Desperation Brownie

Several months back I read about these brownies in a mug in the Chicago Tribune. I thought it would be fun to try them, but never got around to it. Well last night I had a taste for chocolate but didn't feel like putting any real effort into baking, then I remembered the recipe and was happy to find it online!

Let me tell you this is dangerous - to be able to make yourself an individual brownie with staple ingredients in under 5 minutes?! I wonder how many you'd have to eat to gain 5 pounds?! I'm renaming them desperation brownies because I feel it is a more fitting name.

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

Dash of salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons water

¼ teaspoon vanilla

Whisk dry ingredients together in a large coffee mug. Add liquid ingredients and mix well.
Microwave on high approximately 1 min. Middle should not quite set up. Beware I think I overcooked mine a tiny bit at 1 min. Still tasty though!

This could be a fun baking activity for elementary age kids to master on their own!

Off Season Zoo

My husband recently started a new job that affords us the luxury of actually having a couple of Saturdays each month to spend as a family! This past weekend we had the whole weekend to spend together and decided last minute to visit Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. We had a wonderful time and let me tell you, visiting the zoo off season is a great idea! It was a gorgeous fall day and this major zoo was practically empty during the morning!

Keep it in mind for a fun fall activity. But don't forget to check your zoo's hours, because it is about this time of year that most zoos cut back a bit on their schedules!

Good Ol' Crayola Crayons

Did you know that Crayola has over 1000 coloring pages ready to print on their website?

Also have you heard that crayons have even become a bit more high-tech? Most kids apparently use "twistables!" I have to say that they look pretty cool. Good bye to those shoe boxes filled with broken crayons!

Reminder

Just a reminder to go sign up for your local library's summer reading program! Sign your kids up and don't forget to check out the adult summer reading programs as well.

Also check out Barnes and Noble for their summer program. Kids in elementary school can earn a free book!

Fun and Frugal Craft

Here's a fun and frugal craft for kids or moms to work on this summer - make your own greeting cards!

The idea is simple, just find some pictures you like in old magazines. Cut them out nicely and then attach to card stock. Use can use glue to attach or it is even easier to use photo adhesive that you would use for scrapbooking. You can also make your own envelopes to go with the card or if you are like me, maybe you have a stash of unused wedding invitation envelopes, just waiting to be used! I first heard about this idea at The Homespun Heart - thanks to Monica! Check out her example for tips on making your own envelopes.

Visit Biblical Womanhood for more frugal ideas!

Mom..I'm bored

Before you start hearing "Mom...I'm bored" this summer, take a little time to plan some special activities to keep the kids going throughout the summer!

Here's an idea for those of you feeling particularly ambitious!

PLAN SUMMER CAMP AT HOME!

Some of my favorite summer memories from when I was a kid consist of my family's camps that were held at home. This included themed camps with lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends. To get you started here are a couple ideas!

1. Pick a theme - we had Olympic camp and Gym camp.

2. Plan a schedule for each day you will hold camp.
Camp could be every morning for a week, one day each week for a month, or all day every day for a few days including camping in the back yard! Have plenty of activities set for each time slot and rotate kids through them at set times.

3. Ask for help
Adult friends and relatives or older kids and teens can help you by teaching arts and crafts, gymnastics, archery, music or whatever their special talent might be.

4. Include plenty of fun activities like scavenger hunts, games, making smores by the fire, etc.

5. Have a special closing ceremony for your camp where kids perform or show of something they have created during camp and receive a special prize!
Hint - Special prize idea can be a washer on a ribbon medal of accomplishment.

It worked for us!

Touch a Truck Day

Today our town hosted Touch a Truck Day! We had a blast looking at and climbing on all sorts of trucks and construction equipment! Highlites included the firetruck, police car, crane, and the post office truck! A free slushie helped this sore momma keep on truckin' herself. I'm seriously sore from a cough! Is that pathetic or what? I totally regretted not bringing the stroller once it was time to head back to the car! A 5 minute walk seemed to drag on for eternity.

