Kiwi Crate

Have you heard of Kiwi Crate?   Check out their site if you haven't already.  For Christmas my mom and papa bought each of the kids a crate and also one to share.  What I love is everything you need (with the exception of scissors and things like water) is in the box!  Each box makes several crafts centered around the same theme.  The kids getting all the supplies out and ready.

 

 

Sydney coloring the papers to decorate the tops.   Her crate was colorful inspiration.  Sydney's box included the tops, and supplies to make stained glass windows (with tissue paper, there may have been something else I am having a hard time remembering ). 

Griffin's crate was a pirate them, which is why he is wearing an eye patch.  He made a pirate hat, eye patch, a parrot, treasure map and decorate a  treasure box.

seriously the cutest pirate I have ever seen

 

 

We have one more crate reserved for a rainy day.  I was very pleased with this product and would recommend kiwi crates to everyone with kiddos who like to craft.  Also the site has craft and DIY ideas that you print. 

Sky Top Orchard- here we come

These pictures are from last year when we went to Sky Top Orchard.  We are headed there this weekend and we are so excited. 

Looking back at these pictures makes me realize how much the kids have grown physically and in maturity in the last year. 

 

We will share pics from this years adventure when we get back. 

Have you been to the orchard yet?

Busy busy

Life is so busy lately and I am prioritizing which means blogging is low on the list.  Family first and then work and entertainment is last.  I miss keeping up with everyone but I will be back soon.  I have a few cool fall crafts to share and hopefully I will have pictures soon since I did buy a new camera.  In the meantime here are a few pics from vacation that I am not sure I shared.  Oh wait I have yet to share any from vacation on here. 

 Griffin with friend Vinny

 

 dragon fly that kept landing on fishing pole

 shakes at Steak N Shake

 Proof that Bill and I were on the trip- all the pictures are of the kids

 snuggling in condo

Fishing

Griffin and friend Vinny matched!

Sydney caught the first fish

sibling fishing side by side, waiting for the bite

I love black and white pictures

Griffin's first fish (he wanted Sydney to hold it)

Vinny's first fish

my friend dragon fly that kept landing on the pole

my first catch

Sydney caught this turtle

Once again we had a great time fishing while at the beach, it is a nice change of pace from the actual beach.

School Lunch Ideas

We are gearing up for back to school and I am going to make an effort to provide Sydney with healthy and yummy lunches.  Sydney is not what I would call a picky eater but she is my pickier eater (does that make sense).  Last year I packed her lunch some of the time and then she ate school lunch when groceries were low or when I did not have things she wanted.  I know the school offers fruits and veggies but she can be picky about these and often would tell me she did not eat any of the fruits or veggies offered.  We have been trying to eat less processed food which is more work for me and some weeks it is just challenging.  I have been trying more recipes to put in my go to menu options that are not processed and healthy. 
So these are some of my ideas for Syd's lunches:

Muffin:  poppy seed (I will share recipe in next few days), pumpkin chocolate, banana oatmeal and zuchini with chocolate chips

Bean dip and chips
egg salad with mini triscuits
pimento cheese with triscuits
trail mix

meat and cheese roll ups
whole wheat bread with PB and nutella
yogurt
fruit- maybe kabobs
carrots with ranch or spinach dip

You can actually subscribe to this blog for a menu.   My goal is to pack my children a nutritous and yummy lunch that will give them the energy they need for their day.  Do you have any suggestions?

Tissue Paper Night Lights

My kids love to craft (and so do I) so I am always looking for new craft ideas. I actually have a file of craft ideas and I have lots of craft supplies. I saw this idea on Kiwi Crate's website and I knew it would be fun. I had the jars, tissue paper and glue, I just had to buy the battery operated tea lights.

I let the kids cut their own squares of paper and then go to town on covering the jars. 

the finished product

we had so much fun and it was very simple and not too messy

 

I may actually make some myself to decorate our mantle at Christmas.  We could have added glitter or ribbon or sequins to dress them up a bit but we kept it simple today.  If you try this craft let me know and share how yours turned out. 

good morning

 

This is what our crew looks like in the morning.  Bed head, sleepy eyes and hungry bellies.  They wake up talking about what they want for breakfast!

 

These days will pass so quickly we are trying to capture all the moments.

VBS

Once again VBS is another summer highlight.  This is the first year Griffin has been old enough to actually participate in the main event and I wanted to be his crew leader.  He has always enjoyed being in the nursery and he actually requested that I let him go there a few times during the week.  Being Griffin's crew leader meant that I was not with Sydney and I did miss seeing her but she was in capable hands.

 

Griffin making a cross with his hand prints on a shield 

Game using Vaseline to help cotton balls stick to the kids noses- the cotton balls were sheep and they were trying to get them all in the pen.  We talked about David watching over his sheep.

It was so funny to watch them

Griffin decorating his crown with jewels

getting ready to fill cross necklaces with colored sand

Praise time back with all the groups, so sweet that my kids wanted to be together

Sydney ready to climb the rock wall (family night fun on the last night)

She was amazing and fearless!

Introducing 12- fold.com

Bill's oldest son Marcus (the one in the middle) and two of his friends recently started a business called 12- fold.com  It is actually a men's pocket square service.  You subscribe to the plan of your choice and in exchange you get a quality pocket square delivered to your door step.  I myself do not wear pocket squares but if I did I would want something unique and superior.  If you have a moment check out 12-fold.com and click around the site to learn more.  Come back and leave me a comment so I know what you think.  Also if you have a need for a pocket square consider subscribing or purchasing a subscription as a gift. 

Kiwi Crate

Have you heard of kiwi crate?  I recently came across the website via someone's blog and wow I am impressed.  You can subscribe and get a monthly crate which is basically a box of supplies for 2-3 projects and crafts.  They have crates by theme such as pirates, bugs, fairies, medeval fun, robots, music, farmers market and more!   You can order a crate as a gift or of course for yourself.  They also have a great DIY category which is filled with crafts for you to do on your own.  Check out their website and let me know what you think?  What crates would you pick for your kids?  Griffin would love space hero or robots and Sydney would enjoy safari fun or fairies.  Hint hint mom I am thinking ahead for the kids birthdays or maybe even part of Christmas. 

Smores

Last weekend we decided to have smores for dessert. Something about summer just feels like smores essential. We toasted out marshmallows on the grill.

marshmallow cheeks

now that's a mouth full

can you tell what ingredient I added to my smore? 

oh yes, peanut butter

so yummy!

Planting season

 A few weeks ago the kids and I started some seeds inside.  It is always fun to have helpers and to watch things grow (even if it is just the soil pods).  I love Griffin's expression.

This past weekend we planted a few cucumber plants and a few zucchini seeds in the raised beds.  We are also growing some flowers and some lettuce.  This year I ordered Heirloom tomato plants and they will be shipped when Burpee thinks it is time for me to plant.  I am hoping this summer we will have a good crop and that I am going to out smart the voles this year!

Have you planted anything yet this spring?

Snow Day

Ice and some snow resulted in an early dismissal a few weeks ago. So the kids and I hung out at home, and we made chocolate chip cookies.

I am not sure why they are holding there hands up?

We played I spy bingo

and Sydney created hearts out of the little plastic pieces, I have no idea what they are called

I was helping her and at one point she said " mom hand over the tweezers" she is an independant girl and did not really want or need my help

it was a fun day to be at home with my little kiddos