Sidewalk Chalk Drawings
The best part of warm weather is outdoor activities, like drawing rainbows with chalk!
Brina’s chalk person
Colorful sun
Brina’s rainbow name
Karlie’s rocket ship taking off
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I just finished reading the book Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder to the girls. They were a little confused when we first started this book because they expected the next book in the series to be about the little girl Laura and her family, not about a boy named Almanzo. Although they were unsure about it at the beginning it only took a chapter to get them hooked and back into the series.
Farmer Boy is book three of the set we are currently reading through with the girls. The book introduces Almanzo, Laura’s future husband. While Laura growing up in a little house on the prairie with her parents and two sisters Almanzo was living on a big farm in New York State with his parents, one brother, and two sisters.
The book is written from Almanzo perspective and goes through many of the things he did as a boy from chopping wood, cutting ice, planting corn, raising a prize pumpkin, training his steers, and much more! The girls found it fascinating reading about Almanzo’s days. They especially liked that he was found of horses.
If you are looking for a fun book to read to your kids (both boys and girls) or have your children read themselves this is a great book. I know the girls will be going back and reading these books again on their own after we finish with the series. They have really enjoyed this series and learning a little bit about how Almanzo grew up fueled their excitement even more!
Travel & Vacation: Kennedy Space Center (part 2)
We got to hear, Bob Springer, an astronaut that has been in space more than once speak and take a picture with him afterward! The girls were very excited to meet someone who has actually gone into space!
I shared a little bit about our trip to Kennedy Space Center earlier today. Here is a little bit more about what we did during our adventure. Thankful for the opportunity to spend some time in Florida, tour Kennedy Space Center, and spend some time catching up with our friends too.
Live feed of them docking! So neat to watch it before it is posted to the public.
After talking with an astronaut for a few minutes the girls wanted a picture in front of the live feed so they took a seat on the edge of the stage.
Two little chickies are ready in their 3D glasses for the NASA show!
Pausing for a moment to relax while waiting for our food. Karlie is processing it all and so THRILLED to be finally exploring Kennedy Space Center!
Having a BLAST at Kennedy Space Center!
Brina having fun and enjoying her Icee treat!
Travel & Vacation: Kennedy Space Center
Karlie has had a fascination with anything space related for several years now. She loves to talk about rockets, planets, astronauts, and more! Back when the girls were in preschool (more than 3 years ago) she received a Chic-Fil-A Kids Meal from school and inside it was a coupon for Kennedy Space Center. She asked if she could hang the coupon up on the refrigerator so maybe sometime when we go to Kennedy Space Center we can use it. The coupon was on the refrigerator for a long time (even after it expired). We did get a great deal online for a food package while at Kennedy Space Center (buy one get one free coupon) which covered all our food and snacks for the day.
A few months ago we made it to Kennedy Space Center. I still remember the day we told her we got tickets and were going to Florida. I think she jumped up and down, clapping, and giggling for several minutes. She was over joyed and immediately counting down the days until we would leave for Florida.
Our whole family had a blast exploring Kennedy Space Center. It was really neat to see all the history and learn so much about space, rockets, and everything else we could soak in that day. We arrived at Kennedy Space Center a few minutes before it opened and left as they were closing the gates. It was a neat experience!
We are getting closer!
Starting to see some cool stuff – United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
Karlie is on-the- edge-of-her-seat excited her dream to visit Kennedy Space Center is coming true!
We made it!
Daddy and girls strolling on into Kennedy Space Center, so cute seeing the girls excited and holding hands.
They look so tiny next to the base of this rocket!
Daddy and the girls trying it out!
Karlie is soooo excited and has looked forward to going to Kennedy Space Center for YEARS!
Sweet Brina had a grand time. Even though rockets are more of Karlie’s love she had a lot of fun exploring the area with us.
Dogs Are Kids Too
Skipper climbing into the jungle gym
Our dog is one of our “furry four legged” kids. She loves to be in the middle of the action whenever the kids are outside. I am not sure when it began, but our dog Skipper decided one day, with the encouragement of the kids to climb up the jungle gym ladder. She has gone down the slide a few times too.
Many times when you see the kids playing on or around the jungle gym you will also see Skipper up in it as well. Occasionally, she’ll even sleep up there during the day or at night even when the kids are not outside, see my Skipper’s New Dog House post. She climbs up and down the ladder by herself without assistance from anyone and rarely with any encouragement.
Skipper loves to play in the jungle gym with the kids and when there is a bunch of kids it can get a little crowded with a black lab in the mix too. If she doesn’t want to go down the slide she’ll come back down using the ladder. It is hilarious watching her go up and down, but she is pleased with herself for doing it and the kids love it! Thankful for a dog who loves playing with the kids.
Skipper hanging out with the kids in the jungle gym
Go Ape by Patch
I picked up the Go Ape game by Patch at the grocery store on clearance for the girls for Christmas. It was a huge hit! Our family has already played this game several times since Christmas.
