Field Trip to Mount Vernon

5 Moms...13 kids...FUN!

What do Teacher Moms do in the summer?? Take their OWN kids on field trips!  This July (holy cow it was the hottest day of the summmer - heat index of 112!) we ventured to the home of George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon.  Even in the heat it was an awesome adventure!

Of course we learned a couple things that we'd like to share :)

Starting our Tour!

Planning Your Trip

What to bring...
Printed e-tickets
Refillable water bottle
Camera/Phone
Jogging Stroller if you can - pebbled streets can be tough

Preorder your tickets online and print them.  It is okay if you forget to print, they can still access your tickets, but preordering allowed us to select the tour time we wanted. If we had waited until we got there we might have gotten stuck with a tour that wouldn't have worked with the kids...like during lunchtime :/

Visit http://www.mountvernon.org/tickets to order your tickets.

Selecting a Tour Time:  The Estate opens at 8 am in the summer but since we are 1.5 hours away we planned a 10 am arrival and it was perfect for an 11am tour.  We arrived, got great parking, hit the potty (15 kids!) then visited all the stops on the way to the tour.  The hour was just enough to see everything and then get in our time slot spot.  The house tour is now air conditioned!! Soooo nice!


Lunch Time

Picking their President!  (great caption Colleen!)

After the tour it was a great time to take a lunch break.  We packed a lunch and ate out by the car (ahh Memory Builders), but some in our group got lunch at the cafeteria which had Pizza Hut and other quick service foods.  There is also a reasonable restaurant there if you have time to spare. The gift shop has something for everyone including this statue....

Inside Events
Okay did I mention the HEAT yet...so after lunch needless to say the kids were not so eager to go outside again, although the grounds are huge and there is just tons to see.  We opted to tour the inside portion of the museum and it did not disappoint!  In fact there was a kids room with costumes to dress up in and puzzles and coloring sheets -it was great!!  Then there was a theater with a short movie.  This was a favorite among the kids because when the cannons when off your seats shook! And when it snowed...yup snow in the theater!! Sherry, one of the moms, remembered this from a fieldtrip she took with her class and it was what motivated us to choose Mt. Vernon. It did not disappoint!

Connor was drumming along - so cute! 

Outside Event
By this time in the trip, some of the kiddos were ready for a nap just in time for a car ride home.  A small group of us walked up to the gardens one more time before we planned to leave too.

As much as we wanted to walk down to the Pioneer Village it was just toooo hot.  To our luck though, while we were walking around the Upper Garden, the drum line arrived!  It was definitely worth the wait!

The Drive Home
Okay epic mom fail here!  Yes I know how bad Northern VA traffic is, but remember my trip to DC last month - it was so easy!  Well my darlings there is no HOV access lane where we got on 95 South at least from my GPS. Grrrrr!  The trip home took For.Ev.er! Not that I would have cut the time at the Estate any shorter, because you are going to hit traffic no matter what, yet honestly I would have driven the extra 10 miles into DC then turned around and hopped on the HOV lane and cruised home.  By the time we hit the the Thornburg exit, DQ was calling our name.  Hey ice cream for dinner..why not!!

To all my Teacher Mom friends...we rock this Mom thing! I can't wait for our next adventure!

Taking a Break...Saratoga Springs, NY

Our trip home to NY was to help my mom after she had surgery.  My sister and I were able to sneak away for an hour and run the kids to a park down the street.  There is so much I miss about where I grew up and we rarely get to "vacation" when we vist.  So even though we only had an hour...the time was priceless. 

Interactive Fountain FUN!!
Geyser Park ~ Saratoga Springs, NY

Swing Time with "Aunt Monkey" 

 Even with all the stress of traveling this July you can't beat the simple moments!  Memory Builders for sure!

Memory Builders

The second week in July consisted of unpacking and repacking for another trip to NY with a few swim dates smooshed in there.  For our second 10 hour car ride in 4 days we realized we really needed to break up the trip and stop as much as possible to let the kids run around and tire out!

When I was a little girl my mom always packed a picnic lunch wherever we went and we would have roadside picnics all over Upstate New York and much of Vermont!  "Memory Builders" she would say when we asked why we couldn't go to McDonalds.  At the time, eating a sandwich and chips in the middle of winter from the back of the car was less than appealing, but she was right we have always remembered it!  Obviously it wasn't for the "fun of it" but we got to go so many places because of her thifty Memory Builders.

