Groundhog Day; Shadow Games in the Street, and a Treat! – Homeschooling

February 2, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

Happy Groundhog Day!

First of all, we have been meaning to express our appreciation for the commenting that’s been happening here at our blog, FINALLY!! Who knew a little whining could go such a long way?? I mean, it doesn’t work for our kids, so we’ve been a little surprised. lol. All we know is that we are having a lot more fun, sharing bits and pieces of our crazy fun life on our blog here, and getting to chat a little bit with all of you who come to ‘visit’ us. You all have had so much to share with us, with your own creative ideas, witty humor and kind, encouraging words. We love it!! So a heartfelt thanks to you all!

Today we thought we would actually share our day, on the same day it all happened. That usually doesn’t happen, because I have too many photos to go through and edit, which takes time, and just blogging it takes another chunk of time. But it’s nothing a little work-hooky can’t fix. lol. I was at my computer by late afternoon, as I needed to be. But just not doing what I was supposed to be doing. But it’s been a fun day we were looking forward to blogging about.

The kids got all of their ‘book and written’ school work done lickity-split today, knowing we had Groundhog Fun on the agenda! First, we got to searching on the computer, if Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania there, saw his shadow or not. As you all know by now, NATURALLY he DID. It’s hard to remember a year when he didn’t, but it seems it has happened twice in the lifetime of our oldest child’s life, in 1999, and 2007. (Does anyone remember if we actually DID get an early spring??) But it’s been a great winter, so Phil’s shadow wasn’t going to ruin OUR day! Besides, we have our wood stove! lol. So we then read a little of the history of Groundhog Day, which like every holiday, has much more to it than people in general realize (or care to know, in some cases, I suppose. lol) But we can tell you that the groundhog tradition stems from similar beliefs associated with Candlemas Day, and the days of early Christians in Europe. For centuries the custom was to have the clergy bless candles and distribute them to the people. Even then, it marked a milestone in the winter and the weather that day was important.

As the old English song goes:

If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.

Today, February 2nd, also marks the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord.

Next the kids colored Groundhog coloring pages, while we got some groundhog puppets started to use outdoors.

And then we got outdoors. It was SUCH a beautifully warm and sunny day for our antics in the street, that it was easy to accept the whole ‘6 more weeks of winter’ thing.

We know how easily we can fool you….So we will fess up; Those aren’t real groundhog quadruplets. lol

Then the kids (and Kid-Daddy) paired up, and made shadow poses in the street. One created a shadow pose on the street, and their partner had to copy it as exactly as they could.

Then they chased each other’s shadows, and tried to step on someone else’s….

…and would you believe, NO ONE wiped out on the sand?

Our Little Shadow Fools, and their groundhog shadow puppets.

We soon came in, made and ate lunch, and read this poem.

And THEN made and ate…..

….Groundhog Pie!!!

(Made with chocolate pudding in a graham cracker crust shell, pushed up to a little mound, with crumbled Chips Ahoy on top for ‘dirt’, surrounded by some Reddi Whip for snow (melting near our wood stove…lol) and of course…..the Groundhog himself, drawn and colored by Daddy, and taped to a popsicle stick!)

We hope you had some time to act like fools yourselves today!! It’s such a silly day, we might as well!

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How to Make Homemade Embossed Glycerin Soap Bars

January 30, 2009 By Laura 8 Comments

This was one of my personal favorite crafts we made; Embossed Homemade Glycerin Soap Bars! It was so much fun choosing designs, colors and scents. Yes, we know most people use soap pump bottles now. Bars are sometimes considered too messy….but my kids make a pretty good mess with the bottles too, anyway! The thing drips all over the place. Anyhoo…..if one MUST use the pump bottles, these are pretty enough to just sit in a bathroom and look nice!

So here are the EASY steps to making them. I tried to combine the photos of steps, in a storyboard format. So the steps are left to right, or top to bottom. I’ll do my best to explain the steps as well.

You will need:

2lb glycerin soap block
soap molds
rubber soap embossers
soap scent oil
soap coloring
clear bags
bag ties

From Home:

a microwave
a glass measure cup

Many of these soap supplies can be found all together in the soap supply aisle at your craft store. We always go to Michael’s Arts and Crafts.

Steps described below photos.

1) This is what a the package of the soap glycerin soap block might look like.

2) It is scored so you can cut chucks easily, with a large knife.

3) You want to cut the chunky cubes into groups of 4.

