Free fun rocks!

If you are not taking advantage of summer programming at your local library, you are missing out! Libraries offer amazing activities and entertainment, especially in the summer.
We are fortunate enough to be a part of the LA county library system (colapublib.org). Visit the site and search the events tab. We have 3 libraries near enough to participate in their activitites, which is awesome!
Today we attended a fabulous bilingual concert by Nathalia presented by the Quartz Hill library. Nathalia's music is engaging, entertaining, and will have you shaking your hips! We especially enjoyed "Shine" and "Crazy Train" and we were excited to pick up two of her CDs so we could continue the dance party in the car! Most songs include lyrics in both English and Spanish, which I'm hoping will help us improve some of our Spanish vocabulary while we dance! Many also include dance directives, like stomp, turn around, or wiggle, which adds to the fun! Nathalia is local to Santa Clarita, so I'll be following her Facebook page to keep track of opportunities to see her live again!

Put a Little D.I.Y. in your child's weekend

Did you know that two and often three weekends a month you can build a project with your child for FREE at your local home improvement store? Both Lowe's and Home Depot offer children's workshops. 

Home Depot workshops are the first Saturday of every month, and are open to drop-in attendees from 9am to 12 pm, as long as supplies last. Children can receive an apron to personalize and get a pin after each program to add to their apron. Home Depot projects often involve paint, so don't go your baseball uniform!

Lowe's workshops are every other weekend, usually Saturdays from 10 to 11 am, but this summer they've added Sunday afternoon workshops as well! Lowe's requires registration to guarantee a spot. You can register online or call the store to sign up. Participants receive an apron at their first workshop and iron-on patches to add for each project. If you haven't registered, or your local store is not accepting additional registrations, you can still show up, wait about 20 minutes or so, and then claim any unused project kits. Lowe's projects are more likely to involve stickers than paint. This summer, projects are connected with Dreamworks' Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and Shrek. 

Is it age appropriate? We take our 5 year old and almost 3 year old each week. As long as you are helping with the project assembly, the finished project is age appropriate for children who are beyond the small-parts-in-mouth phase. Older children (I'd say up to 10 or 12) would enjoy completing the projects more independently. Some at our local stores even bring their own tool sets!

This week's project at Lowe's is an ice cream truck. We'll be there - will you?

My Junk Drawer Solution to Bathtime Peace

5 Junk Drawer Items + 5 Minutes of Assembly = 5 Nights of Peaceful Bathtub Play

It's a pitiful fact of a mom's life: you are more likely to enjoy 10 minutes of peacefully reading a novel while your kids are in the tub than while you are. Much as I'd enjoy some bath salts, candles, and maybe even a glass of chardonnay, let's face reality. If I don't compare it to a leisurely soak in the privacy of my tub, reading a couple chapters while perched on the toilet lid supervising my boys during their bathtime is actually pretty rewarding. It's enjoyable enough that I've sought out ways to extend their bathtub play enough to sneak in a few more pages. Here's my latest idea.


We have an abundance of bath toys. More than necessary I'm sure. But as with any toy, familiarity breeds contempt. (or boredom, or misuse, or destruction) So midway through my husband's recent business trip and desperately in need of anything even resembling "me-time" I went on a post-dinner web search for some kind of bath entertainment I could create in a few minutes with items on hand. The result? Cork boats.

Inspired by a post at Kate's Creative Space, I rummaged around to find some corks, toothpicks, and a couple pennies. I deviated from her designs by replacing wrapping paper with craft foam and glue with rubber bands. I made two each of two types of boats, in less than 10 minutes (probably less than 5 once I found all the materials). 

The Sailboat:

1. Carefully cut a cork in half lengthwise, yielding two "hulls." I used a serrated kitchen knife, though I am sure there are better tools out there. 
2. In the curved bottom of each "hull" cut a slit slightly smaller than the diameter of a penny, and only half as deep, then wedge the coin into the slit (provides balance in the water).
3. Cut a sail from craft foam, stiff paper, or flexible plastic. I chose foam to lengthen the boats' lives, but paper "laminated" with packing tape would work too. Your sail should be just slightly longer than your toothpicks, in a skinny-oval-with-pointed-ends type shape. 
4. Poke toothpick through sail at each pointed end. I used cocktail picks with little plastic tassels, but just because they looked cute. Standard toothpicks would be totally functional. 
5. Carefully poke toothpick into flat side of cork "hull" opposite the penny. 