So if your town doesn't host Touch a Truck Day or something similar perhaps you know the mail man, fireman, a farmer, or someone with a construction job. Do a little searching and you may find a willing volunteer to host Touch a Truck Day for your kids!



Here's Luke exploring some construction equipment.

Homemade Bubble Mixes

Simple Bubble Mix:
1/4 cup Joy brand dish washing detergent (other brands don't work as well)
1/2 cup water
a few drops of food coloring
1 tsp sugar

Mix together and put into a container with a lid. Let the mixture age for 2-3 days before using.


Gooey Bubble Mix:
1 cup Joy brand dish washing detergent (other brands don't work as well)
3 cups water
6 tablespoons light corn syrup

Mix together and let sit for a few hours before using. This mixture is best for toddlers and for making huge bubbles because it stays together better. It does make the ground more slippery where bubbles pop though!

Recipes from Beginning Fun With Water & Bubbles - A Totline Beginning Science Book

Gardening with Kids

Well if you are anything like me you have started dreaming of spending time in your garden already! Spring is just around the corner and I can't wait to put some plants in the ground!

I love a well cared for garden of just about any variety...flowers, herbs, vegetables, anything will please me! I think my love for gardening started as a kid. My Grandma lived next door and had my sister and I come over just about every day and help her water her flower beds. Oh my, was it a lot of work - but there was always a special treat waiting after the work was done! Often it was ice cream ,which is just what a kid needs after working in the late afternoon on a summer day! I also remember getting to plant my own little bit of a garden for 4-H which was also fun. I think I planted zinnias if I remember correctly!

Here are a few tips for getting your children to enjoy gardening:

- Give them their own small section of the garden to plant and take care of.

- Have them assist you but do not pressure them too much if they are young. If they are more interested in catching bugs than pulling weeds let them catch some bugs!

- Try planting a themed garden (certain colors, tall plants, wizard of oz theme, etc.)

- Have fun in the garden yourself - it will be contagious!

Check out Gardening with Kids for more great ideas!

The Junior Opera

I read this idea in Around Chicago With Kids and wanted to share!

"During a designated period of time, have your kids sing everything they want to say." This sounds like a fun way to pass a little time! Maybe you'll find out you have a budding opera star on your hands!

Our Favorite Things

Recently I started reading The Chronicles of Narnia! Let me tell you this is a great series to read to your kids or just to read for yourself! I had never actually read the books before but am speeding through them now! I think these books would be great for elementary aged students. I actually bought these books for my husband a few years ago as a gift!

The Chronicles of Narnia was written by C.S. Lewis and have recently gotten more publicity thanks to the new movies. The books would be enjoyed by Christians or non Christians alike, though the author does play off of some Christian ideas. These would be excellent discussion points for older elementary children or even older students. If you haven't read these books I suggest you give them a chance soon!

Make your own Chia Pet

I found this idea to make your own chia pet from Play with a Purpose, by Dorothy Einon. I was so tempted to try it but will need to acquire some grass seed or something for sprouting first! It brought back fond memories of having my own little chia pet when I was young. Am I the only one who had one?! If I get around to it I will show you a picture for sure!

Instructions - Find a large, smooth potato and scoop some of the pulp out from one end. Cut a slice from the other end so it will stand upright on it's own. If you are doing this with a small child you may need to do this part yourself.

Next you will moisten a cotton ball and place it in the scooped out section of the potato. Sprinkle with grass or beans for sprouting.

Make sure you place your potato in a saucer with water! The cotton ball needs to stay moist. After a few days your potato should sprout some cool green hair! Your child or you can then place buttons, etc. onto the potato using pins to make a face!

A recipe for homemade playdough

Homemade Playdough
- From Play with a Purpose by Dorothy Einon

2 cups flour
one cup salt
one cup water with food color added
2 tbsp oil

- Knead ingredients together and warm gently in a pan until it forms a soft lump. Give to toddler or child to play with while still warm. Older children can be given cookie cutters, rolling pins, bottle tops, blunt knives, etc. to have tools to work with.

