I hunt thrift shops every year for silk ties, which I usually find for around 75 cents each, and pillowcases, which I can also get for next to nothing.
Simple and pretty!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Silk Tie Easter Eggs
This has become a yearly tradition here. After finding this idea from Martha Stewart, I gave it a try and have been doing it ever since.
I hunt thrift shops every year for silk ties, which I usually find for around 75 cents each, and pillowcases, which I can also get for next to nothing.
Simple and pretty!
I hunt thrift shops every year for silk ties, which I usually find for around 75 cents each, and pillowcases, which I can also get for next to nothing.
Simple and pretty!
Since My Last Post...
We finished out weather week with rain in a jar and a cloud in a bottle...
T decided to cut his own hair (again)...
We discovered that T makes an excellent cover for leaf piles on a windy day...
We welcomed spring by birdwatching and collecting agates down by the river...
...And we've been doing an assortment of spring-related activities, but all of these pictures were among the over-exposed, courtesy of my failing camera. I'm hoping to get some better pictures this week (fingers crossed).
T decided to cut his own hair (again)...
We discovered that T makes an excellent cover for leaf piles on a windy day...
We welcomed spring by birdwatching and collecting agates down by the river...
...And we've been doing an assortment of spring-related activities, but all of these pictures were among the over-exposed, courtesy of my failing camera. I'm hoping to get some better pictures this week (fingers crossed).
Blogger Problems
It's been ages since I was able to log on here! As it always goes, whenever we are shortest on extra cash, everything decides to stop working properly. In the past two weeks, my blowdryer has died, our DVD player is on its last leg, my camera has decided to only take one or two (often overexposed) pictures per set of AA batteries, and my computer has stopped allowing me to visit half a dozen or so websites, including Blogger. I've run every virus/spyware program out there, cleared cookies, you name it, I've done it. It was completely unsuccessful though, until this morning, when all of a sudden, my websites started working again. I don't know what caused it, but I'm hoping it lasts!
In the meantime, I'll be trying to catch up on the wonderful posts from all of you recently and posting a few pictures from things we've done recently.
It's good to be back here. I didn't realize how addicted I'd become to blogging until I couldn't access this site!
In the meantime, I'll be trying to catch up on the wonderful posts from all of you recently and posting a few pictures from things we've done recently.
It's good to be back here. I didn't realize how addicted I'd become to blogging until I couldn't access this site!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rainbows
It's amazing all the projects you can do with rainbows.
You can make a permanent rainbow with water, clear nail polish, and black construction paper:
Then there's the ever-popular color-changing milk experiment:
Window hangings made with yarn and squares of paint chips:
And my absolute favorite, the rainbow cake. I found the idea here, but it seems my round cake pans are on the missing list, so I improvised. It won't be the same effect when cut into, but pretty all the same!
I took some shortcuts. I grabbed one box of white cake and followed the usual instructions (eggs, oil, water).
Separate into six bowls and color with gel food coloring.
I put mine in a regular 9x13 pan.
And baked, using the instructions on the box.
It's still cooling now, but we'll be frosting it tonight. We've got rainbow sprinkles to add the finishing touch!
You can make a permanent rainbow with water, clear nail polish, and black construction paper:
Then there's the ever-popular color-changing milk experiment:
Window hangings made with yarn and squares of paint chips:
And my absolute favorite, the rainbow cake. I found the idea here, but it seems my round cake pans are on the missing list, so I improvised. It won't be the same effect when cut into, but pretty all the same!
I took some shortcuts. I grabbed one box of white cake and followed the usual instructions (eggs, oil, water).
Separate into six bowls and color with gel food coloring.
I put mine in a regular 9x13 pan.
And baked, using the instructions on the box.
It's still cooling now, but we'll be frosting it tonight. We've got rainbow sprinkles to add the finishing touch!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Weather Week
We had a gorgeous weekend and spent most of the time outdoors, which was wonderful! However, this morning brought with it wind, rain, and snow flurries, so we didn't get out much. In an attempt to get back on track after last week, I've planned out this week to be dedicated to learning about weather. On the agenda today -- clouds.
We spent time this morning online, looking through pictures of types of clouds. Later on, we read books about clouds that we found at the library.
We dipped cotton balls into water to demonstrate what happens when clouds cannot hold anymore water.
We used more cotton balls for our art project today.
I boiled water and let T hold his hands over it to feel the water evaporating because of the heat.
We also poured a little bit of water into a Ziploc bag, taped it to the window in the sun, and watched a mini version of the water cycle as it evaporated, condensed at the top, and eventually fell back down into the bottom of the bag.
