3-2-1...Blastoff!!!

We are leaving for our semi- annual trip to Baja soon.  The boys just love this place.  It is paradise for them.  They run up and down the beach, swim, fish, eat fish tacos, build sandcastles and sand tracks for their cars; we really have to drag them away.

One of the things they always look forward to is shooting off rockets. This is my younger son's rocket.  He wanted lots of color so he could find it in the bushes. Smart boy.

My older son, of course, picks the really big rocket.  Complete with animal graphics.  But that wasn't good enough.  He had to have me paint teeth and eyes on the side too.  "Now it looks like a tiger", he says.

So now with their rockets ready, they are all set to go.  They can't wait!

Children's Museum of Phoenix

The other day I decided to take my boys to the Children's Museum here in Phoenix.  They just opened up their new climber and the boys have been waiting months to climb on this thing. Well, let me tell you, it is quite the contraption.  Multi levels of climbing tubes, hanging sculptures and even a bathtub with angel wings suspended in mid air. 

This exhibit is sure to be on their list of favorites.  The others include the Noodle Forest, PVC racecars, and these tubes that are filled with forced air and spit out silk scarves.


It is PURE craziness in this place.  A wonderful learning experience filled with an array of noises, textures and visual overdrive.  A place where children carry around large styrofoam ice cream cones and pretend to eat them.  And where stuffed tarantulas ride a conveyor belt only to be flung halfway across the room by a rotating fan.  By the way, you can only discover this spectacle if you go through the Noodle Forest, which houses the best over-sized leather chair to watch people duck tarantulas and play in the noodles.  The noodles make the best environment for Hide n' Seek.  


If you live in the area or ever visit, be sure to put this on your list.It is sure to be a hit with kids of ALL ages.

New Line of Kids Art

When I had my kids, it seemed all art decor revolved around art decor that was a bit "babyish".  Granted I did have babies, but I needed something they could grow into and fortunately for me, I know how to draw.  But for those who don't have any artistic talent (so they claim), I have a line in my Etsy store that is just great for the kids rooms.  They are fun and colorful.  The originals done in soft pastels, which offer vivid colors with a very "soft" look.

I have also extended the line to include thank you cards and return labels, perfect for birthday parties. Check out the complete line on my Etsy shop.  More products are added every day.

Etsy Shop

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups

Recipe courtesy of DisneyFamily.com- 2010

Fruit rolls are a big 'kid favorite' and very easy to pop into lunches or backpacks for kids on the go. These rolls are 100% fruit with no sugar or artificial anything added. They're also cheaper than their boxed counterparts, coming in at just 17 cents each. If you don't want to roll them, the fruit leather is just as good cut into squares or other shapes.

Hands-On Time: 10 minutes
Ready In: 8 hours and 40 minutes
Yield: 12 roll-ups
Cost Per Serving: $0.17

Ingredients

8 ounces dried apricots or other dried fruit1 1/2 cups water

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
2. Line a 12x15 inch baking sheet with aluminum foil; coat foil with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Combine apricots or other dried fruit with water in a heavy saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes or until fruit is very soft.
4. Drain excess liquid and pour fruit into a blender. Puree until very smooth.
5. Pour fruit onto prepared foil and spread evenly, making sure there are no holes.
6. Place sheet into oven for 25 minutes. Without opening oven, turn heat off and leave oven door shut for 8 hours.
7. Remove baking sheet from oven and gently peel fruit from foil. Set on waxed paper, right-side down, and press down.
8. Cut into 12 even strips, lengthwise. Roll each strip with the paper side out and store in plastic bags until ready to eat.

Ian's Army Rocket

Ian, my 6 year, drew this picture at school the other day.  Ian is not one to sit and color, or create pictures and will sometimes complain about art lessons.   He consistently comes home with schoolwork that he has barely colored.  NOT, something an artist mom likes to deal with.  However, every once in a great while, he sits for a period of time and creates something really cool.  In fact, when he brought this home, I thought it was accidentally stuck in his folder from some other kid that made the drawing.

I thought I'd share this piece because it was an interesting picture depicting an "army rocket", as he called it, taking off.  He wanted to show action so he drew a little piece above the rocket.  Very clever.  I asked him why he chose to have it raining and he simply said, "it was a gloomy day".  Yet the sun is coming out in the corner, shining it's rays.

I am a happy mom to display one of his art pieces.  Where the inspiration came from I may never know.  It could be that he has a cousin in the army in Afghanistan, it could be that he was in the pretend rocketship at school.  It could be just a boy's imagination.