Homeschool Science Experiment: Diving Raisins

Check out this wicked cool science experiment we recently did. It's called Bobbing Raisins or Diving Raisins. You put about 2 T. of baking soda in a tall, clear glass. Then you SLOWLY pour in white vinegar. You can pour it in fast and get that volcano effect and amaze the little tots; just put a towel under it. When it's as full as you want it to be, pop in a bunch of raisins and watch them sink. Then come to the top. Then sink again. It's cool. Something about releasing gas and then going back to the bottom. I told the boys it's like the raisins swim to the top to fart, then sink to the bottom to get more gas. Hey, when you're dealing with boys and small tots, you have to be creative! Have fun!

Bust Summertime Boredom (Guest Post)

Happy 3-year Blogging Anniversary to me (actually it was on Saturday, but I totally forgot)! I started this blog in Phoenix when we had driven across the country with 4 kids in a minivan to be with my husband for 3 weeks. Instead of sending countless emails about our adventures, I started a blog and never looked back.  Here's my maiden post. 

Bust Summertime Boredom with 10 Wallet-Friendly Ideas from Primrose Schools

By: Kathleen Thomas, Primrose Child Care

What could be worse than a rainy summer day, when your children are cooped up inside and you have nothing planned? For parents, even sunny days that seem filled with endless opportunities, still yield the inevitable “I’m bored!” Undoubtedly, your children will utter those words at least once during the upcoming summer months.

Studies show that without stimulation, children can lose up to 60 percent of what they learned during the school year. Primrose Schools, a family of 200 accredited private preschools, suggests the key to overcoming summertime boredom and the “brain drain” effect is to encourage imaginative play and have a plan in place to keep children engaged during the summer months.

“It’s important to keep children’s minds active during the summer, but it doesn’t take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention,” said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. “After all, imagination is free.”

Summer is a great time to encourage children to let their imaginations soar.  School schedules can sometimes be demanding and time for less structured, imaginative activities is often scarce. The freedom of summer gives children large blocks of uninterrupted time to create projects of their own choosing that can last several days or even longer.

Here are 10 ideas parents can use to keep young minds active during the summer months:

                                                                                                                                                                            

1. Beat the Boredom Jar: At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or that you can enjoy doing together. Encourage your children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar as the family “Boredom Buster Jar.”  They’ll feel more involved in the project and more likely to think this is a “neat” idea, if they participate in the creation and idea generation. Next, write everyone’s ideas down on slips of paper and as a group decide which ones should go in the jar. Anyone in the family can pull any idea out of the jar to fight the summertime boredom blues.

2. Stories Alive: It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer. Make reading even more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life. For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations. Read the book with your children and then challenge them to create their own town with materials they find in the backyard.

3. Art Treasure Chest: You’ll need to gather basic art supplies–child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape, and construction paper. Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines, and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there’s always something new for the children to find. Even if you normally have these supplies around the house, it‘s fun for children to know that the Art Treasure Chest is just for them. They’ll probably have some good ideas of other household items that can be recycled to fuel their creative energies.

4. Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out.  They are the directors, actors, and producers.  They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family’s favorite songs. Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay.  You’ll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.

5. Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. All the items you need can be found around the house–some chairs, cushions, blankets… and of course adult supervision.

6. Cookbook Fun: Have you ever shared your favorite cookbook with your children?  Take it out and ask your children to choose a recipe to try. Measuring can be a fun and easy way to keep math skills fresh.

7. Summer Scrapbook: All you need for this project is a spiral notebook. Encourage everyone in the family to draw pictures of favorite activities and collect mementos from special events throughout the summer.   Children love to go back through scrapbooks and albums and tell about what happened at each occasion.  They will also be building their storytelling skills at the same time.

8. Listening Game: Lie down in the backyard, in the den or at the park and listen.  What do you hear? Do you hear what I hear? Can you imitate the sound? This is similar to watching the clouds and naming the shapes, and it encourages everyone to slow down and focus on listening.

9. Camping Out: Pretend to campout in the backyard. Plan a meal, pack a backpack and set up a campsite.  You might even decide to spend the night!

10. Scavenger Hunt: Make a list or picture cards of common household items and have your children find the items on the list. Invite friends or neighbors to join in the fun to make it a competition.

Parents can use this list of ideas as a starting point for summer activities that offer a balance between the freedom of child-initiated play time and more structured activities.

“Keeping children engaged with open-ended activities that stretch their imaginations during the summer months helps them develop their independence, creativity, and thinking,” said Dr. Zurn. “We want to help parents keep the “brain drain” at bay while their children play.”

When preparing for a brain-drain-free summer, remember to suggest or provide age appropriate activities.  Many times, children say they are bored because the activity they were doing was either too simple or too advanced to keep them occupied for long.  Activities should be fun and challenge what they know, but should keep in line with the interests and developmental levels of your children. 