Here is a quick glance at our Road Trip Memory Builder  :)

counting tree rings after our picnic

We packed a picnic of cheese, crackers, and fruit (okay okay we also stopped off an exit and got some pizza to go geesh I tried :0),
and thanks to iMaps searched our location and looked for a park nearby.  We didn't find a park but we did find a picnic pull off with the entrance to some PA State Park Trails.  It was perfect and the drive to it was gorgeous.

We ate, we ran around, we threw the ball and we got back in the car.  Definitely a MEMORY BUILDER!  Thanks Mom for teaching me to slow down and remember what is important.  My kids will definitley remember this over the McDonalds drive through!

Math Monday Update

Multiplication practice lives on... Checkout this fun printable.  http://deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.ca/2011/09/milk-chocolate-multiplication.html  We are having a competition to see who can come up with the most multiplication problems using the dots chart.

Tip:  We printed the sheet and slipped it in to a plastic sleeve so we could use our dry erase marker on it to reuse and reuse. Works great!


Connor is a rising 2nd grader and would rather polish up his addition and subraction skills.  Check out these super cool Angry Bird Printables!  They are so fun.

http://www.coloringsquared.com/printable-coloring-sheets/angry-birds/angry-birds-addition-and-subtraction/#.Udq2KPnigfU


These are both also pinned on my Simplifying Mommy Pinterest Board.  :)  

Simple Family Fun - Stony Brook NY State Park

Every year we make the trek up to NY for the Fourth of July party on Loon Lake.  Since two of the three kids were asleep for the fireworks, I didn't get any pictures. :( But... the the kids love getting up early to use their brand new fishing poles from Grandma!  (somehow we get new ones each year :)  This is the first year though that they actually each caught a fish on their own!

Morning  Catch on Loon Lake

Aside from lounging in the lake, although our 18 month old just wanted to swim to the floating dock and back over and over and over - this kid has no fear - so there is not much "lounging",
 we love to go and visit Stony Brook State Park.  

This is my favorite stop on our annual visit. Not only is is BEAUTIFUL but you get a good work out walking to each of the falls. This is definitely not something you want to miss if you are in the Western NY area. This park is located in Dansville, NY and has lifeguarded swimming holes, picnic areas, clean locker rooms and an awesome playground!  Check out their website to plan your visit http://nysparks.com/parks/118/.   Nothing beats a simple family walk along the falls. 

Simplifying Spaces - Magnetic Chalk Wall

Mommy Bucket List Project #2 - Create a Magnetic Chalk Wall in the Kitchen.

A few years ago I made wine cork board to hang in the kitchen as decor but also a place to hang the kids' artwork and school project.  We have a stainless steel fridge and guess what...it isn't magnetic! The super cute wine cork board worked great but now the corks keep falling off so I decide to try this out.  The jury is still out on whether or not it was a great idea.  It looks great but isn't as functional as I had hoped.  

Materials Needed:

• Magnetic Primer
• Latex Chalkboard Paint
• Painter's Tape
• DROP CLOTHS
• 2 Roller sponges for smooth surfaces
• Paint pan
• Long Sleeved Shirt to wear while applying the primer ( I was covered in black flecks from this step and had to use gasoline to get it off of my skin)

Tips and Lessons Learned:

Magnetic Primer  - The magnetic primer is messy.  When you roll it on your space it drops black flecks everywhere.  Be sure to have surrounding surfaces covered. The can says to do two to three coats, preferably three thin than two thick.  After two coats, I tried one of the Leap Frog Fridge Farm (heavy) magnets and when it stuck easily I figured I was good to go.  NOPE!  After applying the top coat of Latex Chalkboard Paint as it suggests on the package the same magnet wouldn't stick. :/  Grr I painted to the floor so the baby could play with this toy in this space now it won't hold.  

Chalk Board Paint - Easy and wonderful!  Paints the same as any other latex paint which means easy clean up too.  With plenty left over I plan on using this for other spaces and/or projects.

