Summer Fun: Toddler Car Wash

As a part of our Summer Fun theme, we decided to have our very own car wash to beat the heat.

And okay, I confess. We moved ours inside. But that's the beauty of this activity...it can be indoor OR outdoor. Either way, toddlers can make as big a mess as they like.

But this 8 month pregnant mommy chose the indoor option, because I'm not too fond of near triple digit temps these days.

So we did our car wash in a cool tub, with extra bubbles (per Isaiah's request).

All you really need is a sensory bin (any plastic bin will do) and your pick of plastic cars for washing. We added a few "car wash essentials" like a scrubbing brush, a sponge, and a spray bottle. We stuck with bubbles but you could even add some extra foamy car-wash soap (like shaving cream).

And better yet, go outside and get your cars extra muddy before washing. :)

Isaiah stayed in the tub a full hour, which also gave Mommy a nice chance to get off her feet for a while.

Love those little extra bonuses from good activities...don't you?
 

Summer Fun: Peaches and Cream Pudding Pops

I've been dying to make Popsicles lately– which I also figured was a very fitting activity for our June Summer Fun theme. And believe it or not, it just started getting hot enough here to enjoy them (counting our blessings).

I saw a recipe for vanilla pudding pops and decided to slightly alter it to make 'peaches and cream pops' instead.

The main change was making the pudding from scratch. Here's what I did...

Ingredients

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 cups cold milk (whole)

1/4 tsp salt

3 large egg yolks

2 tsp vanilla

2-3 chopped fresh peaches (or as few/many as you like)

1. Chop 2-3 fresh peaches into tiny cubes (more or less to taste) and set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt.

3. Gradually whisk in the cold milk, and egg yolks.

4. Put mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it comes to a boil.

5. Turn heat to low, and continue to whisk for about 2 minutes.

6. Remove from heat and pour mixture over sieve into a medium bowl.

7. (Optional) Add peaches into mixture and divide into Popsicle molds. Note: I poured the plain mixture into the molds, and then added peaches at the top (or bottom, whichever way you look at it) which created the 'peaches and cream' effect. The more peaches you add into the mixture, the more the Popsicle will taste like peaches, instead of both peaces and cream. But that's just a matter of taste!

8. Refrigerate for one hour, then place into the freezer overnight.

9. Run molds under warm water to loosen the Popsicles, and enjoy!

The result is a rich and creamy vanilla peach Popsicle. Think ice cream, but creamier.

You can freeze the remaining pudding mixture for later use. Or, if you are like us (we ate all six Popsicles in two days) just refrigerate and make more when you are ready.

I mixed fresh strawberries straight into the second batch and I swear they tasted just like strawberry shortcake. I'm not sure which was my favorite!



And...I must be a mean Mamma, because I believe these were Isaiah's very first Popsicles.

After he finished it he said, "Mmm, baby just LOVES Popsicles."

I'd say that was a success.

Father's Day Finds

We're busy making our Father's Day plans over here. And by we, yes...I mean me, Isaiah, and Hershey. We're all in cahoots...as it should be.

I ran across these cards and I just had to share. It's probably too late to order for this year,  but what a great idea to go ahead and bookmark your card for next year.

Then, if you are like me, you just have to remember that you did. ;)

Etsy

Etsy

Etsy

Etsy

 Etsy

Summer Fun: Bubble Wand

I can still remember sitting on the back porch of my childhood home, blowing bubbles with my Mom on hot Summer days. Specifically home-made bubbles made from dish soap. To this day, the smell of Palmolive takes me back.

We had this awesome red-plastic bubble wand that was almost shaped like a pipe (remember that, Mom?).

Anyway, it allowed you to blow multiple tiny bubbles at once. And when we tried really hard, you could get a "monster bubble" as I like to call it.

Fast forward (oh, let's just say several) years to today, when I became determined to re-create that wand for my little boy.

I did a little digging, and found out that you can make your own at home with nothing but straws and tape. So we decided to give it a try.

I made our own bubble mix first, using:

1/3 cup Palmolive (of course, what else?)
1 cup water
2 tbsp corn syrup

Then I went to work on our wand. I just used a few leftover party straws (any straws should do) and a bit of Washi tape (again, any tape should work just fine).



I'll be honest, I was doubtful. But I tested it out while my son was napping and practically giggled with delight when it created the exact same bubbles I remembered as a kid.

I was six-years old all over again.






Isaiah absolutely loved it (no surprise there). He even let me take a few turns. And at one point, when I blew into the wand and didn't make any bubbles, he politely told me...