The Go Ape game adds a fun twist to the traditional game of Go Fish! Instead of asking another player for a card you act out the funny monkey picture on the card! The person who collects the most monkey matches wins the game.
It is hilarious watching the girls act out the various monkey faces! The girls is for 2 to 6 players and for ages 4 and up.
Tissue Paper Bleeding Art
Do you have some crumpled tissue paper laying around? At the next birthday party or gathering make sure to keep the colorful, crinkled tissue paper for this craft or if you already have some on hand that works great too. It is super easy and loads of fun! Our girls loved these and had a blast doing this craft.
Colorful tissue paper in one of the kids bowl
Tissue Paper Bleeding Art
- Variety of colorful, crumpled Tissue Paper
- White Paper (we use a heavier paper or poster board)
- Small Bowl of Water
- Paint Brush
Gather some brightly colored tissue paper. Tear the tissue paper into a variety of pieces (small to several inches). Put a piece of tissue paper on the white paper and use a paint brush dipped in water to wet the tissue paper, you will see the colors start to bleed. Continue putting the tissue paper pieces down and painting with water until your white paper is full. Set aside and allow to dry over night. Once the tissue paper has dried, remove all the pieces and throw away. You can use your new tissue paper bleeding art paper to cut out shapes and use them for thank you notes or display (see picture at the top of the post).
Tip – if the kids are not able to get all the tissue paper wet you can use a spray water bottle and lightly mist the art piece before putting it away to dry.
Putting down the tissue paper
Water in a bowl and a paint brush
Tissue paper covering the paper now just need to wait for it to dry
What the paper looks like after the tissue paper dried and removed. The tissue paper die bleeds onto the heavy paper underneath and this is what it looks after it has dried, really neat! You can use this paper to cut out shapes and use for thank you notes or something special for the kids to display.
Roper Mountain Science Center – Animals and Activities
Wow! Look at all those tiny legs on this one!
Our girls love any trips we take to Roper Mountain Science Center! There is so much to see, learn, and explore. Whenever possible we try to go to their second Saturday events because they are a big hit with our kids. The second Saturday events have a theme and the kids can do anything from holding animals, crafts, participate in events, and much more. They have everything from animals, ocean life, space activities, farming, cultural events, and more! I have even learned a few new facts about history, animals, and space too. 🙂
Karlie holding a snake
Jake holding the snake. I am not a big fan of snakes so I was okay with not holding this snake, although I did touch it briefly…very briefly!
Look at this cool guy!
Yes, that is a huge spider that she is holding in both her hands! A tarantula actually!
Brina holding a box turtle
Karlie wanted to hold the box turtle too
Super soft……Chinchilla!
Is it a baby pig, baby squirrel, or baby chipmunk Brina is holding???? None of those, it is actually baby mouse (the mouse is only 1 day old)!
Family Fun: Adventures With Our Cousins
Cousins hanging out at the park together!
We had an opportunity a few months ago to spend some time with Jake’s sister and her family. The girls were in school during their stay with us but we still found plenty of time to have fun. It was great having an opportunity to hang out with them and create new memories, especially since it will be quite awhile before we can get together again.
Oh MY…..your lips look different today…..Silly girls with silly mouths!
My cute little kitchen helper!
Noah helping with the “science” experiment! Loading up the ingredients into a Ziploc bag.
It’s going to blow!!!! We did an experiment with baking soda, water, and vinegar inside Ziploc bags. When we sealed the bags they bubbled up and they popped! The kids really enjoyed doing this one.
Cousins Night Out!
We ended our fun adventures in town that evening with a special treat! Ice cream cones!!!! This is the only picture of the 5 of them, everyone was having so much fun playing I didn’t want to make them stop to pose for a picture! 🙂
Paul and Mirm were able to get away one night to meet friends and spend some quiet time together so we kept the kids. Since Jake was working when Paul & Mirm left I took the crew to Par Tee Time which has bounce houses, batting cages, and miniature golf for the kids. After Par Tee Time we picked up some pizza, had a picnic in the park and played. We ended our night out with the cousins at Bruster’s for ice cream cones than headed home to get everyone showered and ready for bed.
Whose up for a game of miniature golf?
Sweet girl having a blast on the bouncy castle!
The three older chickies having a blast giggling and playing
Come on NOAH! We know you can dunk that ball!
Even my sweet little niece joined the big kids in a game of miniature golf!
Concentrating hard on getting the ball into the hole!
Practicing his swing in the batting cage
Next one up to bat
Karlie taking a whack at it
Got those frogs…..Brina having a blast playing with her little cousin!
Getting some extra air on that jump!
Look out here she comes!
Snapped a quick picture of Brina as she zoomed to the bottom of the slide!
Karlie Cool Cat having a blast
Did you just see me dunk that ball!
Goofy girl, she makes me laugh!
Eating pizza at the park
Playing at the park
I had a blast with the kids. They did really well bouncing around and playing together. Thankful for some extra time with my nieces and nephew. The girls always enjoy their time with their cousins. A lot of great memories of their time with us!