Magnets:  It seems that decorative magnets have trouble sticking because they are heavy.  I have had success with large flat (sheet like) magnets like the kind you'd stick to your car.  We have a bundle of Upward Sports magnets that I'm using inside of a plastic presentation sleeve then sliding the paper in that to display.  Not the ease of use I was hoping for but it is working for now.  :)

Favorite Part:  The kids created a chore chart for summer. See blog post here.  We put the charts in plastic sleeves so that we could use dry erase markers to check off completed chores.  Yay with a magnet inside the sleeve the chart sticks to the wall!  AND I found a 3 pack of  Magnetic Dry Erase Markers at Dollar Tree that stick to the wall too!  

Final Verdict - I would have done a smaller space and laid on the primer super thick.  I still don't have a vertical space for her Fridge Farm and Letter Factory (we are using a cookie sheet instead) but I do like the way it look and the kids seem to love it!  For the most part this is a mommy win and it does Simplify the Space!  

Magnetic Chalk Wall

Math Monday: Multiplication

Really only four more weeks of summer!!! UGH gotta get on this math plan! Okay so the kids really wanted to brush up on their math skills this summer.  Calculating their chores (see previous post) has been great but during today's rainy day we finally hunkered down and tackled the multiplication chart.  

Goal = simply look at the relationships between numbers as they multiply

Is this the best way to "teach" multiplication? Most likely no but the kids had a great time doing it and discovering the patterns themselves.  My rising 2nd grader hasn't really been exposed to multipliation except in skip counting so it was cool to hear his rising 4th grade sister explain things to him.  :)  

Next step?  

• Keep looking at the sequence of numbers until they stick (yeah yeah we don't memorize times tables anymore...and that my friends is why my 9th graders cannot calculate tax!!) 
• Make up songs or visit the songs already available 
• Download and Print the Number Family Cards or create own flash cards
• Make a yard size multiplication chart out of a shower curtain, tape and paint

Visit my Pinterest Board: A Simplifying Mommy for the links

A blank copy of the Multiplication chart is in the Printables Tab above.

I fount it at http://www.memory-improvement-tips.com/printable-multiplication-chart.html

What's Cookin' : Family Style Antipasto

When I was a little girl I remember hot NY summers with no air conditionion and the constant purr of box fans circulating hot air around the house.  My Italian grandparents lived with us in an apartment we built onto the house.  Having FAMILY around was a part of everyday life. On those hot summer nights when turning on the stove or oven was a ridiculous thought, Grandma would head out the garden and pick fresh green beans, basil, cherry tomatoes, cukes, and anything else she felt would make a great salad for supper.  Then with whatever cold meats and cheeses she had in the fridge, she'd toss it all together in olive oil, vinegar, and her magic wand of spices.


This week my Lella (her real name is Marietta but I couldn't say that as a kid and called her Lella and the name stuck) came down to VA for a visit. She is my mom's older sister and enjoyed those same very special summer salads her mother used to make.  After a hot week in an unseasonably cool summer, we decided to make an antipasto for dinner and Lella showed me how to make the dressing!

This brought me back to those simple summers of my youth when dinner meant running out to the garden and spending time as a FAMILY making an then eating meal.  It is all to often that we get caught up in all the craziness of life and miss out on those special moments.

Having Lella here this week helped remind me to always make time to slow down and enjoy what is really important.  I have taken my Italian heritage and upbringing for ganted. I'll honeslty admit I thought everyone "did it that way" and that when I grew up life would be the same.  Grrr... mommy fail :/  I don't think grabbing concession stand food at the 5th straight Little League game constitutes as a meal, but that is often how we roll.

Nonetheles this past week hearing the kids giggle playing cards (yes cards, not their iPods or laptop) until it was late begging for just a few more minutes was priceless!  Every now and then you need a healthy dose of FAMILY to keep you grounded and focused on creating the same opportunites for memories for your own kids.  End result...mommy FAMILY win!


Quick Antipasto Recipe
1 head of Romain Lettuce - chopped
1 can of pitted black olives
1/2 jar of roasted red peppers
1 jar of Italian Mix Giardiniera
1/4 lb of provolone cheese
1/4 lb of deli pepperoni

Dressing:
3 parts olive oil
1 part cider vinegar
seasoning:  basil, oregano, parsely, garlic, salt, pepper,
(don't ask how much we never measure just toss it all in) 

Summer Theater Camp Success!!

