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Summer vacation has begun so we are all looking for more outdoor activities for our kids. An all time favorite among kids is blowing bubbles. Parents can often get frustrated though because they run out so fast or get spilled. So here is my recipe to make your own bubble blowing solution

Making your own bubble blowing solution can save you lots of money and it allows you to keep an almost endless supply. It is easy to make your own bubble blowing solution so now you can be ready anytime a child runs to you saying that they are bored.

YOU WILL NEED

• 2 Tablespoons liquid dish soap
• 1 Cup water

*Optional for added strength

• 1 Tablespoon liquid corn syrup - Many people use this to strengthen their bubbles but remember that bees and wasps like sweet liquids.
• 1 Tablespoon glycerin - This is a better option. It can be bought at pharmacies very cheaply.

Have fun this summer and blow lots of bubbles!

It is way too nice outside to be sitting indoors. It is time to get out there and have some fun. Once it gets warm out we spend a lot of time outside playing together. Here are some activities that require things you usually have around the house.



BALLOON or BEACH BALL VOLLEYBALL

Everyone turns into a kid when there are balloons or blow up balls. Adults and kids alike will have a blast playing this game. It gets everyone outside. It gets everyone active. Most of all it will get everyone laughing. Even the most sporty person will not have much of an advantage in this game. It is all just about the fun.

SCAVENGER HUNTS

This one can be fun and educational. By choosing what goes on the list you can make it simple, silly, or educational. If you want to make it harder give clues instead of just a list. For younger kids you can do colors, rhyming words, or shapes. For the older ones use things they are learning about at that time. It will still be fun and they can work their brains at the same time. You can also do it all about nature since you are outdoors.

OUTDOOR BOWLING

Dig in that recycling bin and see what you can find. Fill some empty 2 liter bottles or milk jugs with enough water to keep them from blowing over and start bowling. Just about any ball will do.

FLASH LIGHT TAG

Why let the fun stop just because it got dark. Grab some flash lights and have some fun. This one ends up being a combination of Hide & Seek and Tag. Younger kids and older adults have an easier time with this one since less running is needed.

**Today's generation does not know the fun games we played outside as kids. It may take a little coaxing to get them away from the video games but once you do they will love it. Get your kids outside and have some fun. It will also be a great chance to talk about when you were a kid.

Spring really is here. Everything is turning green and flowers are in bloom. It is so beautiful outside. The kids want to spend time outside so it is time for an outside craft. Why not have fun making your own chalk? They can have fun and be creative.


I do not think kids ever get too old for chalk. Even my 13 year old has fun drawing with chalk on the driveway. It also gives me some free time to enjoy the outdoors too. They stay busy having fun so I do not have the constant interruptions.


YOU WILL NEED

• 2 Cups Water
• 2 Cups Plaster of Paris
• 2 Tbsp. Tempera paint
• Toilet paper tubes with duct tape over one end

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine and stir together. Let stand a few minutes.
   
2. Place tubes on cookie sheet lined with foil or wax paper.
   
3. Pour mixture into holders and let stand until semi-firm.
   
4. Remove holders and let dry completely.
   

*Ready to use in 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
(Reminder, never pour plaster down sink).

Winter is the time of year for a lot of static so what could be a better time to have a static electricity experiment. Kids always get a kick out of it when they touch something and get a shock. This experiment will be fun and educational.




**Materials

scissors

Styrofoam tray from your supermarket (ask at the meat or bakery counter for a clean, unused tray)

masking tape

aluminum pie tin

**Instructions

1. Cut an "L" shape off of the styrofoam try by cutting around one corner.
2. Tape the "L" shape onto the pie tin to make a handle
3. Rub the remaining styrofoam tray on your head to build up static.
4. Place the styrofoam on the table upside down.
5. Using the handle only, hold the pie tin a foot above the styrofoam tray and drop it on top.
6. Slowly touch just the pie pan with your finger. What a spark!
7. Carefully lift the pie pan up by the handle and touch it again for another great spark.
8. Drop it back down and begin again.

These steps can be repeated over and over again until the static charge runs out. Then just rub the styrofoam on your hair again. How about trying this in the dark? Check out what color the spark is. Kids will love doing this one in the dark so they can see the spark as well as feel it.

**What We Learned

Rubbing the styrofoam on your hair pulls electrons off of your hair and piles them up on the foam. Some of the electrons that are in metal are "free electrons". This means that they can move around freely. They want to get as far away from the styrofoam as possible so they jump to your finger giving you a spark.

When you pull the pie pan up and away from the styrofoam the electrons no longer want to move away. The pie pan is also short a few electrons since it gave them to you. When you touch the pie pan again it pulls the electrons back onto the pie pan giving you another spark.

**Is this how lightning is formed?

Lightning is when electrons move between clouds and the ground or cloud to cloud. The moving electrons heat up the air so hot that it is 5 times hotter than the sun. The heating up and expanding of the air creates a supersonic wave that is heard as thunder.

Well the thunderstorms started last night and it is supposed to be storming off and on for a day and a half. This means bored and grumpy kids. My kids hate being stuck inside and seeing how dark and gloomy it is outside does not help. I thought that today might be a perfect day for window paints. It will give them something to do and brighten up the day.