The Raft-Style Boat:

1. If you choose not to enlist your kitchen knives for crafting with corks, or want to let your child attempt assembly, or just want variety (like me) you might want to try the raft-style boat.
2. You'll need 3 corks, lined up with round sides together. You could use a glue gun or superglue, or if you're impatient like me, a wide rubber band. I used a band from some veggies, twisted once so that the top of the raft had two bands across it and the bottom of the raft had an "x". 
3. Assemble sail as in steps 3 and 4 above. 
4. Carefully poke toothpick into middle cork of the raft. Note, penny is not needed because the raft balances better on its own.

Open Water Tips:

The addition of a drinking straw improves the fun factor. The straw makes gusts of wind or choppy waters (bubbles) easy to create. Side by side straws = boat races, opposing straws = boat battles. 

After considerable play, toothpicks can become water-logged and softened, thus prone to breakage. Keep a few extras sink-side for mast repairs. 

Of course, supervise boats with coins carefully if your children are still in the small-objects-in-mouth stage. Best to opt for rafts or at least glue coins in place.

Also a fun activity in large shallow bowl or pan on the patio or in the pool.

Am I the only one that relishes tub-time? Any suggestions for toy variety?

Free Admission, On Your Schedule, In Your Jammies!

It's International Museum Day, and as much as I'd like to say we spent the day filling up on culture and learning about history, we didn't. It's a school day. We have t-ball practice in the afternoon, and sometimes cool observances like this just don't fit the schedule. However, we did get a glimpse of some classical art at the Louvre, a dinosaur skeleton or two at the National Museum of Natural History, some ancient astronomy tools  at the Museo Galileo, and check out some presidential aircraft at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.


What's that? How could we possibly visit all those places in one day? Well, of course, we did some virtual travel. You too can visit all these cool places and more (for free!) from the comfort of your couch, or I suppose even your car or the grocery store with a web-enabled phone. 

The National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Complex, offers a comprehensive virtual tour. Two floors of dinosaurs, mammals, sea creatures, insects, and more navigable via an interactive map. You can sit back and watch the 360 degree views of each exhibit, or click, zoom, pan, and explore on your own. The photography is amazing - you will feel like you are there!

Touring the Louvre, in Paris, France is not quite as intuitive or comprehensive, but some patient clicking around will reveal an interactive map and the ability to zoom in on particular works of art. The highlighted pieces (paintings, sculptures, etc) include textual explanations and background. The page is in (obviously) in French, but many browsers (I use Chrome) will do the translation for you. 

The Museo Galileo can can be explored by room, by object, or in thematic videos. I loved the narrated video options. The narration is interesting and highlights objects by zooming in and rotating as appropriate. It is a very high quality tour. My 5 year old is enamored with space and astronomy lately, so we will be "returning" to this museum on a regular basis. 

For a taste of both the historical and the modern, spend some time at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. View planes and other aircraft from the days of the Wright Brothers right up to space travel and current research and development. Panoramic interactive photography and a easy to navigate map are highlights of this tour. Choose to view at your own pace or use the audio tour button to "guide" you through the museum via podcast. 


If you still haven't had enough, check out the Google Art Project, a collection of virtual tours of art museums and exhibits around the world. Explore interactive museum panoramas using navigation much like Google Earth satellite maps, or view individual works of art by collection. The information on each piece is not as comprehensive as you might find at the physical museum location, but the vastness of the collection and ability to zoom and rotate each piece is unmatched. 


Where will you go first?

Could There Be a Better Reason to Bake?

It's National Chocolate Chip Day! I mean, really, how fun is that? Great excuse for chocolate eating, sharing, and baking. I love to bake. It's a great activity with kids to help them with learning measurement, reading skills, and sequencing. Generally, chocolate chip recipes are pretty forgiving too. I'll share my current favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe below, but if you're not a from scratch kinda person, there are lots of other options:

• Use a mix (I love Haley's Quick Mix because the ingredients are all natural and you need only add water! I got mine at Costco.)
• Get some refrigerated dough (In a tube, pre-formed, whatever floats your boat. I prefer the Pillsbury Simply... cookies because they are made with more natural ingredients.)
• Open the box of Chips Ahoy or whatever your favorite brand is! 
• Of course, you could use chocolate chips another way as well: sprinkle them in pancakes, over ice cream, in some trail mix... is there really anything chocolate doesn't go with? Maybe not on our asparagus at dinner?

 To keep you busy while your cookies are baking (or as a celebration alternative if the oven just isn't going to happen) check out a fun cookie themed book (my choice today is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie). If you don't know this book, go and request it from your library RIGHT NOW. So fun. Laura Numeroff narrates the chain of events set in motion by simply sharing a cookie: and they include not only milk, but crayons, a broom, and a haircut! Kids think it's hilarious and I think parents enjoy it because it is so reminiscent of  kid behavior. I picked a few other cookie related books out on Amazon too if your're really going whole-hog.