I had been planning to do this cloud-in-a-bottle experiment, but I accidentally threw out the bottle I had set aside to use. Hopefully I'll get to it later on in the week.
We spent time this morning online, looking through pictures of types of clouds. Later on, we read books about clouds that we found at the library.
We dipped cotton balls into water to demonstrate what happens when clouds cannot hold anymore water.
We used more cotton balls for our art project today.
I boiled water and let T hold his hands over it to feel the water evaporating because of the heat.
We also poured a little bit of water into a Ziploc bag, taped it to the window in the sun, and watched a mini version of the water cycle as it evaporated, condensed at the top, and eventually fell back down into the bottom of the bag.
I had been planning to do this cloud-in-a-bottle experiment, but I accidentally threw out the bottle I had set aside to use. Hopefully I'll get to it later on in the week.
I Love Your Blog Award!
I got the I Love Your Blog award from Hey, I'm Just the Nanny. Thank you! These are so much fun, and I love your blog too!
The instructions for this award tell you to pass it along to other blogs. My blog list only contains a handful of blogs right now, and I have a sneaking suspicion that I would end up mostly repeating myself by nominating the blogs from last time around. Suffice it to say that if you're on my blog list, I love your blog!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Chore Binder (for kids)
I'm a list person. OK, I'm an obsessive list person. My life is hopeless without my lists. I accomplish nothing. Plus, it feels really good checking things off my to-do list! That's why I jumped on the home management binder bandwagon (there's a mouthful) when I first started seeing it talked about on several different blogs.
I had been needing a way to help T keep track of his daily chores, but nothing was appealing to me. Then it finally hit me. Why not use the system that I use for myself?
Thus, the five year old version of the home management binder was created.
The first couple pages of my binder have emergency contact information. I chose to do the same thing for T. For obvious reasons, I won't be posting pictures of these, but he now has a list of phone numbers for both sets of grandparents, us, and a reminder about 911. On the next page, I have printed our address to help him remember it.
The next page? His list of daily chores.
Weekly chores...
Chores to earn a little extra money:
How-to lists for certain chores, such as sorting our laundry properly, as shown. There are also a few others with instructions for things like where folded laundry goes, how to make the bed properly, and some other cleaning information.
And finally, a handful of safety pages, like this one:
All of the pages, like in my binder, are in plastic protective covers, meaning he can check things off with dry erase marker and erase them for the next day of chores. I let T decorate the cover of his binder. He actually gets excited in the mornings because he gets to check chores off as he goes. A little too much like his mama, perhaps?
All the same, it seems to be working out wonderfully!
I had been needing a way to help T keep track of his daily chores, but nothing was appealing to me. Then it finally hit me. Why not use the system that I use for myself?
Thus, the five year old version of the home management binder was created.
The first couple pages of my binder have emergency contact information. I chose to do the same thing for T. For obvious reasons, I won't be posting pictures of these, but he now has a list of phone numbers for both sets of grandparents, us, and a reminder about 911. On the next page, I have printed our address to help him remember it.
The next page? His list of daily chores.
Weekly chores...
Chores to earn a little extra money:
How-to lists for certain chores, such as sorting our laundry properly, as shown. There are also a few others with instructions for things like where folded laundry goes, how to make the bed properly, and some other cleaning information.
And finally, a handful of safety pages, like this one:
All of the pages, like in my binder, are in plastic protective covers, meaning he can check things off with dry erase marker and erase them for the next day of chores. I let T decorate the cover of his binder. He actually gets excited in the mornings because he gets to check chores off as he goes. A little too much like his mama, perhaps?
All the same, it seems to be working out wonderfully!
Happy Spring!
I have had terrible headaches ever since T was born. Thankfully, I seem to have made it past the stage where I was getting migraines 3-4 times per week, and now only get one or two long lasting headaches a month. I finally discovered the best way to ward off migraines in time, and haven't gotten a full-blown migraine in months. However, when I get one of the headaches I've had this week, they knock me out almost as much as my migraines did. It finally eased up yesterday afternoon, and I hit fully functional this morning.
All the plans I had for T this week were thrown off because of how I felt, and I've pushed them ahead until next week. Today was BEAUTIFUL, so we spent almost the entire day outside. Six hours straight, to be exact. We walked to and from the library, discovered a park great for birdwatching, played at the park, and went on a nature walk. With all of the cold weather we've had, I had forgotten just how great it was to be outside!
We collected an assortment of rocks, pinecones, sticks, leaves, and berries on our walks today. I had intended to put them on one of his shelves to examine. T, however, took matters into his own hands an initiated this project himself.
