I've Made a Vow

As I left the grocery store today I made a vow. First I curse the person who made the little carts for  kids to use. If I had maybe one child with me and there were no other shoppers in the store it wouldn't be so bad. Alas, how do you tell a 2 year old he can't use one when you let his 4 year old sister? The carts aren't quiet and neither are kids. Add that to the freedom it gives them to roam and your asking for a headache. So here I am with my two  helpers  kiddos and we  meet a couple people on our journey. 
The first guy is is an older white haired gentlemen who is awesome. He stands and watches the kids adoringly and tousles Jonathans hair. I could tell he just wanted to pick him up and give him a hug. Smiles and tells me how cute they are. The kids were laughing and acting like they were in a race (so not the quietest), begging to get the next grocery item I picked up.
Now onto the next person. This woman was not as old as the gentleman but her actions were quite different. At one point the kids got in a traffic jam and blocked the isle. I told them to move so she could get through but a two year old doesn't move that fast when he's stuck. I got over to help and her actions spoke louder than words. She just stood there acting disgusted that the kids were in her way. No "hey sweetheart could you try to move". Just a look of disgust and impatience. They kids were not hurting anything they just happened to be stuck.
So here is my vow:      I'm not going to give children a demeaning look like they just broke a precious figurine. I know people have bad days but it's amazing how much it affects others when they take their frustrations or crankiness on others. I'm going to be like the older gentleman and look at children for what they are, angels. Angels with miniature race cars grocery carts. Now the kids didn't notice their reactions or I doubt they even care, but I care. I vow to be a HAPPY OLD LADY!!!

THEN and NOW

THEN:

When I had my first baby I expected Mothers Day to be a day off. A day when I didn't have to CHANGE a diaper at all or COOK. I would be SHOWERED with GIFTS and PRAISE. I expected to get breakfast in bed and that I wouldn't have to lift one dish to CLEAN. I could sit, RELAX and just be SERVED all day.

NOW:

After six kids and 13 Mothers Day's I know I'm the one that needs to CHANGE.

It's a privilege to COOK for my family. It's an accomplishment  to have SHOWERED 

before the kids wake. GIFTS will come and go but the PRAISE I can give will last in the hearts of my children forever. It's not about making sure everything is CLEAN, I need to RELAX and play with the kids. Knowing that I've done my best and SERVED the best I can as a Mother.

Summer Schedule 2013

I started doing Summer schedules for the kids about four years ago. The older kids were at a fun age, Danika was eight and Andrew was six. When I was a kid I remember being bored a lot through the Summer and so I wanted to have something on hand for them to do. I also have feel better to have spent that time with them and  I hope they feel the same. I want them to look back on their Summers at home and remember the fun times they had with Mom. Before we do the activity the kids have to first finish all their chores, piano lessons, math practice (yep I'm a mean mom and make them do Math homework through the Summer), and do 20 min. of reading.  It's nothing fabulous just an activity a day but it's something all the kids can do. HAVE A FUN SUMMER!

Westwood Summer Schedule Nonperishable shopping list for 2013 activities

Things to hang onto:

Plastic yogurt container lids

Toilet paper rolls

Egg carton’s

Home Depot or Lowes: ½” PVC pipe and connectors for marshmallow guns. While there pick up Paint chip cards/ sample swatches for the peacock activity. Spray paint (optional)
If you see a number by the item it's used for 2 or more activities

Yarn
Kabobs
Chewy candy for kabobs

Wax                  
Liquid starch
Clear glue (2)

Food coloring
Balloons (4)
String/thread

Glass vase gems
 Play dough
   Pom poms

Corn starch (2)
Baking Soda
 Assorted felt

Washable paint
Pipe cleaners
 colored drinking straws

Plastic pony beads
 Wood beads  
 Google eyes

Elmer’s glue  
 Borax
 red, white and blue star garland
Craft dowel rods
Red, white and blue paper  
 Popsicle sticks

Bird seed
Knox gelatin (2 envelopes)  
Wax paper (if you don’t have it)
¼ cup dried fruit (raisins)
  Sidewalk chalk  
Black construction paper

Q-Tips      
 Candy (For June 25^th) optional
  Kool Aid (variety of colors)

Lemon lime soda
  Water marbles
   Fly swatter (Dollar tree)

Shaving Cream
Colored Feathers
  Construction Paper

Craft foam
  A Black Light
 Fluorescent paint (assorted colors)

Perishable Grocery shopping List

June 14: Strawberries, bananas, chocolate chips, flour tortillas, peanut butter, cinnamon, sugar.

