A New Chapter

  • July 15, 2011 8:54 PM

 

As long as we have been a family, we have been a military family.  

After 20 years and 6 months of active duty service, Randy will be retiring from the ARMY!!

  I am so proud of him. 

What an honor it is to be married to guy that lives and breaths his commitment to freedom and this country.

   

 

Army life has been incredibly rewarding, but it sure hasn’t been easy.

Years and years of separation.

Long lonely nights.

Babies missing their daddy.

Unimaginable stress.

This won’t be a sad good-bye.

We are so excited to start the next chapter!

 

Still, as we celebrate, my aches for the families who are currently separated.  As you read this perhaps you’d join me in offering prayers for the military kids and their loved ones who are hurting or struggling!!     

      

xoxoxoxoxoxo!!

 

52 Smiles: July’s Challenge

  • July 13, 2011 7:06 PM

July’s challenge is to surprise someone with handmade

HAPPY MAIL!!!!

Pick someone (ANYONE!) from your address book and surprise them with some art that will make them smile!  If you can’t think of anyone who would really appreciate a kid-made masterpiece contact a local retirement home and ask who might like to receive a special surprise in the mail.  Don’t forget to decorate the OUTSIDE of your envelope! 

This SPLAT ART card from the ultra kind and creative kids at FAMILIES ARE FUN made us smile for DAYS!!! Have you ever seen a cuter lion??

If you are new here, 52 Smiles is a year long project were we intentionally do one out-of-the-ordinary act of kindness each week!

xoxoxoxox!!!

Blue-without-you!!

  • July 9, 2011 2:33 PM

We made a BLUE-WITHOUT-YOU version of our SUNSHINE-IN-A-BOX to send to big brother.  He has been gone for most of the summer and we miss him immensely!

 You know how much I love sending a little love in the mail.  These are so easy to put together and the kiddos love hunting for color-coded goodies to make their care package extra special.  I hope our boxes are as fun to receive as they are to make!

xoxoxoxoxox!!

My favorite summer thing!

  • July 6, 2011 6:02 PM

 

 

I hope you are ENJOYING your favorite things today!

xoxoxoxox!!

S’mores Tray!

  • July 3, 2011 8:22 PM

From our s’mores trays!!  I love the new flat marshmallows… perfect for a little message.  Of course no one does marshmallow ART like The Decorated Cookie!

Wishing you a LOVELY and SAFE 4th!!!

xoxoxoxox!!

{Fun With} Sesame Street

  • June 29, 2011 6:48 PM

Everything about SESAME STREET makes me smile! 

 

Pet Rock Place… made from recycled waffle box! 

 

 We had to find a tape player for a little OLD SCHOOL music!  

 

 Sunny Day Sweepin’ the clouds away

On my way to where the air is sweet

1.)  Duct Tape Word Wallet idea via Babble    2.)  The kiddos absolutely adore The Sesame Street Book Treasury Series (’71-’83).  Their favorite section is sign language.   3.)  We googled how to draw Sesame Street characters for step-by-step how tos   4.)  Toddler Numbers with Count!  

 

Sesame Street Scribbles idea via this card on Split Coast Stampers. 

 

Scribble. Cut. Paste.

 

Waaaay back in ’09 we did a COOKIE MONSTER learning celebration HERE. 

 

I can’t possibly pick a favorite character…  but OSCAR, BERT & ERNIE and BIG BIRD might top my list. 

Mason’s favorite is Grover! 

Emerson is a Big Bird fan!

Blaise, of course, adores…

 

Cookie Monster Catch was the finale of our adventures.  Nothing makes the kids happier than water balloons on hot summer night.   

 

Come and PLAY…  Everything is A-OKAY 

Friendly Neighbors there… that where we meet 

 Can you tell me how to get… how to get to Sesame Street  

 

I hope your day is a sweet as the ALL the days on Sesame Street!

xoxoxoxox! 

7 Sunny Day Activities

  • June 25, 2011 8:27 PM

1.  Make a cardboard box ice cream stand!   Here.

 

2.  Treat dollies to lunch & a book under a sunny sky!  (2010)

 

3.  Go on a HAPPY HUNT!  Hide smiley faces in the neighborhood and see who can find the most!  Here.   

 

4.  Host an outside ART GALA!  Mom and dad bid on their favorite preschool materpieces.  (2010) 

 

5.   TOO hot to have an afternoon picnic??  How ’bout a breakfast picnic?  

 

6.  Make an outdoor fishbowl!  Jumping, swimming and “catching fish” optional!  (2010)  Here.   

 

7.  Make a unmeltable banana split! Cotton balls + Paper Scraps + Real Sprinkles  (2010)

 

 

 

7 Rainy Day Activites

  • June 21, 2011 5:27 PM

Rainy day

 OR too hot to play?

Here are seven of our indoor favorites! 

 

1.) Rip & Recycle an old phone book!

 

2.) Make a wacky Mr. POTATO Head!

 

3.)  Create a Corny Word Search

  

4.) Design an Address Practice Book!  

(Kiddos get to practice writing their address in a special “book” using those pesky magazine inserts.)

 

5.)  Dream up and munch on a funky fruit character!  {Go-Away-Green-Monster Fun HERE!}

 

6.) Paint with PASTA!  We haven’t done this in YEARS so I think it’s time to bring out the spaghetti again.

 

7.)  Make a Magnetic Cookie Sheet Game!  {Here}

 

HAPPY FIRST DAY of SUMMER!!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxo!!