Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Run Away Pepper Experiment


 



 
 
 
This afternoon the kids and I did another Science experiment. We did one called Run Away Pepper. It is a surface tensions experiment. All you need is water, pepper, and dish soap.  My kids enjoyed this experiment. But for them it was not as exciting as the baking soda and vinegar one. It is still one that I would recommend trying with your kids. I found the information on the Kids Science Experiments blog. They have more information on their site. Below is a picture of the experiment before and after we added the soap. Hope you enjoy!



Sorry!  I know it is hard to see the pepper.



 


After

Monday, March 25, 2013

Top 10 Books for Preschoolers

   I was reading to my kids last night and decided to compile a list of my personal top 10 favorite books for Preschoolers.  These are ones that I have loved as a little girl and I love reading to my kids.  Hope you enjoy!

        
 1. There's Something In My Attic by Mercer Mayer
 2. SESAME STREET The Together Book by Revena Dwight
This is one of the Little Golden Books.  This was by far my favorite as a child.  As you can tell from the duct tape it has seen some better days.

 3. The Tale of PETER RABBIT by BEATRIX POTTER
Honestly, who does not love Peter Rabbit?
 4.  The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Okay, this one is cheating a little because it is more then one story.  But my kids love this one.   
 5. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C Moore
Okay, who doesn't love this one?  For a child this book captures the essence of Christmas.
 6. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
   This whole series is good, but this first one is my favorite.  This book still as an adult makes me laugh every time I read it.




 7.THE POKY LITTLE PUPPY by Jannette Sebring Lowery
Adapted by Rosanna Hansen 
This one in the Picture is an adaption of the original.  I really love the original but I did not have it on hand.
 8. Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss
Writing as Theo LeSieg
This is one of two Dr. Seuss books that made it on my list.
9. Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat









10. The Best Nest by P. D. Eastman

This is the second of my favorite Dr. Seuss books.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Menu Plan for the week of 3/24 - 3/30

    I know that I have been doing my menu plans on Mondays, but I decided this week I would post it today.  I wanted to be able to have at least 3 days in the menu.  Starting Wednesday of this week the kids and I will be away for a week and a half.  Princess will be on spring break from School.  We are fortunate enough to have a free place to stay at the beach.  My grandmother generously opens her place up too everyone in our family.  I will still be posting from her house, but I do not know what we are going to be eating. Anyway here is what I know we will be eating for the 1st part of the week.

    Breakfasts
      *Bagels
      *Cereal
      *Waffles


Dinners
  * Ground Turkey Enchiladas
  * Crock Pot Italian Cream Cheese Chicken from the Heavenly Homemakers blog.
  * Barbecue Meatballs from Lynn's Kitchen Adventures blog.

  I will post the rest of the week once I get to the beach and know what else we will be eating.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Kid's Sneakers

     

 Princess and I had to go shopping this morning for yet another new pair of sneakers. She is a child who plays hard and therefore is rough on her sneakers. She goes through roughly a pair every 3 to 4 months. Now I do not know maybe this is normal, but to me it seems like it is too often. We have tried multiple brands, stores, and prices, yet nothing seems to work. She still always busts the toes out of her shoes. I am kind of at my wits end at this point for what to do. Am I alone in this battle with kid’s sneakers? Has anyone else had this issue also? Does anyone have any recommendations for a good kid’s sneaker brand?

These pictures below are of her old sneakers, so you can see how bad the problem really is.






Friday, March 22, 2013

15 Uses for Diaper Cloths




You ever wonder what to do with cloth diapers after your kids are too old for them? I have a ton of diaper cloths that I received as hand me downs, or on my baby shower cloth diaper cake.  I never knew what to do with them. So one day I was racking my brain of what I could do with them. That is when I started to come up with all sorts of things to do with them.  Below is a list I have compiled of different uses for diaper cloths.

1. Fold one in half and use it as a hot pad for setting hot dishes on.

2. For the rectangle ones. You can let your kids color on them with permanent marker. Then turn them in to cloth place mats. Or if you are feeling really creative make your own art creation on them and use them as place mats.

3. Use them as a dish rag and dry dishes with them.

4. For that matter you could use them to wipe down the counters

5. Wipe up spills. I use them all the time for cleaning up after my kids spill stuff.

6. Wipe out your microwave.

7. Wash windows with them.

8. Wash mirrors with them.

9. Wipe down your sinks with them.

10. Use them as dust cloths

11. Use them for art project cleanup

12. Wipe down your toilets with them.

13. Wipe down your kids toys with them.

14. Use them for blotting stains out of laundry.

15. Turn them into hand towels for your kids.

These are just some uses that I came up with for diaper cloths. I am sure there endless possibilities with just a little creative thinking.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

2013 Spring / Summer Bucket List

  Today is the 1st day of spring.  Warmer weather is just around the corner.  And with the warmer weather Schools let out for summer.  And then comes the time were you are left looking for things to do to entertain the kids. Below is my personal Spring / Summer Bucket list.  I hope to be able to do as many as possible with my kids.  Feel free to check out the links or do some of them with your kids.


 1. Go Swimming at the Beach        
 2.Camp Out in Our Backyard         
 3.Build a Fort in the Backyard           
  5.Go to the Park          
 6.Have a Water Balloon Fight         
 7. Have a Homemade Water Park Day (Water Blob, Homemade Slip and Slide, Shaving Cream Slide, Sensory Pool, Baby Pool, Water Balloons, and Water Guns.)          
8. Fly Kites     
 9.Make Homemade Ice Cream   
10. Go Playground Hopping      
11. Build a Sandcastle
12. Go to a Free Movie at a Park         
13.Have a Backyard Barbecue
14. Collect Seashells at the Beach         
15. Have a Family Game Night
16. Catch Lightening Bugs        
17.Eat Breakfast Outside
18. Try a New Fruit        
19. Go Berry Picking         
20. Dance in the Rain   
21.Spot Shapes in the Clouds    
 23. Plant a garden       
  24.Make Trix Krispies          
26.Make a Summer Fruit Pizza     
 27.Have an Outdoor Picnic Games
28. Go to a Farmers Market         
30. Have a Drive in Movie Night       
31. Freezer Banana Pops
34. Make a Water Blob    
 37.Make Solar S'Mores    
38.Sponge Painting   
 40. Ice Cube Painting   
 41.Outdoor Bean Bag Toss         
44. Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches    
46. Homemade Volcano    
 48. Ice Cream in a bag    
50. Frozen Watermelon Pops    
 51.  Frozen Excavation    
52. DIY Slip and Slide     
 53. Bubble Snake   
54.  Outdoor Photo Scavenger Hunt
55.  Make Summer Sponge Bombs      
 56. Make a DIY Water Slide
57.  Play a Fishing Game in the Baby Pool      
58.  Make a Summer Tent     
 59. Go Fruit Picking
60.  Make Camp Fire Food        
62.  Baking Soda Painting         
63. Faded Sun Prints               
64. DIY Slip and Slide        
 65.  Dancing Raisins