9/30/2011

Kid Art - Stamp Making

There are many different ways to make stamps. You can carve designs from chunk erasers, make potato prints, apple prints, or use polymer clay, just to name a few. Sadly most of those involve carving or using a sharp knife, which isn't particularly kid friendly.
So we went with Styrofoam. It cuts easily with school scissors, and is relatively inexpensive. Plus I already had a ton of picnic plates to use up. Bonus.
Since my kids are pretty young, I didn't want to mess with expensive print making paint (which is really thick and soo awesome to work with), so we just used water based kids paint. Which isn't nearly as fun, but it did what we needed. And since it's not nearly as expensive as print making paint, I didn't have to freak out when they poured huge globs of it on their tray.


Supplies: paper, pencil, school scissors, Styrofoam plates, paint. 
step 1. use a rather blunt pencil to draw your picture on the plate and cut out. You can add details to the stamp by drawing on it with your blunt pencil. We also used a hole punch to make "eyes" in the fish we made.
step 2. paint the embellished side of the project and use as stamp. Easy enough.



Some people recommend attaching the stamp to a block of wood or cardboard box so the kids have something to hold on to. We didn't. Ours turned out just fine.

9/29/2011

Book Shelf - Crafters addition

I love a good craft book as much as the next mommy blogger, and frankly spend more time reading about crafting than I actually do creating. Eek. I know
Here are a few of the ones I've picked up recently you might enjoy looking at


Mamarazzi: Every Mom's Guide to Photographing Kids by Stacy Wasmuth.
A mom photographer who writes to other moms who want to capture their life beautifully. It's really hard to find photography books written with moms in mind. It's really really hard to find these books that are as well written as this one. Go find it. Good stuff.

Signature Styles: 20 stitchers craft their look by Jenny Doh
While this book leans pretty heavy on fashion (which I don't particularly care about) it featured some great crafters and interesting craft projects. I made at least one of the projects featured in the book. I also enjoyed checking out the links to these crafters blogs. Great eye candy. 


100 pretty little projects : pincushions, potholders, purses, pillows, & more by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader
Yes 100. And they're so stinking cute.All of them. The Bed Sack is a spin off of one of the projects featured in this book. 


Happy crafting!

9/28/2011

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday


The man in the moon...
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9/27/2011

Heaven, According to Alex

In Heaven, everyone will have their own swimming pool. Alex's will have a fountain that he can make water balloon turtles with.
We will live out in the country with a great big yard, like the one we currently have here on earth
Mom will have a room for scrapbooking (and way more time to scrapbook - says Mom)
Alex will have a whole room just for Legos
The girls will have a GI Joe room
Alex and Max will have bunk beds very much like the ones they have in their bedroom now. except they'll be allowed to jump on them.
There will definitely be free Mr. Freezie Ice Cream, and you'll never have to wait in line to get it.
We can also eat this magical thing called "hot fudge cake" at every meal, and we'll never have a sugar crash. 

9/26/2011

Lessons From a Flower Arrangement


Hey friends!
I have another article to share with you! It's called Lessons From a Flower Arrangement, and you can read it here!

Super Momio

To ease the monotony of stay-at-home motherness I often have little day dreams that make each day a little more fun and entertaining. Some days come out rather theatrical, this day shall be played like a video game.

Instead of being Super Mario, can you please refer to me as Super Momio for the rest of the post? Just play along, it'll make the whole scenario a little more fun.

So if my life were a video game, and I was Super Momio, every time I collected another dirty sock I'd earn 100 points. Bonus points for dirty undies. Ew.
My mission would be to take all the dirty socks and undies I collect to laundryland and throw them in a fiery furnace. Or the washing machine. Along the way I'd avoid pencil stealing gremlins and roaming toddlers. I'd keep them at bay by shoot baked goods at them from my special Super Momio gun.

Ka-boom.

Take that toddler.


Ok, so video game developer I am not.
Don't quit your day job. I know.

9/23/2011

The Things that Come out of My Mouth

Ever have one of those times when words came out of your mouth that you were quite sure that you should be saying.
Case in point.

Hey toddler. If you are hiding, don't announce to the whole world that you are hiding in the bathroom. It sort of defeats the purpose.

No, Louisa. Your bottom does not smell good.

Annie, can I ask why Polly Pocket is reclining in your cereal? Is she having milk bath?
 
The toddler wants to borrow my car. Should I be worried? Maybe I'll just let her mother handle that one when she comes to pick her up.

