Schwartz Summer Camp: Super Spy Week

As I do for any themed weeks, I go through the kids' stuff and pull out anything that relates.  You would be amazed at all the stuff I was able to find!  The only thing I bought was the Spy Master Book.  Everything else was sourced from toy boxes, office supplies I had, and the library.  (I also ordered a copy of the movie Spy Kids, which we received at the end of the week.) 

 The kids woke up to this, and they played for a good chunk of time.  I later found codes like these all over the house.

 On Tate's birthday, I gave the kids this:

I created a treasure hunt/spy mission with each clue paired with a puzzle activity.  (I had one for each kid that was age appropriate.)  Some of the activities were Tangoes, Hidden Pictures that I found online, Memory game (only a few cards to solve), message written in code from one of Tate's code books, fingerprinting, simple matching game with foam shapes.  The kids loved it, though Tate just wanted the clues, and was willing to do the activity afterwards.  At the end, I had his birthday presents hidden as the treasure.
(My parents did this for me once, and there was bubble gum ice cream at the end, hidden in the grill.  I still remember it fondly!)

Schwartz Summer Camp: Paint Relay

Last year, I had every week of summer planned out.  This year, I am moving, (which means that I don't have summer planned).   And I hate moving.  I am a Cancer Crab who likes to nest and be at home, and when that is disrupted, I freak out.  Like my parents' chihuahua mix Wendy.  Here is Wendy:

With no plan, I still had a few activities that I came up with for the day when I don't want the kids to be in front of the tv, and they are starting to get bored.  

So today....PAINTING RELAY!!! 

Set up four stations, Set the timer for 5 minutes, and rotate through.  (I also recommend starting 2 kids on #1 and #3, instead of #1 and #2 because if the 3 year old wants to linger, no one argues.)

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.