Ultimately, we know every child is different, with different interests and learning styles so having a variety of ideas is a great way to be prepared during the summer months. Involving children in the planning of ideas gives them an opportunity to express their individuality and creativity.

So with these tips in mind, sit down with your family and make a plan for an engaging, imaginative and fun summer.

How to Have a Fabulous 40th Birthday Party

For my 40th birthday, back in 2011, I knew something was up. A bouncy house was delivered in the morning. My husband's cousin was picking me up to take me to lunch for my birthday. Hmmm. Things that didn't normally happen. 

Went to BD'S Mongolian BBQ for lunch with Tresa then she pulled out HIGH heels and a 70s outfit and wig from her trunk. I was like NO WAY. How am I supposed to wear these?

But I did ... we went back to my place after cruising around in the Mustang convertible Aron rented for my birthday weekend and BAM there was a party going on! SURPRISE!

He even had Mi Ranchito cater it, which is like MY FAVORITE MEXICAN FOOD PLACE! We had Mexican food for days after and I was in heaven.

My husband dressed the boys in 70s garb ... don't they look all smarmy and cute? I think they're saying, "Hey, there, ladies, give me a call in about 15 years!"

I don't have a pic of Aron AND the boys with Aron in his 70s stuff. He did shave his facial hair to be all 70s and smarmy and then put on one of the wigs like the boys have on. He made me wear one, too. I embraced it.

Hubs rented me a 2011 red Mustang convertible for the WEEKEND since it's my very favorite kind of car in the world and always has been. Do you like my wig? How about the 4-inch platform Barbie heels? I dig them so much. They give me attitude ... until I fall on my face. I'm here with Callie. Sam is parking the car.

A shout-out to Bethenny Frankel and Skinny Girl drinks above. Mom and I were dying to try it. Let's just say there's a reason it's called "Skinny" ... I put some Koolaid in it and it was good to go!

If you're in KC and need a DJ, these people were awesome and open to suggestions!

After the DJ left the party was pretty much over at my house ... imagine what the neighbors were saying! There was a big ole tent in the backyard and a bouncy house and lots of debauchery (not really). So I took my pals Michelle, Ellen and Eva on a spin around town. We were free of kids for about an hour, then ready to go back to our families. I love my friends!

As always, what would we do without Jordan? She got a 'fro on Sam and he rocked it.

I hope sharing my experiences might have inspired you more to plan a perfect 40th birthday party like this. Likewise, if you want to find some more awesome ways like this then you can check out this amazing article about birthday inspiration on 40th birthday party ideas.

LEGO MBA (Master Builder Academy) Kits

Like I need more LEGO stuff to spend money on! So in the recent LEGO magazine I found the coolest thing that would make a great birthday or Christmas gift for the LEGO freak in your life. I'll just type it verbatim:

The gift that keeps giving all year long!

NEW! LEGO MBA Kits 2-6 Subscription

Ages 8-12 947 pieces EXCLUSIVE

Includes 1 LEGO MBA kit delivered every 2 months (5 kits total) and the members-only website! Each kit includes an 84-page Designer Handbook teaching 2 MBA techniques, building instructions to build 3 models, one at a time, and exclusive minifigure or accessories. Subscribe beginning in July 2011!

Subscription includes:
Kit 2: Microbuild Designer

Kit 3: Robot Designer

Kit 4: Flight Designer (this is where you get the exclusive LEGO MBA minifigure)

Kit 5: Creature Designer

Kit 6: Auto Designer

4659018 LEGO MBA Kits 2-6 Subscription $69.99 plus shipping and handling fees

You can order at http://LEGOmba.com or call 1-800-453-4652

Kids at Funerals

Would you dare take 5 kids ages 10 and under to a funeral? I did just last week. My great uncle died, and he was one of 5 children himself and was one of the funniest people I had ever known. I pictured him in Heaven laughing at the antics of my kids as I chased Sam around a puddly parking lot at the funeral home.

I was holding up well until the military played "Taps" ... then I lost it and was grateful for my prescription sunglasses and the fact that the little ones had to be in the van and so I was away from the crowd as I cried. Then when the flag was folded and handed to my wonderfully ornery great aunt, I lost it again. Imagine 68 years married to someone culminating in a US flag being handed to you and 3 shots being fired.

I hugged my dad with extra fierceness and hugged all my uncles and my grandpa as well. I think I hugged everyone and held them tight.

There was a lunch after the funeral at the church my family attends. This is a church where I grew up and went with my grandparents when I would stay with them on weekends. My parents were married there in 1970. It was where I decided I'm not a fan of church nurseries because I remember being scared out of my mind to go stay with kids and adults I did not know a few Sundays a year.

Please take a moment and consider helping out somewhere. I never thought about how wonderful food tastes after sorrow, and certainly never considered that there was a team of wonderful women cooking it all and serving it to mourners. I'm pretty sure someday I will be a woman cooking food for post-funeral luncheons because it's something I've appreciated several times.

Melburn, you will be missed.