Huh?

Have you ever found yourself saying something, and then thinking, "Never in a million years would I think that would come out of my mouth"? Yup, had one of those moments last night.

Coming home from Wednesday night church, the boys were pretty wound up. Aaron had been playing running games and Noah had made a craft using the Ten Commandments on a piece of paper, like a scroll.

So, as my two rambunctious boys were getting very wild in the car, a swatting match ensued, using the "scroll" as a "weapon". Even though it was playful, I don't like those kind of games, especially in the car.

So here's the quote of the night...

"AARON, STOP HITTING YOUR BROTHER WITH GOD'S WORD!"

Wordless Wednesday #20 Forget Waldo...

Where's Mommy?

Thank you, Dear Husband...

for bringing home a 6 foot stand up cardboard of superman from an advertising campaign a year ago

and then telling the kids that MOMMY will do a CRAFT with it!?!


I have now been nagged for a week about when we are going to do a craft with the Superman.

Any ideas?

Goop!

What a strange weekend it was. Every day we had hot, muggy weather and severe weather risks. Each evening we had storms that were severe somewhere around us, but thankfully we dodged them. As I write this, another batch is on the way.

We had planned to go to Festival of the Arts downtown, but each time we started, the skies began darkening. So what do you do when it's hot and muggy out but you can't go anywhere because of impending storms?

Well, if you are the mother of two little boys who like science "experiments", you make goop.

If you have never made goop, you really are missing out on something. It's is very hard to explain for those of you who have not experienced it.

Basically, it is a concoction that looks like a liquid oozing everywhere, but if you squeeze, push, or move it, it turns into a powder like substance. It's actually really fun to play with. It is made with cornstarch and a small amount of water. There really is no recipe, just put cornstarch in and add a little water at a time until you get the consistency you want. You kind of have to experiment with it until you get good at making it.

I started by making a batch for each of the boys. They wanted to stir for themselves. Of course, in order to play in goop, the shirts MUST come off.














Noah picked pink color for his. (Of course, remember the cast?)



















Aaron picked yellow.



















Noah often plays with cars in the goop, but this time, poor Spider Man got "gooped".














After Aaron got bored, we added the yellow to Noah's pink and he had a large amount of orange nastiness to play with. Spiderman lost interest and it became more fun to see how far up one's arm you can put goop before mom stops you.














As I've mentioned before, wherever Noah is, there Minnie will also be. To her dismay, this included in the destructive path and she ended up pretty covered in cornstarch.














It will take three days before our table is washed enough times for all of the powder to be gone, but the remnants are visions of another successful summer concoction.

I encourage you to try this with your kids and come back and tell me how it went. OR, if you have done it, please tell me other ideas your kids have done to play in it.

Playtime with Mom and Dad

I spend every day, all day with the boys. Steve spends all evening, every evening with the boys. It's the best schedule for our family. Sometimes we both find it hard to do creative things that keep the boys amused and getting along. I am already worried about the boys being together too much and it is still only the first week of vacation. The bickering set in a little today.

Nevertheless, both Daddy and I found creative attention grabbers this week.

I came home from work the other night to find this in the living room:














Daddy and boys made a fort and watched television and even ate dinner in their creation. The boys have been asking every day since for me to make them a fort. I explained to them that it is a "daddy thing". They're okay with that.














I found a fun book at the library, "Kid Concoctions." How fun are these? Our first one didn't turn out too well so we resorted to making the cupcakes that I never got for my birthday. I actually let the boys do a lot more than usual. I let them put the cups in...














use the mixer...














spoon the batter...














lick the spoons (yes, I know you're not supposed to)...














and even do some of the frosting.














This was actually a big step for me. I tend to be a bit of a control freak about things like that. I don't know who was more proud when it was done, the boys for helping so much, or me for letting them do it. Either way, the first thing the boys asked this morning, "What concoction will we make today?"

Happy Friday.

WW# 18 How Do I Feel About the Election Process At The Moment?

Look closely at the faces

This Is SO Me

This was today's For Better Or For Worse Comic. Steve actually stopped me to read it because it is me way too often. It is kind of funny when art imitates life.



Double Click on it to read the captions more clearly








Does anyone else ever feel this way?

Mind Boggling

Steve found this test at work the other day and decided to send it to me. Let me know how you did.

Have a fun Friday.

Happy Leap Day!

This morning while I was listening to the news, I heard a news reporter refer to Leap Day as a "kind of a goofy day". I thought that was kind of strange for a reporter to use that term to describe this particular day.

However, I was lying in bed waiting for the boys to come down and thinking about what to post. Then I heard this person make the statement. Then it came to me. If today is a "goofy" day, then there is no better day to share some "goofy" pictures that would probably never be posted at any other time. Enjoy!

"Too Loud"
Aaron's reaction to the 17 year Cicadas outside Chicago last year. It really was deafening!



















Noah showing off the hat he made at the New Year's Party at the Children's Museum



















Aaron sharing a little too much love to his cousin Kira on the swing



















Noah dancing/flying during musical chairs at school















I don't know what Aaron is thinking in this picture, but I love the body language and facial expression



















This is Noah's latest answer to "say cheese"



















This is very much my boys' personalities today....Noah goofing around and Aaron watching everything he does















Noah's vampire teeth that he won at Chuck E Cheese



















Aaron's cool shades



















Noah being silly after swimming lessons with Abby and Hannah, daughters of Deb Mom of 3 Girls

















And lastly, please feel free to make up your own caption...I can't think of the words :)























Have a great Friday!