  as we were leaving the humvee, I said to the soldier, "Thank you for your service," and surprised myself by suddenly feeling all choked up and emotional.  Even though I am a pacifist and strongly against war, I still appreciate the act of saying, "I believe in this country enough to give myself to it.  Do with me whatever you want," which is something I could never do, and something I (completely selfishly) hope my boys will not do either.  I just think of all the unimaginably scary and awful things these guys may have seen/experienced, while I've been going about my simple little happy life... it just gets me.  Anyways, back to the main topic...

BOING!

First snow cone ever.

Sharing it with his little brother.

Random stuff we've been up to... (getting caught up)

This is a rather long and photo-heavy post, but it's all of this random "stuff" I've been meaning to post about, so I am just gonna throw it all out there and finally get caught up.  A photo-purge, if you will.  So what have we been up to...?

Doing some math, aka playing with Inchimals.  Love these!

A little geography play with the Tag Map.  Monkey got this for his birthday, but Bug is much more into it.  Go figure.

An idea found via Pinterest - glow sticks in the bathtub.  It was a big hit!

Bug's favorite pastime - driving cars on the bookshelf/window seat.  I found this awesome "road tape" - so simple and fun!

My poor, "unsocialized homeschooler", getting picked up for a go-cart ride by B, a friend from the neighborhood.

Monkey is still reluctant to practice writing, but we have hit on a great way to practice written communication without pen and paper - texting!  He loves sending texts to Dad and Grandma.  I let him try to work out what to say and how to spell things on his own, just giving him hints when asked for help.

Bug, trying to homeschool the dog.  "Look Noodle, that's a kitty."

A delicious lesson about fractions!

A moment to remember...

Shane took a rare day off today, and this afternoon all four of us went for a lovely stroll on the Towpath Trail.  As Monkey & I walked along hand-in-hand, we spontaneously developed a secret code based on # of hand squeezes.  It started because I decided to teach him an idea I remembered reading on 100 Ways To Be Kind to Your Child (item #18), that 3 squeezes = "I love you".  His whole face lit up and he was immediately thrilled by this new form of communication.  He quickly began coming up with meanings for other increments of hand squeezes.  At bedtime he added a few more, and we are now up to distinct meanings for 1 through 8.  I was going to share the list here, but I think I'll let it stay secret - just between us.  Well, I'll share one he came up with that melted my heart a little.  I won't tell you which number it is, but one of them means "Coolest Mom Ever".   :*)

Try making up your own secret codes - I can't believe how much fun and special such a simple thing turned out to be!

Einstein, Newton, Darwin, Curie, and Tesla

I have so much stuff I want to write about, and just haven't been able to line up the time/energy to do it.  Will catch up soon, I promise!  Until then, here's a quickie for ya.

Ok, so I finally broke down and bought these awesome scientist action figures (from the Little Giants series by Jailbreak Collective Toys).  Little Bug has not only memorized their names, but also loves messing with me when I ask him who's who...

Funny Stuff

For those who are easily offended - move along, nothing to see here...

This is a response to this post by Leanna from Life on the Hill, who wrote about holding back on posting on Facebook, all of the funny atheist stuff she comes across.  I often hold back posting things too, out of fear of offending anyone.  But this blog is where I get to share what I want, so here are a couple of my favorites for you, Leanna - enjoy!  :)

I've seen this passage all over the place, but this particular image came from a poster on Zazzle.com

From a t-shirt on Cafepress.com.  Want!

Snow Play

So, two days ago, we had that perfect weather where there was lots of snow on the ground, but it was relatively warm out and the snow was wet and perfect for packing.  So my husband and Uncle Pat built a giant snowman for the boys...

The Bug, chillin' with the snowguy

 

...then we built a snow fort...

This snow-brick mold makes fort building easy!

The boys inside the fort

...then we did a little sled riding...

The biggest kid in the house, aka my husband!

...a little snowball fighting...

...and finally went inside and had some hot cocoa afterward.

It was a fun afternoon, and I'm really glad I took those pics, because it rained like crazy and melted all the snow away the next day, much to Monkeyman's great disappointment.