Pottery Class!

Growing up my in the summers my mom took us to Pottery Class... I have fond memories of shaping bowls, getting really messy, learning the wheel, painting lots of random pieces, and getting clay thrown at us by the boys in the class... and throwing it back! Sooo... when Gilbert Recreation teamed with a local pottery studio for a class for kids I was super excited to get the kiddos in it. So excited I lied about Colby's age... by just a few months- ha!

They absolutely loved it! The shaping and texturing and stamping were so fun for them to learn...

Even Mia loved being creative with her pieces and was a great listener.

The last project they made was these flip flops with their names on them... we have just the perfect spot in their beach room to hang them once they are painted!

The teacher couldn't believe what a great worker Colby was and how much time and effort he spent on his projects. She said his attention span was greater than a boy twice his age! After the hour and a half class though he was definitely ready to wash his hands- he's my clean freak.

They learned how to faux paint! These bowls turned out awesome! They LOVE eating cereal, ice cream, and popcorn out of them and are so proud that they made them all by themselves. From start to finish. No help from mom!

Eye Candy :-)

Words cannot adequately describe the love we have for this little girl!

She is already so full of personality and such a charmer.

3 months old... growing up way too fast!

We're biased... but think she is pretty stinkin cute.

I have taken like 200 pics of her lately- ha! So more to come...

Sun Art Projects...

Who knew that there was such a thing as Sun Paper, or Solar Art Paper!?! I didn't until I came across this great project for kids on http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/06/30/sun-prints-from-the-long-thread/ Just after a few minutes in the sun, the paper darkens around the object you have placed on the paper leaving beautiful designs like below... I've got the paper and it will be our next Arts & Crafts Activity!

The paper is fairly inexpensive and can be found at Art/Craft Stores or online... I bought mine through Amazon.

Have your kiddos collect nature objects (or toys or whatever they want their images to be of!) and place them on the paper, on a board so they do not move when transferring them outside... Plexi-glass often comes with the paper so you can place it on top to ensure your objects do not move. Once outside, it just takes a few minutes!

Quickly take inside and wash the paper in water to stop the exposure process...

Then your kiddos can even color or paint their work, frame it, glue it on a larger paper for a collage effect, etc! For the full instructions definitely head over to the website and check it out! I will post our pics soon. ;-)

From bam to glam in just 15 min...

With the kiddos home for the summer, our house can go from clean to looking like a bomb exploded in just a short few hours... Doing crafts, making lunches, playing school, running errands, etc means a constant mess. My friend Ashlee told me about this great idea that they do for a quick clean up that we have LOVED. Ok that I have loved- ha!

So 30 minutes before your hubby usually gets home let your kiddos choose whatever fun music they want to work to. (We have to take turns around here!) Then set a timer... You can do whatever works best for your kiddos depending on their age, the mess, etc. We do usually 10 or 15 minutes.

Then everybody MOVE! Scurry about cleaning up and putting away, taking garbages out, wiping down counters, emptying the dishwasher, loading the dishwasher (now might be a great time to teach your kiddos if they don't know how!), etc. Direct your children as needed. ;-)

Once the timer stops... hopefully everything looks like this- TA DA!

Nice and clean!

Then you can have them set the table, help with dinner, read a book, or play outside... while you finish dinner. It has worked so well for us I just have to share! It's almost a fun game for the kids of "How much can we really accomplish!?!" And they are usually pretty proud of how clean they make the house look... and how excited Dad is to come home to a clean house. Take before and after pics if you want to make them even more excited about the outcome.

Happy 4th Weekend!

Just a few days ago we made this tasty treat... Smore's Pops! Some of them don't have the graham cracker though so maybe they should just be called Chocolate Marshmellow Pops. In any case, the kids LOVED making them (I neglected to take pics of them making them- SHOCKING! ha) and they are easy and fun.

We crushed graham crackers and put them in a bowl... selected our sprinkles... the kids stuck marshmellows on skewers (we also did them on lollipop sticks- no pics taken though!)... then melted red candy melts... dipped the marshmellow in chocolate and then whatever topping! SO FUN! And SO yummy...

The bucket was in Target's dollar section and we stuck them in floral foam... A great treat to take to a 4th of July BBQ or just a easy peasy craft for kiddos to celebrate! Have a great weekend!

Here are some fun 4th of July ideas I love from...

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/06/30/free-printables-for-the-fourth-of-july/

Yummy cupcakes (you can swirl the batter with different colors)- the star on top is created with candy melts and a star mold. Love it!

What a cute gift idea to give to friends or neighbors! What child wouldn't love getting 4 sparklers with this cheery 4th of July card!?! You can print it right off her website by clicking the link above...

If your printer can print smaller items like bags, this is an easy item to make yourself. This would be cute to put a Smore's kit together in with a bright red napkin! You could also put fork/knife/spoon/napkin/mint in there for everyone to grab at a big BBQ!

A great cup for firework treats! Bright and fun- easy to print off, cut out, and glue.
Link me to your fun 4th plans!

Best Summer Treat

Growing up when we went to the store with my mom we loved picking out our own piece of fruit, instead of a sugary candy bar. My own kiddos love doing this too! Coconut, kiwi, mangos, starfruit, nectarines, baby bananas... so many interesting and bright and colorful choices. We had an overabundance of fresh yummy fruit last week so we made FRUIT KABOBS!

They loved it. So fun to do colorful patterns or just throw on whatever fruit they liked best.

There was lots of snacking along the way, which was totally fine by me. :-)

Sydney is my most meticulous child and put together perfectly patterned kabobs...

I put together a little "bouquet" for a good friend- so bright and colorful! I even loved the kabobs with just plain grapes on them...

The kids were SOO proud to show Ger what they had made for dinner! He was definitely impressed- ha. (Do you love my ghetto fabulous pan!?!) But they are perfect for a kids craft... and fun to make for dinner or a big get together!