Happy Valentine's Day

We did little interviews today - with the boys....  it was fun :)  We like to do these ...

Kaedyn's

 Noah's

 Nathan's

April Fools Day!!

So it was nice to do April Fools Day this year.  With Dennis being sick last year and all that - we didn't do it.  Actually - I think we were all literally sick last year cuz we had planned on doing it.

Of course having a bunch of kids with Sensory Processing Disorders ... LOL.... we ended up eating most of it ourselves.  Well I didn't - but Cal and Dennis did - and Kaedyn liked the "hamburgers" ...

The "Magic Drinks" or "Deviation Drinks" came off of Pinterest ...    But basically - you are suppose to paint some food coloring on the bottom of clear cups and let it dry (thin layer of food coloring) ... and then cover up the evidence with ice.  Well, our "food coloring" hadn't dried yet and when I put the ice cubes in you could see the food coloring on the bottom a bit.  So we tried to distract the kids from noticing and it worked pretty well....

 We called the kids over individually and they were all amazed - "How'd you do that?" and I'd just say ... "Magic" ...  LOL...   it was cute.

 Cal got a light green, Kaedyn the darker green, Noah the blue and Nathan the red (was supposed to be pink) ...  All the kids drank theirs except for Nathan, he avoids red foods and doesn't like 7-UP ... but he thought it was cool.   I thought there was a chance he *might* drink it since it was pink - but it came out more red... he called it red...

Divinations Class Drink (inspired by Harry Potter)

To create this activity, you'll need:

• clear cups (plastic or glass)
• food coloring
• ice
• clear liquid (we used 7-UP)
• a sign describing what each color predicts. (which we didn't do)

The process is simple.  Well ahead of when you want to do it, paint a smudge of food coloring (I used reg food coloring, and that may have been our mistake, it's suggested that you use Americolor gel food colorings) on the bottom of each cup and let dry.

When the time comes that you want to use it, fill a cup with some ice (to cover the smudge of food coloring) and place it in a child's outstretched hands.  Show them how to hold their hands out on front of themselves.  

It feels strange and mystical, and is the perfect misdirection to prevent them from having any chance of seeing the food coloring on the bottom of the cup.  I suppose you could use an opaque cup, but then the end result wouldn't be nearly as dramatic.

Have the child concentrate on her future, then add the clear liquid.

The wonder and delightment is the best part.... 

You can see the original recipe and pictures at Tradewind Tiara's Blog ....

Funny story with the "Cups of Dirt" ...  or "Dirt Cakes" ... Nathan wanted nothing to do with them, again, go figure.  Noah and Kaedyn were very convinced that they were - infact - cups of dirt.  Dennis did them, and he was supposed to use chocolate pudding, but he didn't think of that ... regardless I tried to hand Kaedyn a cup and asked him

"Do you want to try some dirt?"

He shook his head.

"But it's really good...." and I took the spoon I was holding and dipped it in the top of it... pulled some out ... mostly the "dirt" ...  "Are you sure you don't want to try some?"

He shakes his head followed by a "NO!"

"Are you sure?" and I pushed the spoon towards him.  I kept getting shaking of his head and no's ... so I said I would eat it and pushed the spoon towards my mouth and acted like I was scared to eat it.  Pushed it back towards him and asked "Are you sure you don't want to try it first?"   He shakes his head again.  "Should I try it first?"

"Yes, Momma" ...

I acted all hesitant and then ate it.  His eyes got super big ....  asked him again, and he still said No....  so I said "What if I told you it was cookie dirt and pudding?"

So after a little hesitation he tried it and was all NUM ... lol....  then he went around the rest of the night talking about cookie dirt.

Noah was watching the whole thing.... LOL.... he was shocked too but after Kaedyn was NUM ... he figured it was safe enough and ate some.

We found this recipe on All Recipes...

CUPS OF DIRT

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) package chocolate sandwich cookies
•  1/2 cup butter, melted
   2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
   3 cups milk
   1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
   1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  
  

Directions

Original recipe makes 1 - 9x13 inch pan

Using a blender or food processor, crush 2/3 of the cookies. Stir in the melted butter, then press into a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together instant pudding and milk. chill in freezer until thickened. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese into the pudding. Fold the dessert topping into the pudding mixture by hand.

Spread over the prepared crust. Crush the remaining cookies in the blender, and sprinkle over the top of the pudding layer. chill for at least 4 hours or until serving time.

Again ... if I had picked stuff up - I wouldn't have gotten gum drops with the sugar on the outside.... and I would have uses frosting or something do make the ketchup and mustard - or something...  and we didn't do the sesame seeds on top... nor did we "bake" them...