June 24^th: Strawberries, lemonade.

July 11^th: Marshmallows (mini)

I couldn't figure out how to put the calendar on here as the program I used was Word Starter so If you want the calendar form just send me your info and I can mail it to you.  Here are the list of activities. For some crafts the directions are in the Link listed.

June:

Spy Training with yarn

Make Candy kabobs with a bunch of chewy candy.

Volcano in a mug: Layer Wax, sand, and water. Then heat till wax boils like a volcano.

Make Slime:1 1/2 cups of clear glue and 1 1/2 cups liquid starch. Add food color

Science experiment: Watch as the blue and yellow water travel up the paper towel, making  its way into the empty cup to make green water.

Blow up 10 balloons.  Number them from 1 to 10. Hide the balloons throughout the house. Have children work as a team to find the balloons in order

Do an Act of kindness for the Postman. With notes to thank him or a treat.

Make suncatchers with lids, glue, and glass gems

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/16045/glass-gem-sun-catcher-craft

Make Wacky Sacks http://www.somewhatsimple.com/wacky-sacks/

Make yummy snack together

http://www.acedarspoon.com/strawberry-banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-quesadilla/

Nature scavenger hunt. Gather things to glue onto a collage

Make craft clay

http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Easy-Craft-Clay.html

Make caterpillers out of egg cartons

Make Balloon people by gluing felt pieces onto balloons

Paint your creations from clay made on Tues.

Make strawberry lemonade popcicles

Make pipe cleaner ninjas

http://frugalfun4boys.com/2013/04/01/pipe-cleaner-ninjas/

TP roll paint chip peacock

http://tpcraft.blogspot.com/2011/06/toilet-paper-roll-paint-chip-peacock.html

Make super balls http://makingmemorieswithyourkids.blogspot.com/2011/05/homemade-super-balls.html

Have teams and create treasure maps. First team to find the other teams treasure wins. http://tangarangblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/tuesday-kid-craftparty-craft.html 

July:

Make star wands

http://la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com /2011/07/4th-of-july-star-wands.html

Visit the ZOO J

Make stars out of popsicle sticks or jumbo sticks.

http://www.planetpals.com/ craft_recycle_flag.html

Build your own rocket and launch with Stomp Rocket

Sidewalk paint http://shareandremember.blogspot.com /2011/06/cornstarch-sidewalk-paint.html

Don’t forget to Go to 7-11for free slurpees onthe 11th

Make marshmellow shooters

http://www.momscraftyspace.com /2011/05/marshmallow-shooters.html

SPLASH PAD J

Make a birdfeeder in the shape of a star

Make your own bird feeders http://learning.innerchildfun.com /2013/02/hanging-shape-bird-feeders.html

Make Squeeze bottle pancake art for snack

Sidewalk chalk Pictionary

Make Q tip fireworks

http://formulamom.com/qtip-fireworks-craft/

Write thank you letters and buy some candy or other treat to give to neighbor or primary teacher

Make puffy paint

http://getyourmesson.blogspot.com /2011/09/puffy-paint.html

Make a magic potion with kool aid ice cubes

http://www.mrshappyhomemaker.com /2011/10/magic-potion/

August:

Color rainbows and

Find a sunny spot, inside or out.  Hold a glass of water above a piece of white paper and watch as the sunlight passing through the glass of water bends and forms a rainbow on the paper.

Play with water marbles maybe mix some in shaving cream for a different sensory play.

Balloon volleyball. Use fly swatters to hit them

Get colored feathers and create your own birds on construction paper.

Make egg carton fish http://www.crafty-crafted.com/category/animal-crafts/fish-animal-crafts/

You have to scroll half way down the page to find the craft.

Learn some clapping games at http://funclapping.com/ and try perfecting a few

Shaving  cream water fight

Make stuff from old TP rolls

http://www.easy-child-crafts.com/preschool-spring-crafts.html

Make a movie. Write a story together and your own characters

Create a masterpiece by using Sidewalk chalk on the tramp

Glow in the dark fun

http://www.growingajeweledrose.com /2013/01/glowing-rainbow-water.html

Take dog to the dog park. If you don’t have an animal maybe consider visiting the local humane society.

Make a treat and a note to give to your teacher tomorrow J 

 School begins

First day of school Cookie Party