Paper Mache- Part one

The holiday break is way to long. My kids get bored which leads to them bouncing and jumping and chattering all day long. Usually the weather is not nice enough for them to escape outside. Yesterday was one of those days and it resulted in a day long marathon of Kim Possible. Now I love the girl crime fighter as much as the next person, but dang, that was too much. I decided to do something with them today. I set to google-ing “how to paper mache” and the directions seemed pretty simple. One part flour, 2 parts water, newspaper and balloons. Surprisingly I had all that stuff.

Both kids were excited to be doing something. G has done this before at school, but Lex was new to the process. She was all for it, right up until G told her that she would get messy.

I discovered that G is a whiz at ripping up the paper. Every piece was uniform. I could not believe it, and was a bit jealous, because I did not get one straight piece. NOT ONE!

Even Lex had better technique than me.

The process is about to get under way. With the first dip of paper into the glue mixture, there is not turning back.

At this point, I got into the goop with the kids. What? They can’t be the only ones having fun! But that means no in process shots. After all, paper mache goop and camera’s don’t mix. When the kids were done, this is what was left over.

Once they are dry, we head in for round two!

Fairies!!

If you have ever seen the Fairy Odd-Parents, then you are saying that out loud the way I am hearing it in my head. If you don’t have a child over 5 you will have no idea what I am talking about. But don’t worry that has nothing to do with these pictures. Well other than, fairies!

Every year my family and I got to the May Day Fairy Festival at Spoutwood Farm in Glen Rock Pa. We camp out at Codorus and we have a good time being silly. Think 3 days of a Ren Faire with wings and lots of live music. These are just some of my favorites from our 3 days.

August 3

The summer is really keeping us busy. July went by so fast! Hard to believe that the children will be going to school in a few short weeks.

The weather has been playing tricks on us, and so much of our plans have had to have been put off because of it. I wanted to camp a few times this year, but with a rainy June and a colder than normal July we haven’t. June and July are our free months in the summer, try and pack as much into them before the chaos of school and soccer happens in August and September.

I have lots of pictures of thing we have done in July.

My princess

On the 12 of July we went to the annual MCA Elementary wrestling picnic at Locust Lake. The kids had a great time, but the lake smelled really bad. Like dead fish bad. I did not want to get in it at all. Tim says that I a spoiled about what kind of water I swim in, I say if I can not see the bottom, I am not getting in.

Not sure if he wants to go in or not.

I have been debating on going to school for photography. On the walk back to the car the kids stopped at a playarea and Gryffan informed me that he would gladly be my model for school. With looks like his, I think it would be smart to take him up on his offer.

Ahh my love!

A friend of mine asked me to make her a rag doll for an upcoming baby shower for sister. She liked how the doll came out so much that she helped me inlarge the pattern to make a bigger doll out of it. Lex just loves the bigger doll, but she can not decide on her name. Some days it is Love Blossom and some days it is Apple Blossom.

Momma and new dolly

We have been spending nice days outside. This is one of my favorite pictures of the summer. I have a thing for kid feet.

Happy hippie feet

Then we took a day trip down to Hickory Run State Park. We had such a good time! Unfortunately it started to rain around 3 cutting our day short, but it was still a good day. The kids loved playing in the woods by the creeks, Boulder Field just fasinated Gryffan and the water bridge got the thumbs up too. They also liked seeing wherre Tim and I got married.

by a creek

Another of my favorites this summer.

Take my hand, it will be ok

Gryffan in the water bridge. Lexy was afraid of the rushing water and would only go in it with daddy, and she did not stay long enough to snap a picture.

How could you not pinch those cheeks?

Then over to Boulder Field. Gryffan wanted to keep going out farther and farther, but Lexy hung out on the edges with me (I was in flip flops) and said she thought that there would be snacks and spiders out there so she was happy where she was.

Lexy at Boulder Field

Then we went over for lunch at some new picnic area. They really have done a ton of work up there. Either that or we just have not been there in ages. They expanded the beach though, that I know for sure is new. And the bathrooms, now those are nice.