And again, this recipe was found on All Recipes ....

Ingredients

•  4 drops green food coloring
   1/2 teaspoon water
   1/4 cup flaked coconut
   48 vanilla wafers
   24 chocolate covered thin mints
   1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions

Original recipe makes 2 dozen

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. In a bowl, combine food coloring with a few drops of water. Add coconut and cover the container, shake until coconut is tinted. Set aside.
3. Place 1/2 of the vanilla wafers, flat side up, in an ungreased cookie sheet. Top each wafer with a peppermint patty. Place in the oven about 1 minute or just until chocolate begins to soften.
4. Remove cookies from oven and sprinkle each mint with 1/2 teaspoon coconut (for lettuce). Place another vanilla wafer on top and press gentle. With a clean paint brush, brush the top of each hamburger with just enough water to moisten so that the sesame seeds will stick when sprinkled on top of each cookie. NOTE: You can use canned chocolate frosting in place of peppermint patty, then eliminate the baking.

Happy Easter!

 We didn't do anything crazy with the eggs this year, perhaps next year :)   This year, we just let the kids do what they wanted :)

We had a fantastic Easter, hope all you did too!  We had some fun :)

I love my kissing bunnies :)

My boys :)

Interesting Egg Dying Fun

I'm come across some interesting "natural" ways to dye eggs ... and wanted to share....   some of these would make AWESOME experiments :)

Egg Dye Techniques included in this blog are: 

• Kool-Aid
• Tie-Dye
• Crayon
• Shaving Cream
• Natural Dye (just a graphic) 
• Natural Dye (from a blog) 
• Natural Dye w/ Better Homes & Garden
• Rit Dye Eggs
• Natural Dye (Poster) 
• Natural Dye w/ Martha Stewart 

This first one is how to dye eggs with Koolaid...  and the blog where I got it did their own experiment ...  so check it out!     The Kool Egg-periment ....  she got the recipe from this blog which has amazing photos :)   HEY! Jen Renee 

This is the recipe ....

Here you can find some directions on how to make tie-dye eggs without having to buy the kit which ends up getting super messy ....   Tie-Dye Easter Eggs with Ms Not So Perfect 

CRAYON EGGS
Here is a fun decorating tip ........  While the eggs are still warm (but not too hot) ... use crayons to color on the eggs, or decorate with crayon shavings.  The wax from the crayon well melt and stick to the egg.

SHAVING CREAM EGG DYE

1. Spread cheap white shaving cream in a cookie sheet

2. Apply drops of neon food coloring across surface

3. Use toothpicks to swirl colors around

4. Roll the dried, cooled hard boiled eggs in the colorful cream

5. Allow to set for 3-4 minutes on a paper plate

6. Wipe off shaving cream with paper toweling

7. Rinse!

Here is a blog with some other natural egg dying techniques ....
Just Short of Crazy

All-Natural Easter Egg Dye Recipes from Better Homes & Garden

Use these all-natural dye recipes made from household ingredients to create Easter eggs in beautifully subdued shades. Leave eggs soaking in the dye in the refrigerator overnight for the richest colors.

Bluish-Gray

Mix 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 cup water, bring to room temperature, and remove blueberries.

Blue

Cut 1/4 head of red cabbage into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Let cool to room temperature and remove cabbage with a slotted spoon.

Jade Green

Peel the skin from 6 red onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Green-Yellow

Peel the skin from 6 yellow apples. Simmer in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer 4 oz. chopped fennel tops in 1-1/2 cups of water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Orange

Take the skin of 6 yellow onions and simmer in 2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 3 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint Red-Orange

Stir 2 Tbsp. paprika into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Yellow

Rich yellow: Simmer 4 oz. chopped carrot tops in 1-1/2 cups water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Mustard-yellow: Stir 2 Tbsp. turmeric into 1 cup boiling water; add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Various shades: Steep 4 bags of chamomile or green tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes.

Pale yellow: Chop 4 oz. goldenrod and simmer in 2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Faint yellow: Simmer the peels of 6 oranges in 1-1/2 cups water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. vinegar.

Brown-Gold

Simmer 2 Tbsp. dill seed in 1 cup water for 15 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar.

Brown

Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup strong coffee.

Pink

Faint pink: Chop 4 oz. amaranth flowers and simmer in 2 cups water; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Simmer the skins from 6 avocados in 1-1/2 cup water for 20 minutes; strain. Add 2 tsp. white vinegar. Mix 1 cup pickled beet juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

Dark pink: Cut 1 medium beet into chunks and add to 4 cups boiling water. Stir in 2 Tbsp. vinegar and let cool to room temperature; remove beets.