Receiving the "Best Actress" Award at Camp Curtain Call

My oldest daughter is an artist.  She loves to draw, sketch, and create and Art Camp at the Louisa Arts Center was awesome last summer.  After she joined Chorus and went to 7:30 am practices all school year, she realized she really likes to sing sing, dance around and perform anything!  This summer...Camp Curtain Call!!  Wow what an amazing program!! For two weeks she went to camp from 9-12 to practice practice practice (with one missed day for our DC trip - but we did stop to see the Ruby Slippers at the Smithsonian!) and landed the role of "City Mother" from the Munchkin scene in Wizard of Oz.  She had a few short speaking lines, and once she spotted us in the audience, sang her heart out.  My heart of course melted when she finally saw us and her face beamed.  Ahhh proud mommy moment! In the car on the way home she was just beaming and said "Mom I loved this I can't wait until next summer" Yes yes this was very worth it.  

My sweet girl after the show. She was beaming with pride!

We may be a small country town but we can rock out the Arts!

Still up...concerts in the park, movies on the big screen in the theater (we have to drive at least 45 min to go to a Regal), and a long list of performers coming this fall.

What I love it that the kids are marking the calendar with local things to do and see.  No whining for time on their iPods or laying around watching TV this summer. They actually WANT to get out there.   Ok lesson learned!  Slow down Mommy and your kids will do the same!

Stop and See

This past week we headed in to C'ville (Charlottesville,VA) with aspirations of walking the beautiful grounds at UVA, stopping by the Rotunda for a free (and educational) tour, then doing some quick shopping after checkups at the pediatrician. Ahh yes beautiful plans of a summer weekday until...we got a flat tire!

Luckily we were safety parked in the doctor's office parking lot, and AAA didn't take long at all, but still we didn't  have time for our leisurely stroll. Of course I had to bribe the kids with something to get them to sit and wait in the humidity that came out of nowhere in what has been such a mild Virginia summer.

Chalk wall (chalk provided!) on the Downtown Mall

Nothing a little Sweet Frogs can't conquer! After the spare tire got us rollin' we swung on over to the Historic Downtown Mall for a promised treat.

The real treat was watching the kids stroll along arm in arm, stop to "leave their mark" on the chalk wall and chase their baby sister up and down the brick path. Paying $2.50/hr for parking (yes that was dumb) is nothing compared to these priceless stop and see memories.  

My cup runneth over!  This is one blessed mommy!

(P.S. You'll notice my oldest is wearing her Sweet Frogs t-shirt. She does it everytime we go to C'ville "just in case" I want to take them there!)  :0)

Our goal to simplify and slow down this summer has not let us down! We are rediscovering the great things that surround us that we have realized we take for granted.  Explore your hometown...you live there for a reason right?  Rediscover it! 

Dairy Day Winner!

After that fantastic Saturday, Ali got the call that she had WON the Dairy Day Gift Basket!!  She was so excited and even happier to see two milk glasses so Connor could join in the fun! Love these kids!

Our Washington DC Adventure!!

Seriously tried to get everyone to look at the same time :) 

Summer Bucket List - Trip #1

On our summer bucket list was a day trip to Washington, DC. We are less than 2 hours away from all the fun but traveling on 95 in rush hour traffic (which is sooooo unavoidable if you want to enjoy the day) has kept us from making the trip.  What we found out is that the HOV 3 lane makes a breeze and we are so rockin' out this trip again soon!!



Here are some tips for a great trip to the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums.

*Note on this trip we drove right into the city and parked in a parking garage. We didn't want to brave the metro with two still in strollers.  Going with another mom was awesome because we always felt like we had back up for each other and the kids paired up perfectly!

1.  Pre-Plannig - the teacher in me felt like I had to have all the printables ready. My supermom friend not only printed them but had them bound! How cool is she!  They were great reference points and you could even earn American Girl or 39 Clues Cards but in all honesty we didn't use them.  If it is your first trip browse the website to see what exhibits are being featured but just walk around and enjoy it.  Visit the Smithsonian Website.

 I did allow the kids to bring their iPod Touch so they could take pictures and recordings with the idea of making an iMovie when we got home.  That kept them engaged....now just to find time to sit at the computer rather than jump in the pool!

