Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival - Marble Paintings

Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival (TTSS) is a weekly carnival to help mamas survive the long summer days. The goal is to share kid-friendly tips so we can end up on the other side of this summer with what little sanity we had when we started.

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Marble Paintings:
I read about this activity in a magazine (probably my favorite, Wondertime, which unfortunately ceased publication) about a year ago and always remembered it.

You'll need:

a shoebox or lid

a piece of paper cut to fit inside the box/lid

paint

cups

marble

Put the paper in the bottom of the box/lid. Fill the cups with just enough paint to cover the bottom of the cup. Drop a marble in the paint and roll it around by shaking the cup.
Gently drop the marble from the cup to the box.
Tilt and shake the box to get the paint covered marble to roll around.

Repeat with more colors if desired.

Remove the paper from the box and let dry.

This entertained Jack (age 4) for quite awhile. He tried different techniques...fast frantic shaking versus long back and forth slow tilts. He also tried a large marble versus a smaller marble. Logan (age 3) has a shorter attention span and only made one or two paintings before running around the yard like a wild banshee.

Sorry the pics are a bit shadowy...we were doing this late one afternoon.

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Here's how you can participate in TTSS (and please do):
Grab the code for my button (over there on the left) and write your own post about a kid-friendly idea that might help a mama keep her sanity this summer. (Feel free to include the obligatory cute kid photo!)

Then come back here and add your link to the widget built by my wonderful and geeky talented husband. (Pays to be married to a geek!) Simply add your new (or even an old) post's link to the form below.

Then, most importantly, visit the other blogs that have linked and leave comments, hopefully encouraging them to give us more good ideas next week.

Odds 'n ends...

So, I'm still a blog slacker. I'm not reading many and I'm not writing too many of my own. But there are a couple of things I should bring up...

I haven't really written anything about Denise's (from There is Always Room for One More) visit. I guess since she was the mama running away from home I felt like it was her story to tell more than mine. But since she is having computer difficulties and is off on another adventure currently, maybe I could dish just a little.

Scott was a little concerned about having a perfect stranger stay with us. But we figured Denise wouldn't brave a several hour flight with her youngest, Emma, just to kill us.

Once we met her it was clear that our family had nothing to worry about. Denise is funny, easy-going and so fun to be around. Emma is such a sweet charismatic little girl.

Since we had my crazy boys with us most of the time, we kept it low-key and kid-friendly...the beach, the playground, window shopping. I had a great time hanging out with her and getting to know her better. I consider myself lucky to have made a friend through blogging...a friend that I was able to meet in real life and will hopefully continue to know.

I wish I had written this post yesterday so I could easily post some pics...but, as you'll read below, I'm having a bit of computer trouble.

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Angel at Starting Over is hosting a giveaway...$50 of Avon products! She is going to draw the winner on the 4th of July because it's her favorite holiday...and mine too. Be sure to stop by her site soon to enter this generous giveaway.

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Just a reminder that I host Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival. Every week I share a kid-friendly tip and ask others to link up their crafts, outdoor fun, cooking, outings, etc. The goal is to end up on the other side of this summer with what little sanity we had when we started. So far we've had some amazing ideas and we are only a third of the way through summer. Soon, I hope to get a recap post up of what we've got so far...

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But, my little HP Mini is being sent back to HP because something is wrong with the speaker...quite honestly, I think the boys did something to it...but don't tell HP that. So I'm using my old enormous laptop which was replaced by the Mini because it would randomly turn itself off. (And the laptop knows I'm speaking ill of it because it just crashed AGAIN!) This does not bode well for my blog slacking...

Thank goodness for autosave on Blogger...my laptop just crashed again! I guess the fact that I'm actually posting this speaks to my persistence...

Who's who?

Which little monkey:

• Uses the term "humans" instead of "people" as in "Mama, what are those humans doing?"
• Asked how the treasures got in the sand. When I said, "The treasure fairy put them there," he looked at me like I was stupid and said, "There is no such thing as a treasure fairy! Only a tooth fairy!"
• Thinks the security cameras in Target are for raccoons..."because raccoons steal stuff!"

