Space snacks

 For astronomy we had an experiment to make edible rovers. That's my kind of experiment.

My mom came home one day from the gym, and she had bought graham crackers, Oreos, and frosting. She never buys these things. We then had the task of frosting 2 graham crackers together, then waiting for it to dry. Then there was putting the wheels (Oreos) on our "rovers" and decorating. We already had many different types of candy, so Mom didn't need to buy any decorations. Only one of my wheels stayed attached to the graham crackers, the rest fell. My satellite fell over and even my chair backrest wouldn't stay upright. So I made the excuse my rover was destroyed by martians. My siblings' rovers all turn out how they had wanted them. I was happier with what I had. Have you ever heard someone say something is too perfect to eat? I could eat my rover without any guilt.  

  

My karate brother

 Recently R2 has been wanting to do karate like me. One day I told him I could teach him and he agreed. I had no idea what I was in for.

 I started him out with doing some stretches when I discovered he couldn't do jumping jacks. We spent the rest of the day working on them.
 The next day he didn't want to do 10 jumping jacks.  Things went on like this for a while.

It was about a month later when my mom offered to take him to my instructor, Master Hill. I could help Read at home. It sounded fine to me, so he borrowed my old white belt and tested out a class.

 One day he told me his favorite part of class was running after stretches.
 At the dinner table a week later, Mom suggested why doesn't Read wait until he was older, so he could enjoy it and he agreed. So I'm back to by myself. But I really don't mind.

Johnson City Science Mill

I totally recommend this children's museum. True, it does not look like much from the outside, but you should give it a chance. After you create a digital robot avatar-which will teach you about certain things in the museum- You just need to start exploring. There is a model of Romanesco Broccoli (Which you can see Read with in this picture), Animated Texas animals, which you can control, Makey Makey, and much more than I can explain or remember.

homemade C-mas: woodblock picture frames

This is my favorite gift I gave, I wish I could take credit for it, but I copied it from a gift Anna gave me a few Christmases back.  I purchased a 2x8 piece of lumber, it was not as high of a grade as I used for the grandmother's wall hangings.  Ben cut the boards into 7" squares (confusion alert: why is it a 2x8, if it is only seven inches wide?)

We then painted the blocks a chocolate brown and roughed up the edges to give them an antique look.  I modge podged scrapbook paper cut into 6 3/4" squares. To do this, put a very thin layer of modge podge on the front of your woodblock, then adhere the paper square.  When it is dry add another very thin layer of modge podge.  It is key to use very little adhesive or your paper will bubble up.  

I purchased magnetic bulldog binder clips  from Office Depot and removed the magnet.  You can hot glue your binder clip, but Ben screwed my into the wood to make it last longer and so the binder would lay flat.  

I added embellishments including clear scrapbook stickers with words like miracles, Believe and Cherish.  As I asking the clerk to cut my "stringy stuff" (as described by Ben) that I found in the upholstery aisle, I noticed two coordinating pieces of Tiffany blue paisley and chevron remnants that I had her cut into 1/4 yards for me.  I cut the remnants into 1 1/2" strips and then tied the two pieces together with a small knot.  I hot glued the upholstery embellishments across the top and then hot glued the knotted fabric bow to the top.  

I loved how they turned out.  I plan to make myself a set of four to hang on the wall to easily change out pictures of my kiddos.  I may have to stash a few in my gift closet for future birthday gifts.  

homemade C-mas: Grandparent's sign

Ben made this sign for Gigi, Granny and Mimi for their C-mas presents.  I purchased a 1x10 piece of pine and Ben cut it into three equal sections of 32 inches each.  He then sanded, painted the wood with an acrylic paint, and went back and beveled the edges and roughed up the paint to give it an antique look.
I purchased the black decal at Hobby Lobby when their wall decals were half-priced.
I decorated miniature clothespins by adding tiny buttons with my glue gun.  I then attached the clothespins eight inches apart, leaving two inches outside the two outer clothes pins.  I think they turned out better than I had even imagined.

