I thought this toilet paper roll spring flower was super cute, would be easy for my kids to do, and I already had everything we needed. The original site it links to is in some other language but it does have translate button. It also has great photos so you can figure it out anyway. To make this fun flower yourself, you'll need: 4 toilet paper rolls paint stapler white fuzzy ball (or a cotton ball) wooden stick (or a popsicle stick) Easter grass flower pot Visit the original site for directions on how to do it. Tottie had a ton of fun making this flower. Of course I had to help her with the stapling but that's ok. She even let me paint the orange on one of the rolls! Grandma happened to be coming over in the evening so we gave it to her for Mother's Day! Their flower vs ours. What do you think?? … [Read more...]
Best Ever- Spring cookies
I'm going to let you in on a little tip.....ok, more like a secret. My grandma's recipe book was given to me before she passed away (I begged her for it, and since I'm the only one in the family who cooks and bakes she ablidged) and I found the most amazing, tasty, fabulous recipe for cut out cookies. They are really easy and bake up incredibly fluffy. Here's the recipe: Mix the dry ingredients together first: 1 3/4 C sugar 1 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 baking soda pinch of salt 5 1/4- 5 1/2 C flour In a large bowl mix your wet ingredients: 1 C butter, softened 2 eggs 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 C sour cream Add your dry ingredients to the wet and mix well. Sprinkle POWDER SUGAR (yup, you read that right...not flour) on the surface and roll out your dough. Bake the cookies at 350 for around 8 minutes (give or take a couple based upon your individual oven). Enjoy! … [Read more...]
25 Ideas For Keeping Children Calm During A Storm
(photo source) Last week was quite stormy in our neck of the woods. Yesterday we did a post on Severe Weather Kits because we realized during National Severe Weather Preparedness week (April 22-28) that our families were not prepared for emergencies during severe weather. Today we're giving you 25 ideas for keeping your children calm during storms Keep yourself calm--This is the most important thing of all. If you are not calm, your kids won't be either. Cuddle--Sometimes a little physical contact is all your kids need to feel safe and calm. Practice--On non-stormy days practice what you would do in the event of severe weather. Knowing what to do will help your kids feel in control. Severe weather kit--Have your kids help you make a severe weather kit. It helps them to know what you have that will keep them safe. (photo source) Light--Lots of kids get scared in the dark so make sure you have plenty of flashlights on hand to keep things bright if the power goes … [Read more...]
Severe Weather Kit
The National Severe Weather Preparedness Week was April 22-28. Did you practice safety techniques during that week? We did! In Minnesota we have quite a few severe thunderstorms and tornadoes each year. This year, spring came early and we had an earlier than expected severe thunderstorm. Our power went out and we realized we had not gathered our kit yet. So, after the storm was over I was determined to make a kit and store it in the same place all year so we would always know where it was. For our severe weather kit we have the essentials: candles and a lighter, a weather radio, flashlights and batteries. We have a small handful of flashlights because we have a large family, it's nice for each person to have their own light. We also have extra batteries for a couple of reasons. They are primarily for the flashlights but the other purpose they serve is for my kids Leap Pads. We found that these are great distractions from the "scary-ness" of no power and crazy winds. I want to … [Read more...]
10 spring time flower crafts
Today we're bringing you ten awesomely fun spring time flower art crafts... 1. Coffee Filter Daffodils- You can't go wrong with this easy and adorable flower craft! These Daffodils are perfect for spring, mother's day, and to cheer someone up. 2. Make a spring bouquet by purchasing white carnations and adding some food coloring to the water. Watch the flower colors change! What a fun experiment too. 3. Adorable Tissue Paper Carnations. Such an easy craft too! I know just the person these would be perfect for. With Mother's Day coming up this weekend you can make flowers that last forever. 4. Simple Origami Flowers- This video gives you step by step directions on how to make this cute little bud. 5. Glossy Paper Flowers are a great way to reuse and recycle old magazines. Your toddler, preschooler or grade school child will enjoy making these for sure! 6. Paper Cup Flowers- Why not make an entire garden of flowers? I am willing to bet you have all the supplies … [Read more...]
Pipe Cleaner May Day Baskets
May Day is coming up soon. Some people celebrate it and some people don't. In making these May Day baskets with my kids I learned that some people even celebrate it differently than I remember. For me, it was a day where you left candy in a basket at the door of a friend or neighbors house. For Jamie, it was a basket filled with flowers. Two different versions of the same idea. Just to brighten someones day and to make them smile! All you need to make these baskets are a handful of pipe cleaners. (I found MY package in the dollar bin at Target, SCORE!) Gather up a handful of pipe cleaners and pick out 5 and snip those in half. They will end up being about 2 1/2 inches long and you will end up with 10 pieces. Take four of those pieces and twist them together (to give you eight spokes) and take another and attach it to your pipe cleaners and snip it so that it measures the same as the rest. This will give you nine spokes (and you will want an odd number) to weave. Begin by … [Read more...]
