2013 Rain Gutter Regatta

We are well underway of our 2nd year of Cub Scouts, and we have learned a few tricks for our second rain gutter regatta. Adam and L took some time looking at pontoon boats on the web and studying the way they are shaped. They then got to work shaping and sanding the wood. L then picked out the color and got to work painting. He insisted it had to have a spider on the sail, and luckily enough, after digging through our sticker bin, found the perfect spider sticker. We also learned that it works best if the sail if hot glued into place. That way it doesn't spin while the boy is blowing on it during the race. (We also learned this year that having the sail the closest to the bottom of the boat causing it not to tip over during the race as well.)

A very happy boy to place 2nd in his den. Last year he was 5th!

He was then able to race in the finals. They took the top 2 from each den. He didn't win any of the top places, but did get a finalist medal.

He was over the moon to have a medal this year!

Halloween crafts Part 1 2013

We have been really inspired by some great crafts this year. Here is a taste of what we have been up to!

Fall Leaves

Origami Spiderwebs

Yearly Candy Corn Hand prints

Sponge painted Bats

Glue and Chalk Spider webs

Princess Leia buns

Princess Leia belt

Boo S'mores

Inspiration found from these wonderful blogs for all these crafts!
Fall Leaves
Spider Web Origami
Candy Corn Hand prints
Bats
Pastel Spider webs
Princess Leia buns
Boo Smores

Fall Library Fun! September

As many of you know, either by talking to me in real life or reading the blog over the years, we LOVE the library!!!! We are so very lucky to have 2 amazing library systems. They are always hosting free functions for the entire family, monthly book sales, free meeting rooms, and a huge selection of books, movies, music, and magazines. We did tons of fun activities over the summer through the summer reading program, and now they have some amazing fall age appropriate events as well. This year, since the kids are older, we have been able to sign up for the Magic Tree House Reading Club, a Science Club, and L gets to go to a Lego Club. All these are free and occur just 1 per month!

The month of September we read Midnight On the Moon. They got to watch the youtube video of the first man on the moon, and then they made craters. The librarians had 2 tubs full of flour. The kids each got to pick a ball of various sizes and materials, and drop straight down into the flour.

What they were left with looked just like craters on the moon!!

L had his first Lego club in September. He was very excited to see some old friends, and meet some new friends. They were split into groups, and allowed to build whatever it was they wanted. They also had some Lego themed books out for check out, and taught them the rules to follow that spelled out the word LEGO.

We also have signed up for a fun Science Club. In September we explored how and why leaves change colors. The librarians had tons of different leaves laid out on the table. They started out by having each kid tear up a leaf into tiny pieces and then grind it up in a mortar and pestle. They added it to some rubbing alcohol and put it in a water bath. Later they added some litmus paper to see the colors make their way up.

They also had a microscope set up with various leaves on slides for them to explore. They also did a fun craft that we had done in the past. They painted a tree with a brush, and then using a q-tip, painted leaves in fall colors on the trees.

And last but not least, a Fancy Nancy Tea Party!

First day of school 2013

I can't believe that as I type this we are already half way done with our 3rd month of school this year! I also still can't believe I have a 1st and 2nd grader! When did they grow up???

2013 Blueberry Festival

Every year we have a tradition of going to the Marshall County Blueberry Festival over Labor Day weekend. The first one we spent together was 12 years ago when we worked a booth for my place of employment way back when. And we have yet to miss one in 12 years! This year was a hot one!!!!  We like to spread our time out over the entire weekend, so none of us get too hot and tired. The first night was Saturday, the kids were able to use a giant hand crank to make their own jump rope, although they are looking forward to the day they can use it as a rope ladder in a tree house.

We also discovered these cool guys walking around, and L insisted on having his picture taken with them.

We capped off the first night with Blueberry shakes and listening to a great folk rock band.

The next day we enjoyed free samples from Chobani...

found Waldo...

rode some of the fun rides...

and watched a fun firework display with family and friends complete with glow in the dark necklaces, glasses, and pendants!

Monday morning is the parade, and sadly this year Adam had to work. So the kids and I packed some snacks and headed down to watch it.

Overall it was a fantastic weekend, and we are already looking forward to next year!

Science Central Ft. Wayne

I remembered seeing this really neat science place on our first trip to Ft. Wayne, and wanted to take the kids back to it. I brought it up to a friend, and she agreed to come with! We looked on the Science Central website, and were really excited about the fun things they appeared to have.

We headed out for the day, but along the way we had to pull over so D could throw up, even though she had her motion sickness pill. Then all 4 kids, who normally get along, fought over what movie to watch in the car. Waiting in line for lunch at McDonald's was tough, and super busy. We felt like we were never going to get there.

We finally arrived, and were disappointed to find that some of the big displays were only open at certain times, but the times that were posted were not the times they were going by. I asked around, but it seemed that the workers couldn't really answer my questions.

We then were disappointed to find that our kids were deemed to small to go on a large slide that was equal to that of an indoor play area. We also discovered that they were too small to ride the large balance bike. The lady working the moon bounce was not doing it properly, and therefore none of the kids really got to feel like they were walking on the moon.

One of the cool things was that they did do a demonstration and D got picked to help. All the kids really enjoyed this part of the day.

We did spend a few hours there, but I don't know if we will go back. Our kids, aged 7-5, were the perfect age for the majority of the displays there, but were too small to do them. I feel like the older kids that are the correct size would be bored out of their minds going there for the day. Oh well, we always like an adventure and to try new things.

Great Big Weekend Fun!!!!

It was one of the last summer weekends, or so we thought, of the year and we decided to go out with a bang this year!

Our weekend started at a charity concert that our friend was performing at!

Next we set up camp on our friend's parent's property. They have a nice large property with a pond, so it is always relaxing to stay there. We got a fire going, and taught the kids how to cook hot dogs over the fire for the first time. We wrapped crescent rolls around the dogs to have a built in crust. The kids really enjoyed it!

Next up, L decided to go fishing with the poles at the beach shack. There was no bait, but he was not discouraged. He caught this large fish, with no bait, and as soon as Adam tossed it back in, L had caught another smaller fish.

To cap off the evening, we took the kids to their first ever drive-in movie. We saw Despicable Me 2, and we loved every minute of it.

The next morning, Adam took the kids out in the canoe. Each kid took turns paddling from the front.

D picked up playing the didgeridoo!

And last but not least, the kids got to ride horses! They were both so very excited and claim that trotting is their favorite!