Mallory's Quiet Book

I have been working on updating the Quiet Book for Mallory. She has enjoyed Luke's book, so gathered some ideas to make for her.

"Matchmaker, Matchmaker, make me a match."

The drier

 The sock matches. (The star pair and red and gray pair are my favorites)

 "I scream, You scream, we all scream for ice cream."
I made several different flavors and the chocolate topping. I am working on chocolate with sprinkles and a cherry. The cake cone now looks more cone like, too.

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name..."
The first page, like Luke's, will say my name is

 "Do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man?" (I could not figure out a good bakery or cupcake one to add.)
These are cupcakes and their cupcake holders. I just finished the frosting and am working on toppings. Ice cream will be on the adjoining page so they can share toppings.

I am working on a purse page with fake make-up, keys and possibly a wallet; a gumball page to match numbers, a hair do page and another doll dress up page with a girl this time. I also want to do a dress tying page (or ballet slippers, I haven't decided 100% yet), a fruit puzzle page, a mail page for her and a pie weaving page.

Mothers' Prayers

Yesterday a group of boys (and leaders) from our old ward were on a scouting activity. They became lost and the weather was 111 degrees yesterday. A rescue party was sent out including the bishop of both their ward and ours. Last night Andy got a text that the bishop was taking a day off. I thought that it was odd, until we found out he had been in the hospital with heat exhaustion due to the events. A couple of the boys were my Cub Scouts. Their mothers were praying so hard for their safe return. Their prayers were answered. I know that the Hacienda ward is hurting very much right now and I can't imagine all the emotions. Here is a brief recap. Their young men's president is the one that died. I am so grateful for the power of prayer and the love of our church members.

Summer Boredom Part 2

The promised 2nd half of my post. Here is the parental supervision list. I also have a list of needed supplies and I am going to put them all in a basket and present it to the kids on the last day of school. Our Summer Supply basket.

*on the left mean I have a pinterest plan * on the right mean it can be indoor or outdoor. Brown is food, purple is crafts, pink is after dinner (because it is cooler then or they are night games) and orange are outings.

Food

Make homemade ice cream

Bake a double batch of cookies and deliver one to another family

Make popcorn or caramel corn

Make a summer snack (Pinterest)

Make a milkshake or smoothie

Have a tea party

Make a salad and eat it

Bake a cake and decorate it (then sing, “Happy Unbirthday to us”

Make popsicles

Make mini bread loaves

Make and decorate sugar cookies

Choose different cookie recipes

Make ice cream in a bag

Eat dinner by candlelight

Make homemade lemonade

Make butter
Make a fruit salad

*Bugs for lunch

Cereal bracelet/necklace

Make pretzels

Make edible play dough

Make fake sushi

Frozen hot chocolate

*Make and try new drinks

Dessert before dinner

Dip a banana in chocolate and freeze

Make Muddy Buddies or other Chex treat

Make No Bake cookies/Haystacks

Make shamburgers

Make candy using molds

Crafts

Make hair accessories

Make a necklace

Make balloon balls

Make friendship bracelets

Make pencil pinwheels

Make a pompom ice cream cone

Make paint aprons for everyone

*Decorate and bake white plate

*make notepads using scrapbook paper

Sewing project with Mom (your choice)

*Make fabric flower pens

*Bottle cap crafts

*T-shirt rag rug

*Marvel Avengers paper craft

Make a twirling ribbon

Marble magnets

Print and make paper dolls

Make fabric scrap flip flops

*Make a water bottle holder

*Make fabric bookmarks

*Make heating pads

Melt crayons and remold them

*Make kool aid lip gloss

*Grass head monster

*Kaleidoscopes

*Angry bird puppet

*Monster corner bookmarks

*Super Hero popsicle stick bookmark

After Dinner

Family game night

Stay up late and look at the stars

Have a family talent show

Watch a movie outside

*Play “paintman”

Watch the sunset

Backyard scrabble

Flashlight tag

*Play Sleeping Pirate

Outing

Go bowling

Go swimming

Hike

Go camping – or stay home and camp out in the play room

Go to the library

Visit a friend

Volunteer to help a neighbor for free

Go out for ice cream

Go to the movies

Try letterboxing

Drive in movie

Go to the Water Preserve

Go to a playground

Go to Pinball Hall of Fame

Play at Sunset park splash pad

Get Sno Cones/Slurpees

Go to Toys R’ Us and dream

Summer Boredom Part 1

Summer is upon us. It is over 100 degrees here, so I can tell it is getting close. In the summer heat it is hard for me to come up with things quickly, especially with whining and feeling sweaty. So, I came up with 2 separate containers. One is a boredom bucket with activities that take little to no supervision by me. (I plan on participating as much as I can, but sometimes that is not possible.) The other is a bucket with activities that require help from a parent like crafts or outings. I looked at over 20 summer activity lists to come up with the best for my children. Now just to get buckets...