There's a chicken in my pants! (thank you little people for making plastic chickens that are rather easy to hide in dirty laundry piles on the floor, I'm rather glad they didn't lay eggs while they were in there. Just sayin')

9/22/2011

The Expectant Mother

As we're nearing our court date (still no court date! Stink!) I can't help but think back to that time in my pregnancies that I knew at any moment I'd be ready to deliver. That time was filled with joyful anticipation with Alex, preparing for this crazy thing called motherhood. But with the girls it was slightly painful physically and there was a measure of uncertainty with delivering twins as a "high risk delivery". And now I sit here again. Pregnant with anticipation. This time I'm not delivering a baby, I'm flying across the world to reclaim what is rightfully mine.
And it feels no different.
Picking out cute new clothes for our little guy, new toys that will be "just his", carving out space for one more...
The things we're gathering and tasks that need to be done might be a little different this time around, but in my heart it's all the same.
Any minute now our time will come. My baby will come home. Our family will be complete.
At least for the time being, that is. God and His crazy schemes might lay more children on our hearts. We're prepared for that eventuality.
But for right now we'll bask on our almost-a-family-of-6ness.

Yes, I am an expectant mother. Thank God I don't have to nurse this one.

9/21/2011

(nearly) Wordless Wednesday

late bloomer...
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9/20/2011

Seat Sack - revisited

I already showed you one incarnation of our version of the Seat Sack, here's another one.
This one I affectionately call the Bed Sack

There is nowhere for a boy who sleeps on the top bunk to keep his books and pens and such. I could put up a shelf, but what fun would that be.
Bed Sack to the rescue.

When I was designing this thing in my head, I contemplated making a bag that would go over the rails of his headboard or foot board and tie together, like the last one did, but I had these cool caribbeaner clips that we found at Walmart in the back-to-school section that I really wanted to use. So I made a little bag that could clip he could just clip to his bed instead.

On a side note, you know what happens when you let your 9 year old dig through the fabric stash, he's going to come up with the most god-awful print from the 80's. Yes he is. But since it is his, and it does match the rather god-awful red bunkbed (which was free, so what can I say) I just went with it. 

I constructed a rather simple bag, parrot fabric on the outside, with a plaid lining on the inside to make it a little stronger. I didn't really have a pattern, I just started cutting and stitching :)
- after I cut two pieces of fabric that are the same size, I cut a pocket and measured and stitched it onto where I thought the front center would be.
- Then I sewed the outer layer into a bag shape and the lining into a bag shape.
- then I pinned the lining into the bag, stitched, around the U of the bag, and sewed around the top shut to join the two pieces
If I had been intelligent I would have added the straps as I was stitching the top of the outer shell to the lining, but I didn't. So I stitched them into the inside of the bag.

Clip it to the bed and fill it with boy junk.



9/19/2011

Forgotten Favorites - Summer Edition

We can't deny it anymore.
Summer is ending.
But before we let go of it forever, there are some miscellaneous photos that I forgot to share with you...




deep breathe. 
Here we go... 
Hello fall, so nice to see you again.

9/16/2011

Art from Melted Crayon

Today's project started out as paper batik with the kids.
To do paper batik, we were coloring on paper with crayon, then going over it with ink.
However, the kids didn't think it was very fun or interesting.
Of course. 
So as any good mom would do, I started experimenting and set up a melting station on our George Forman grill where the kids could get melted crayon wax for their project.
But melted crayon wax doesn't spread very well. It doesn't stay liquidy long enough.
So we started just dipping the paper into the melted wax on the grill. Which was freaking awesome.
We quickly abandoned the batik idea and rounded up as many broken crayons as we could find.

So here's what we did: 
1. Protect the workspace - melted crayon is a bugger to clean up. We covered the grill with multiple layers of aluminum foil (though hot melted wax cleans off pretty well with a q-tip. Ask me how I know). We also covered the countertop with newspaper so I wouldn't have to clean up the drops of melted crayon that got everywhere.
2. We set up the ground rules. Only mom touches the grill. The kids could help by dropping fresh colors onto the grill, and directing where the papers would go. I also let them use pencils to poke the paper down when air pockets got stuck underneath.
3. Supplies: Aside from using up nearly all the broken crayons we could find, I had the kids cut up some scrap paper into pieces that were about 4 x 6 inches.
4. After everything was all set up, and the grill was all covered with foil, I arranged some crayons on the open grill and we watched them melt (which was way fun). When they were completely melted, I would drop a sheet of paper on long enough to pick up some color. Leave the grill open, just watch out for your knuckles. Ouch.
Experimenting with technique: sometimes I'd drop the whole sheet on there, sometimes I'd put on just a part of it. If I put the whole thing on there, I'd stick a pencil under a corner and lift it up long enough to let it cool and the wax harden, then pick it up with my fingers.
 Yes, those pages had a tendency to be on the hot side, but I don't think anyone got burned. I accidently bumped the grill with my knuckles at least once, but the grill wasn't hot enough to make my finger blister.
When the pages cooled, they had a little bit of curl to them, so we ironed them between two sheets of wax paper, and stuck them in a heavy book for 10 minutes and they were just fine.