Next….

4) Put 4 cubes of soap into a glass microwavable measuring cup.

5) Microwave for 40 seconds, take out carefully, stir, and see if it is all melted. If it needs to go in again, do so in 10 second intervals, until it’s all completely melted.

6) Stir again.

We used scents and coloring put out by Party Lite. The oils are called Essential Oils. They all come in little bottles, in hanging packaging. These are found with the soap supplies at the craft store as well.

So then……

7) Add 6 drops of your preferred scent. We used Green Apple.

8) Add 3-5 drops of a chosen color. How much you add depends on how deep you want the coloring to be.

9) Stir again.

~~~

Embossing Your Soap Bars

They sell these rubber embossed designs, to lay into the bottom of your soap molds! Some soap molds come with a design embossed into the plastic mold as well.

Soap molds come in all kinds of shapes as well; oval, octagon, rectangle, square, etc. We went with the squares, as they fit these rubber embossers perfectly.

10) Rubber Embossers

11) With a spoon, put some dabs of the hot melted soap in the bottom of the mold. This helps keep the rubber embosser in place.

12) Place the embosser on the soap dabs, and gently press down well all over.

Next….

13) Start pouring the scented/colored/melted soap into the mold fairly slowly, but consistently.

14) Fill nearly to the top. We just leave any bubbles. They mostly dissipate on their own.

As we filled each mold, we placed them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

They need to set for….awhile? lol. We always just let them set for a day or so, or overnight, to be sure they were turned solid. But we’re not sure how long it really takes.

As they do start to set, you will see the soap start to get less crystal clear.

~~~

The next day they’ll be set for sure.

All you need to do is work them out of the mold. They don’t pop or slip right out, but it’s not that difficult with a little effort. The goal is just to try and not mark up your beautiful soaps.

Once they are popped out, you just peel off the rubber embosser, and admire your COOL design on the soap! Try not to get finger prints all over them too. Especially the tops.

We just packaged the soaps with the proper size of clear bags, found in the candy aisle of the crafts store, and the fancy silver twist ties came with the bags.

“Made With Love”. My favorite design. Although the dragon fly and the ornate tile ones were close seconds.

That’s it for this craft!! Easy, huh?? And so PRETTY! We think they made lovely gifts.

Trust me, they come out so nice, and smell so good!! I love the clarity of glycerin soap, but there are other kinds of soaps you can make too. I am sure the directions are a little different though. Naturally, with this soap making process we showed you here, there are certain steps you will not want your children to do alone; such as any of the steps that involve the hot melted soap, or chopping with the big knife! But they can count out 4 soap cubes and load the measuring cup up, choose and add drops of scent and coloring, pop out the soaps and bag and tie them, etc.

We do hope you try making some yourselves sometime!!

STAY CLEAN NOW! : )

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Squirrel Invasion

January 29, 2009 By Laura 6 Comments

The squirrels love to hang out at our house. We’ve got many bird feeders, and the squirrels are happy to feast on what falls to the ground. Sometimes there are twice as many squirrels as this, out there. This whole area you see is going to be a beautiful bird sanctuary, when we get that far with our plans at the homestead here. We get LOTS of birds every day, and all kinds too. We love to watch the birds the most. If they only knew what a paradise we have planned for them. No doubt, the squirrels will stay too.

The kids know some of these squirrels from the others. A few even have names. We have outsmarted all but one, from getting up into our bird feeders. We don’t mind them around, but THAT is unacceptable behavior. And they know it. Only one manages to get up into one of the bird feeders, now and then. But he doesn’t enjoy his victory for long, as one of the kids always spots him, and someone is out there reprimanding.

We do love to watch their antics. They can be pretty funny sometimes.

That’s all for now. The next Christmas Craft is coming up! I’ve just been busy today with a little work. Even had a little quiet time to work today, after school and lunch, while the kids were at the youth center with Daddy ‘shootin’ hoops’. I accomplished quite a bit! But now it’s time for a good night’s sleep!

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Colored Ice Castles – Homeschooling Science Experiment

January 27, 2009 By Laura 14 Comments

This is how home schooling happens a lot in our family:

Someone gets a cool idea they think would be a fun to try, (in this case, that would be me), and we decide to do it. For fun. So we discuss our plan, start getting stuff together, and as we get to work on the project……….we start to wonder, or predict out loud.