For some more fun, sing Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar? Put your qualms about accusations and tattling aside and enjoy the rhythm and giggles. It's especially fun in a large group, because it keeps the song going, but you can create a larger group if you include Teddy, Dino, Puppy, Barbie, or whatever other toys might be at hand. Making up voices for them is fun too.



Yummy Chocolate Chip Cookies


(Actually a recipe adapted from Weight Watchers for my husband that I ended up loving - they're only 1 point if you're counting!)


1 and 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large egg whites
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips (mini are best)


Preheat oven to 350 F.


Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg whites and beat well. Gradually add dry ingredients and beat until blended, then stir in chocolate chips. 


Drop by rounded teaspoon onto cookie sheets sprayed with cooking spray or lined with parchment (I love parchment). Bake 10 minutes until lightly golden. Makes 80 small cookies. Make them bigger or halve the recipe if 80 cookies seems preposterous to you. They go quickly around here. You can also freeze some of the dough in an airtight container before or after you scoop the cookies. 


Have a Happy National Chocolate Chip Day! How will you celebrate?

Image courtesy =-.0= on flickr

What to Do With Your Mother's Day Gift

I love, let me repeat LOVE, the gifts my children make me. Sometimes it can be a little challenging to appropriately display and/or enjoy them. Here are some possibilities:

• If you are as lucky as me and your child brought home a stunning silhouette already sized to 8x10 by his teacher, frame it!
• If your drawing/photo/poem is two dimensional but not of standard size, find a photo mat or floating frame. 
• If your gift is 3 dimensional and/or perishable, take a photo of it, with your child holding it. You might want to do this with the 2-dimensional gifts mentioned above as well, just so you have a back-up copy and can store it in your fire safe. (That's not just me, right?) 

While you'll want to admire your framed gift hanging in the hallway or your 3D gift on your dresser for the coming weeks, months, or even years, there may come a point at which you are running out of wall space or the sculpture on the dresser gets tough to dust. At that point you will have two options: a) store gift in box of keepsakes in attic/basement/closet/garage to treasure when your children are grown or b) discretely dispose of gift and treasure that photo I so wisely advised you to take. 

A thought for those photos you'll be taking of your gifts: Purchase an inexpensive 4x6 photo album - think dollar store, walmart, dollar bin at target. Slide the photos of your gifts. (You could include just Mother's Day gifts if you like the idea of yearly progression, or any gift/drawing/note from your child - even snap a photo of the dandelion he picked for you at the park!) Look through this album when you're feeling nostalgic or when your living room is a disaster and you need to be reminded of your child's angelic side. As an alternative, your could keep a slide show of these images on your computer, phone, or tablet. (But don't forget to back them up!)

Image courtesy madelinetosh

10 Ways to Make Mother's Day Memorable

1. Look through photos with your child. Photos of your child as a baby, photos of a younger version of yourself, or photos of your own mom - anything that will trigger some storytelling is magical.
2. Teach your child to do something you love. Cook, play a sport, craft, play an instrument, whatever you enjoy, your child will love learning from you.
3. Interview your child - and/or - let your child interview you. Take some time to get to know the way your child thinks (also a great birthday activity). Ideas for questions to ask your child at Giggles Galore, Blissfully Domestic, and TeachMama. If you choose to let your child interview you, you may enjoy learning just what he or she is curious about!
4. Write a letter to your child. If he or she is old enough to read, share it on Mother's Day, if not, tuck it away with keepsakes for later.
5. Take a picture with your children. Even if it means setting the timer and flying into the shot, make this a day to be in the picture. So often, moms are behind the camera, capturing the memories. Be a part of the memory.
6. Celebrate all the mother figures in your child's life and yours. Consider those who play maternal rolls that enrich your child's life and your own: teachers, babysitters, grandmas, aunts, neighbors, etc.
7. Experience something new together - visit a state park, try in-line skating, or experiment in the kitchen. 
8. Read together. Get out some of your child's favorite books from babyhood, let him or her choose a current favorite to share, or read a favorite of your own. Pick out a mom-themed picture book like Is Your Mama a Llama?, Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too?, Mother, Mother I Want Another, or my favorite, Let Me Hold You Longer.
9. Share your own mother with your child. Spend time together if possible, or talk on the phone, skype, share photos, stories, etc. Help your child understand the connections of generations and branches of the family tree.
10. Take some time to remember the day you became a mother, whatever that means to you. Whether it's the day you found out you were pregnant, the day you gave birth, the day you welcomed an adoptive child into your family, or some other circumstance, consider how it changed you. If you have more than one child, consider how each experience changed you. Talk about it with your children, your partner, or your own mom. Write about it in a journal, or shout it from the rooftops.