Where did July go?

We took a spontaneous trip to Michigan, (and by spontaneous, I mean, we decided the night before to leave at noon the next day), and somehow I lost a month.

Our summer camp hasn't progressed as planned, but that is ok--we have had lots of fun activities any way.  The weather has finally cooled, so my current favorite activity, is drinking the coffee outside, while the kids play in their pjs/underwear.  Yes, underwear.

Random Things that we have done, in no particular order:

Play with Moon Dough.

Rediscovered the View Finder.

 

 Jam with the cousins.

Freezer Paper T-shirts (google it for instructions:)

 Dyed Rice for the Sand Table (This was a total hit. Again, google...)

Hang Out with Family,

Check out Real Estate.  In Michigan.

A box and markers.

 Visitors!

A snake cake, constructed entirely by kids.

Cardboard Tubes and Tape.

Tap Light, Paint, Books about the Solar System.  

(stole this from Play at Home Mom.)

The summer is going by wayyyy too fast.

Schwartz Summer Camp: Science Week

Monday was awesome.  I pulled everything that was science related out of Tate's toy baskets, and put it in Soleil's little "shop".  I also pulled out all the science-y books from every corner of the house and put them out on a fuzzy blanket.  I was able to drink soooo much coffee that morning!

When the baby went down for her nap, Tate and I started the science experiments.

1.GIANT SOAP-- Take wax paper and put in your microwave. Microwave bar of Ivory Soap. (Don't worry it won't explode!)

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/04/kitchen-craft-soap-clouds-and-homemade-kiddie-tub-soaps/

2. BALLOON FUN-- Put vinegar in soda bottle. Put baking soda in unblown up balloon. Secure balloon on to mouth of soda bottle and the balloon will blow up from the gas from the vinegar+baking soda.

3. ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE and others:http://blogs.babble.com/family-style/2012/04/30/8-recipes-for-disaster/?pid=19536#slideshow

4. DIET COKE + MENTOS--explosive fun. (Use a piece of paper to put entire roll of MINT mentos in a diet coke. It goes way up into the air. The park might be a good place to do this one!) 

5. SLIME-- pva/white glue and borax. Here is recipe. We leave out the glow in the dark paint, because I couldn't find it.http://domesticcharm.blogspot.com/2011/10/glow-in-dark-slime.htmlanother slime link:http://frugalfunchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/04/flubber-recipe.html

The slime wasn't as exciting for Tate, but I thought it was super cool.  It is just like the slime that you buy!
We repeated the Diet Coke geyser because it was fun.  The kids were excited to get sprayed down by the hose afterwards.

We also went to the Children's Museum on Tuesday.  The plan was to go to the Science Museum, but I thought it would be easier with Soleil in the Children's Museum.

We couldn't get this stuffed otter away from her....

Thursday, was dino day.  (Repeat of Monday, but all the dinosaur stuff.)  This wasn't as exciting for them.   It was rainy and stormy and hot most of the day, so as all this planning sounded great, but we ended up parked in front of The Disney Channel in the afternoon.  We watched "Good Luck Charlie" for the first time, and we LOVED it.  It really appeals to adults as well as kiddos.

Three Books

I recently cleaned out the back of the minivan after our trip to the Wisconsin Dells.  It took me hours.  It was completely and totally disgusting.  I vacuumed, cleaned carpet, wiped everything down and took absolutely everything out of the car.

In the past, each kid had a bag of stuff to play with next to their seat.  That bag grew to a bag and a plastic tote and anything you could shove in the cup holders.  It sounds like a good idea to have things on hand, but the baby get frustrated that she can't really access the bag, and she tends to drop her 5 snacks all over the floor.

Now that car is clean, today, I decided to bring her 3 books.  And Tate could have 3 things.  And at the end of the car ride, those 3 things (each) come back into the house.  I'll tell you why this is great--the car stays clean AND they actually play/read with those 3 things.  There isn't a mound of stuff that they throw on the floor, and they are happier.  I had read once that if you give kids too many choices, it overwhelms them.  This seems to be the case in my house.  (Yesterday, I cleared out Soleil's little "shop", and had the same surprising result--she played with the 10% toys I left behind!)

As for the snacks....  My kids are grazers.  I think Soleil's favorite word IS "snack".  I couldn't starve the little thing, since at age 2, she weighs only 22lbs.  (For reference, Tate weighed this at 11 months, I think.)  I found this awesome cup/snack holder that clips on to the car seat AND the stroller.  I put her sippy cup in one hole and then preloaded the snack cup that comes with it.  I also brought an additional cup.  I didn't fill it, just put a small handful of snack in the cup.  Ok, there was still some mess, but way, way less!  When she wanted the second snack, I just switched out the cups and took the other away.  (This also prevents month old teddy grahams from being consumed at some other time when you aren't looking!)

Schwartz Summer Camp: Home Week

I am loving summer!  For some reason, it has been easier to get things done around the house and have lots of time for playing, with 2 kids home instead of just one.  Soleil is definitely much happier with her brother around all day to play with.  

I themed out each week of "Schwartz Summer Camp", and really, we haven't even gotten to all of the ideas that I had on my list.  (Thanks Pinterest!)  Let's not kid...I'm way tired at the end of the day but it is a good tired.

