A look back at our week that started busy and ended slow, but with a sick kid and a migraine for me:
It was too cold to go outside to play, so I brought snow inside. The kids were slightly confused (one didn't want to play with it at all, a couple of kids were confused as to why they couldn't play IN the water table in the snow, and others just wanted to eat it) but had a great time when I brought out the Snow Markers.Snow Markers. I purchased these on clearance at Target (regularly $4 per bottle, but I scored them for only .90 per bottle) and they were well worth it! The floor got a little messy, as did some clothes, but the colors washed of and out of everything with ease.
Monday night was "Dr. Seuss's birthday party" as the boys called it. Grandma and Grandpa took them to Merle Hay Mall, where Aunt Jenny was helping out. They got to color, do a book walk, play games, and came home with some super cool prizes and books. The boys had a blast and are still talking about it a week later.
The kids had a blast building with the foam blocks. They built car ramps, train tracks, houses, bridges, and even created a game with them. Things got a little rough when they discovered these were perfect for a "pillow fight."
Marshmallow Rainbow Pudding Painting (see "St. Patrick's Day Activities for Kids" post for details).
The results of using the much loved Dot markers on their paper shamrocks.
The results of a favorite new paint: glue, shaving cream, and food coloring.
Jumping beans! These aren't as good as Mexican jumping beans, but the kids had fun getting them to move around. After some experimentation, we found out they move well in a glass pie pan that the kids had to tilt from side to side every so often to keep them jumping. The kids really enjoyed that the beans make noise when you shake them.The kids happily crowded around the too small TV until we get our new one. Oddly, the kids have yet to complain about the size of the TV.
The kids tried out face painting on each other. There were some interesting designs on faces, but the kids loved looking at themselves in the mirror afterwards.
Watercolor spin art. I used water, food coloring, and medicine droppers to put the watercolors on the paper as it was spinning. I was hoping for a better turn out, but the blue was the only color that really popped out. The rest you could barely see. The kids loved this activity because I let them "shoot the water."
The kids tried Astronaut food with their afternoon snack. These were freeze dried strawberries.....none of the kids liked them, but they did have fun pretending to be astronauts.
The St. Patrick's Day "sand." At least this is a super easy clean up because it does get messy!
We did all things St. Patrick's: rainbow fruit pizza, green applesauce, Lucky Charms, and green pasta.
St. Patrick's Day stickers (found at Michael's and Dollar Tree).
Another sensory snack: broccoli, peppers, asparagus, and green applesauce.
Thursday night we took the kids for milkshakes in their jammies. The boys pointed out the bright moon and stars as we left.
She goes from prissy girl to wild wrestling in seconds.
Friday morning began bright and early at 4:30 a.m. with a sick mini (he told the story of how he "threw up in bed" all weekend to anyone who would listen). He got to stay home from school and watch movies, all with his puke bowl nearby. Luckily, it was a quick bug that was gone in a few hours.The kids made kites (poster board with a piece of yarn taped to the back for the kite string). The kids were sorely disappointed that these did not actually fly in the living room.
The hugely popular St. Patty's game "Find the Pot of Gold." The kids took turns guessing which cup the pot of gold was under.
A 4:30 a.m. wake up call means lack of sleep for me which then means a massive migraine later that afternoon. The two minis who did not nap happily cuddled me though.
Ending the night with shaving cream paints in the bath.
Only one more week until spring break is here! Until then, we'll be keeping busy with St. Patrick's Day activities and playing outside while the temps are allowing it!