Rainy Day Art!

The thought of Brooke going to camp, caused jealousy to settle into the other kids hearts...
"We want to go to camp?"
So I planned a full day of outdoor adventures...only to find out the night before, that it was going to rain all day!
Oh No!

Instead we had an indoor camp...A FAMILY ART CAMP!

Starting with artsy pancakes!
I made the colorful batter....and then had them each pour their own!

We even added some color to the whipping cream!

Splatter Cards!
They each made a couple paint splatters ....
and then using all...and any craft supplies...they created these adorable cards!

Luke never stops amazing me..I love how he put the birds beak facing up, since it is flying in space....and he asked to use glow in the dark paint for the stars, moon, and space ship!

Making their own umbrellas....

These were played with the entire day...until they were unrecognizable!

Chelsea painted their faces!

We needed to find a way to make lunch artsy...
Chelsea helped me decorate the bananas...

plates...

They all made their own sandwich creations!

Ending with umbrella popsicles!

This is the outfit Annika put on to go to bed in....I think the day rubbed off! =)

Summer Camp....Candy Love Notes!

Last year Brooke went to her first year of Gems Camp...and she loved it...but she was home sick!
This year she was nervous to try again...although I told her the first time is always the hardest!

The night before I held her and read...
"The kissing hand"
I replaced "school" with "camp"!

We all took turns giving each other the kissing hand!

I knew the one on her hand would wash off...so I made her a quick stuffed felt one!
She kept it in her pillow at camp! =)

I filled her bag with "Love Notes"!

It was really fun to drop her off, and let the kids run around!

When we came home, she had covered every window...house and car...and all the mirrors with sweet "Love Notes" to us from her!

She said she wasn't home sick at all...but she loved the kissing hand...and all the girls loved her notes!
She made sure to add...."make sure you do that every year!" ;)

Sarah Palin = A Great Date Night!

This may be a long winded post!
I am just in a rambling mood!
I am a weekly date woman...I just need that special time to talk with my BEST friend!
Lately, with dad traveling every week, we have not been getting our dates in...
I MISS THEM!

Maybe, that is what made tonight so much fun....the desperate need for US?

(Oh bummer, my pictures are all out of whack...blogger has been a little off lately?) =(
So let's skip down a picture...and then as I talk, you'll be able to think...."Oh that picture goes with this topic....hopefully!

My little town is the special place that Sarah Palin decided to have her premier for her movie...
I couldn't believe it....
We have all the T.V. stations...cameras every where...it's just pure exciting!
Things like this don't happen every day around here!
So Dad wanted to give the kids a chance to see Sarah...
The three wee ones were sleeping, so I stayed back ....I gave them my camera...and told them to get me some good pictures!

Chelsea came back all giddy.....
"Mom, this is the hand ...this is the one!"
Sarah had stopped, and talked to Chelsea....and shook her hand!
I was so excited...did you get a picture?
NO!
What?
How can you not get a picture....???

That is where the night started!
Mark and I were going to the dinner later...and Chelsea really wanted me to get a picture of Sarah!
I am typically happy just sitting back and watching....I'm not a huge "their famous" person.
I figure everyone is just people....doing their job!
Today...I had to get right in the crowd...and try and get the best picture I could for my kids!
It was crazy...people everywhere...SWARMS!

We had a couple of non swarmers...but for the most part...it was HARD CORE!

Okay...so the food...well, that's the picnic style food they served!
The first skipped picture was the dinner...on our little dutch canal!
And this cute couple were sporting Palin shirts!
Loved it!

Back to my story...
I was loving every minute of the chaos!
I think Mark knew I was having a BLAST and kept encouraging me to get in their!

Let's start with her sweet body guard/husband!
He is all charm...smiling...supporting...loving!
They radiate a happy couple!

There she is!
She signed everyone;s paper, book, shirt...except mine....I didn't have one....
I seriously was impressed with her calm and patient manner!
Plus...she is even more beautiful in person!

WHOOO HOOOO!
All that work...paid off...I was actually able to get a picture with her...
and let me tell you...my girls were beyond impressed!

Summer Charts...

My kids having been asking since day one if we can all sit down and make summer charts!
They love them...I love them too...because it is the only way to keep us all focused!
With all the amazing ways to make adorable summer charts...my kids favorite is to do it together on good old card stock and with colorful sharpies!
The first one is just the daily stuff...which if completed gives them a chance to earn some summer money!
The 2nd is reading...completed is a fun date with mom and dad!
3rd...basketball...Movie night with friends!

The girls wanted to make a soccer, running, and volleyball one...all different...
Talk about summer chart OVERLOAD!
I combined all other sports...and activities on one game board....kids were a bit disappointed...but satisfied!

My favorites are always the ones that the kids make...
This is created by Chelsea!

My all time best incentive for the kids is MOMMY MONEY...this summer we are using it for obedience! =)
I like to change it up, and keep the kids excited!
They all love real money...but somehow, MOMMY MONEY, takes the cake! =D

WHAT'S WORKING FOR YOU THIS SUMMER?


*Check out Mama Smiles...she recently posted about what is working for her!

Treats for the Team!

This was Chelsea's first year of softball, and I have to say, it was a tough one for her.
Even though she had a hard time learning all the techniques, she loved it!
She loved her teammates...and cheering them all on!

It was a great time for all of us, the kids looked forward to her games!

I love watching little ones admiring their big sister.
I was the third oldest of 12, and I always looked forward to all my little siblings watching me run...cheering for me the whole time, even if I wasn't in that particular race!
I was their Hero!

20 min. before Chelsea's last game, as we are rushing to get in the car, she says...
"Mom, I really need to take something special to my teammates."
I wanted to respond...
"Honey these things take time....maybe next year!"
Instead, I saw the excitement on her face....so I asked what would you rather have, me watch you, or me make treats for the team?
"They are both equally important...can't we do both?"

Here is what we did...it was quick, easy, and we made it to the game on time!

I punched out three green scalloped circles...brought a hole punch, sharpie, and cut 12 white strings....grabbed my plastic bags...and rushed to the nearest store....ran in and bought some colorful variety of candy!

Then while she played, and the little admired her, I made treat bags, with her recommended saying....
"you're a TREAT for a team mate!"

Thankfully she had insisted on these special bags for her friends...since the treat mom forgot...and as we all know...treats are the most important part of the game...especially the last game! =)

That night she let loose on her emotions of the game...she had a difficult time hitting the ball. She never let me know it bothered her, so I held her while she cried and cried, until finally falling asleep!
Before she got up the next morning I ran to dollar tree in hopes of finding something special for her...they had this cute little softball cup...and so I filled it up with goodies, and placed it nest to her bed....
In her eyes...this is her TROPHY! =)