My Date with our Summer Jars.

It is time for my annual summer list .
You know the list that little man and I must complete before summer is over. We almost completed the list last year!

And this year I have made Summer Jars to help us get started.
I will be showing you how to make these lovelies next Tuesday on How Does She.  So, get excited.

Our Summer list?

Fly a kite

Dandelion blowing

Catching butterflies

Swimming

Sprinklers

Water fight

Camping in the backyard

Making a fort

Blow bubbles

Make sandcastle

Stare at the clouds

Picnic

Go to the Zoo

Go to the art Museum

Finger Paint

Sidewalk chalk

Scavenger Hunt

Bike Ride

Feed the birds

Roast marshmellos

Camping
Fishing

Rolling down a grassy hill

Walk the dog

Hopscotch

Bug catching

Pinterst craft

Paper airplane contest

Plant flowers

Learn to paint something new

Learn to draw something new

Scrapbook

Photo walk

Slip n Slide

Water balloon fight

5 dollars at dollar store
Water Park

Have a Happy unbirthday
Make Homemade Lemonade
Make homemade bread
Photo Walk
Downtown Walk
Farmers Market
Plant something
Italian Sodas
Go on a hike
Botanical Gardens
Ice Cream in Hyde Park
Snow Shack visit
Sew something
Play Horseshoe
Throw a football around
Frisbee
Summer vacation
McCall, ID
Service Project
Bon Fire
Soccer Game
Try a new park


Words from Cristi the Counselor:
 I can't stress enough as a counselor working with children how important it is to continue a routine in the summer. Too often children who seem to do well during the school year struggle in the summer due to a lack of structure and boredom.  I am not saying plan every waking moment- but plan activities that still keep your children challenged, learning, working, creating, playing, and exercising. Not only will they be that more prepared for the next grade but they won't come to you grumbling about being bored.

HowDoesShe.com has some great and FREE printables for a reading activity for your kiddos-  Check it out here- it made me wish Little Man was reading so we could get started on this fun game!

Some ideas to keeping kids engaged in a summer routine are:
-Plan ahead and create a daily schedule (see here for my visual schedule tutorial)
-Have a set time they wake up every morning- same with bedtime.
-Pay to play- work first and then play.
-Don't forget  to schedule special play time
-Hang a sign on your outside doorknob that tells neighborhood kids when your kids are and are not available to play.
-Limit TV time
-Create a Summer Jar (check out Howdoesshe.com tomorrow for tutorial)


Don't let this Summer get away from you!

Seize the day. 

I want to know what's on your Summer list?

Besitos

xo

First ever MUSIC MONDAY

All the way from New York- here is Bianca Merkley (my cute little sis) to show us something she does with the kiddos she works with as a music therapist.

That is all for today- we are off to make out shaker eggs! Thanks for the idea B! 

Besitos, xoxo

Get a little messy.

Today we woke up feeling like getting a little messy. So, out came the shaving cream... nothing is better than shaving cream because it's a quick and easy clean up.  Young kiddos are using all their senses to learn and explore their world and rubbing things through their fingers is part of it. So get MESSY!

Idea: spray some shaving cream on both sides of the window- then each of you take one side of the window and mimic whatever your child is doing! It promotes a lot of giggles and they love feeling watched and connected that way. 

Draw or write a love notr to each other as well. 

Great way to connect with one another. 

WARNING: this is SUPPOSED to be messy. Let go and allow it to happen. 

xoxo- besitos,

 

Side Walk Chalk

Monday afternoons are sluggish days for me... mostly because it's the day I am a counselor for part of the day and a mommy for the rest.  Today when I got home I was half tempted to turn on the "tv nanny" and curl up on the couch and take a little mommy nap.... But the summer is only here to stay for a few more months. So, I thought we'd go outside and cross something off our summer list. With not a lot of time to plan something extravagant today- we spent the afternoon creating art on our sidewalk. It was energizing! Summer is not Summer with out sidewalk chalk. 

 Ideas for chalk:

-Hangman

-Pictionary

-See who can wash away their drawing the fastest with a squirt gun

-Dip them in water to make chalk paste

-Write out a secret and spray it away with the hose

-Create a Mandala 
-Trace your body, hand or foot
-Write a love note for someone to find

xx- Cristi

Jar of Fun.

Kids getting bored this summer? I love this idea. I found it at 

The Dailly Digi here. 

Photos by Janet from The Daily Digi  

Photos by Janet from The Daily Digi

I am making one!

xx- Cristi

A Mother's Love Note

"A Mother's Love Note"

SOUL COLLAGE
1. Go through and rip or cut out any image, word or phrase that catches your attention and set it aside. 

2. Once you feel you have enough to fill your page, arrange them however you want.

3. Glue them on and add layer of Mod Podge over the top
4. Title it.

5.  Sit back and see what  your inner wisdom is telling you.

My favorite thing about this soul collage is the note in the lunch box to a child from her mother.
"Good luck on your math test today sweetheart! I know you will do great. After all the studying you've done. I'll be thinking of you." 

Awww. Take the time to write a love note just because to someone in your life. 

xx-Cristi

The final product...

We pulled out one big box, scissors, markers, paint and glue... 

 

...and then Vuala!

   Best day ever. 

xx- Cristi

There is more to a box than a box...

empty boxes= fun

A huge shipment of Proof inventory left our dining room full of Boxes... hmmm... check back tomorrow to see what we do with these lovelies.