Window Paints

You Will Need

Powdered tempera paint
Clear dish detergent
Paintbrushes

Add the dish detergent to the tempera paint slowly until you get a smooth, paint-like consistency. Clean the window. When it is dry, start painting your picture. To clean off the paint, simply wipe the window with a paper towel, then clean the window with your regular window cleaner. Very simple.

Window clings are loved by kids during the holidays. What about the rest of the year though? These window clings can be used all year long and be as beautiful as stained glass. All you need is a picture and the ability to color between the lines.

Kids can make things from their favorite coloring book and adults can make things that match or enhance the room it will be in. If you would like to see the full instructions with extra tips or an easier method for younger kids check out the Window Cling page on the main website. You will also find more ideas of places to use window clings. They do not have to just be used on windows.

I am a proud Mommy yet again. All of my websites started because my kids came home from school telling me that almost all of their friends had no idea how to make friendship bracelets. My girls LOVE making them. It is one of those relaxing things you can do while going on a long drive, sitting on a flight, or just sitting in the house bored watching television.

Kids have so much more stress these days than we ever did but because of busy lives they do not always get taught what to do to relieve stress or pass the time. In the beginning of it all I just wanted to find an easy way to show girls how to make friendship bracelets.

As I started to make the main website I realized that I wanted to branch out further and provide a way for girls that have very busy families to learn things that normally were passed down from mother to daughter.

I enjoyed it so much that I then branched out further and wanted to cover everything. If it could bring any kind of happiness to families or kids I wanted to cover it. Way too many kids sit bored at computers because they are stuck home alone while parents have to work. If I could just give them one hobby so they were not so all alone... If I could give just one family a fun idea that inspired them to spend more time together seeing the beauty of their life together...

Well. through it all I never saw the interest in the friendship bracelets like I thought I would. That is until now... The past week almost all of my top search engine keywords for the main site have to do with the friendship bracelet pages. It must be a summer thing.

So I decided that I would tell you all that I have some instructions on making friendship bracelets on the main website. Summer is a great time for kids to make them. As kids sit bored they are a great, cheap, and easy hobby to keep them busy.

If you would like to see all of the instructions please check out the Friendship Bracelet pages. I actually stopped adding more types because people seemed not interested. If people are actually interested I can add instructions for harder bracelets.

We have a winner in the Fun Family Ideas category!

Ryan Simonsen and his family have been geocaching for years in Wisconsin. I knew Ryan and Sheila back when we were young but lost contact with them during the years that we lived in Arizona. I am very glad that Ryan sent this entry to me. He has a great little family that loves spending time together.

Our family has done some geocaching in Arizona and Wisconsin. We really like that it is outdoors and free. Anyone at any age can do it and kids love looking for treasure. James and the girls have even done some of the caches Ryan has set up and really enjoyed them.

Here is a portion of the winning entry...

Geocaching 101

by Ryan Simonsen

Ever have that thirst for adventure? Have you ever dreamed of finding hidden treasure? Have you ever wanted to go for a hike, but you didn't know where to go? Have I got a family activity for you......Geocaching.

Geocaching is a world wide treasure hunt played with a GPS reciever. This is a fun activity for the whole family and the best part is that it is free. There are over 500,000 caches in over 33 countries and it grows bigger everyday.

Geocaching on the main site

If you would like to see the full entry with all of the information about geocaching you can go to the main site and read all about Geocaching.

Summer is really becoming a reality. We have had 5 days of no school so far here. We had some make up snow days so it is already time to start summer school today. The girls are very excited. They picked some really fun classes. Noelle is the most excited because she is taking Jazz Band. She loves playing instruments. She already plays cello and clarinet. She got a guitar last Christmas and has wanted to get better at playing it. The band teacher told her that she can bring her guitar and clarinet for jazz band and he will help her learn more. So it will give her the opportunity to learn more guitar. She has been really looking forward to it.

On the other side of summer...

We still have to find fun things to do at home to keep the girls busy and entertained. So I think today will be Ooze. The girls love playing with Ooze. I love that even if they get it on everything it will not be a gooey mess because it turns right back into a powder as it dries. I hope you will try this recipe out and have fun with it.

Ooze

You will need

1 cup of dry cornstarch

large bowl or pan

food coloring (if you want)

1/2 cup of water

1. Make sure you work on an easy to clean surface and easy to clean floor. This stuff can drip and get messy but you just have to wipe it with a damp cloth because it dries really fast and turns right back to powder.

2. Put the cornstarch into the bowl. Add a drop or two of food coloring. (Use whatever colors you like.) Add water slowly, mixing the cornstarch and water with your fingers until all the powder is wet.

3. Keep adding water until the Ooze feels like a liquid when you're mixing it slowly. Then try tapping on the surface with your finger or a spoon.

When Ooze is just right, it won't splash. It will feel solid.If your Ooze is too powdery, add a little more water. If it's too wet, add more cornstarch. It will be hard to work with if you move too fast. You have to mix it slowly and trust that it really will work out.

It will start to dry out and turn back to powder after awhile so if you want to save it you should add some more water and put it in a ziplock.

Things to try

Pick up a handful and squeeze it. Stop squeezing and it will drip through your fingers.

Rest your fingers on the surface of the Ooze. Let them sink down to the bottom of the bowl. Then try to pull them out fast.

Take a blob and roll it between your hands to make a ball. Then stop rolling. The Ooze will trickle away between your fingers.

Put a small plastic toy on the surface. Does it stay there or does it sink?