Mom Bag Packing - well of course I packed too much..here is what I would pack next time

• Camera - unless you are a photography enthuasist just use your smart phone. I toted my Canon Rebel and really I used my iPhone camera more. Quick and in my pocket!
• Snacks - only water is allowed in the museums but we had trail mix and graham crackers in our bags for outside eating and we were fine. Just don't open any food in the museums.  
• Drinks - there are water stations all over the place. Pack a cup or refillable bottle to share.
• Hand Sanitizer or Baby Wipes- for more than just the "baby". DC is a major germ fest with lots of hands on activities.  
• Extra diapers - serioulsy only I would forget to check that!!

Parking - we flubbed this a bit by not really looking at a map to pick the best lot. We were kinda far from the National Mall (we parked on I street) even though we picked National Mall Parking :-/   Nevertheless you pull up, they park for you and at the end of the day get your car....all for only $18*!  This of course requires some prepacking mom style so you are ready to hop out and go when you get there.

Here is the link to Central Parking :  http://washingtondc.centralparking.com/Washington-DC-Downtown-NW-Parking.html?gclid=CMvAoNyH_7cCFcyf4AodnCMAKg

Now that we know our way around a DC map the closest garage to the sights is 2121 K Street NW. That is where I will park next time! 

2.  Bathrooms!  Of course everyone has to pee the second you get out of the car.  I used the Charmin Sit or Squat App to help us find a restroom and it led us right to the ranger station by the Washington Monument.  I also know there are public restrooms at the Lincoln Memorial.

3.  Food - we packed a lunch and had a picnic which was great. Since we each had a stroller we filled our Thirty One Picnic Thermal Totes and stowed them in the bottom all day.  One down side is that you have to go through security at each museum and they check your bags. After pulling out the cooler bag full of water I realized next time I'm brining one or two refillable water bottles to share and disposable juice boxes.  There are food kiosks on the mall and cafes instide the museums but holy moly expensive!  I did splurge on Astronaut Ice Cream for our snack after visiting the Air and Space Museum. :)

4. Souveniers - The museum shop on the bottom floor (Constitution Avenue Entrance) of the Museum of Natural History is awesome.  The prices are reasonable and you can get at least a post card for $1.  My kids had saved their own money and each bought a small stuffed animal for $8 and Ali scored a glow-in-the-dark t-shirt for $9.99!

5. Sights/Museums of Our Day 

• Walk past the front of the White House - very cool
• Washington Monument - stand and take a picture so that it looks like you are holding up the monument. 
• Stop for Picnic Lunch - restroom and picnic tables at the ranger station.
• Look Left...Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Vitenam Memorial...awesome but we saw that on the 3rd grade field trip.
• Turn Right...Walk Walk Walk...Ahh the Smithsonian Castle stop #1
• Smithsonian Castle - very cool on the outstide, stop to take a picture for sure.  Inside is a great information station with models of the entire city but it wasn't worth going through security with 8 kids....keep moving
• Air and Space Museum -stop #2  AWESOME  If you want hands on this is the place!
• Snack break and Squirrels!  The luch lawns are gorgeous but if you want to avoid some very friendly (they will crawl into your lap) critters then stay in the middle of the lawn not over by the shady trees!
• Museum of American History - Mom's loved it, kids were totally bored,  not alot of hands on stuff. There are some cool touch screen documents that you can pull up and the American Flag exhibit is always awesome (Thank you Ralph Lauren)
• Museum of Natural History - a kid pleaser! We only did the main floor because we were all getting pooped but the dinosaurs and sea life are always sure to please. Plus they have a great gift shop!

Overall this was an awesome day with GREAT friends!  We can't wait to do it again and check out what we didn't see!

Costs of the Trip:
Gas to DC (depends on your vehicle)
Parking : $18
Astronaunt Ice Cream $7
Starbucks on the walk back to the car (the mommies needed this!)  $10.73
McDonalds (we almost made it home)$14

Not bad for an awesome day!!

Sewing Success!

Mommy Bucket List Project #1 - Square Circle Skirt

I have always wanted to make a piece of clothing for my girls.  Well finally I gave it a try and even saved a scrap to make a headband! I saw this super cute and easy tutorial on Pinterest.  Of course I didn't read all of the super easy directions before going out to buy the fabric.  :0)  I bought cotton instead of knit which just required me to hem and all that jazz.  The skirt is FAR FROM PERFECT (the points are totally uneven) but my daughter loved how twirly it is and for a first try it isn't too bad.  Plus I again got to BUY LOCAL!  We have a wonderful little shop in town called "The Fabric Hut and Gift Gallery" where I purchased everything I needed at affordble small town prices!