Finding a quiet spot to chill

And then it was off to the beach before the rain came 20 minutes later. lol

helping each other

There has not been too much creative coming out of the kitchen lately. But we did try the Banana Pudding Bars recipe from the July Vegnews and it came out wonderful. The kids and hubby liked it, and it made me weak in the knees. I ended up making it again this weekend for a family bbq. Quick and easy and kid helping friendly.

mixa, mixa, mixa (blues clues)

The biggest news of July had to be that Gryffan lost his very first tooth! It took about 48 hours to go from wiggly to out. He played with it constantly and it came out after he went to bed. Silly boy did not tell me that it came out, instead he put it right under his pillow. About a half hour later, he was very upset because he could not find it, and that was when he told me it came out. I informed him that he HAS to tell me when they come out so that I could call the tooth fairy. lol About a week later the second one came out as well, and now he has a super adorable gap. He went to the dentist last week and the dentist said that his teeth look healthy and strong! He has been taking very good care of them.

it is hard to get a picture of a mouth.

Lexy’s dance class also performed twice last weekend at the picnic in the park. They are all just too cute for words. She did well. I am very proud of her. How could you not be, look at her!

Beautiful

After dancing they went to play in this amazing bubble area. Which was great fun for them till it got in the eyes, and the man supervising sprayed them right in the face with a hose. I think that was his fun for the day. After that they came to me to wipe out their eyes.

Playing in the bubbles

By the end of the month, the summer is starting to lose all the fun aspect to it. Both kids were getting “bored” and starting to drive me up a wall. Think of the Staples commercial with the parents excited for back to school and that was me last week. I decided to open up Gryffan’s balcony and let them play up there. They made it into a fort and we made a little flag for it. (speaking of, I have to remember to take that down soon, ) That seemed to perk them up for a bit, and it was really nice to see them working together again with out any fighting.

The Super LookOut Club

Ahhh I am going to be in trouble someday. Look at those eyes!

Mommy I want a pony, Yes dear what ever you want

This past weekend we went down to Uncle Donnie and Aunt Jane’s down in Hershey, where Gryffan took his place in a long line of Clyde blooded men and rode a dirt bike. Part of me was so nervous I could puke, and the other half of me was proud of him.

My monster

In the gardening front, this year has been horrible for us. Nothing we started from seed survived. We picked up a flat from the aution in Hometown and some of the stuff is really doing well. I have a ton of pickle cucumbers, and lettuce out the wazoo, but no eggplants or peppers. I think we will have a bumper crop of brussle sprouts when the time comes and tomatos will be plentiful, if they ever get red. Tim planted a rose bush earlier in the year and it is just taking off. Here is a picture of the blooms that we got already this year.

kordus perfecta, i think

I am going to be coaching Gryffan in soccer for sure this year. I got the call the other day, and tomorrow I will know for sure if I got Lexy’s team as well. I am a little nervous about that, but excited too.

Well till tomorrow. lol C-

Some fairy pictures

Since I slacked on the actually post, I figured I could at least share some pics. We only went Saturday and Sunday this year. And we opted for a hotel because it was supposed to rain. Good thing too, because once we got to the hotel Saturday night it poured like no ones business, and continued to rain well into Sunday!

Chasing bubbles Saturday

 

In the fairy maze

 

Lexy and the Rat Fairy

 

Getting tea from the White Fairy at Posies Tea Party

 

Yummy Hemp pretzel!!!

Fairy in repose

Aww

Lexy and the Queen

Ewww, a scorpion. ((((shudders))))

Dancing with the belly dancer

artisy stuff

End of the day Saturday

Lexy in her big costume... the last time it was clean

Blessing the May Pole

Making a butterfly

Beautiful

Things I love

She waited so long to have this done.

All done

April 14th

I know that I am late. lol Seems like you need a vacation after you come back from a vacation.

We went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on Tuesday. We had such a good time. (I say that a lot, but really we did!) We got there at about 10 am but it took us an hour to find a parking spot. Luckily there was a mini buss about to pull out, and he asked me if I wanted his spot. YES sir I do! He was a very nice man. The kids were so happy to be finally out of the car. It was a short walk from the parking spot to the front of the museum, and the excitement, on my part, just kept building. I thought for sure that the kids were going to totally love this place.

We get into the loby and they have a huge life size elephant on display, and Lexy freaked out. The thing trumpeted and she was terrified. But I had Tim take this shot quick.

From there we decided to head over to the dinosaurs. I thought for sure they would be a big hit, but Lexy was not having anything to do with it, she was shaking she was so scared. So Dad took her out of the room and let Gryffan and I explore the area. He was not really that excited about it, which surprised me.

This is a cool pic, do you see the dino stareing right at him?

