kidding around

Today is the first day of summer vacation for us and I wanted to start it off on the right foot! I woke up at a decent time (7am), dressed by 8:30am and out the door to go grocery shopping (we needed FOOD)! Of course I relished the time shopping without my kids, but was eager to introduce them to their summer journals.

My kids are at fun ages. They do not need to be entertained or on “the go” at all times. They like to be busy with me directing their play and I am fine with that…but it is always when I need to get things done. So, this summer I created a summer journal. I suppose it’s a project we can work on together that has structure, but can also occupy their time for a bit too.

It is meant to be fun and not a pain for me to do some extra planning. I really do like this kind of stuff…

We will get books from the library on a topic we are interested in (this week, puppets and storytelling) and a country/state and just have fun learning. On a weekly basis I’ll have new questions for them to answer and anything else…I hope the kids will be apart of the journal making and really; in the end, be coming up with ideas!

Another part of the journal I included is documenting a treat they each will make with Nathan or me. I love that kids enjoy working in the kitchen and I want to nurture that interest in both of them. So this week, Ellie will make Raspberry Turnovers and Simon will help with Chocolate Chip cookies. I also had the kids list things they like to do on their own, with one another, and with “Mama/Poppy”.

We are one of the families that can’t really afford to go on a big vacation and that’s okay with me. Nathan and I have jobs that demand our time in the summer as well. I just want to create a really meaningful summer for my kids. Yea, no DisneyLand for them, but I think making their own boats will be just as fun!

Oh- by the way, Home Depot has a really fun workshop for kids once a month. It’s free and the kids make really cool stuff! In our area it is the first Saturday of the month, but check with your local store. We found out about this event through Ellie’s Brownie troop.

This month, Simon was so excited and proud to make something out of wood with hammer and nails and with his Poppy!

I love the fact that Ellie wanted to wear an orange shirt and I was able to comply. And I really like the two tones of orange and extra stitching along some seams. Can I say again how much I love this pattern!?

I’m not always able to fulfill such requests, but some extra energy got me going and I was able to make the shirt last night. I made the shorts a few days ago, just call me a sewing machine.

Speaking of energy- I HAD to do something about our shelving in the kitchen. It was looking so crazy and disorganized and it was just getting to me in a major way.

Next job is tackling my basement next week. All next week Nathan will be home and I plan on checking more things off my list. He has been gone a lot this past Spring (he was a track coach) and now I am just all crazed to do late “Spring cleaning”. I doubt I will share photos of this since my basement will always be ugly.

Much better.

With the end of the school year just hours away, Ellie has been bringing home all sorts of artwork. I love this self-portrait she made a couple weeks ago. For 3 days in a row she had to wear her hair down with a red bow. Now I see why!

She was especially proud of the fact that she drew a nose and not an upside down “7″ like her friends. That’s the benefit of having a Poppy for an art teacher!

I love this spot in the kids’ playroom. I try to rotate their work fairly often. And of course I have the challenge; like most parents, with what to do with all the work!