  

Here is the link I followed and will try again when I can get my hands on some knit fabric and cute elastic!

http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2012/09/the-square-circle-skirt-20-ish-minutes-to-make.html

The only diffrence in mine is that I took two square pieces fo fabric and sewed them together. Then when I cut the circle for the waist I turned it inside out to create the hem, then attached the elastic.  Hence the uneven points!  Still fun and super easy!!  I can't wait to try it again the "right way".

Buy Local!  

Fabric Hut and Gift Gallery

• 203 W Main St
• Louisa, VA 23093

(540) 967-1630

Our Simplified Summer Saturday 

This morning we took the liberty of finally sleeping in on a Saturday. No ball game to rush out to, no major project around the house, just simple family time. 

 So we sauntered over to the local Farmer's market and picked up fresh picked blackberries, some tomatoes and cukes from the sweet man who always has fruit snacks for the kids whether you buy from him or not (you guessed it - we always do!), Pink House Farm sausage raised right down the road by a great family, the best cinnamon rolls ever, from a top notch local fourth grade teacher ...does it get any better than this?  

I didn't think so until we stopped by our local Southern States Co-op to get some sweet feed for our Alpacas when we found out it was Dairy Day!  The kids got to go in and cuddle with the calves (yup right in the store-dang left the phone in the car), snack a mini cowtail candy, and enter to win the "Got Milk" gift basket.  Yes, it is days like these that I'm reminded how grateful I am for small town USA living?

Who's with me?  

Rainy Day Fun!

Redbox....check

Popcorn....check

Kids screaming around the house using each other for target practice.....think think think.....HEY WHO WANTS TO MAKE S'MORES? Hmm that got their attention.  Connor actually replied "In the rain?  I do! I do!" Really son really...no not in the rain.  Ok here we go!

There are a bunch of versions of this floating around on Pinterest that you might want to try. I'm not sure whose recipe this actually is but kudos to the creator...here's our humble take on it.  :0)

Shopping List

• 1 box of graham crackers (go cheap you are adding butter it won't make a difference)
• 1 bag of miniature marshmallows
• 16 oz package of chocolate chips of choice (we used Nestle Chunks)
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup butter (yes butter- yummmm)

From the Pantry

• Cookie Sheet
• Foil
• Cooking Spray

Steps to Success

A great summer reading activity is reading recipes! Time to let the kids take over - this is kid language below.  P.S. There are no pictures...you have to read and imagine!  Read the entire recipe before you begin.  What kitchen tools do you need to use? How can you group your ingredients? 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Line a cookie sheet with foil.  Make sure it is long enough to come up over the edge on each side of the pan.  After the s'mores cook you are going to lift the bars out of the cookie sheet - now is a good time to volunteer to clean up since - there is no clean up :0)

3.  Spray the foil with cooking spray

4. Arrange the graham crackers along the bottom of the cookie sheet. Break them only if you need to fill a space. The entire bottom of the cookie sheet should be covered with graham crackers. 

5.  Measure out the butter 3/4 c - great time for a math lesson.  

You need 3/4 cup of butter. Look at a stick of butter. It says 4 tbs is 1/4 cup. How many table spoons do you need? 3 sets of 4 or 3 X 4 right...12 tbs. Count that out now look at it again.  1/4c or 4 tbs is 1/2 stick. You needed 3 half sticks or 1 and a half sticks of butter.  Hmm I could have said that in the recipe but math is so much more fun!

Now you need the help of an adult to use a butter knife and use of the stove.

6.  Cut the butter into small chunks and place in a small sauce pan.

7.  Add to the sauce pan 3/4 cup packed brown sugar.  Packed means to pack it down into the measuring cup with our hand. When you dump it, it will look like a part of a sand castle!

8.  Turn on the stove and melt the butter and brown sugar together.  

9.  Ok, really now an adult has to do this...CAREFULLY pour the HOT mixture evenly over the graham crackers.  

10.  Bake in the oven for about 5 minutes or until bubbly.  Keep an eye on it. I ran up to switch the laundry and my ours is a little crispy.  Once you see bubbles pull it out of the oven.