"It's OK. Just try again, Mommy. You'll get it."

So, according to him...I've got potential. :)

Slowing down...

It's official. I'm starting to slow down over here. My eight month pregnant body is catching up with me, in every way.

I've been living in my Target Maxi dresses. Especially this one. It's not actually maternity, but it works great and I can (hopefully) get some wear out of it afterwards.

Lately, all I can think about is how different my body (and mind, for that matter) used to be. I almost don't remember what feeling "normal" is like.

I've thought about starting a new series called "You know you're 8 months pregnant when..." just for posterity. I already have a few stored up.

Ahem.

You know you're 8 months pregnant when...

1. You cry watching the Price is Right.

2. Your kitchen cabinets have been cleared out, wiped down, everything washed and re-organized. Twice.

3. You check your email at 3am (because you are wide awake)–only to see a new email from a pregnancy website entitled "Insomnia."

4. You are in your pajamas by 7:30pm sharp. Nightly.

And my favorite as of late:

5. Dropping anything on the floor just about ruins your day.

It's all worth it, though. I just keep praying for this little baby to get here safely....healthy and happy.

But I'm confessing right here and now, that things may get slow on the blog for the next few weeks/months. We will still be doing our theme months, and I'll be updating projects as I can...but I need to remind myself that this baby, and my family come first. That's why I left my day job, right?

To start putting my family first.

I have several "Summer Fun" projects to post this week. It's just a matter of staying up past 8pm to write about them...  

You laugh. But it's true. ;)

A vow to post the ugly

I loved this quick article about ugly kid crafts.

I struggle with that a lot, especially in the blogosphere. I mean, all we ever seem to see are Pinterest-worthy masterpieces. And all of which are supposed to be made by our kiddos?

I'm not going to call anyone out, but I once saw a picture of a toddler craft that I could have barely made myself.

There's definitely a new found pressure out there that has arrived with the online age. And it has us all trying to "keep up with the Jones'" in the world of kid crafts.

I fall victim to it, myself. When planning our theme months, I find myself thinking that my ideas for Isaiah need to be bigger, better, or more impressive.

But, why? And at what cost?

Are we really allowing our children to learn, explore, and create on their own? Or are we putting parameters around their creativity, simply to protect our own ideas of beauty and art.

I've actually surprised myself a bit in this area.

I love crafts. I love design. I love photography. And I've always wanted everything to look "just so." I have a certain design *ahem* aesthetic that I crave in almost everything I do. Part of me was afraid of being 'that Mom' who took over my kid's homeroom project because it wasn't up to snuff, visually.

But ironically, so far, it's been just the opposite. It's the "ugly crafts" that I love most. Because they are every bit of my two-year-old, heart and soul. And not one bit of me.

They are a time capsule. And one day, when I pull them out of storage, I'll be able to close my eyes and remember Isaiah's chubby little hands making every little paint stroke.

This past Easter was a perfect example:

I pride myself on my Easter eggs. I love coming up with new and creative ideas, and sometimes I'll spend hours perfecting my dye technique. But this year? I didn't dye a single egg myself (notice we didn't have an Easter egg post?). Instead, I sat and watched as my two-year-old experimented with colors, turning every egg an adorable shade of brown.  And you know what? It brought me just as much joy, if not more.

I'm not perfect, by any means.  I definitely tend to post our prettier projects, guilty as charged. But from here on out, I vow to post the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Because I think it's important that we creative folks remind ourselves...

To hold ourselves back, instead of our kiddos. To let them be the creators, instead of ourselves. And to let them make their own idea of perfection, instead of striving for ours

Because truly, the result is much more beautiful than anything we could ever create ourselves.

And just for the heck of it, here are two of my son's masterpieces. They may not be going up in the Louvre anytime soon, but they are already up on my fridge. And that's better in his book, any day of the week.

 "Rainbow painting"

Isaiah, age 2

 "Mommy" (can't you see my yellow hair?)

Isaiah, age 2

Summer Fun: Soda Bottle Sprinkler

This month's theme is "Summer Fun"! So bring it on, June.

(But don't bring it on too much, ok? This pregnant lady is trying to push off the heat as long as she can...)

To kick things off, we made a soda bottle sprinkler for our first official day in the pool. I'm over at Modern Parents Messy Kids today, sharing just how we made it–plus lots of other ways to play in the hot Summer sun.

We even included a few indoor activities for our fellow Texans. Because when it's too hot, it's too hot. (Am I right?)