Aside from looking freaking awesome, these little puppies are really fun for etching. The kids were using pencils to etch their names on their pages so there wasn't any confusion about who's was who's. 
Also, we have a wood burning fireplace, so I'm hoping to snarf some of the uglier pieces to use as fire starters. I've never put crayon in my fireplace before, hopefully I won't end up with colored wax deposits all over. I'll let you know how it goes.




9/15/2011

On Max

As many of you know, we are in the final stages of adopting a 7 year old boy from Russia. Our court paperwork is being translated as I write this and any moment now we'll get the call to go. When that call comes, the heavens will open up and rain chaos on our heads. My friend told me when she got her call earlier this year, she got 7 days notice to make her travel arrangements and solidify her childcare plans for the kids at home and such. Eek. Fortunately I have a strong network of stay at home moms on my side, and my mom lives nearby. So last minute childcare isn't really the issue around here.
But there are other issues to face.
The mental chatter caused by fear and insecurity that I've managed to keep at bay keeps getting louder.
I have to go before a Russian judge. Intimidated? Slightly. I've never gone before an American judge. I've heard horror stories of 6 hour long court hearings, all in Russian. I don't speak Russian. There are cultural nuances that may affect the answers a judge wants to hear.
I have 3 kids and a part time baby. Alex and baby will both transition to a new sibling easily. Not so sure about the girls. There will be times when they need to be reminded that they are still the center of my universe. The fact that my universe is getting bigger doesn't change that.
Since we homeschool I'm responsible for teaching ESL. I've no clue how to teach ESL. Sure there's an element of "I taught the others to speak English, I can teach this one too" and having a devoted older brother will be a huge help. But still. Not feeling very qualified there.
Then there's the reality of bringing a wounded soul into my family. One who is old enough that his scars will stay with him forever. The neglect/abuse issues. The abandonment issues. The melt downs that last for 4 hours (I've been warned). The fact that we really don't have the financial resources to take this kid to three different kinds of therapy each week.
Don't get me started on the finances. That's a whole can of worms by itself.
We're not even going to think about this kid's teeth. 
Yet from the outside I can recognize these insecurities for what they are. I can pinpoint the lies that tell me I'm not good enough, that I'm not qualified for this position, that this was a no-good, very bad idea that will torment my family for generations.
And I can stand on my faith. If Jesus thinks I'm the most qualified mom on the planet for Max, then who am I to argue.In the end, none of these things will matter. The only thing that will matter is that Jesus gave me an assignment, and I obeyed. One more gemstone for my heavenly crown.
And to think, this is the easy part.

9/14/2011

Ice Play Ideas...

Got a kid making you crazy? Wish there was something fun and creative lurking in your house that was inexpensive (aka free!) and didn't make a huge mess? Ice play to the rescue. My kids love it! This is an article I wrote that outlines some of the ways that we've entertained our kids with ice cubes over the years. Check it out. I'll bet there's something in here you haven't tried yet...

Ice Play Article

Enjoy!

(nearly) Wordless Wednesday


eyelashes...
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got a great photo for (nearly) wordless Wednesday to share with us? Post a link so we can all see it!

9/13/2011

computer crafting



I'm not the only one around here who's taken to this thing we've called digital design. The kids are loving it too. Anytime they see my computer on and I'm not glued to it, they open up their program and start something new. All 3 have particularly enjoy using the brushes I've already uploaded as inspiration for their little projects. Alex is starting to learn how to make his own brushes, and find images on the web to use in his projects.

Here are some of the recent ones.  

 





9/12/2011

A Letter to the Mouse

 Dear Mouse,

It was so nice of you to come and visit us the other day. While we didn't exactly invite you in, the children rather enjoyed meeting you. 