He pulled out his magnifying glass to look at everything up close.
He then glued them to a piece of paper that is now on his shelf for him to look at.
There is something so special about watching a child take the reins and WANT to learn rather than be forced into it. I know I won't be his primary teacher forever, but I hope he never loses his love of learning.
All the plans I had for T this week were thrown off because of how I felt, and I've pushed them ahead until next week. Today was BEAUTIFUL, so we spent almost the entire day outside. Six hours straight, to be exact. We walked to and from the library, discovered a park great for birdwatching, played at the park, and went on a nature walk. With all of the cold weather we've had, I had forgotten just how great it was to be outside!
We collected an assortment of rocks, pinecones, sticks, leaves, and berries on our walks today. I had intended to put them on one of his shelves to examine. T, however, took matters into his own hands an initiated this project himself.
He pulled out his magnifying glass to look at everything up close.
He then glued them to a piece of paper that is now on his shelf for him to look at.
There is something so special about watching a child take the reins and WANT to learn rather than be forced into it. I know I won't be his primary teacher forever, but I hope he never loses his love of learning.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Summer Plans
I have been plagued yet again with a long-lasting headache. It started Sunday night and has yet to ease up. Yesterday and today have been pure survival mode days. I've spent most of the time laying on the couch, doing my best to quietly entertain T without moving my head. For some reason, one of the most comfortable places I can be is in my computer chair. Of course, because I have a slight internet addiction, I automatically sign on, even when my head is pounding. So here I sit.
Since I haven't accomplished much lately, I've been making mental lists of places I hope to go as a family in late spring or summer. Realistically, they probably won't all happen this year, but so I have a written list, here are some of our ideas.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Pompey's Pillar
Pictograph Cave State Park
Yellowstone (we're already trying to make plans to go just before Memorial Day)
Lewis and Clark Caverns
Beartooth Pass -- so beautiful, and great to hike through, but first I have to overcome my horrible fear of the dropoffs on the side of the road!
Search for agates along the river
Go fossil hunting -- we have a lot of great areas not far from here
Go hiking
Camp at a nearby lake
Start a garden
Go fishing (not my thing, but Joe wants to teach T, so OK)
Go stargazing
Watch a meteor shower
Order and "raise" caterpillars into butterflies
Launch rockets
Make a sundial
Fly kites
Fly balsa wood planes
Spend the day at a waterpark
Go to a baseball game
Go birdwatching
Get T his own set of real tools and begin teaching him how to use them
Spend time at the "beach" at Lake Elmo
Go to the Running of the Sheep (because you can't live in Montana without going at least once!)
Get out to the Museum of the Rockies (about a 1 1/2-2 hour drive from here)
Time will tell how much of this actually happens this summer, but for an obsessive list-maker like me, the list is nice to reference!
Since I haven't accomplished much lately, I've been making mental lists of places I hope to go as a family in late spring or summer. Realistically, they probably won't all happen this year, but so I have a written list, here are some of our ideas.
Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Pompey's Pillar
Pictograph Cave State Park
Yellowstone (we're already trying to make plans to go just before Memorial Day)
Lewis and Clark Caverns
Beartooth Pass -- so beautiful, and great to hike through, but first I have to overcome my horrible fear of the dropoffs on the side of the road!
Search for agates along the river
Go fossil hunting -- we have a lot of great areas not far from here
Go hiking
Camp at a nearby lake
Start a garden
Go fishing (not my thing, but Joe wants to teach T, so OK)
Go stargazing
Watch a meteor shower
Order and "raise" caterpillars into butterflies
Launch rockets
Make a sundial
Fly kites
Fly balsa wood planes
Spend the day at a waterpark
Go to a baseball game
Go birdwatching
Get T his own set of real tools and begin teaching him how to use them
Spend time at the "beach" at Lake Elmo
Go to the Running of the Sheep (because you can't live in Montana without going at least once!)
Get out to the Museum of the Rockies (about a 1 1/2-2 hour drive from here)
Time will tell how much of this actually happens this summer, but for an obsessive list-maker like me, the list is nice to reference!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mount Redoubt
Is anyone following along with its activity? T and I have been watching the activity updates and webcam for a while now. It was downgraded a few days ago but is now back up after increased activity yesterday (including a small explosion -- there are pictures on the website). It's been fun to look at the webcam updates throughout the day. Even if nothing else comes out of this, the pictures are beautiful.
Mount Redoubt Activity Page
Mount Redoubt Webcam
Mount Redoubt Activity Page
Mount Redoubt Webcam
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