Benefits of playing with playdough for kids include learning how things change weight and shape when pulled, pushed or torn. Also teaches kids how to build different shapes.

Added bonuses include teaching a small child how to play quietly for a period of time!

Bible Games

About a week ago I mentioned that I would share some more Bible themed games with you! I have not forgotten, I just got sidetracked with other things! Here is one more game that originally came from Family Time Training. This game was shared in the highly recommended book, God's Grand Vision for the Home.

- Quicksand

Dad stands at the top of the stairs while kids stand at the bottom of the stairs. Dad will ask kids if they know what quicksand is. Once the concept of quicksand is explained the fun begins! Dad then tells kids that they are standing on quicksand and only have 5 minutes to figure out how to get out! The only safe place is the top of the stairs where Dad is standing. It is their goal to get to the top of the stairs but they have to follow the rules! The rules are that they can not touch the stairs and they can not touch the railing on the stairs.

The idea here is that a child will figure out to ask his Dad to come get him at the bottom of the stairs! Then Dad can explain to the children that there was only one way out of that quicksand, to ask Dad to come down the stairs to take them to safety. Next Dad can take the time to relate this to how there is only one way for any of us to be saved and go to heaven, to trust in Jesus and ask him to rescue us!

Pen Pals for Kids

I never had an official pen pal growing up as a kid but I do remember thinking it would be really exciting! Somehow opening up a letter addressed just to you is one of the most exciting things for children. In fact, opening up a handwritten letter is still a real treat for me at age 26! So let's discuss the benefits and how to go about setting up a pen pal for your child.

There are several benefits of a child having a pen pal. Having a person to write regular letters to will help your child improve their writing skills in a fun way. Even if you are not proof reading their letters, they will still improve by just practicing writing. They will learn how to express their thoughts in written form which is an important skill to learn! You will also be given the opportunity to teach your child about how the post office works, how to address envelopes properly, how to buy stamps, and much more. In the best case scenario your child may form a close friend for life!

Now to the how-to information! If I had a child interested in a pen-pal I would personally find someone they could write to. I'm sure that there are probably several reputable sites online that could assist you in this, but I do not know of any and would use extreme caution for safety purposes. I would be much more comfortable with asking friends or family who live out of state or country if they know a child around the same age who would like a pen pal. After a few requests I'm sure a pen pal will turn up! A pen pal does not have to be a perfect stranger either. Perhaps your child has a cousin or old friend who has moved away. This could be the perfect pen pal for them! Do a little creative thinking and one will turn up. Another option is a far away Grandma or Grandpa. These letters will be cherished for years to come! One more option to consider is joining a sponsor a child program like Compassion International. These programs encourage letter writing and the child you sponsor will write you letters at set times each year.

Once you find an appropriate pen pal I suggest you talk to your child about what they would like to know about their pen pal and help them form some questions to ask in their first letter. Once the letters start being exchanged suggest a few options such as enclosing stickers, a picture, or even mailing a special package for a birthday surprise! You will probably never have to go to the mailbox again because your child will be there before you, waiting for the next letter!

Games for Teaching Bible Lessons

While reading God's Grand Vision for the Home I stumbled across a few wonderful ideas for games that were presented by Family Time Training. Over the next few days I will share some of them with you. These games each have a clear purpose in teaching your children a truth about God.

Running the Race for God

Set up a race course outside your home and have your stopwatch ready. Give each child one or two chances to run the race as fast as they can while timing them. Record the best time for each child. Now the real fun begins! Bring out a box of winter clothing and have each child put several layers on! Now have each child run the racecourse again and record the time. Naturally it will take them longer to run a racecourse wearing snow pants and boots! Take out a Bible and read Hebrews 12:1-2 to the group.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles , and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus , the author and perfecter of our faith.

Now take the time to explain to the children that the heavy winter clothes are like the sin that slows us on our course. Tell the children that God has a course for their lives and that by concentrating on Jesus, they will be able to run the race well!

Party Games for Kids!

For elementary age kids here is a good list of games to choose from provided by the University of Illinois Extension. These would be great for parties or just to add a little excitement to the day!