Summer Plans

The big question around our house this week is "What are we going to DO this summer?"  Hmm...good question.  I have been meaning to sit down and really plan some fun this year.  Fun that doesn't necessarily involve lots of money or 2 parents to wrangle kids (summer is Ricks extremely busy time at work).  My ideas seem a little self centered to me (read, sew more, exercise every day), so I gave everyone a sheet of paper and asked them to write down anything and EVERYTHING they want to do this summer, no matter how big or small.

Here is what I found out: 

1. They would really like to travel.  Florida, Tennessee and Branson, MO all made the lists.
2. They are okay with free or cheap things too.  Picnics, parks and hikes all were listed. And
3. They really had fun being in on our summer plans.

So this week we will sort through all the ideas and come up with a plan.  Although I don't see travel within the next 2 months, I see alot of other things getting checked off the lists!

What are your plans for the summer?

Yet ANOTHER Snow Day...

Here we are - the first day of February and we have almost used all of our snow days!  We are under a "Blizzard Warning" with a forecast of 12+ inches.  So, what's a mom to do today (and probably tomorrow) with a house full of kids?

• Make Banana Bread
• Do laundry
• Pray the kids sleep late :-)
• Force the kids to do the homework they brought home
• Get crafty and work on these homemade Valentines from Family Fun and maybe lots of these for me and the girls to wear

What do you love to do on Snow Days?

Siblings

"I think people that have a brother or sister don't realize how lucky they are. Sure, they fight a lot, but to know that there's always somebody there, somebody that's family."
Trey Parker and Matt Stone, South Park, Cat O***, 1999


My oldest son has been lamenting the fact that he has brothers and sisters.  He has many friends that are only children or the only kid still at home.  He is pretty sure that if he didn't have these siblings that he would have a laptop!  Instead he gets a lot of silly, crazy memories to look back on!

Silly, crazy memories indeed!

Crafty Day

This is all it took to change my craft idea for the week.

I REALLY was looking for wool when I walked in the fabric and craft department at our nearest Wal Mart.  I saw this adorable craft  the other day, and wanted to try it in the worst way.  Only thing is, I do not have anything but striped wool in my fabric stash.  And I needed to make a stock up trip to Wal Mart anyway for deodorant, shampoo, shower gel, etc. 

No wool to buy, but guess what - they have quite the eye catching aisle of all things beads and jewelry findings.  Great, just what I need - a new hobby.  I have always been intimidated by jewelry making unless it is simply stringing pony beads on ribbon and tying them around a neck or wrist of one of my girls.  I have bought beads before with great ideas of things that never got made.  The last time I did this, my friend Laura made me a gorgeous necklace/bracelet/earring set using my beads and her great talent!  So I made the mistake of walking down the bead aisle.  I was almost completely to the end without putting anything in my cart when the above kit caught my eye.  All the beads and findings to make 6 pairs of earrings for $4.00 plus a set of 3 tools for $9.00.  Yep - in my cart they went.

I would love to say I came right home and made those 6 pairs of earrings that afternoon.  I talked myself out of it that first day, but not the next.  Thursday was a quiet stay at home day.  The kind of day that screams for me to do something crafty and creative instead of laundry and cleaning.  And, I was successful!  I made 2 pairs of earrings before I had to clean up and get to that laundry and cleaning.  I will probably not make the other 4 pair of earrings like the package suggests.  Two of the pairs are a little too cheap looking (think plastic rings), so I will save the findings for another project - after I make another trip to the bead aisle.

Here is what the kit looks like:

Instructions

Beads and findings

And the finished product:

I would definitely suggest the kit if you are looking for a simple way to get into jewelry making.  I am really  happy with the results.  As a matter of fact, I plan on giving one of these pairs to my sister in law for her birthday on Sunday.

Oh and those cute hair clips - I will get to those eventually.  As soon as I get that wool!

The Best Day of Their Lives!

That is what our three oldest have said about our trip this week to Six Flags.

They didn't care that it was hot, they didn't care that they didn't go to the arcade and play, they didn't care that we didn't ride very many rides.

What they loved:

Riding the Log Flume two times in a row to get soaking wet
Ross riding the roller coasters (his favorite) with dad
Riding Thunder River and getting soaking wet
Gigantic turkey legs
Souveniers
Riding the Tidal Wave and getting soaking wet
B.o.b. in concert (Rap artist - not dads favorite)
Riding the Colossus ferris wheel at sunset
Glow in the Park Parade
Being one of the LAST cars in the parking lot

We arrived at the park around 2:00pm and left the parking lot a little after 10:00pm.  It was a fun day despite the heat, with little whining from any of us!  It was fun to see our kids having so much fun with each other and looking out for one another. 

A few pics from our day:

l-r: Bryce and Lily in Bugs Bunny Nat'l Park; Rick and Ross on Tony Hawks Big Spin; Bryce looking out from the top of the ferris wheel; Ross and Bryce getting wet; Haley, Lily and Bryce resting and rehydrating; Haley pretending to give Bryce and Lily a ride!
  

Family Day

Today is the day that our kids have been looking forward to for the entire summer.

Today we are going to Six Flags.

Today the temps are supposed to reach 100 degrees with heat indexes of 110-115 degrees.

Today we must be crazy.

Will post pics tomorrow after we recover!

Frugal Friday Fun

Fun, cheap, easy things to do with or make for the kids:

Cute Skirt to make in a Snap - we made two, one for each girl

Play Dough made with Kool-aid - we are doing this today for the littles

Family Fun Summer Craft Ideas - lots of great ideas

Have a fun, frugal Friday!