homemade C-mas: marshmallow shooters

This Christmas I tried to go as homemade as I could with our gifts.  One, our birthday gift budget cut into our C-mas budget this year with all of the parties my socialites were invited too.  Two, with the addition of pinterest into our lives I was feeling more domesticated and three, the hustle and bustle of Christmas has my stomach turning this year and I just wanted it to mean more.  I hope everyone enjoyed their gifts b/c they are things I would have enjoyed.
First up on the list were the kids' gifts.  We made marshmallow shooters for the cousins.  Pink for the girls and blue for the boys.  Ben and I enjoyed them so much after we made them for our nephews, we knew we had to make them for the girls too.  So, our kiddos and the nieces got one too.
For a ten feet piece of 1/2" PVC pipe was $1.68, and we could get 4 guns out of a pipe.  The stoppers were 38 cents each and each gun needed two.  The T-connectors and the L-connectors came in packages of ten each and they were $2.58.  Can of spray paint was $3.58.  So for $2.40 a piece we made each kiddo a gun, add in a package of $1.50 miniature marshmallows and instant fun!

To make your own gun, you will first need to cut your PVC into 6 equal pieces of four inches and then one six inch section.  The six inch section is for the barrel of the gun.  Add your connectors according to the picture, load your mini marshmallow and AIM.  Happy Shooting.

I won!!

My crazy, caffeine-addicted, blogging Mama Friend, Jessica has nominated me for a blogging award.  I am very honored, Jessica.  Thank you.
And since I am too pregnant to entertain myself or children, on maternity leave and not sure what to do with myself, and b/c I like reality-blogging I present you: My version of the Liebster Blog Awards.
So here is the most recent Rules of the Liebster Award:

1. Post 11 Random facts about yourself.

1. favorite snack- stove-popped popcorn with m and m's
2. favorite color - yellow, my Paw-Paw had a yellow coat and every time I see yellow I think of him.
3. favorite city- New York for the sights, New Orleans for the food
4. favorite food- Pappadeauxs's fondeaux
5. favorite flower - Gerber daisy
6. favorite verse - Phillipians 4:13
7. favorite book of the Bible - James
8. favorite musician - David Crowder Band
9. favorite book - Same Kind of Different as Me
10. favorite tv show - Downton Abby
11. favorite movie - French Kiss or Princess Bride

2. Choose 11 deserving bloggers and tag them in your post - (it used to be 3-5), really 11? Do I even know 11 people who still blog, everyone facebooks now.  So, in no particular order. Most of these are my favorite friends and stories of their families.  A couple of you need to get back to blogging.

1. Erica -  http://haphazardhappenstances.blogspot.com/
2. Anna -  http://journeywiththejenks.blogspot.com/
3. Pam -  http://livinglifeonelaughatatime.blogspot.com/
4. Sandra - http://sandrachesterman.blogspot.com/
5. Mel and Diane -  http://xaixai.celebrationchurchtx.com/
6. Lindsay -  http://www.awareofafrica.blogspot.com/
7. Jodi -  http://jjthe1st.blogspot.com/
8. Cari -  http://mothersmemoirs.blogspot.com/
9. Marissa -  http://walkinginaboundinggrace.blogspot.com/
10. Natalie -  http://gumplgang.blogspot.com/
11. Shileen -  http://princessshileensblog.blogspot.com/

3. Tell them you've tagged them
4. Answer 11 questions the tagger has asked you and give 11 questions to the people you've tagged.
5. No tag backs.

1. Coffee or Tea? sweet tea, the drink of the south
2. Most embarrassing moment? having my underwear and bra fall out of my gym bag onto a police officer's feet while I was looking for my wallet (was pulled over b/c my lights were off)
3. Last time you cleaned your toilet. Monday, yes as in 2 days ago
4. One thing you really have a passion for. Children of Africa
5. Favorite decade and why. 80's, the music and movies of course
6. How long have you been blogging? 5 years
7. When you blow your nose, do you look at the tissue after? Really, Jessica? yes when I am sick I do, but I think that is the only time I catch myself doing it.  
8. Low fat or sugar free? neither
9. favorite techy thingy you have? my phone
10. If you have a Chick-fila sandwich in one hand and a Starbucks in the other, does it cancel out the stupid drama?  I don't drink coffee and I prefer CFA tea, so wouldn't know.
11. Do you read my blog? yes.

11 Questions for you: same as above

yearbook yourself

Marcus and Anna did this a few months back and it is making its rounds around Facebook again. I had to try it. Ben has a face for the ages. I cannot figure out if he is Colonel Sanders of Vince Young in the first pic.