Anyway, I am doing 2 posts. This one is the very long list of over 150 boredom buster ideas. *on the left mean I have a pinterest plan * on the right mean it can be indoor or outdoor. Green is outside, red is inside, yellow is art, blue is educational/learning. (There is a lot inside because here summer is our inside time like winter is for others.)

Outside

Go for a bike ride

Have a picnic*

Blow Bubbles*

Have a paper airplane races*

Take turns making obstacle courses*

Walk around the block and pick up litter (wear gloves)

Take a walk together

Jump rope

Play stick ball

Have different races (wheelbarrow, crab walk, crawling, etc.)*

Water balloon fight

Car wash

Play hopscotch*

Trace each other’s shadows

Play tic-tac-toe with sidewalk chalk

*Make a hula hoop fort*

Play baseball

Play soccer

Play volleyball

Make a water pistol target range

Play Kick the can

Play Capture the Flag

*Make and use “Foamerator

Draw with sidewalk chalk

Frisbee

Play Run across

Inside

Learn a few magic tricks and produce your own magic show

Plan a Scavenger Hunt using every letter in the alphabet*

Look through photo albums or view family movies/videos

Listen to your favorite music and dance around

Open a day spa

Build with Legos

Find jokes and take turns telling them

Play store, library or school

Play hide and seek*

Rearrange the furniture in your bedroom

Memorize something meaningful

Read favorite poems aloud

Play a card game

Build a fort*

Paint your toenails and fingernails

Balloon fights

Play board games

Music mix CD

Create a puppet play with stuffed animals

Turn off all the lights and use a flash light to make shadows on the wall

Make a mini puppet theater and put on a show

Play the Minister’s Cart game

Do something nice for someone in secret

Play charades

Plan an imaginary trip to the moon

Play marbles

Make a blanket tent

Make ice cars

Don’t Eat Pete

Pick some books to read with Mom

Form a band

Do Wii Fit

Play freeze dance with the family

Have a silly jumps contest*

Take pictures doing fun activities while holding the Friend magazine

Play Red Light, Green Light*

Walk on balance beam/tape*

Read books somewhere new/odd*

build boats and race them in the tub

*Make and play Lego board game

Help make a family Guess Who game

*Lego Quest challenges

*Balloon powered Lego car

Make and use “Get up and Move” dice*

Plastic bottle/cup bowling

Put glo sticks in balloons and play

Stuffed animal run/obstacle course and take turns coming up with rules

Have a photo shoot

Watch an old movie

Nerf Gun war*

Toy car races

Wrestle with Dad

Just Dance with Mom

Pillow Fight

*Make sponge balls and play with them*

Have a Splunk Day

Make and play BINGO

Take turns leading exercises

Make a pillow pile and jump in it

Make a bean bag toss game*

Make a road for cars using masking tape

Hallway races complete with streamer finish line

Play Simon Says*

Play Mother May I?

*Spy training with streamer lasers

Watch old TV shows

Play with little people

Play dress up

Sink play

Blog

Hula-Hoop*

Indoor tumbling and gymnastics

Art

Make play dough

Make a collage from magazines

Paint a picture

Try origami

Make a collage using seeds, rice, cereal, old buttons and sewing scraps

Make puppets and then put on a puppet show

Sketch a picture of your house from the outside

Make a picture for your grandparents

Draw a family tree and complete it together

Put together a scrapbook of a special event

Draw pictures to send to the friend

Write and illustrate a story

Paint with watercolors

Make potato stamps and use them

Make “stained glass windows”

Make dream catchers

Color in coloring books or coloring pages

Make slime

Make your own stationary and write a letter on it

Finger paint with shaving cream

Design a poster for a summer holiday

Make a pet rock

Fingerprint art

Splatter paint

Paint with your mouth

Bubble prints

Make a self portrait

*Make homemade finger paint

*Paper towel butterflies

Play dough with pipe cleaners, beads, googly eyes, etc.

Oil pastel drawings

Colored chalk art

Cotton Ball Painting

Painting with toy cars

Mosaics

Toilet paper roll heart stamping

Egg carton flowers

Marshmallow and toothpick art

Make different things out of handprints

Make homemade piñatas

Q-tip/pencil eraser painting

*Make a treasure map

Crayon art

Make an Art Gallery

Make trading cards

Window Markers

Learning

Draw a map

Read a good book aloud

Write a letter

Make a list of all the things in your house that use electricity

Make your own list of things to do when you’re bored

Write secret messages

Learn a new primary song

Make a list of what you want to learn about in school this year

Learn about different types of poetry and write your own

Take a week to learn about a country, cook food from there, color/draw the flag, listen to their music, etc.

Sing all the verses of the Star Spangled Banner

Write down everything you are thankful for

Read pioneer and ancestor stories. Act out your favorite ones.

Try writing your own song

Write a letter to a cousin.

Make your Christmas wish list

List 5 nice things about each family member

Think of a good service project to do. Plan and carry it out.

