Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere!

Our summer fun is going strong. We are checking things off our list, and big bubbles is on it. My boys and I, along with some friends had a blast making huge, colorful bubbles. Wednesday was the last day party fun with Evan and Landon. I have been doing pre-k with Landon this summer. We've really enjoyed them coming over twice a week. Oh, and I cannot wait to have a bubble day with my pre-schoolers! They are going to love it too.

I was inspired to make these bubble wands, and I had to try it out. The first time it did not work for me. Cameron was the first to get it going!

Watch out, here it comes...I figured it out.



This is so much fun and a must try activity.





Wanna know how? Sure you do!

Homemade Bubble Solution

You will need: distilled water, glycerin, and Non-Ultra/Classic Dawn Original Scent. (I used Joy and it worked fine!)

Step 1: Into your Mixing bucket add 6 cups of Distilled Water.

Step 2: Stirring SLOWLY so as not to make lather, add in 2 cups of Non-Ultra/Classic Dawn Original Scent (or Ultra Dish detergent if necessary).

Step 3: Stir in 5-6 drops of Glycerin (double the amount if using Ultra detergent).

Here is another recipe link with great tips.

Bubble Wand

* 2 dowels (we cut some 48" in half...so 24 " dowels worked for us.)

*1 metal washer

*cotton string ( aka butcher's twine)

*2 eye hooks (make sure the cord/string will fit through)

Tip: The first string we tried were thin. It worked, but I felt like I was fishing with my boys. You know, like getting the fishing line untangled from the tree or from a rock. It tangled up a lot. The next day we tried the thicker string and it worked great...no problems.

How to make the wand:

First, take the dowels and screw one eye hook into each of the wooden dowels.

Second, cut your string. One will be 35 inches long, and the second string will be 70 inches long. We wanted big bubbles, but you wouldn't have to have the string that long. Just double what you cut the top string to be.

Third, put the metal washer on the longest string.

Next, tie both strings through the eye hook. Tie the shortest string on top and the longest underneath.

Finally, dip the string into the solution. Keep the dowels together and bring it out of the solution. Now, slowly open it up and walk backwards.

If at first you don't succeed, try again. It's worth it.

You are set! Go make some BIG bubbles!

Watermelon Turtle!

Oh, sweet summer time! Who doesn't love a cold sweet watermelon in the summer? Want to take a ordinary watermelon and turn it into something extraordinary? Meet Mr. Turtle!

This is my first turtle I ever made.

Last week I had the privilege of making a watermelon turtle for my niece's birthday party. She is such a doll, even with blue teeth!

First, I made one for Cameron's 8th birthday, and even re-used the shell at a family reunion several days later. Just wrap and keep in the fridge. Mr. Turtle has been a hit no matter where he goes...

not to mention delicious and refreshing!

What you will need:

• An oblong seedless watermelon
• vegetable peeler or a tool to carve ( I ended up using a flat head screwdriver)
• fruit
• Super Glue
• Whole Peppercorns
• toothpicks
• melon ball scoop
• dry erase marker
• leaves from around your home
• sharp knife
• platter

How to Make the Turtle

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Step 2: Wash all the fruit, including the watermelon.

Step 3: Cut the watermelon and using a melon ball scoop, scoop out the inside of the watermelon and set aside. I also put an old towel under the watermelon to catch the mess.

If you cannot find an oblong shaped seedless watermelon, pick out the seeds. I had not done that yet at this point. Put some watermelon away, so you will have room for other fruit.

Step 4: Now, that both sides of the watermelon are empty, use your melon ball scoop and scrape out the rest.

Step 5: Draw your body parts on one of the turtle shells and cut out. Lay the pieces aside.

Next, draw the shell. We are not aiming for perfection here...turtle shells are not perfect.

Step 6: Carve out the design you drew and set aside. It should look something like this...

Step 7: Fill the bottom shell with lots of colorful fruit!

Step 8: Grab a platter and some leaves. Place the fruit shell on the platter. Then chill until it is time to serve.

Step 9: Now for the body parts you set aside. Take the head and carve out two small holes for the eyes. Then, super glue two eyes on. (peppercorn)

Step 10: Attach the body parts using toothpicks.

Now enjoy the fruits of your labor! ;0P

I'm linking up with Jen from Tatortots and Jello.

Bringing Spring Inside...Amazing Tip!

What do you do when you want to open the windows to let in fresh air, but it's to cold outside and looks like this?

You duck!

Okay, after you dodge the snowballs, why not bring a little Spring inside too? I saw this tip the other day and had to try it. If you have a forsythia bush you can try it too!

Friday, when it was so pretty outside, I decided to trim some bushes. My forsythia bush was needing a good trim. I trimmed some of the limbs and brought them inside. No blooms...yet. We are going to force the blooms to grow! It is so cool.

First, take your cuttings you have inside...

Next, take a hammer and start pounding the end of your cutting.

Until it looks like this....

Then, fill up a vase with warm water and add your cuttings. Put your vase by a window...

Spring clean your kitchen and make the Fly Lady proud of your shiny sink!

Three days later....

You have BLOOMS!

I LOVE IT!

It will brighten up any room in the snowiest of SPRING days.

100 Days Of School! (Actually more now)

100 days of school have come and gone. I cannot believe there are only 52 days left of this school year! For Kindergarten, celebrating 100 days of school is a big deal. Each year there is a family project that is required. This year we were suppose to make a poster celebrating 100, and are required to have 100 items on our poster. I remember doing Cameron's K poster. We glued 100 school related objects on a foam board. It was cute! This year for Caden we decided to use a picture.

First, I took Caden out in the snow for a little photo shoot.

Next, we gathered all the supplies: lined poster board, paper cutter, glue, brush, foam board, and an 8 X 10 picture.

Then, Michael and I cut the picture into 1 x 1 inch squares. After all, it is suppose to be a family project. If you do the math then you will know it does not come out to 100. So, we added square stickers to the poster that said Caden's name and "Winter 2010" to make it 100.

While we were cutting the picture, Caden was cutting some foam board into squares to help give some of the pictures a 3-D effect.

After that, Caden started gluing down the squares, as I made sure he had it in order. The grids on the poster board were a huge help to make sure the pictures were spaced correctly.

Caden gluing on the squares.



Finally, the finished project. It was a hit with all the teachers!

You Melt My Heart....Valentines

We made these Valentine's for my son's 2nd grade class. The idea came from an old Family Fun magazine. It is a great way to recycle broken crayons. The kids love them.

This is what you need:
1.) Your supply of crayons....the broken pieces.


2.)


A couple of really good, cute helpers to help peel the paper off.



3.) Heat the oven to 250°. Place the broken crayons into a heart shape muffin pan. Bake until the crayons melt, about 10 to 15 minutes. Tip: Place a sheet pan under the crayons to catch any drips. Also, pick the pretty colors and put them in first.


4.) Once they're cool, remove the hearts from the molds and smooth any rough edges by rubbing them on a piece of scrap paper.


5.) Use small pieces of foam tape to stick each heart to a 3-inch circle cut from card stock, then add your message. "You color my world" and "You melt my heart" are the two phrases we used.




Have fun using your new multi-colored crayon!