Which little love bug:

• Sobbed uncontrollably and kept saying that he missed his new "friend" when the skunk, who spent a very long time visiting our campsite, finally decided to leave
  
• Asked "what does a duck rooster say?" When we said "I don't know," he said "Quackadoodledooooooo!"
• Wears two superhero capes at the same time

The other side of the camera - Park play

I'm participating in what I think is a really smart weekly challenge hosted by Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans. It seems like mamas spend an awful lot of time behind the camera. The idea of this challenge is for mamas to get on the other side of the camera in at least one photo a week.

When my boys grow up they'll inherit hundreds of thousands of photos taken from their childhood, but how many of those will show their mama? At least for this year I can answer 52!

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These two pics are self-portraits (hence, the extreme close-up) at one of our favorite parks.

Mama and Logan


Mama and Jack

Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival - Buried Treasure

Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival (TTSS) is a weekly carnival to help mamas survive the long summer days. The goal is to share kid-friendly tips so we can end up on the other side of this summer with what little sanity we had when we started.

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Buried Treasure:

This a fun but quiet outside activity. All you need is a sandbox, either in your backyard or at a local park, and some shiny confetti. (I get mine from the 99cent store or the party store.)
Preferably while your kiddos aren't looking, sprinkle some of the confetti on the sand and shuffle your feet to gently bury it.

Innocently mention to your kids that you've seen some sparkling stuff in the sand and offer them a shovel or sifter. My kids also ask for a baggie, bucket or cup to put their found treasures in.

Hope everyone is having a fun and sane summer with their kiddos!

____________________________________

Here's how you can participate in TTSS (and please do):
Grab the code for my button (over there on the left) and write your own post about a kid-friendly idea that might help a mama keep her sanity this summer. (Feel free to include the obligatory cute kid photo!)

Then come back here and add your link to the widget built by my wonderful and geeky talented husband. (Pays to be married to a geek!) Simply add your new (or even an old) post's link to the form below.

Then, most importantly, visit the other blogs that have linked and leave comments, hopefully encouraging them to give us more good ideas next week.

Also, I am...

In my last post, I ran through a list of all the things I am. I should have added this:

I am a slacker.

Why? Well, you probably know why, my friends. I haven't read or commented on your blog. And I've barely posted on mine.

But I have two good excuses.

1. It's Denise's fault. She is a bad influence.
2. Facebook. It's an even worse influence that Denise.

See, Denise of There is Always Room for One More is visiting. We are having a great time and not left with much time during the day to blog. And at night I am beat! (That has more to do though with my, of late, poorly behaved boys...)

And this week I joined the wonderful addictive world of Facebook. I'm unsure if life will ever be the same.

But my blog will be the same...eventually.

I am...just taking a nap!

I am...

I am a snotty-nose wiper. I am a dirty-butt cleaner.

I am a best friend. I am a worst enemy.

I am a laundress. I am a chef. I am a chauffeur.

I am a Chief Operating Officer. I am a snack maker.

I am a school lunch packer. I am a personal jungle-gym.

I am a boo-boo kisser. I am a bedtime tucker-iner.

I am a peace keeper. I am a negotiator. I am a spider catcher.

I am a TV channel changer. I am movie starter.

I am a playmate. I am a teacher. I am a disciplinarian.

I am a story reader. I am a lullaby singer. I am a snuggler.

I am a gift wrapper. I am a party planner. I am a cupcake maker.

I am a schedule keeper. I am a time-out timer. I am a sunscreen applier.

I am a personal shopper. I am a tooth-brusher.

I am a mama.



C'mon mamas...what did I leave out?

The other side of the camera - Beach day!

I'm participating in what I think is a really smart weekly challenge hosted by Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans. It seems like mamas spend an awful lot of time behind the camera. The idea of this challenge is for mamas to get on the other side of the camera in at least one photo a week.

When my boys grow up they'll inherit hundreds of thousands of photos taken from their childhood, but how many of those will show their mama? At least for this year I can answer 52!