11.  Sprinkle with the marshmallows and chocolate chunks.

12.  Put back into the oven for 2-3 minutes or until marshmallows are a little brown.  

13.  Take out and let cool (this is the hardest part...waiting!)  The marshmallows will get less puffy when it cools making it easier to cut.

14.  When cool...grab the ends of the foil and lift out of the pan.  Place on a cutting board and cut into squares.  

Sit back and enjoy!  

Tell us how yours come out.  What kind of chocolate did you use?  Comment below and let us know!

What's Cookin' Wednesday!

Today we used our Disney Family Fun Magazine Cookbook (thank you dollar bin at Target) to make Waffle Art for breakfast! This was super fun and very easy. 

To make the dog pictured you need:

3 waffles

1 whole waffle for the head

1 waffle cut in half (body) - then half of the half for each ear

1 waffle cut in 4 with the corner that meets the center trimmed off to create legs. Use one of the trimmed pieces as the tail. 

We used strawberries and chocolate chips as eyes and a tongue. 

Math Monday: Calulating Chores

Ok so I'm not "mean mommy"  and I love my iPhone more than anyone but to avoid being stuck to a screen all summer we are UNPLUGGING and earning screen time - yep me too!  Since I'm always up with the chickens (literally I'm the one who lets them out of their coop each morning) I know I can bank on the time earned for the morning feeding cycle. :0) To simplify the chores and keep it all fair we came up with this plan.  

For our first Math Monday the kids calculated what chores they wanted to complete in order to earn screen time or chore money!

Dollar Store Shopping List:  

• Chore List  (see Printables Tab above to download)
• Plastic Sheet Protectors
• Dry Erase Marker
• Plastic Cups
• Cup Labels (see printable)
• Colorful Drinking Straws
• Self Stick Magnets (optional)

1. The kids came up with a list of chores that need to be/can be done around the house (ahhh music to my ears)!  
2. We compiled the list and assigned "mintues" to each chore. Feel free to download and edit our list from the Printables Tab.
3. Print and Laminate chore chart (print out and pop it in a plastic sheet protector) so we can use a dry erase marker each day to show what we have completed. 
4. Take one plastic cup and fill it with straws.  Each straw = 5 min earned.  Since we will be erasing the chore board each day but not necessarily using the time we came up with this plan to keep track of our time earned. 
5. Label 3 cups per kid:  Time Earned,  Time Redeemed, and Cash Out
6. Cash Out - if you accrue 60 minutes you may cash it in for $2 instead of screen time
7. Stick a magnet to the back of each cup and place on fridge or door to garage (yup magnetic) to organize.

Pictures of our set coming soon - although even before I finish this post, Connor has emptied the recycling bin! Yahoooo! 

No time for this now?  Use the Pin It button and pin to your Pinterest Board! 

Summer Picnics

Wow so my friend Kate found a recipe to roast corn in the oven and I will never do corn another way again!! So yummy...soooo simple! 

Heat oven to 350

Place corn (with husks on) right in the oven rack

Cook for 30 min 

Let cool a bit, pull off the husks and enjoy!   Below is a pick right out of the oven :)

Summer Behavior Charts

With the pouring down rain I might need to pull out the ole' behavior chart!  This worked wonders last summer to help keep the kids on track (it mirrors what their teachers use at school).  I found them encouraging each other to "get to blue" or suggesting the other move up.  I had one rule - you cannot ask to move up just because you did something nice. You have to be caught being good! We used clothes pins personalized by each kiddo to move up or down the chart.

Don't forget you can download a copy to personalize yourself in the Printables above :)

Breakfast and Books!

Reading a FREE kindle book - "Is It True: Dogs". All you need is an amazon.com account and a kindle or a device with the free App! 

Summer is coming!

Today is the last day of school...as a teacher many believe I have my "summer off".  All of the teachers reading this post are laughing so hard they are peeing their pants!  Amiss my school year wind down (a week after school ends), summer curriculum planning (sprinkled throughout the summer), and then gear up for next school year (a week or two before teachers go back), I am dedicating my life to MY kids - yeah the ones I don't get to see that much during the school year.

To help simplify the madness of jamming it all in, the kids and I have created theme days for the summer!  We will post a picture or a comment each day so you can try out our projects or just give us a shout.  Join us in the fun!

You can also download a copy in the "Printables" tab above :)