Julian's First Grade Field Trip

One of many recycled plastic bottle cap art pieces.

Julian's first grade field trip was to the Mulvane Art Museum and ArtLab. The kids got to eat their lunches in the student union first and then they headed to the museum to learn all about paintings and why artists can all look at the same things, yet paint something very different from each other. After that they got to head down to the ArtLab and make their own creations, before being let loose to do some exploring.

This is the group getting instructions on the type of art project they will be creating. The instructions: tear up pieces of paper and glue to your paper plate. Then add paint and texture to your masterpiece.

 





 Julian went to work tearing his paper, I noticed he was tearing very small pieces, but didn't give it much thought.

Here is what he was doing. Not to bad, if I say so myself.

 

Putting some chalk graffiti up on the wall.

 

 

 Having fun with the mirrors.

 

 

 Working with texture.

 



Here's wishing you a chance to think outside the box and make a masterpiece of your very own.

Kaleb's Pre-K Field Trip

Kaleb had his first ever field trip with his Pre-K class recently. He was very excited to go to the pumpkin patch with his class and to ride the bus. But, he was most excited because I went on the trip with him, and it meant that he got to be a car-rider home from school.

Hayrack ride out to the pumpkin patch.

He found the perfect pumpkin.

Testing out an apple cider slush.

King of tires!

Look at me way up here.

 


One of many trips down the slides.







Family Photos 2012

After postponing family photos due to muddy conditions, we were able to get our pictures done last weekend. Our friend Chad, from CG Photography (find him on facebook too), came out and captured some great shots of the family. If you are in the area we highly recommend him.

Here are a few of the highlights:

 

 

 

 

 

Here's wishing you a chance to stop time, just for a moment.

Pinterest Top 5

A short and sweet top 5 this week:


We made this for dinner tonight. I slightly modified the recipe, I only used one can of cream of chicken soup and added a can of corn. Julian requested that next time we make it we add black beans, I think that was a great idea!

Chicken Tortilla Bake


This is a super yummy looking dessert from one of my favorite bloggers.

Nutella Cakes


I love these! You better believe that handyman of the house is going to get asked to make these. I think they would be great for the boys' rooms; clothes would be sorted nicely, and/or toys could easily be put away here too.

Storage Bins


This is what I am envisioning for my front yard next spring, at least my own version of this. We need something out front and is simple, but still makes a statement.

Corner Landscaping


I am going to give this a try next summer with fresh cucumbers.

Cucumber Salsa


Here's wishing you time to find something "PINteresting" to do with your time.

Kindle Fire Cover

I have slacked off again this week and missed the Wednesday Pinterest Top 5. So, in it's place I will post the details* on the cover I made for my Kindle Fire. I made this sleeve because I could not find something I really liked for my Kindle that did not cost $20 or more. I had all the necessary supplies, why not attempt to make something myself? So here we go, please leave me a comment with your ideas, questions, tips, etc.

Kindle Fire Cover

Here is what I used: upholstery fabric (khaki and red material) for the outside and fleece (gray material) for the interior liner. I wanted something durable for the outside and something soft that was not going to scratch the screen on the inside.

I cut the upholstery fabric first; 20" long and 6" wide (it probably wouldn't hurt to add 1/2" to both the length and the width) and laid it right side down on top of the fleece.

 

 

Pin the upholstery fabric to the fleece.

 

 

 Cut the fleece using the upholstery fabric as your template.

 

 

 Here is the 2 pieces of fabric cut out and still pinned together.

 

 

 Sew the 2 long sides and one short side, I didn't measure the seam on this. I just put the edge of the fabric on the outside edge of the presser foot (I know, really technical, right?).

 

 

 Here is the finished edge with the wrong sides out.

 

 

 Pull the rights sides out through the open end.

 

 

 For a little added stability I slipped a piece of chipboard (think cereal box) into the sleeve. This should be an inch shorter than your fabric.

 

 

 Stitch the open end shut.

 

 

 Fold the sleeve so that bottom meets with the top of the chipboard piece, this should leave you with the extra inch of fabric with nothing inside of it at the top. This will be flap that closes the case.

 

 

 

Stitch both of the long edges together on each side.

 

 

 

 This is what your finished edge will look like when you are done.

 

 

 Here is the finished product. I haven't decided what would work best for me as a fastener, it will either be velcro or small snaps.

 

*Please note: this is a tight fitting sleeve for the Kindle Fire, feel free to adapt this as you see fit. When measuring I would definitely error on the side of measuring a little big, not a little small. This is just my process, more meant to be guidelines and/or an idea generator for your to use to make your own covers for your tablet/e-reader.

Here's wishing you the time to get creative and make something instead of running out to buy it.

Wednesday Pinterest Top 5

What a long week we had last week, sorry for not getting around to my Top 5 last Wednesday. Now that Odie is getting back to feeling more like himself, I am getting back to the things I try to do on a regular basis during the week. I think some people refer to it as that elusive thing called "me time", working out, blogging, wasting time researching interesting things on Pinterest, attempting to make whatever pin has grabbed my attention, etc. It's hard when you are a mom, whether you are working outside the home or staying at home with the kids, to find this "me time". I think mine is buried in the back of the closets with the toys that are ever so neatly "picked up" by the little boys in my household.

Anyway, enough rambling. Here is my Pinterest Top 5 for this week:

What kid would not love to have their very own tent? What mom would not love an easy to create and set-up tent? Not to mention how little space they take up, you could slide it under the bed when it's not being used.

Simple Tents


These will definitely be making an appearance at out house this fall. The boys love making hand turkeys, and I think this is cute!

Hand Turkeys 2.0


I made these roll-ups this weekend. They are so easy to put together and are tasty too!

Salsa Roll-ups


I read this book this summer, I think I cried through the majority of it. It is a great book and really helps you put your life and daily struggles into perspective. Highly recommend it (and keeping a box of kleenex nearby too).

Heaven Is Here


Pretty sure I need to make one of these signs for my laundry room.

Laundry Schedule

Here's wishing you a chance to hunt down and find your "me time".

Home Sweet Home

This guy here is happy to be back home, and we are all glad to have him back home. He had to spend Friday and Saturday at the vet's office. He quit eating off and on for about a week and was just not himself. So we checked him in on Friday and they ran blood tests and did x-rays, which were all inconclusive, gave him some IV fluids, antibiotics and anti-nausea meds. We visited him Saturday morning, and by Sunday morning we got the phone call that he was feeling much better and was ready to come home. So now he his pretty close to his old (13 year old) self again, he is on steroids for a few weeks and a bland diet. We are so glad to have him back home and happy to see him feeling much better!

Here's wishing you time to stretch out and take a nice long nap in the sun.