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So the weather wasn't great but we had a fun day. First we started at the beach...

Jack showing off his seashell find.

Getting some seriously squishy love from Mama.

Then we headed to a local seafood hole-in-the-wall.

I, skillfully, wipe the ever-present drool from Logan's chin for our photo op.

Checking out the scenery.

Be sure to see my earlier post below too...

Read all about it...I mean, me!

I've got my "about me" blurb and my "100 things about me post" and yet you are still clamoring for more info about me! (Well, not really, but a gal can pretend, right?)

It's a good thing that my friend Angel at Starting Over interviewed me so you could quench your nearly insatiable thirst for all things "Carey!"

It's so hard being this famous...and good-looking...and admired...and well-dressed...and talented...and perfect. (What? You think I was overdoing it? Just with that last one, right?)

Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival - Ice Blocks

Tuesday's Tips for Summer Survival (TTSS) is a weekly carnival to help mamas survive the long summer days. The goal is to share kid-friendly tips so we can end up on the other side of this summer with what little sanity we had when we started.

____________________________________

Ice Blocks:

Because of our gloomy summer weather, this activity didn't keep the boys entertained for too long. But it had a short prep time and cost nothing.

Jack was watching Curious George on PBS this morning and asked if we could try this idea. "Wait...I thought I had to think of all the ideas to entertain you this summer! You mean, you might actually have ideas to contribute? SCORE!"

This morning we started with a bunch of different plastic containers.We filled them with water and put them in the freezer.After a trips to the playground, library, party store, Mexican restaurant for lunch, grocery store and the all important nap, we had ICE!After waiting a minute, the ice melted enough around the edges that they could be slipped out and used as blocks.
Once they got over the cold of the ice in their hands, they had fun building towers and whole cities...and licking their blocks. They did request hot chocolate (in June!?!?!?) when they were ready to go inside. They went outside several times before bedtime to see how their creations were faring.

We'll definitely be doing this again on a hot day (if we ever get a hot day!) and it would also be a great activity for a playdate.

____________________________________

Here's how you can participate in TTSS (and please do):
Grab the code for my button (over there on the left) and write your own post about a kid-friendly idea that might help a mama keep her sanity this summer. (Feel free to include the obligatory cute kid photo!)

Then come back here and add your link to the widget built by my wonderful and geeky talented husband. (Pays to be married to a geek!) Simply add your new (or even an old) post's link to the form below.

Then, most importantly, visit the other blogs that have linked and leave comments, hopefully encouraging them to give us more good ideas next week.

What's up with that?

Doesn't this look like the perfect start to summer? Sunny skies, blue water and warm happy kids...

Opps...that was the wrong photo. That was taken in JANUARY!

This is what our start to summer looks like:
(Those little black specs in the water are surfers patiently waiting for a wave. They didn't seem to mind the gray skies.)


Crazy June gloom in Southern California! What's up with that?

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In way more exciting news...Denise and Emma of There's Always Room for One More are coming to visit...THIS WEEK! I'm so excited!

I've never met another blom (blogging mom) in real life. And when we decided to do it, we decided to do it big...Denise and her youngest is flying 1357 miles to stay with my family for 4 days this week! I'm so excited! (Oh, did I already mention that?)

The bloggity blog blog tag

So you are sitting in front of your computer wanting to post something...anything. But nothing comes to mind.

Have no fear! Carey at Life in the Carpool Lane is starting the easiest blog tag about blogging. Answer the following questions on your own site when you've got nothing better to blog about. In 10 easy answers you've got yourself a post! (Don't want to post on your site? Then feel free to answer a couple in my comments.)

1. Where are you blogging right now?
2. How many unpublished posts do you have in your 'draft' box?
3. Whose blog inspired you to start your own?
4. When do you usually publish your posts?
5. In your guesstimation, how many blogs do you read?
6. How long have you been blogging for?
7. Why did you start blogging?
8. Why do you keep blogging?
9. If you could only recommend one blog to a friend, which one would it be?
   
10. If the internet was "turned off" for one month, what you you do with all the time you used to spend blogging?
    

Looking forward to seeing everyone's answers so make sure you let me know if you've grabbed this.

