Backyard Carwash

BACKYARD CAR WASH

The summer heat is really getting to us!  Our hair feels like straw from all of the swimming we have done, the heat is miserable...miserable and I'm running out of inside ideas for the boys. I have been making them go out every morning for an hour so I won't be tempted to turn on the TV.  I'll do anything it takes to stay out of the house for a few minutes aka avoiding my list of  "to dos".  I prefer to drink my coffee(i know) and read my devotion NOT looking at the dishes, laundry and paths of toys! 

 The other morning the boys hit their HEAT QUOTA quickly and I was only half way through my coffee so out came the JOY soap, water hose and all of the vehicles.  I managed to finish my coffee, read my devotions and return some e-mails...of course, I was NASTY sweaty by the time we went inside but that's ok!  My dirty car even got a scrub down complimentary of the boys!

vinegar&baking soda...red volcanoes

RED VOLCANOES

What you Need:

vinegar

baking soda

small bottle

1 box of red jello

*This is a household favorite!

First...put a spoonful of baking soda into your bottle.

Next...add one spoonful of red jello powder.

Add vinegar.

Enjoy!

Do it again and again!

vinegar&baking soda...rockets

Baking Soda and Vinegar Rockets

...it happens so quickly I couldn't get a picture

What you need:

Film Canister...we used a sprinkle jar with a push on top

Baking Soda

Vinegar

...Put the baking soda in the lid, pour vinegar into the canister, quickly put the lid on, sit on ground and watch it explode!

...You will have to experiment with how much baking soda and vinegar you need.  This is part of the fun!

Afterwards we had freeplay...with the vinegar and baking soda!  I let the kiddos just have at it...they had a blast.

vinegar&baking soda...blowing up balloons

Blowing up Ballons

What You Need:

vinegar

baking soda

water

ballons

a funnel(we improvised)

a bottle(we used test tubes)

Ok.  First you need to get the baking soda into the balloon...just a spoonful or so.  This is where a funnel would be nice. We do not have one soo...

We spooned the baking soda into the funnel neck bottles.

Then dumped it into the balloon.

Next pour vinegar into the bottle or test tube...about half way.  Add water to make the bottle about 3/4 full.

Quickly put the balloon onto the bottle...shake...and watch it blow up.

WARNING...Your kids will LOVE this!  You will have to repeat the activity several times.

ADVICE...Put a baking pan under the activity for each child...it will catch the spills!

A little deflated but you get the idea:)

Family Hike...Shelby Forest

Chris and I both love to run the trails at Shelby Farms and Shelby Forest.  It is really important to us that the boys love being outside...especially being in the woods...going on hikes!  We are hoping lots of camping trips filled with hiking, s'mores and canoe rides are in our future!

(fuzzy iphone photos)

Forest Friendly Sensory Bin...SCC

Summer Smart Challenge Week 4

Forest Friendly Sensory Bin

We filled our backyard water table with dirt and mulch...the boys helped scoop and shovel.

  We added some branches for trees, a blue boat for a swamp with a crocodile and some insects.  Of course, the boys needed the off road jeep and the hovercraft. 

 Next I added binoculars and magnifying glasses for optimal exploring.

The set up,

exploring,

he did lots of digging,

and Tanner found some seeds that he planted!

Boys LOVE, LOVE dirt...so this activity was a hit!

CMOM..water day

Saturday morning we ran into our neighors at the doughnut shop...we love to ride our bikes there.  She said the Children's Museum was having a WATER DAY!  Of course, once the boys heard this, I knew we'd be going.  I was a little nervous...taking them by myself to a crazy activity with water but I put my big girl panties on and did it!  I'm sooo glad we went...it was a blast and FREE for members!

Climbing walls,

Four huge water slide things,

moon sand a.k.a. "a little boys dream mess",

bungee jumping and

games!

I think I see a little crack...excuse us!

Sam only ran off one time...luckily I wore my tennis shoes and chased him down.  Tanner did great coming back to the meeting spot after each slide...it was about 10 steps away but I'm so proud of him for listening. 

shaKe your taiLfeaTHer

Playing with ICE

When I used to teach, I always did an ICE sensory bin as part of our "water unit".  This afternoon, we had been playing outside for a little while. The boys needed a new "game"...fighting and whining had begun and we still had an hour to kill until dinner time! 

ICE SENSORY BIN

Dump your magazine bucket

Fill up with ice

Find fun things around your house:

scoops, chopsticks, blocks and spoons(catapults), tongs

Do you see the ice being catapulted?  Look hard!

Some was eaten!

We did a little writing...Sam has learned to recognize his name and that it starts with "S"!

A lot of TIC-TAC-TOE!

Tanner, of course, had some experiment going on.  He loaded up the ice and took it to different parts of the yard to see where it would melt the quickest.

The catapults were the biggest hit!!

Besties!

One of my most frequent prayers for my boys is that God will put friends in their lives who are godly.  I pray that they learn how to make good strong and meaningful friendships.  I also pray they learn how to be a loyal friend and the true meaning of friendship. 

These are 2 of Tanner's "besties"!  One of them just moved about 3 hours away and Tanner is so devastated.  This is new for me as a mom, handling the heartbreak over the moving loss of a great friend. My heart is breaking for Tanner...he and G have been good friends for 2 years.  I love my sweet boys so much and I hate when their hearts are broken and I can't fix it.

Fireworks, Friends, Fun

Lots and lots of pictures...brace yourself.  We had such a great 4th of July weekend with our family and great friends.  Our weekend was so busy the boys actually slept until 7:45 on Tuesday morning!!! After church, we ate lunch with my parents...BBQ shrimp...yummo!  The boys played in the pool for a little bit then we headed home for naps...everyone NAPPED!  On Sunday night, my parents kept both of the boys over night...DATE NIGHT!  Sushi, Hangover 2 and E&H were on the menu.  Uninterrupted conversations with my hubby are so nice and so very rare! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Monday morning my parents dropped the boys off around 9 for our neighborhood parade!  Sam had been up since 4ish...so glad I got to sleep in until 7ish!  Mom and Dad looked pretty tired...I'm sure they were headed home for a nap or maybe to clean up the house the boys had destroyed!  The parade was fun and HOT as usual. 

The firetruck was a hit as usual...I think maybe next year I'll wear my swimsuit! On the way home, I turned around to see Sam with his swimtrucks at his ankles...he had to potty!  Luckily some sweet ladies offered up a tree in their yard...probably the moms of boys who understand even though they're potty-trained ...they have no wait time!

Some great friends of ours have a Fourth of July every year...it's always so much fun!  After doing some sparklers we went to see some big fireworks...AMAZING! The food was so yummy...I ate way to many sweets but who can say no to homemade ice cream!  Sam was not a big fan of the load fireworks but he warmed up by the end of the night!

The best part of the weekend was spending the day at the zoo with my best friend from college.  She and her family live in Nashville so I only see her 1-2 times a year.  She has 2 girls that my boys adore!  Even though it was miserably hot at the zoo...I didn't notice (too much) since I was spending time with a bestie! I can't wait to see her in Nashville in September.