Make your own audio books

Write your own skits

Make up a board game

Make up a game

Prepare an FHE lesson for future use

Read your scriptures

Create a family chant

List the sounds you hear for the next 10 minutes

Give each letter a cent value and figure out the cost of words (for example a = $.10, b = $.01, etc.)

Memorize an Article of Faith

Choose a favorite story and act it our for the family

Pick some science experiments to try

Make a Summer Read Bucket list (at least 10 books long)

Mentos geyser

Use the story cubes

Make your own secret code and write messages using it

Summer Reading Pillows

I made both Andy and Marcus pencil rolls. I made up the pattern myself and they turned out pretty good. (I hope to post pictures when I get 3 more made for my other kids.)

My major project was something I thought of after seeing a few different pillow ideas over the past couple years on Pinterest. (Of course.) I saw a small pillow with a book pocket. Then, I saw a pillow where the kids would write the books as they completed them. Then I saw HUGE floor pillows for slumber parties. Combine them all and you get my summer reading pillow project.

I let each child pick out 4 quilt squares ($1 each). I trimmed each one down to 15x15 inch squares. Then I bought 4 yards of a plain creamy color cotton ($1.99 a yard on sale). I had not planned on the book pocket, so found some fabric scraps and used those for the pockets. Each pillow took about 40 ounces of stuffing which was $11. So, each one cost me $17. (That is why it has taken me about 2 years to get the courage to do.) I think the pillows are each good indicators of favorites and personality. They can't wait for the summer to start writing on the back of their Summer Reading Pillows.

Luke loves his fall color pillow.

Pink, Pink, Pink!

Every fabric square Mo saw she would throw into the cart. I finally showed her 2 and let her pick between them after a few tries I think I figured out what she wanted. She loves bright colors and "pupple". The pillow is pretty much the size of her.

Marcus has always liked black and blue. This is very Marcus.

 Marcus was at Scout camp and I surprised him with his pillow when he got home. This is the whole group with their pillows.

 Andy's pillow also cost $17. Super Hero fabric is expensive. I really like it though.

They drag the pillows all over, slept with them last night and I don't think I have ever been so proud of a project. (Except the dress I made Anneke...it is a close tie.)

My recipe

I was asked to make a gluten free snack for a baby shower. I was happy to help. However, it makes me feel bad when no eats what I bring. I know I shouldn't let it get to me but I consider food a talent and it makes me question that. I made up this recipe and took pretty much all of it home. I had no powder sugar and so I had to kind of make something up with what I had. I took from a few different places and came up with Lonely Chex Mix. My family likes it though, so I must have trained them well.

Lonely Chex Mix
8 cups Corn Chex cereal
3/4 cups packed brown sugar
6 Tbs. butter (or margarine)
3 Tbs. light corn syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 c. coconut
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. white chocolate chips

In a large microwave safe bowl measure the cereal and set aside. Line a cookie sheet with foil.
Microwave brown sugar, butter and corn syrup on high 1-2 minutes. Stir after each minute. Stir in baking soda until dissolved. Pour mixture over cereal stirring until evenly coated. Microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spread on cookie sheet and cool for 10 minutes. 

Sprinkle coconut onto the cereal. Microwave the chocolate chips at 30 second intervals until melted then sprinkle over mix. Do the same with the white chocolate chips. Set in refrigerator to cool. Break apart and put into a bowl. Can stay stored in an airtight container. Best in the refrigerator, but not necessary.

If I was to do it over i would not include the white chocolate. I want to try this with almonds sprinkled on top with the coconut and maybe add some coconut extract into the brown sugar mix. Then it could be almond joy. Now, what to really name it?

Redundant

On a street near our house there is a traffic light. During the school year there are 2 crossing guards posted there in the morning and afternoon. At a traffic light?! I posted this on facebook and so many people said, "I am so glad they are there to keep the kids safe." 

Here are my thoughts:
Yes, I am, too. BUT, where are their parents? Why do they need this redundancy? Plus, the state has cut funding every year for the past 5 years to education, the school district and teachers. How is 2 crossing guards at a light still more important than the $100 each teachers pay check has been cut each month? 

If it is against the law for a child to be alone before the age of 9 at home, how is it okay for them to walk to school alone? How is it okay for the parents to leave for work and expect a child to get to school on their own? AND how is it the tax payers problem to pay for? Protecting the child is very important to me. I am so glad there are programs in place for latch key children, etc. But, when is it too much? We are enabling hands off parenting to an extreme that makes me angry. It takes a lot for a child to be taken away from unfit parents, yet there are so many I would just love to bundle up in my arms and love them because they aren't getting it elsewhere. How is this okay?

Get rid of the crossing guards at lights and start investigating the families of the first and kindergarten children walking to school on their own. I'll pay for that.

Some people say I am overprotective. Maybe I am, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think I am good now. Not sure how much sense I made, but I have let it out.