Monday, June 17, 2013

Bugs in a Jar

We started our "Club Mom" this week.
 
Club Mom is basically my way of keeping the kids busy during the summer. 
We do this every year.
 
Little arts and crafts projects, fieldtrips, library story hours, gardening, kitchen fun..basically things that I do anyway only more intensified, if you know what I mean. 
In fact, I actually signed them both up for the library summer program today and since Nathan didn't have a library card and Nicholas couldn't find his, they signed up for their own cards, that they very eagerly ran home with to place in their wallets.
 
While I don't make it a practice to be my children's sole entertainment, in fact I hate when they come up to me and say 'I'm Bored, what are we doing today'.  I think to myself...umm, just go play already.

This might seem funny coming from me, but sometimes when they start questioning me about activities I tend to panic a bit if I don't have anything planned for the day and that sets me over the edge. 
 
Planning ahead helps me stay more on top of things and gives them an idea of what we are doing. 
They still have plenty of free time to play, swim, hang out with friends...I just like doing 'extra' things to keep them busy and out of trouble ;)
 
 
So this week's activities are focused around
 
BUGS!
 
I actually have so many ideas that I could easily do bugs for two weeks (and just may at that).
 
here's a sneak peek at some of the books we will be reading this week
 
 
 
Our project today was
 
Bugs in a Jar
 
 
I got the idea for this craft from Education.com
 
All you need is various paints, paper, glue and markers.
 
We took a sheet of white paper and cut it into the shape of a jar.
Then we glued the jars to a sheet of construction paper.
Next the boys used their fingers and brushes to make bugs with paint.
Afterwards they used a black marker to make feet, wings and antennas on their bugs.
 
Super easy project (but a bit messy, to be honest).
 
 
 
 
 
We read the book Bustle in the Bushes by Giles Andreae to go along with this craft,
 
 
 because there were a lot of pictures of different bugs in it.
 
 
The book is super cute and the boys seem to love Giles Andreae books.  The rhyming rhythm of each verse is soothing and creative.  And the pages illustrated by David Wojtowycz are bright and colorful.  We will most likely use this book again at some point during our "bug week" since there are so many great examples of insects in it, like spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, and many more.
 


 
I also bought each boy a "bug catching kit" and a butterfly net from the dollar store
 
 
Which they promptly put to good use.
 
 
 
*Disclosure - I received a copy of the book Bustle in the Bushes from Tiger Tales for review purposes only.  The opinions herein are my own and were not influenced in anyway.
 
 
 


Friday, June 14, 2013

Hey Mom, Look What I Did (#75)

Welcome to the 75th edition of
 
Hey Mom, Look What I Did!!
 
here's a look at some of my faves from this week....
 
 
 
(who doesn't love a good pirate adventure)
 


(what kid doesn't love playing in water)
 
 
(kids and noise...need I say more?)
 
 
 Let's see all the super cute crafts, goodies and activities that you've been working on with your kiddos this week.
 
 
Please share your craft projects, baking activities and other fun kid friendly adventures.
Grab the link button and put it on your blog, if you like, so that others can find us and share in the fun too.
 
 
There are no requirements, but I would love if you would follow this blog via GFC.
I also would like to invite you to come hang out with me on facebook, pinterest and twitter, where I feature and share some your fabulous projects during the week. 
You can also follow along with BlogLovin, the link is on the sidebar.
 
 
Thanks for joining us....Hope to see you again soon!!    
 
 

Adventures In Mommy Land

Thursday, June 13, 2013

super easy homemade cheesy breadsticks

yum!
 
 
I used refrigerated breadsticks rolled out flat
 
brushed some melted butter and garlic on them
 
sprinkled some mozzarella cheese on top
 
baked at 375* for about 10 mins or so.
 
****
 
the kids devoured them in a matter of seconds.
 
you can totally make your own pizza dough and do the same thing, I just cheated with the refrigerated stuff to make it easier and quicker.
 
we had them with pizza and fruit kabobs.
 
 
 
I swear my kids will eat anything if it's on a stick, don't yours (brussel sprouts, anyone?)?
 
*****
 
an easy lunch or dinner idea for summer.
 
btw, my kids requested that I make this again the very next day.
 
 
 


Sunday, June 09, 2013

Hey Mom, Look What I Did (#74)

Welcome to the 74th edition of
 
Hey Mom, Look What I Did!!
 
This week Nathan made a beachy sandy footprint scene....
 
 
We used brown butcher paper, sand, glue and blue paint.
 
Nathan made footprints with glue using his hands and fingertips.
 
 
 
then we sprinkled sand on the glue
 
 
and finally he painted an ocean with blue paint.
 
 
 
 Let's see all the super cute crafts, goodies and activities that you've been working on with your kiddos this week.
 
 
Please share your craft projects, baking activities and other fun kid friendly adventures.
Grab the link button and put it on your blog, if you like, so that others can find us and share in the fun too.
 
 
There are no requirements, but I would love if you would follow this blog via GFC.
I also would like to invite you to come hang out with me on facebook, pinterest and twitter, where I feature and share some your fabulous projects during the week. 
You can also follow along with BlogLovin, the link is on the sidebar.
 
 
Thanks for joining us....Hope to see you again soon!!   
 

Adventures In Mommy Land

 
 

Thursday, June 06, 2013

homemade soft pretzels

we made these by hand...meaning no bread machine here.
 
(this was our first attempt at making these....they weren't bad, they look kind of funny though)
 
 
I followed this recipe
 
 
I think next time we will bake them a bit longer to make them a little more brown and we will add less flour, since they were a  bit stiff to roll and all that.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
But overall, they were pretty tasty!
 
and the kids had fun making them...and in my book that's really all that counts.
 
 
 
 
 


a giveaway...

giving this away on my facebook page
 
 
go to my page for the details.
 
 
 


Sunday, June 02, 2013

Novica Gift Certificate Winner

The winner of the Novica Gift Certificate is....
 
 
#5
 
Realia Mazing said...
i follow novica on twitter, my twitter handle is @realiamazing
 
 
Congratulations!!

Saturday, June 01, 2013

Let the SUMMER FUN Begin. . . .

 Here's to Summer.
 
 
chocolate cupcakes with homemade chocolate frosting..yum!
 
 
brothers playing baseball..fun!
 
 
 
first attempt at homemade pretzels
 
 
it was a family affair...favorite kitchen helpers
 
 
obstacle course...redneck style ;)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
weenie wraps...on a stick
 
 
funky blues...on the toes
 
 
Summer Fun has Begun.