The day you visited must have been your lucky day. You found the trap and outsmarted it.
Sadly, you're still a mouse, and you're just not that smart.
Here's a helpful hint. Don't try to hide in plain site. Smack in the middle of my kitchen floor is usually the first place I look for live mouses.
It's possible you were blinded by my radiance. Understandable.  It's also  possible you didn't realize you were trying to hide in a wide open space.  Alex says there was something wrong with one of your eyes.
That's what they all say. Personally, I think you were just winking at me.

Like Hey baby. Yeah, I know I'm cute. Getta good look at my tail.

Whatever the reason you didn't run from us, it was nice of you to let Alex catch you and take you back outside.
You know if it had been me, I would have introduced you to my shovel.
Ick. Ick. Gross. Gross.
What would I do without a devoted son to catch mice for me. Clean mouse guts off of my shovel. That's what I'd do.
It's because of my rather helpful son that you survived to scurry another day.
Just don't come back.
K?
Thanks,
A Rather Grossed-out Mom

9/09/2011

Seat Sack - Peterson Style

If you have kids in public school, you've probably seen these. They are all over the schools that my mom works at. Sweet concept. But I'm to thrifty and creative to invest in such things.


Enter our version of the seat sacks.I think that this one will live on my desk chair in my master bedroom. Right where I can reach it from my bed. Bonus. It's the perfect size for a notepad and pen. Or my keys and cell phone. Or whatever I don't want to set down on my desk because it will surely get swallowed by the clutter.
So far I only have one for myself, but the kids have all ordered them.
It was rather easy to make. First I cut the fabric to fit the width of my chair, then since my chair has horizontal rungs, I made some ties and tied the front piece and back piece together through the rungs (so it wouldn't slide off onto the floor), added a pocket and embellished. Then I quickly filled it with some of the clutter from my desk and was all set.
 

9/08/2011

The Columbus Connection

We recently took a day trip to visit our dear friends that live in Columbus. Cathy, my old pal from college wanted some photography mentoring, which is possible online, but not nearly as fun. So the kids and I packed it up and made the journey across the state to their humble abode.
Sadly, we ended up  spending the majority of the day hiding from the heat.  But we did manage to venture out at one point to a park near her house to let the kids run and look at our cameras.
There were many photos taken, some of which were decent. There were many laughs shared, most of which were delightful.
Good friends, good times.


And Cathy totally has to live next door to me when we get to heaven. We'll share a garden that will always be lush, and never be brown and crunchy (like the park in Columbus). We might even let you come visit :)

9/07/2011

(nearly) wordless wednesday



cactus
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got a great photo for (nearly) wordless Wednesday to share with us? Post a link so we can all see it!

9/06/2011

Motorcycle Moments

There is one thing you can count on when the Peterson boys get together.
There will be motorcycles involved.

 Recently, Jory's dad and brother came from their own little corners of the country to play motorcycle stuff with Jory.


  While they were here the kids enjoyed a (very slow) ride at a local metropark.



9/05/2011

Go be awesome.

It's a holiday. Go on, enjoy it.


kiss your baby
watch a butterfly
make something awesome
take a photo
do something crazy
run until you can't breathe anymore
crank it up.
live outloud

however you define an awesome day, go do that. Go on, we'll wait. Be sure to report back on your awesomeness. We can't wait to hear about it.

9/02/2011

Garden Musings.......




Aside from the big brick party I had going on earlier this summer I've sort of been ignoring my garden. The weeds are more abundant than I'd like to admit, but there's enough good stuff going on out there that they're easy to overlook. Which I do, rather often. I might add. Overlook the weeds.
Our meadow is starting to look more like a proper meadow, and less like we're too lazy to mow our grass. It makes me happy. I'd like it more if my kids would stand in it so I could take their pictures I'd be just this much happier.
I have pumpkins growing out from under my back porch. Annie put a dead pumpkin out there last winter. Now I have a huge pumpkin patch. They'd make me happier if they weren't growing over my flowers.


I have 4 little gourds growing in my seriously overgrown veggie garden (aka meadow). They're so stinking cute.
Someone keeps stealing the blooms off of my sunflowers. I've lost 3 now. I blame the squirrels. I hate squirrels.

9/01/2011

Because




Because it's Thursday
Because they're totally into having their hair braided.
Because sometimes they need to feel like they're the center of my universe...



Because I love the way they make each other laugh
Because of those teeth.
But mostly just because it they're all mine...



Happy Thursday from Princess Twinkle Toes #1 and #2

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