 Reading time happens spontaneously every day at some point.  Though here, Soleil just burrowed herself under the books instead of actually reading them.

Baking Bread.  She is quite confident about her bread making skills!  There was sooo much flour on the floor.

While I made dinner, Tate had some TV time while Soleil played with her giant pile of toys.  I used the mess as an opportunity to sort through it all (and hide some toys) and reorganize.  

Soleil outside our front door, just relaxing.  There is a ridiculous number of chipmunks in our yard for her to watch.  This morning we even saw a woodpecker, working away at the tree right in front.  (Which is way better than the side of the house he was working on last summer.)

A happy baby playing in the rain.  

 
 And to warm up after the rain, they took a warm bubble bath with glow sticks.  This photo is with the flash...

 This is what the actual bath looked like.  This was Tate's idea, and a very good one, I might add!

Random. I Have a Lot of These Kind of Posts.

Before...

After!

This guy was on the street in front of our house.  (We live near a pond/lake/swamp.)  He's freaky.

Selling this on Craigs List.  It is practically brand new. I love it, but I want to get a Cameo.  I have a friend who has one, and I love the idea that all of the designs are stored on your computer, and that you can buy just one design at  a time instead of having to buy an entire cartridge.

 This is what happens when Daddy is in charge of getting the baby dressed.  Funny thing is that I am the one that went to U of Michigan!

Pinterest Fun

I love Pinterest.  It is my way of relaxing at the end of the day.... to go through all the lovely pictures, "pinning" the photos to the links that will teach me how to do something new, or just inspire me.  It was time to start trying some of the "pins".

1.  The Time Out Jar/Mind Jar (water, glitter, glitter glue or gel glue, food coloring, and super glue to seal jar lid, if you have a 2 year old in the house.)

2.  Treasure Rocks/Dinosaur Eggs (used coffee grounds, flour, salt, sand, water and a trinket to hide inside)

3.  Busy Boxes (A small collection of objects to be used together, inspiring a little one to play independently and creatively.)

This one was glue, paper, pom poms, foam sticky letters and glitter.  She loved it.  

4. Shark Bite Drink (Pineapple Juice, Orange Juice, a splash of Grenadine, and lots of ice)

 

Another project that I have been working on over the past few weeks is a re-do of a child size rocker/glider.  

Before: It started out with lighter wood and this fabric.

After: White Paint and New Cushions!

What is your one of your favorite things on pinterest?

Inspired by...

Cute craft displays at the local toy store.

The return of embroidery.

Scrapbook with lots of bits.

The clean look of Russell & Hazel. I bought my planner from here, and the shop has the prettiest displays.  It makes me feel organized just by looking at it!

Bored with Cooking

I usually love to cook.  However, the 3 meals a day and 2 snacks that I have to produce on a daily basis are wearing me down.  I feel like we keep eating the same meals over and over and over...

It might be time to watch some Food Network, which I haven't tuned into in awhile.  Though yesterday I was watching Diners, Drive Thrus, and Heart Attacks and need healthier inspiration than that.  (Though it all looked scrumptious!!)

Any ideas?  In order to give back for any recipe ideas that you give me, here are a few of our staples (that we are completely bored of.)

Crock Pot:
Chicken w/ Bones in, 1 cup BBQ.  Remove bones and skin, Shred and use for quesadillas.
Pulled Pork: Cook over night with cider vinegar.  Pour off all liquid.  SHred and remove any fat or weird bits and cover in BBQ.
Pot Roast: Chuck Roast, Veg, 2 packets of Onion Soup Mix and a little water.  (This works quicker in the table top roaster.)
Roast Chicken: (I put it in the Tabletop roaster or in oven) Veg, salt and pepper, garlic, lemon in cavity

Chili: (kids won't eat it)-2 cans Ranch Style Beans, Ground Beef, 2 Cans diced tomatoes --we grind them up, cumin, chili powder, garlic, or even the Mcormick Chili Seasoning if you prefer.
Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup:  Yes, we have this for dinner
Breakfast for Dinner: Ditto on above.
Homemade Pizza: dough is ridiculously easy, or buy it premade at Trader Joes for like a buck.
Chicken, Pan Cooked:  We have some version of this weekly.  Usually with pasta and broccoli. I'm sure if you have little kids this is on your menu SOMEWHERE.  We try to jazz up the adult version by making a sauce or putting in a tortilla.
Tacos:  With ground chicken. YUM.
Pork Tenderloin: preseasoned, throw in oven and follow directions on package (350F for about 30 min).  No one really loves this, so I have to make really good side dishes.  Corn on the cob is a favorite.
Pasta Night: Pasta+Sauce+Trader Joes Meatballs.  I get hugs for this.

Not a great list, but that is all I can think of at the moment. :)

Around the Home

I made this for a friend who moved into a new house. 

 I had to hide the felt sunshine from the kids, who wanted to play with it. 

Soleil loves to plant things.  

Unfortunately for these garlic and onion plants, she also likes to un-plant things. 

 

 I need this!  It looks really inspiring, with checklists and daily tasks.