Here are my answers:

1. Where are you blogging right now? On my bed (with my mini computer)
   
   
2. How many unpublished posts do you have in your 'draft' box? 25
   
   
3. Whose blog inspired you to start your own? Denise of There is Always Room for One More, I found her blog through reading others' adoption blogs and was immediately drawn to her family. I read all of her posts and then slowly started leaving comments. At some point, I thought, "well, if she (with 6 kids) can find time to do it, then so can I!"
   
   
4. When do you usually publish your posts? Usually 10ish at night
   
   
5. In your guesstimation, how many blogs do you read? 65
   
   
6. How long have you been blogging for? Since December 2008 so 6 months
   
   
7. Why did you start blogging? I've kept a journal off and on since college. So I knew how rewarding it could be to keep track of daily life as well as special occasions and milestones. I desperately wanted to journal about our growing family but could never find the time to sit down and write. I soon realized that blogging was easier for me because I could edit my work and save it to work on at other times. It allowed me more freedom than putting pen to paper.
   
   
8. Why do you keep blogging? I enjoy keeping a record of family events and daily life. But I also love the friendships that I've developed with other bloggers. And I was really surprised and touched by the comments from the earth week posts I did. It felt like I helped to open a couple of my friends' eyes which was a very cool experience.
   
   
9. If you could only recommend one blog to a friend, which one would it be? I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote this question because its a hard one... I'd say There is Always Room for One More because without Denise's blog I might not have started this blog. However, if the friend were planning on adopting from China, I'd recommend China Adopt Talk because it has been an invaluable source of information and where I spent 99% of my time on the computer before I started blogging.
   
   
10. If the internet was "turned off" for one month, what you you do with all the time you used to spend blogging? Read? Exercise? It's hard to say because I'm often doing something else while I blog...watching TV, waiting for a pot of water to boil for dinner, blowdrying my hair, watching the boys in the tub, etc. So maybe I'd just be more in the moment...less trying to multi-task.
    

Feel free to grab this for yourself and pass it on!
Happy blogging!

The other side of the camera - Camping!

I'm participating in what I think is a really smart weekly challenge hosted by Carin at Forever in Blue Jeans. It seems like mamas spend an awful lot of time behind the camera. The idea of this challenge is for mamas to get on the other side of the camera in at least one photo a week.

When my boys grow up they'll inherit hundreds of thousands of photos taken from their childhood, but how many of those will show their mama? At least for this year I can answer 52!

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This past week I did a lousy job of getting in the picture. And now it's Wednesday night and the boys are asleep. So what's a gal to do?

Post pics of her kids with the rest of the family, of course.

Luckily this past weekend we went camping with my parents so I got plenty of pics. This was the second year we've done this trip and everyone just loves it. So if you'll indulge me, this will be my camping post as well as my 52-weeks/mama-in-the-pic post.

We started the weekend at a small zoo located not far from the campgrounds. The boys checked out the parrot and the parrot checked out the boys.
Ummm, guys? Look behind you!
Yep...behind you too, Jack!
Then we were off to the the campsite. Here is my dad with Jack and camera-shy Logan.
Did I mention that we weren't exactly roughing it? This was our tent. Yep, it had beds...and down comforters!
The boys spent their days painting treasure boxes from my mom,
goofing off with their Papa,
playing soccer with Papa,
and Granddad.
Of course, we spent our nights making s'mores.
Last and certainly least is this pic of me and the boys. (Please keep in mind that this is after two nights of camping.)

Who's who?

Which little monkey:

• Asked if I would marry him one day.
• Determined that his cherry flavored lollipop was healthier than his brother's chocolate flavored lollipop (because fruit is better for you than chocolate, of course).
• Loves babies so much that he'll spend hours on the playground with them
  

Which little love bug:

• Said, "Tank you for licking me!" to Marley, our dog.
• Can be found wandering the house nekked except for gloves, a watch and a fireman's helmet.
• Said, "Don't be shushing me, Mama!" as loud as possible.