And suddenly it hits me. “Hey! This is a science experiment! Yes….this is going to count for science.”

But ‘the lesson’ was not planned for school. It was just something fun to do. Curiosities arose that we wanted to explore and experiment with. We were just LIVING. Yes . . . . learning often times just happens.

As you can guess by now, that’s exactly what happened with this project. The kids are always watching the outdoors thermometer through the window of our school room. If it’s below freezing, they like to put a bowl of water out, and check it all day to see how long it took to freeze. You know…’just for fun.’ So I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be fun to fill up all kinds of containers, all different shapes and sizes, and then build an ice castle? “ (and continuing to talk to myself in my head….because a lot of conversation happens with myself up there, I said…) “Hey!! We could use food coloring and make them COLORED ICE CASTLES!!!!” Because I am a color freak, I got REAL excited the other day, to tell the kids what we were going to do.

Creating Colored Ice Castles

So we gathered everything we needed, bundled up as best we could, and went out and got to work.

The kids started filling up all of the containers with hose water.
*

And took turns choosing colors, and squeezing drops of food coloring in.

When one of them added yellow to the red, the colors intoxicated me…..and I went CrAzY taking photos from then on.

And I love most all of the photos I took.

So now you’re going to have to see them all. : )

Because I have little control, when it comes to these kinds of things, you know. : )

Just look at the beautiful colors floating and swirling!

Oh….it gets better.

Look at that!!! The kids started adding color to different containers at the same time, which resulted in lots of outbursts of excitement at the same time…“Look at this one, Daddy!” “Mama look at these colors together!! Hurry!”
We were getting dizzy. But it was all good!

I was having so much fun taking photos. I just knew they were going to be beautiful.

Here below, {O and J} swap colors.

THIS ONE, ABOVE, IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!

Honestly, I get butterflies.

And by this time, I was (incorrectly) thinking that we were going to have the COOLEST TIE-DYE ICE CASTLES!

Oh Dear….Unexpected Science Experiment Happenings

About now we start to notice that the 2 colors are mixing and changing to one color.

BUMMER!!

No tie-dye ice castles?? I, personally, might have sulked for a moment or 2 over that development and reality check. But, this is all part of science experiments, and the kids were still excited. They got me excited again, too.

When I saw all of the multi-colors were gone, I thought “Good thing I took photos!!!” lol

They still looked vivid and beautiful, all together.

Now, I did say to the kids at the start, “Let’s try NOT to get food coloring all over our hands. OK?”

Reality check number 2. lol

But you know….I love the colors, even all over my children’s faces and hands. I do!! Even if we’re going out…..going to Mass…where ever. If it doesn’t come off all of the way….OH WELL!! I think it’s evidence of their creativity!

DIRT is another story!!

Watching, Waiting, and Wondering….For Days

So the next couple of days were annoying, temperature wise. It kept being a little warmer than it was supposed to be, and the darn water in the containers would not freeze all of the way!! We knew it needed to be 32 degrees or colder, to freeze. (We’re like Einsteins, huh? Ha haha!) But for how long would it need to be that cold? And how much longer would the BIG containers take, than the small ones? These are the scientific questions we had, and the things we observed and studied over the next few days. We knew…..it was taking a lot longer than we ever wanted it to!!

What’s more….we could see the color really settling to the bottom of the containers.

Why, we wondered?? Which led us to what ‘wondering’ always does. Research!!

The Scientific Explanation

BECAUSE: Cold water does not allow the molecules of the food coloring to break down as easily….or dissolve. So, because it could not really ‘mix’ with the water, being a separate element, it all settled. What’s more, the molecules of the food coloring were so big, that they were not able to freeze all of the way. So the food coloring ended up being pockets of slush, within the frozen water/ice. It was interesting that the 2 elements were able to separate that much in the end, from being 2 colors swirling around each other, when first added to the water.

By this morning, we were done waiting. The big containers STILL did not seem solid all of the way through—-but gosh darn it….WE WERE BUILDING OUR CASTLES TODAY!!

The Results

{S}(on the far right) was excited about the pizza slice container one. He is also very partial to green, because it is ‘his color‘. (As triplets, we had a lot of color coding going on when they were babies.)

TA-DAAAA!!!!!!!

I LOVE this shot of my kids, and their ice creations!!

They had SO much fun doing this!! So did I!! So did their Daddy!!

We built it in the front yard, for the world to see. (You know…the ones who happen to drive down our dead-end street. Ha haha!).