From the dinos we went to the ice age exhibit. I though Lexy would be ok, because of the movies Ice Age and Ice Age 2, but she would not go in it. Gryffan thought that this room was cool.

From here we went to the ocean creatures, and Lexy was in love. Apprently big dino bad, big whale OK. Who knows what goes on in her head.

At about this time the kids realized that this trip was not just one big photo op and started asking questions. I loved hearing, Mom whats this?

Here they are in front of the Korean exhibit. These are burial guardians.

Then we headed over the the ancient people area. Lexy was fascinated with the mummy’s and the ancient greek stuff. Hmm I wonder whose child she is? lol The funniest thing that I heard was a little boy who was scared running away. He was saying to his dad, quick run! Mummys come alive!

This is Gryffan checking out the hands on soil exhibit. Yup I took my kids to a museum so they could play in the dirt? lol

Ahh kids. This is from the same room as the Hope Diamond. And while all the adults are crowding around this huge diamond necklace, my kids were excited about this big crystal. Gryffan was even reading the description to his sister.

We left the museum around 3 oclock and headed back to the car for a lunch of yesterdays leftovers from the olive garden. And we left the city a half hour later, right before rush hour. We hit a little bit of traffic and ended up stopping for dinner at a (ugh, groan, blah) Mc Donalds. (sometimes I have to be reminded how much kids love happy meals) I opted for just a coffee which was gross. Thanks to the mother in law I am totally spoiled now with my coffee. If it isn’t fresh ground, I just can not stomach it. Tim thought that I was being a brat till he smelled in and promptly threw it away. Then we stopped and got me something real to drink, a chocolate raspberry soy latte. mmmmm We made it home around 7:30 and there were two puppies who could not have been happier to see us!

April 13th Washington DC

So it is really Thursday but I am going to tell you all about our trip. We got to my friends house at about 7:30 on Sunday and we all instantly hit it off. Which is a good thing considering  I had never met her in person and here we were going to be staying with her for a few days. It was also the first time that I took Tim to meet an internet friend, and he made a good impression.

On Monday we started off for the city at about 10 in the morning, but we realised that we did not actually have any cash on us, so we had to stop at the store to take out some green. He stopped at this ethnic market and picked up some milk candy (yum) shitake mushrooms, and some soba noodles, all things that I can not get here in nowhere. But unfortunately could not take out extra, and I said, well then we just have to find an ATM in DC or else use charge. “Every place takes charge now a days, right?!” The traffic was fine getting into the city and it only took about a half an hour. We found a great parking place in a garage that had vallet parking. AND it was cheaper than it would have been if we had taken the metro. SWEET!

We were early so we decided to check things out while walking over to the Mall. Everyone around us was in a rush but we stepped out of the crowds and slowed down. Which is kind of a new thing that I am trying when we go away. (I am so tired of going on vacation and rushing here and there and NOT having a good time, we have adopted the we will get there when we get there and see what we can theroy) We walked past the staging area for the egg roll and saw the shear amount of people and everyone is starting to get excited. We decided to go over to the mall and have lunch on the grass by the Washington Monument.

Lexy checking out a fountain on Constitution Ave.

We went over to have our kick butt picnic on the lawn. Yup not only did my friend Maggie let us stay there. but she also packed us a great picnic lunch! She was so sweet. The kids were impressed with how big the Washington Monument was, and for us adults it was really cool to see something in person that we have only seen in books or in movies.

Yup even in DC she picks us leafs. The one lone leaf on the lawn.

I had thought that we would have gone over to the Lincoln after we were done with lunch but I did not realize how very far away it was. I did not want to rush over there to take a picture and then rush back, so we opted to not even try. The kids could see it from where we were, and we could take in the splendor from there. It is definately on our must see list for when we go back.

When we got back across the street we noticed that there were people gathering in the staging area for our group and we decided what the heck, we would get in line. There was tons of space, so even though we were in line, there was still room for the kids to move and be free.

 

 

 

When we made it through the 2 secruity check points we had to wait in line again. lol We did a lot of waiting, but the White House was getting closer.

When we got onto the south lawn there was so much to do! The line for the egg roll was very long so we decided to head around and see what else was going on and come back to the roll later. We headed over to the stage and the show was just starting. Jessica Jarrel was the singer and Lexy was fasinated. She lives live music and she really did not want to leave.

And then she got to meet her later on too.

Then we went over and dyed eggs.

We went and checked out the egg roll then. Gryffan batted his across the lawn, but Lexy took her time.