Paint in a bag

Paint is a bag is awesome!  All the fun of painting without the mess.   Just squeeze a bunch of paint in a zipper bag, tape it close, then tape it to the work surface.  I was going to use the kids' picnic table, but it was a little hot to be outside, so we just used the kids coffee table.  (I bought a super cheap coffee table at Goodwill and the kids use it as their work area. If it get scratched, painted or otherwise....no harm)  :)

Zoey thought they were like the water
in a bag and wanted to roll on them.

Making car tracks in the paint

There is a decent chance that Zoey didn't get
the concept,but she was having fun anyway.

Ethan making smiley faces.

Zoey found stickers and started
to add her own flare.  :)

Print this post 

Remembering where it all Started

(I have always loved this water fountain at the hospital.)

Do you ever drive past a place and you are all of a sudden flooded by memories and emotions?  For me that is the hospital my children were born at.  Today I had a dr apt in the hospital, and it's funny all the things that instantly popped in my head on the drive there, while I walked through the hospital, and on the drive home.


On the way there:
I thought of when my water broke and my drive to the hospital. 
With Ethan my water broke 4 weeks early and we weren't expecting it AT ALL.  We were at Andy's parents' house and gathering up to leave for the evening.  I stopped in the bathroom and knew our plans were about to change as I yelled out the bathroom, "Andy, we have a situation!!" (which by the way the whole family stills laughs at me saying this.) Andy's mom replies, "Andy, get Becca some toilet paper."  I say, "Um.....that's not going to do it, my water broke!"

With Zoey my water broke 3 weeks early.  But this time we were completely expecting it, joking that my oven just cooked fast. :)  I wasn't feeling quite right and just wanted to go to bed.  As I was getting ready to get in bed and read stories to Ethan my water broke.  (these things never happen at convenient times. I just praise God it never happened in the middle of the grocery like in my nightmares) Ethan response was, "I'm going to tell Daddy you are peeing on the floor!!!"  I said, "Yes please, get Daddy!"  

While there:
 I thought about the many ultra sounds I had during my pregnancies. The excitement of finding out we were having a boy.  The relief when we heard our boy was growing and looking healthy at his 2nd ultra sound.  The worry and fear we felt during my second pregnancy when the ultra sound tech read from the previous early pregnancy ultra sound that "there is no sign of pregnancy." (I wonder when they were going to tell us that) Then finally having the 3rd ultra sound at not even 8 weeks pregnant when the dr finally congratulated us that yes we in deed were pregnant.  (that was a month of emotion and prayer to say the least)

 

On the way home:

I thought about taking each of our babies home and the emotion involved in leaving the hospital and that baby being OURS.  Wow!  What a journey.  I love thinking about and seeing how far we've come.  It's been a fun journey and I can't wait to see what adventures we still have to come!

(Picture taken by Ashley Logan)

Print this post

Eating out with the Kids the Affordable Way

(Mother Son "Knight" at Chickfila)

There is a good chance I enjoy eating out a little too much.  It's a bad habit we picked up when Ethan was first born.  We just couldn't figure out how to handle a new baby and everything else that life dished out and still find time to make dinner.  I like to think I have gotten WAY better at this, but still enjoy a lazy evening out.  Like everything else in life, it is my mission to find the most affordable way to eat out  :)

Here are some of my Mommy Tricks and Tips:

*Avoid ordering a kids meal that they are going to eat 2 bites of and be done (read on for more)


*Pack your own juice box and fruit cup.  There is no point in paying $1 or more for each


*When you order your side and entree keep the kids in mind.  Order something that you can share with them.


*Stash some Crystal Light packets in your purse and just order water.


*No sugar added Nesquik powder is HUGE in our house.  Put some in your formula storage container and add to your child's milk. (does not save money, but does save some bouncing off the walls from the sugary stuff)  ;)


*Go for the bigger kid's meal and split with the 2 kids.  If the younger child is old enough to realize they aren't getting a toy you can order an extra toy and still be better off than ordering 2 meals. (I do this at McDonald's for my 4 year old and 18 month old)


*Know when kids eat free and take advantage of it! You might be surprised of all the places that offer kids eat free night.  Start making a master list of your local restaurants.  Check their website, give them a call, or just ask the next time you are in to verify the details of each restaurant's promo details.


Print this post

Batter Up!

 Ethan is loving the YMCA sponsored sports and I have to say I'm pretty impressed myself.  The philosophy of the Y sports is everyone plays and everyone wins.  What a great concept!  Andy is assistant coaching Ethan's team, which Ethan is LOVING. 

Today I found that I am an assistant coach by marriage.  Did you know it worked like that?  :)  Luckily for me (and the kids) they are only 3-5 years old.  While my T-ball knowledge is limited to my experience picking dandelions in the outfield, I was able to keep up with the learning curve.  The kids were learning which base was which, where to run, and when.  (on a very basic level).  

I stood on 3 base and "helped"  direct the traffic of base runners.  I got to run with a little boy who was crying as he slowly walked  to 3rd base, give high 5's all around, and make kids feel good about the accomplishment of making it to 3rd base.  I may have found my niche in sports....official encourager.  

Back when I played sports....now spot laughing ;) it's true, I gave many sports a shot, but they were never as fun as the kids seem to be having on Ethan's T-ball team.  So bring on those high 5's, smiles, cheers and applause and maybe just maybe our kiddos will find the fun in athletics that I never saw. 