Another lesson learned: We don’t always get what we’re expecting to. But we learn to love what we DO get.

Because it’s ours. Because we made it. Because we created memories together, doing it.
And that makes it all beautiful, to us!

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Homemade Bookmarks – Craft Tutorial

January 26, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Hi People!

This is the first of a handful of installments, that finally show you what we were making as we crafted during the pre-Christmas season. Now that all of the gifts have been given, we can share, and not be concerned with ruining any surprises. But we hope that some of you may gather an idea or 2, by us posting these projects, to put on your idea list for crafting and/or gift giving of your own, next Christmas or anytime.

We tried to think of gifts we could craft, that most anyone could use. Universal, sort of gifts. We think we did pretty well in the end. These gifts are simple; Simple to make (as the kids did a lot of it, with instruction and/or assistance), and simple in concept. We did not invent any of these things, but simply put ‘our touch’ to them. Should any of these projects appeal to you, we’re sure they’ll come out as your own as well. So many of you are SO creative, that you will likely make them even better, or put a new twist of your own on them, that makes them unique for you. Whatever you do, have fun!! Remember, even if everything doesn’t come out perfect, the fact is that they were made with love! If your recipients can’t appreciate that, then….well,… I won’t say. But they should. lol. Otherwise, you might consider ‘indian-giving’. Ha haha!

So let’s get to it! :

You may or may not recall, that one of the headers to a crafting post was this:

Showing any more than that would have given the project away. But we were making…………

BOOKMARKS!

homemade-bookmarks_2

We know we love books, and we love to read. Many people are the same. Even if they are not big cover-to-cover kind of readers, one may find a bookmark handy to keep their place in a recipe book, a how-to book, a magazine, a journal, their Bible…and who knows what. So we hoped these would come in handy, in some way, for our recipients. We did know that many do love to read, in our case.

I did not think to take step-by-step photos, since photos would have given it away. But we think you’ll get the gist by looking at the photos of the finished bookmarks, and reading the following information.

Here’s how we made them:

Directions

First, we needed some card stock. We found these handy pads of beautiful designed card stock in, in the scrapbooking aisle of Michael’s Arts & Crafts. They are actually meant for making greeting cards, but they worked out to be just what we were looking for, and a good size too. They looked like this:

One thing we REALLY loved about these card stock pads, was that each ‘card’ was 2-sided!! It had a different, but coordinating, design on the backside! So that means we had 2-sided bookmarks!! Very cool. We were excited about that.

So we cut these cards into bookmark size, and marked the centers of exactly where we wanted a hole for the ribbon.

Some supplies we already had on hand that we used are: thin satin ribbon, a Fiskar cutter (used by many scrapbookers, that make cutting straight as easy as gliding the blade). Also, eyelets that look like this:

And an eyelet tool setter kit, which I already had on hand too, from scrapbooking with eyelets. That looks like this:

It might look scary, but every piece is pretty self-explanatory as to what it does. Included are 3 size whole punchers tips (which 2 you can see right over the l and k of tool kit, and the other is already screwed onto the handle piece, 3rd in from the right). All you do is choose the correct size tip for the size eyelets you are using, stand it up on the card stock right where you want a hole, and tap with the hammer. Next, put eyelet through the hole, hold it in while turning over the card, and get the ‘splaying’ tool. (I may have made that word up. Not sure. But it spreads the backside of the eyelet out to hold into the card. So roll with it.) So you put the ‘splayer’ into the eyelet back, and hammer! This takes some real hammering, so be sure you are careful and use cardboard or something. I used a self-healing cutting board.

Now take a piece of cut ribbon, doubled over, and put the 2 ends together through the eyelet, and then through the loop of your ribbon. To finish the bookmarks off, we used a corner rounder, which is also found in the scrapbooking section.

That’s it!

No doubt, you’ll want to keep a few for yourselves too. We did! So Happy Reading!

All of the supplies used can be found at any Michael’s Arts and Crafts, or most any other good craft store.

If you have any questions, just let us know!! I am always happy to clarify!

I am also used to needing to. lol : )

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Happy Groundhog Day!

You will need:

From Home:

Next….

Embossing Your Soap Bars

Creating Colored Ice Castles

Oh Dear….Unexpected Science Experiment Happenings

Watching, Waiting, and Wondering….For Days

The Scientific Explanation

The Results

BOOKMARKS!

Directions

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