Summer Reading Fun

We were very active in our local library's summer reading program this summer. In fact, the way our library system is set up, we have 2 different libraries with 2 different programs. So we did both!! We really do love our libraries and are so thankful that they have such amazing free events!

We got to see a magic show put on by Ronald McDonald!

He said he loved having another ginger around! Funny enough over Labor day we went to a parade, and it was the same guy in the parade. He saw D, his face lit up in recognition, and blew her a kiss.

Dino day!! 

The end of the summer reading program for one library allowed the kids to put on forest friendly costumes and sign the log book!

Kid's Garden Club:Learn about compost!

Epic Vacation Part 3

We were able to spend a whole week at the ocean, and we joined by a large portion of Adam's side of the family. We tried to take turns cooking dinner, and everyone was sort of on their own for breakfast and lunch. It worked really well! We also put up a small tent on the beach for shade. L took to the water like a fish, by the end of the week he was diving through waves, boogie boarding, and swimming. D preferred to stay more on the sand, play with her little cousins, and only go into the water up to her thigh. The waves were crazy huge most of the week due to the occasional storm passing by. Both kids had fun trying to catch little crustaceans called sand fleas by the locals. They would hunt for them and keep them in buckets as pets. They also collected tons of shells that we brought home and keep in a vase on a shelf in the living room. The kids worked together to catch a fish with their hands as well!

The family was together over the 4th of July, which also just happens to be my mother-in-law's birthday as well. We celebrated with a special dinner, cake and ice cream, fireworks on the beach, and the kids all played with glow sticks.

After a wonderful week on the beach, it was time to pack back up and head for home. We again took 2 days to drive back, staying in the same hotel in fact. While on the way back home, another friend from my internet group said that we were passing right by her city, and wondered if we could make a quick stop to see her. So I was able to meet another friend that I never had met in real life, but had been internet friends for almost 8 years.

We made it all the way home with no problems either. Although we did not run into any road construction or road kill until we got back home to Indiana. All four of us had a blast, and we can't wait to go on another road trip!!!

Epic Vacation Part 2

On our second day of travel, we headed from Knoxille to Emerald Isle, North Carolina. Another smooth day of travel, and everyone was very excited to see the mountains! I think Adam was rubber necking more than the kids were. I had been posting out whereabouts on a private group of friends, we all had kids born in June 2006, and it just so happens that one of them said them were close by Knoxville. Well I said it was a shame that we didn't have time to visit. So we kept on our merry way. We got to the first rest stop in North Carolina, which is also a visitor center. Adam, doing a typical dad thing, had us stop so he could get a state map. On our way back to the car, I hear someone call my name. It turns out this friend had stopped at the same rest stop, and parked next to us. We have never met in real life, but recognized each other right away! We made sure we got a group photo with all the kids, it was so much fun!

After driving through a bad thunderstorm around Durham, we made it to the shore! Just a couple of our group was there already, so we made our way to the water. We hadn't eaten dinner yet, so we told the kids that we weren't going to get in the water tonight, but would first thing in the morning. We headed out to take a look, and L just ran straight into the water! He couldn't help it, he was so excited and after being stuck in a car for 2 days straight, we couldn't fault him. He swallowed so much water that night, it scared me. In the end he was fine, but nothing like a little fright to start the vacation. D ran into the water up to her knees, and just squeeled! She then collected things she found on shore and created a self portrait. 

Epic Vacation!

We took our first major family vacation this summer and it turned out to be a giant road trip! Adam's brother and wife live in North Carolina and rented 2 beach houses on Emerald Isle for the entire family to come out. Nearly everyone on that side of the family made it! We had bought a new to us, reliable car back in March, so we thought it would be the perfect thing for a road trip. Adam and I have not shied away from trips like this before, in fact we drove from Indiana to San Fran on our honeymoon! We broke the trip out into 2 days, the first day we drove from Indiana to Knoxville Tennessee and then the second day we drove from Knoxville all the way to the coast off of North Carolina.

The kids were very excited about going on a long car trip. We had talked about it for months before we left and I stocked up on fun stuff for them to do over the previous months. The kids had books, coloring and activity books, craft supplies, maps, movies and small toys. They each had their own snack bag as well filled with mostly healthy snacks and a few sweets like Pez as well.

We saw some amazing sights, and were able to check off 4 states that first day off of our list (a short detour into Ohio).  We made it to our hotel for the first night with minimal hassle, which was a relief. (I got lost for a bit in the hills of Kentucky, just a little scary, and the GPS didn't like where we were) We walked over to Cracker Barrel for dinner, the kids have never eaten there, and they are hooked now. L and Adam had a nice time playing checkers on the porch after we ate, and D found a toy to buy with her own money. After dinner we got to swim in a warm indoor pool at our hotel. The kids absolutely loved the whole day!

"Wait, who is Dolly?"

Mythbuster Birthday Party!!!

Last year after L and D's party, they insisted that the next party had to be Mythbuster themed. Normally they change their ideas every day, but this one held fast. Throughout the year, I was able to pick up caution tape on clearance from Michael's. We made sure we did fun science projects with the kids!!

The first one we did was 2 baking trays full of baking soda (found a giant box in the grocery baking aisle), colored vinegar with food coloring which we poured into plastic shot glasses, and gave each kid a plastic pipette (found at United Art and Education). I showed to the kids how to pull the vinegar into the pipette and then squeeze it onto the baking soda causing little eruptions. This one was a big hit with everyone!

Then we moved onto a super easy trick and the best part is that you probably have everything in the house already! You just need a Ziploc plastic bag (any size will do), water, and sharpened pencils. You simply fill the bag with water to whatever height you would like. Zip it closed, and then slowly push a sharp pencil through the bag where the water is, and the hole will self seal. You can push a bunch of pencils and it should only leak when you take the pencils back out!

Next we split the kids into girls and boys. We had about 15 kids there and they were about evenly split. The girls and I headed away a bit from the picnic shelter. The Mythbusters have a crash test dummy named "Buster" that always gets beat up in all they do. So we needed a Buster to beat up too! I had an old Tuxedo Mask doll, and a friend had given us a large water balloon sling shot. Soooooo, we tried to see how far we could fling Buster! I even made little flags out of Popsicle sticks and paper with the kids names on them to mark where Buster landed. He did loose both arms in the process, and let me just say, the girls got him the farthest!

The boys headed over with Adam to the side of the picnic shelter where we had kite string tied between 2 poles. Each boy got a balloon that they taped to a cut down straw. They blew up the balloon, slipped the kite string through the straw and let go, sending it flying down the string. After everyone had a turn, we switched!

And we had to finish the science with the mentos/diet cola explosion! We had lemon lime, diet, and regular cola to try it with.  In our trying, we discovered the lemon lime did the best this time around. The kids all had fun watching that one!

It was time for cake, and normally I make a big, fun themed cake. This year, since the party was at a park, we did simple funfetti cupcakes with either chocolate or vanilla frosting.

Then it was present time! The kids got so many really nice things from everyone. I handed out the treat bags to the guests while they watched the gift opening. I figured it would help keep hands busy! Inside each blue bag treat bag was a mini notebook, golf pencil, safety goggles (Thank you Dollar Tree!!!!), and a packet of Pop Rocks!

Overall it was a fantastic party, and a wonderful day! The easiest party I think we have done so far!