We'll be posting more of our Summer Fun activities throughout the month. But take a look at MPMK if you want a bona fide Summer activity cheat sheet. I had a lot of fun putting it together. :)

First baseball game

What a way to end sports month...

Last night we took Isaiah to his first baseball game. I'm not gonna lie, I think I was more excited about it than he was. I could barely contain myself all week. I just knew how much he'd love every minute.

And he did.

From the baseball diamond to the peanuts to the home-run fireworks. My little baby is all boy these days, and I knew he'd take to the game like flies to honey.

Isaiah,

Last night might be my favorite night with you yet.

I'll never forget it, baby. How your eyes lit up when we entered the ball park. How you sat in your seat for hours, captivated (you're two-years-old, mind you). How you grinned from ear to ear when they played your favorite tune on the ballpark organ. And even how you gave Mommy the play-by-play when the players struck out.

On the way home you couldn't stop talking. You must have mentioned every exciting sight over a hundred times.

And when you got in bed, you were out as soon as your head hit the pillow (a first for you). I have no doubt you were dreaming of peanuts, dot races, and stadium seats.

What a privilege it is to be your Mommy, Isaiah. Because no matter how much fun you had last night, I had more. Just by watching you.

I love you, little Slugger. More than I could ever find the words to say...

Love,

Mommy
 
Oh, and last night was someone else's first baseball game too. This little one might have a bit of  a hard time remembering it, though...

Sports Month: Football Hand Prints

Football is probably my least favorite sport. (I know, I know, send in the pitchforks)

Blame it on lack of exposure growing up, but I'd rather watch baseball or basketball any day of the week.

Regardless, I've been doing my best to teach Isaiah the basics of the game. He's only two, so catching and throwing (and touchdown celebrations) have been our biggest lesson.

Today we made a hand print football craft that I saw in the hallways of my old elementary school. I thought it was too clever, and we had to make one of our own. I let Isaiah place the football wherever he wanted, and he went straight for the catch. :)

Then we spent the rest of our morning finger painting. Because once the paints are out at our house, there's no putting them up. Let's just say we have about fifty masterpieces drying as we speak...

Happy Memorial Day

There's something about Memorial Day. I think it's one of those holidays that doesn't get over-planned, you know?

And May. Oh, for the month of May. As much as I love it, sometimes I feel like I'll never survive it. It's probably the busiest month of the year for my family, between holidays and birthdays (hints our lack of Sports Month posts).

So by the time Memorial Day rolls around, I'm ever so thankful for the quiet holiday that it is. And most importantly, the sentiment: remembering those who have sacrificed themselves for our freedom–and celebrating their lives.

Here are a few pics of my red, white and blue baby splashing away in the pool this weekend. Really, I don't think it's possible for me to love him (or taking pictures of him) any more...









Hoping you and yours had a safe and memorable holiday weekend.

Sports Month: Basketball Cheese Snack

I must have been deprived from playing with my food as a child. (Just kidding, Mom)

Here's a quick pic of my "bouncing basketball" creation for Isaiah's afternoon snack. I used a cookie cutter to make the basketball, and black food coloring to create the lines. Then, believe it or not, I used the lid of the food coloring bottle to make the bouncing dots.

The whole thing took about 2 minutes. Would be cute to make several for a sports party, and even use as cracker toppers.

But for us, an afternoon snack was the perfect occasion. Just me and my boy. :)

Let's do some good...

source

I woke up this morning with a fire in my heart.

It seems like tragedy has been waiting for us around every corner this year. Doesn't it? Whether inflicted by humans or nature.

And it never fails, each and every time I have felt so helpless. I cry. I pray. But I want to physically help–somehow.

So after seeing even more images of the devastation in Oklahoma this morning, I put my foot down. 

I can help. We can all help. And instead of feeling helpless, and just staring at pictures from the media, I want to challenge us all...

Just think: what would it look like if we all donated $10 to Red Cross right now. 

I'm not just saying that. Really, stop and think of the good we could do: The medical materials we could supply, the food we could buy and the comfort we could send. I've never donated before, but I am starting today.

If you are reading this on a mobile device (or even if you aren't) it's as simple as texting "REDCROSS" to 90999. If you are on your computer, you can donate here.

I know I sound like a commercial, but really, let's not wait another minute.

Make a donation and then, spread the word. Keep it going.

Let's make Oklahoma the good we do this day.

P.S. Here is a phenomenal resource about talking to your kids after a tornado tragedy. And please, please, please, talk to your families today about making a tornado (or natural disaster) plan for your household.