Lavender

Mix 1 cup grape juice and 1 tablespoon vinegar.

DYEING EGGS WITH RIT DYE .... 

From Martha Stewart ....  

Martha Stewart Living, April 1998

The tradition of dyeing eggs goes back to medieval times when people made pace eggs to celebrate spring and Pasch, the original name given to Easter or Passover.

Your kitchen is full of natural dyes. Common food items such as red cabbage, onion skins, and coffee can be used to transform plain white eggs into colorful Easter gems. Kids will especially love discovering all the different colors they can create -- let them experiment using hard-boiled eggs and bowls of cold dyes.

TOOLS AND MATERIALSNatural
dyeing agents (red cabbage, turmeric, onion skins, beets, and coffee)
3-quart pot (or larger)
White vinegar
Strainer
Small bowls
Eggs
Large metal spoon
Paper towels
Drying rack

DYE RECIPES
Select a dyeing agent, and place it in the pot using the amount listed below. Add 1 quart water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar to pot; if more water is necessary to cover ingredients, proportionally increase the amount of vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower heat. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 30 minutes. Strain dye into a bowl.

Red-cabbage dye: 4 cups chopped cabbage
Turmeric dye: 3 tablespoons turmeric
Onion-skin dye: 4 cups onion skins (skins of about 12 onions)
Beet dye: 4 cups chopped beets
Coffee dye: 1 quart strong black coffee (instead of water) Cold-Dipping Method

COLD-DIPPING METHOD
With this method, the eggs and the ingredients for the dye are boiled separately. Using a metal spoon, lower cooled hard-boiled eggs into a bowl of cooled dye, and let them soak for as little as 5 seconds or as long as overnight, depending on the depth of color you desire. Remove eggs with spoon, pat dry with paper towels, and let dry on a wire rack. The cold-dipping method produces subtle, translucent shades, but can result in uneven coloring unless the eggs are rotated vigilantly while in the dye. For hollow eggs that will last indefinitely, cold-dip raw eggs, then blow them out after they are dyed.

BOILED METHOD
This method involves boiling the eggs with the dye; the heat allows the dye to saturate the shells, resulting in intense, more uniform color. Set raw eggs in a pot of strained dye; bring to a boil for the amount of time specified in our color glossary (see below). Remove and dry eggs as with the cold-dipping method.

FINISH (OPTIONAL)
Natural dyes tend to fade over time, so finish any eggs you plan to keep with a matte or gloss acrylic spray varnish. To create an egg-spraying stand, stick a 6-inch length of wire into a block of Styrofoam; prop a hollow egg onto the wire through one of its holes. Spray egg with a coat of varnish in a well-ventilated area, and let dry.

COLOR GLOSSARY
Natural dyes can sometimes produce unexpected results, so don't be surprised if, for example, your red-cabbage dye yields blue eggs. Use the following guide to help you achieve the colors you desire.
Deep Gold: Boil eggs in turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Sienna: Boil eggs in onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Dark, Rich Brown: Boil eggs in black coffee, 30 minutes.
Pale Yellow: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes.
Orange: Soak eggs in room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.
Light Brown: Soak eggs in room-temperature black coffee, 30 minutes.
Light Pink: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes.
Light Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 minutes.
Royal Blue: Soak eggs in room-temperature cabbage solution overnight.
Lavender: Soak eggs in room-temperature beet solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 30 seconds.
Chartreuse: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature cabbage solution, 5 seconds.
Salmon: Soak eggs in room-temperature turmeric solution, 30 minutes. Follow with room-temperature onion-skin solution, 30 minutes.

DO YOU KNOW?
The tradition of dyeing eggs goes back to medieval times when people made "pace" eggs  to celebrate spring and Pasch, the original name given to Easter or Passover.  

Halloween Crafts We Did

Here are a couple of the Halloween Crafts we did...

 We drew pumpkin type faces on cleaned out jars and put candles on them....

 We drew pumpkin type faces on milk containers and then cut holes in the back of them, and put lights in there ... we used white, but orange would be amazing...   we colored the caps black too...

Eyes in the bushes

 We took empty toilet paper rolls, cut "eyes" into them.  Put duct tape on one end, and when we were ready to use it... we activated glow sticks, stuck them in the middle and then covered the uncovered end with duct tape so that the glow sticks wouldn't emit light out of the ends ....  and put them in bushes - then it looked like eyes were looking at you from the bushes.. 

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to wish all the fantastic Daddy's out there a fabulous Father's Day ...

Hug your kids and be sure to say "I love you!"  After all  - if it weren't for them - you would just be honoring your dad! LOL

Happy Mother's Day!

Just wanted to wish all the Mommies a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!