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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.

So what will your family be doing on Thanksgiving? For most families Thanksgiving means lots and lots of football. Some kids love football and others have no interest in it. A great holiday gathering can turn very bad, very fast if kids get bored. A great holiday with family is when you keep kids occupied so there are less chances for them to get bored and get into trouble. I would like to share with you some ideas of how to keep kids busy this Thanksgiving.

Pin the Football in the Goal Post

This first game is a Thanksgiving / Football version of playing pin the tail on the donkey. Kids can have a blast and stay occupied for quite a while with this one. Even the smallest and least athletic child can score in this game. The kids can take turns being blindfolded and sticking the football up. Remember to turn the kids around a few times after they are blindfolded so they are not sure where the goal post is. This is what makes it harder to score and the game even funnier.


Find The Turkey Egg

Eggs are not just for Easter. Turkeys lay eggs so why not have an egg game for Thanksgiving? In this game one person leaves the room while a hard boiled egg is hidden. When the person comes back in the room they have to find the egg. To make it more fun the people in the room will gobble when the person gets closer to the egg. The gobbles get louder as the person gets closer. What could be more fun than a room full of friends and family gobbling?

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.

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?

Memorial Day here was warm and sunny. Now today it got cloudy and pretty cold outside. After all the fun outside yesterday the kids do not want to go out in the cold today. So I am forced to think of something to keep them occupied after school. I do not want to deal with the "I'm bored" statement for the rest of the day. So I decided that we will make some playdough. The kids also want an after school snack so edible playdough it is.

I will be making Peanut Butter playdough from the Edible Playdough page on the main site. If you would like to see more edible playdough you can check out that page. You will also find recipes for cream cheese playdough, chocolate playdough, and frosting playdough.


Peanut Butter Playdough

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, using your hands.
Dough should feel soft and pliable.
Form shapes and be creative!
You can add other foods like M&M's or peanuts for eyes, mouths, etc
Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container.



If you want this to be a small portion of another snack you can have your kids make small things that can be put on top of graham crackers or apple slices. They could also place their creations on bread.

My kids love doing this "craft" because it is edible, fun, and they can be creative. I hope you will try at least one of the edible playdoughs. They can be a lot of fun.

Noelle had a great time at her concert Monday night. I loved not having to bring in a big cello for once. The clarinet is much easier to keep safe too. I really do not like how late they have the concerts here though. I do not fully remember what time concerts started in Arizona but I know they were early enough that we would go out for ice cream afterwards. Noelle had to be at the school by 6:45pm but the concert did not start until 7:30. By the time it was over and we got home it was 10pm. At that point the kids wanted more food of course. Next Monday she has a choir concert. It starts at 7pm so I hope it ends earlier but with all they are doing it sounds like it won't.

Yesterday afternoon we got a lot of chores done and the girls have been bugging me for awhile to make some paints so we made a batch of bath tub paints and Nicole and Neona played in the bath tub. I have mixed feelings on an 8 & 9 year old taking a bath together but bath tub painting is no fun to do alone. I guess if they are not uncomfortable taking baths together I should not think it is bad. I had stopped letting them take baths together mainly because of the mess they would make playing around together. They are really good about cleaning up the stuff they paint and it keeps them from splashing around and flooding the bathroom so I only let them take baths together when they paint.

Ahhh a moment of peace and quiet. The girls wanted to get a lot of things done today so they raced to get the chores done. I can not believe that all the chores were done and everyone was showered by 11am.

Two days ago as I made spaghetti I accidentally opened a can of beets instead of mushrooms. We do not usually buy beets but Noelle has been wanting them. She started eating them at James' dad's house and she likes them. That is when I saw the color of the juice and decided that it would make a pretty substitute for food coloring.

So today we made some pretty pink playdough. It worked out great. I just used some of the juice as part of the water needed. If I do it again I think I will use all of the juice instead of just half of it. It looked like it would be darker than what it was in the end.

Now the kids are all busy playing in the kitchen and I am catching up with a couple of TV shows that I have recorded. After a bit I think we will make apple crisp so I can get rid of some apples I have in the fridge that no one has been eating.

That is about it for today. James is supposed to leave work by 3pm. He and Noelle are going to get some groceries. She insists on going with him now so she can pick out some healthy foods. She also wants to make sure he remembers to get some cornstarch. We still have some beet juice left so she wants to see how ooze will look with beet juice coloring.

After all the time I spent on the computer yesterday I think I will just sit around all day. Maybe this will be a popcorn and movie kind of day.