Raindrop, Plop

Just a few days after the sandbox was ready to be played in, we had a full day of rain.  Joel was so disappointed that he couldn't play in the sandbox.  However, we had fun another way.  While Kirstin was napping, I helped Joel get his raincoat and rain boots on to go play in the rain.  He had fun splashing in the puddles and getting wet.  However, it was a chilly day (in the 50s, even though it had been 100 just 2 days before).  

We've been reading Spring books, many of which are about rain or bugs.  While playing in the puddles we both thought about the book "Raindrop, Plop".  We went inside and made hot chocolate, just like the did in the book.  Joel requested "6 tiny marshmallows" in his hot chocolate.  I couldn't figure out why he wanted 6, until I remembered that the book is a counting book and that's how many they marshmallows are in the hot chocolate in the book.  Joel has a great memory! :-)

Special treat of drinking hot chocolate on the couch in the living room.

Raindrop, Plop! 

He was so cute because he knew this was something special.

All snuggled up. Can you see Scheppy poking his head out of the blanket?

He actually looked at the camera!

I just love that I'm able to be home with my kids to create fun moments and memories out of a seemingly disappointing day (rain, so no playing in the new sandbox).  

We had a fun "Raindrop, Plop!" day. 

Mother's Day Project

Spoiler alert...if you are a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, or Godmother to me or my kids please don't read this post until after Mother's day.  I wouldn't want to ruin your surprises! :-)


Since Jim and I got married we decided as a family that we didn't want to purchase cards for any occasion.  We roughly calculated the $3-$4 that people had spent on engagement, bridal shower, and wedding cards could have added up to feed us for probably the first year of our marriage!  That was significant enough for us to choose to not spend that money.  However, we do love to acknowledge various occasions that would typically warrant the buying and giving of a card.  I also love to be creative and crafty, but mostly when it has a purpose and function (not just for something to do).  So, I make cards.  I enjoy personalizing the cards and using items that I have around the house (old magazines, ribbon, colored paper, sharpies, etc.).  Each card may not be Hallmark quality, but it has love and thought poured into it.  An added perk is that I take the opportunity to pray for the person I'm making the card for while creating it.

Now for the Mother's day cards.  This is one time of the year that I prioritize including the kids in the creating process as much as possible.  We talk about the special people that will receive the cards as gifts.  We often choose special features for the individual.  Joel knows most of their favorite colors so will try to pick their color for them. :-)

This year I wanted to include both Kirstin (10 months) and Joel (3.5 years) in making a card for each of the 7 matriarchs in their lives (other than their Momma!). So, I decided we would do butterflies.  Joel and I have been reading books about spring, which include lots of butterflies.  So this just made sense.

Now for the crazy part... (HINT: have supplies all ready and within reach before engaging the kiddos in the process!)

I stamped Kirstin's feet.  I chose red ink because that was the only ink pad that I had that was washable ink.

red piggies

Look how sweet her foot print is on all those pink papers!

Then the other foot... I tried my best to get them lined up for a symmetrical butterfly.

Baby wipes are the perfect tool to use to wipe off the cute little toes when they are done being artsy.

After Kirstin's little feet were all stamped, I went back and stamped my finger in the middle for the body of the butterfly.  I also used a sharpie to make eyes and antenna.

Joel's butterflies were different.

We put finger paints in a tray.  Joel put the paints on his hands.  Each time before putting his hands on the paper he pressed his hands together so the butterflies would be symmetrical.

We worked to have Joel's thumbs overlap to be the antenna.  This worked for some of them.  He wanted me to add eyes (and antenna to the ones that the thumbs didn't overlap right).

I love to see my kids' hands and feet printed!

Both butterflies flying together!

Here's one of the finished cards.  I added a message and signed the cards.  I tried to get Joel to sign them himself, but he was done with art and needed to play with trucks after making SEVEN cards!

Another one of the completed cards.

They were all unique and special!  We had so much fun making them.

We even had several outtakes during the process, I'll only share a few (Joel had taken the camera for a bit and took many more.)

Cute girl ready for whatever her Momma is going to do with all those fun looking supplies!

Colorful hands and happy boy!

Kirstin came to check out what her brother was doing.  He looked and sounded like he was having fun.

Yes, he put his paint covered hands on her face!  I cringed at the anticipation of this happening, but they both were laughing so much that I took a picture and wiped her off after.:-)

Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms, Grandmas, and the kids' Godmothers!  We love each of you so much and praise God for the special people that you are to us!

Another rainy day...

It's spring, so we've had several rainy days recently.  We are grateful that today was a sunny and warmer day, though!  With all of the rain, we've had to get creative with what to do with our need to move, which for a 3 almost 4-year-old boy means climb, jump, climb, climb, run, climb, oh and "Mommy, can I climb up you?"  Typically, this would be a great time to cue Daddy for some rough and tumble play (aka wrestling!), but Daddy is 2 (HUGE) papers and a presentation away from the end of his semester.

Since we had gone to the Dupage Children's Museum , where we have a membership (and love it!) on Monday, we were at home on Tuesday.  So, Tuesday (rainy day 3 in a row) we did a special Mother's day project in the morning.  This project was tons of fun and will get a post all of its own soon.  However, that left us with the afternoon with a Joel who did not nap (which is fairly common at this point) and needed to climb and be super active.  So here's what became of our "all the way downstairs" (we have a split level, so it's the lowest of the 3).

An Obstacle Course!!

Joel had to drive the Cozy Coupe Car to the slide, slide down, then crawl through the fort (blanket draped over the couch and coffee table), jump up and shoot hoops with 2 different size basket balls, crawl through the tunnel, then toss about 8 bean bags into a box, then run over to "Chair Chop" (a stuffed lamb chair) to sit down, put on his Buzz Lightyear hat, and play his trumpet!!  

Then, my creative child decided he needed to do it all again, but in reverse!  This worked really well, except the Buzz hat came off on the way back through the tunnel.  :-) 

Mission Accomplished!