CASE Camp - Week of July 8th

Most of our week has been filled with CASE Camp, and it has entertained and exhausted everyone.  I completely forgot my camera on Day 1, but can tell you that we started the day off forming pipe cleaners so that we use them to grow crystals.  On Day 2 the kids got to see their handiwork.

Then we played with baking soda and colored vinegar.  The kids were able to mix colors and make bubbles. 

 FInally we made marble art!

Day 3 was super hectic with tie-dying and animal wrangling!

Here's one of the great helpers I had this week, Priscilla.  

Maggie got to check out the animals before she had to leave for swim lessons.  As you can see, she was quite pleased with the turtle.

 I got a chance to play with the snakes that Crocodile Encounter (http://www.thecrocodileexperience.com/)  crew brought.

And, of course, Cameron also got to pet the snakes too.

We made big messes with rice, gel crystals and paint all week.  It was a great week of exploration and fun, even with constant rain.

Silly Saturday - July 7th

We hit Moody Gardens last Saturday for our first time back at Palm Beach since they've completed all of their renovations.  It was great!  The kids had a blast on the slides, "beach," lazy river, and wave pool.

By the end of our fun everyone was tired and hungry so we hit the strand to eat and check out the shops.  We snacked on pizzas, poboys, burgers and drinks at Yaga's (http://www.yagaspresents.com/)  All of the kids got camo bandanas and belts at Colonel Bubbies (http://www.colbubbie.com/) which was quite an experience.  

We saw Bob Phillips, the Texas Country Reporter (http://www.texascountryreporter.com/), at La King's Confectionary (http://www.lakingsconfectionery.com/).  They candy makers were making fresh peanut butter taffy on the pullers right behind the counter and were throwing out free samples.  It was heavenly and just melted in your mouth.

And, of course, some more time cuddling with Lincoln!

Week of July 4th!

As always the week of July 4th was a busy one!  We made cake balls, goody bags, and snacks to get ready for the day of.

 For some reason I don't have any swimming pictures, but we did swim on this very warm 4th of July.

 Of course we had lots of time to love on our cousins.

 And we just had to get our nails done.

 And work in some time for silly games.

We did not stick to our schedule, but it was still a fun week!

Friend Friday - week of June 24

Sorry there's been a break in posting, but we've been quite busy.  The particular Friday in question we were lucky enough to meet up with our friends the Arkansas Gayharts for lunch at Chick-fil-a.  Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures!
The kids were also very helpful in testing all of the activities for the Rainbow Room at CASE Camp.  We made rainbow rice, crystals and tie dyed t-shirts with various techniques.

 When Chris got home we headed to the park to play in the rain.

The All-Stars!

Tasty Thursday - Week of July 24

This is possibly my favorite day because I get the kids to try new foods!!  What's funny is that yesterday one of our ministers at church posted a video of himself and our previous preaching minister taste testing dried crickets.  I had the kids watch the video and asked if they'd like to also try them.  Maggie kept repeating all day that she did not want to eat a cricket.  

Anyhow we tried two new recipes, two new fruits, and a new food today.  I found a recipe online for Caramel-Banana-Pecan Muffins (http://www.dwellonjoy.com/2012/02/caramel-banana-pecan-muffins_13.html) and they smelled amazing and tasted even better.  The recipe made a dozen and between Maggie and I we've eaten half by ourselves.  Cameron tried one bite, but stated that he was not a fan of pecans and did not want to eat a whole one.  Maggie just picked the pecans out.  Chris & I aren't sure that they are our kids cause we both love pecans.  

Later I chopped up a bunch of fruit that we picked up on Wednesday.  Cameron tried kiwi for the first time.  While he liked the flavor he was not a fan of the seeds.  He also had picked out a Golden Delicious apple to try, which he is a fan of.  The one fruit that it surprises me that Cameron likes is nectarine.  That's just not a fruit that I imagine a kid asking for, but he does.  Maggie was a bit less adventurous, she just went back to eating cantaloupe which she already knew she liked.  She ate a whole divider of cantaloupe!  

Finally at dinner time I was out of taco seasoning, so I went online and found recipe mix to make our own.  It was fantastic and I think I like it better than the packet stuff!  (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/taco-seasoning-i/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=taco%20seasoning&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page)  If the link doesn't work just search for Taco Seasoning I on AllRecipes.com.  

Chris was able to convince Cameron to try a taco with meat in it, versus just bean and cheese.  And guess what, he liked it!! 

We are having a great time trying to new foods and recipes.  Like I said, I think this is my favorite day. I do enjoy baking and cooking, and of course you can find a million new things to try on Pinterest!  

Reading & Writing Wednesday - Week of July 24

So this day of the week we've been really bad about accomplishing our objective of getting the kids to practice writing.  The reading is the easy part, they both love to read or be read to.  But to write, it's like pulling teeth or walking through fire, or you get the idea.
One week I was successful in getting them to both write to a pen pal.  But only one of the weeks!  I need some better ideas to get them practicing.  Maggie will only write her M, but knows all her letters.  Cameron's penmanship leaves something to be desired.
I need to get motivated and find some better ideas to make this day more exciting.

Travel Tuesday - Week of July 24

We didn't travel very far today since I had 2 extra kiddos, I'm only so brave.  We went to a a jump place and did a few fun things at the house too.

 

My friend, Sarah, has done these construction paper handprints with her family as gifts before and I felt it calling our names.  My nephews are on the left and my kids are on the right.  It sort of makes me giggle that Kaiden & Zachary's hands are so close in size.  And I'm not sure if we'll be able to get Lincoln to uncurl a hand and cooperate, but we'll give it a try.  

We also tried to melt crayons outside since it was very, very hot on Tuesday.  Our initial idea of just setting the canvas outside did not produce results, so we added a baking pan the next morning and the crayon began to run.

 

I'm please with the results of both.  The masterpiece on the left is going to require some additional melting at the bottom to get it to go into a frame.  The masterpiece on the right just popped right up.  I think the kids did a great job with their color choices and design.  

We learned about all sorts of useful things with this project - how heat conducts, solids versus liquids, and car safety (we put it in the van for an hour to see if inside a car would heat it up faster).