Print this post

Plastic Drop Cloth + Water = Tons of FUN!

It's true, I've been sucked into Pinterst in a BIG way.  I even have Pinterest pinned as one of my internet tabs for quick and easy Pinterest viewing.  And to think I went into using Pinterest kicking and screaming, figuratively....okay maybe the screaming in frustration as I learned how to use it was a little real. :)


This Pinterest find was a HUGE hit with the kiddos, especially Ethan (4).  Zoey (18 months) was a little less sure about the whole situation. :)


So here's the site where I got the original inspiration.  The pictures made it look like so much fun I HAD to give it a go myself. :)

Here's what you need:

*Husky Plastic Sheeting 25x10ft (I think it was 3.5mil)  about $7.50 at Walmart
*Duct Tape
*LOTS and LOTS of water (took about 1.5 hours to fill)
The original blogger did use food coloring, but we put 2 WHOLE bottles of blue food coloring in ours and saw NO change in the water color, so I would just skip that part.

Here's what to do:

*Clear the area of sticks and such
*Fold your plastic sheeting in half
*Duct tape the 3 open sides leaving a small hole to put the hose in
*Put hose in the hole and fill'er up
*Wipe hole dry and tape it up
*Have a blast walking on water!

Tips:

*You can NOT over tape.  The more you do before the water goes in the less leaks you will have to deal with later.
*Maybe I'm not a good taper, but our water only lasted for one evening of play.  So we cut a small hole and refilled the next night.  (just something to plan on.  It probably won't stay filled for more than a few hours)
*Try to get big air bubbles out.  My husband pushed them out with a broom.  It was genius and worked great!




Print this post

Our Favorite Free/Cheap Kid Outings

I would say we are quickly approaching the hazy, lazy days of summer (if they aren't already here), and with that comes the need to do something......ANYTHING with the kids to keep them busy and happy.  Here is our go to list of local (Dayton, OH) area activities for the kiddos.

Carriage Hill-money for candy

indoor play area great for super hot days (or rainy days.  It has wooden blocks, a Little House on the the Prarie style school house and kitchen to play in.  The kids LOVE it.


candy store Lots of candy to choose from for pennies (REALLY).  I usually bring a quarter or so and that gets several pieces for the kids and me, but if you are having a sweet tooth bring a $1 and get lots of candy.


animals You can't feed or really touch the animals, but you can get really close and get some amazing pictures.  The kids LOVE that the chickens just walk around the farm free and will walk right up to you.


picnic area outside the candy store there is a nice area with picnic tables.


fishing I can't say that I have ever partaken in this great sport and Ethan has enjoyed hanging out with Daddy and Papaw and catching some sea weed. :)


hiking There is paths around the pond as well as deeper into the woods.  We have always taken a stroller and done just fine as long as the ground isn't too wet.

Wegerzyn Garden-free

mini splash pad bring the water clothes and let the kids run through the water to cool off


sound garden instruments to play as you walk on a path through a almost maze like area  of bushes. 


water the plants simple yes, but the kids have a blast pumping the water and looking for the "water me" signs


sand box nice shaded area with different heights of sandboxes to meet the needs of kids of all ages

School Playgrounds-free

During the summer when school is out it is fun to pick different public schools and check out their play equipment.  

Tom Cloud Splash Pad-free

I know the new water park in Huber is amazing, but the Splash Pad is free!!! :)  Bring snacks and waters toys (buckets and such) and the kids will have a blast.

Air Force Museum-free (IMAX shows and simulator cost)

Bring a stroller There is a lot of walking so you will want a back up plan. ;)


Picnic area  There is a cafe inside as well as nice places outside for a picnic


Kid's Educational room  Ethan's favorite place!  Lots of fun stuff for kids to do.  We could probably just send the morning in this one little room


Planes to go through or sit in ask a volunteer about where these special planes are because they are always a highlight

Library-free

Crafts Our local library has a craft day once a week during the summer check with your local library for details.


Story time books, songs, sometimes crafts.  Call your local library for details


Play area our local library has puppets, puzzles, and such to play with that Ethan loves.  


Print this post

Happiness in Waffles

 This made me smile so I had to share. Making waffles is a big thing in our house. We received a waffle maker as a wedding gift and fell in love. I have experimented with all sorts of different waffles. The kids have never been terribly interested, which has always bummed me out. (I mean, these are GOOD waffles)

  Anyway, while shopping at Target we ran a crossed a circus waffle maker on sale for $16. We figured, "what the heck, let's give it a try." Our thought was make them for the kids and freeze them. Thus eliminating the need for buying toaster waffles.

This morning I pulled the little appliance out of its box and read the directions even highlighted key points. (really!). So I go to make the first waffles and quickly see making animals was going to be way more complicated than making squares. ;) (As the first batch was missing many legs and tails.) When I opened the waffle maker to reveal our first waffles I was greeted with disappointment. Burnt! Ethan reaction was a little different. Elephant!!!
I played around with the cook time completely ignoring the indicator light(which by the way were so dim I was cooking in a nearly dark kitchen so I wouldn't miss my que.)

The waffles were fair inferior to my usual waffles, but the kids LOVED them. In fact Ethan declared, "you are the best Mommy ever!" Which goes to show that kids will take presentation over taste any day. :)  

Print this post