Feeling crafty?

I've been wanting to look up some "how-tos", so I thought I'd take some time to put a lot of links into one blog post.

First, I have been intending to get some PVC pipes for the kids to just play with. They are very inexpensive and so much fun to build things with, so there is now a reminder on my phone to get some in a few days. Here are some links I found on making toys and crafts out of PVC.

Rola Bola (this site is so cute!)

Train whistle (definitely doing this one!!)

Pipe flute (lots of how-tos to pick from on this one!)

Ladder Golf

Rackets (genius!)

Baby/toddler toy to lay under (definitely need to do this too for our new baby!!)

A smaller version of the toy rack

Toddler parallel bars by the same people....genius!

Deluxe Kid Wash (been meaning to make this for a while!)

Another more simple sprinker

Super soaker guns, and guns of all types!

Marshmallow gun (how-to video.....this is a really cool gun, and I think the guy is funny!)

This site has lots of homemade toy ideas! (where I got the marshmallow gun video) Some of my favorites are Checkers, Mancala, swings, puppets, play-dough and sorting toys!

We have also had a TON of fun making our own hula hoops! They are super easy and very inexpensive, and they last for years!!!

Since I posted my eHow link, here are a couple of other how-to articles I posted on things we have also done in the past and loved!

Imitation Floam

Jump ropes out of nylon loops

And speaking of nylon loops, this is a very inexpensive book that has quite a few really cute crafts in it using nylon loops or plastic laces.


One more....here are some fun science experiments to try!


I need to stop there for now. There is just so much that it will take all day! I think we will be making a lot of these in the next few days and weeks ahead. I will be sure to post pictures of all our creations!

Free endless supply of bubble wrap!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, it's only a game, but it is so addicting! It is perfect for toddlers and preschool-age children who are still learning mouse control. To play, you just click on each bubble to pop it, or you can check the "manic" box at the bottom and the bubbles will pop as you mouse over them!

Check it out here!

My favorite part is when you click on "fresh sheet", this shaky psycho voice says, "Must have moooooore!" I had a hard time pulling my husband away from it. Seriously!

New crafty fun!

My mom got this for us, I mean, for the kids for Christmas along with a lot of extra nylons! And here is the book that comes in it. It looks like it is out of print but you can still find it in some places.

I have looked through the book, and there are so many different things to do with nylons! There are decorations to make, dances and games, toys and other crafts. This will definitely keep us, er, I mean, the kids, busy for quite a while!

I am saving it all for this weekend when it is supposed to be really cold again. We're all ready to dig in!

Thanks Mom/Grandma! :)

Church halloween alternative

Thursday night, at the church where the kids go to AWANA.

The frog catapult game.


Jonathan

Jacob (he was just laying there...LOL)

Jayla

The barrel ride

Myles was making this face because Jack was hitting him or something.

My friend Mandie's kids, minus Lily. She was too busy to stop for a picture!

Frolicky Friday

Ack! I wrote this last Friday, saved as a draft and then just realized that I haven't added pictures and published it yet! Okay, here it goes!

***

Well, the last two Fridays we were on vacation. We definitely played a LOT with our kids! We had a blast!

Now we're back to our routines, and though we're not real busy people (intentionally), we do get caught up in the day to day stuff so easily! I have been purposing to play individually and as a group with my kids more, and it's been fun! But the *focus* day is Friday, so today.....

We had a picnic! Jacob decided he would be the photographer, but he didn't take pictures of people. Oh, well. I snapped a few.

That is MARKER all over his face! Ugh!

Just pizzas and Dr. Pepper....easy enough!

"What's going on up there?"

A couple of bees decided they wanted to try Jayla's Dr. Pepper. (The kids usually drink water or something non-caffeinated, but this was a fun picnic, so we all got one!) No one was scared, screaming or running away! I was so proud! :) The bees were friendly, we just left them alone and they eventually left the DP alone.

And here are a few pictures taken by Jacob and some OF him since he kept saying "Take a picture of me!" He's either hogging the camera or running away from it, there is no in between! LOL!

I wasn't feeling too great today, so I laid down with Jack for a nap. A little while after Myles got home, Jack, Jayla and I played Barbies for a while. Jayla is starting a new girls club since Jonathan is in a club with his good friend, Daniel. So I guess this was our first meeting, and Jack was our honored guest. :) Jacob came to join us eventually too. He just kept making his Barbie do flips. LOL!

The kids are all getting ready for bed now. We just finished playing some card games; War and Go Fish. I think Jonathan won them both.

That's about all I can take today, and I can't even sit here any longer, so I'm about to go to bed. We had fun though, and the kids want to keep playing! That's always a good sign. :) I think Myles may still be playing with Jonathan in the bedroom. Cool.

Frolicky Friday

Well, honestly, today we didn't get to play much at all. :( We're about to leave for vacation soon, and there is a long list of things that we would really like to have done before we leave. So I already had everyone working hard when Myles arrived home, and then he made them work harder on something totally different. We did manage to get a little play time in though.

I played just a bit of catch football with Jacob. I always have a few minutes here and there throughout the day to play with Jack (making noises, funny faces, walking him, etc.), but the most fun we've had today all together is right now. The kids worked hard today, so they are having a slumber party! They have lights and are going through the dark house hunting a "crystal" of some sort. Myles is scaring them. I guess he's some kind of monster or something, but I already knew that. :) So they are running back to him for more every couple of minutes and then they run back in here screaming. I'm just guarding Jack as I type, but I'm starting to feel sad because I'm missing out on all the fun! Gotta go join in now. :)

Oh, a couple pix really fast. Here they are enjoying some ice cream, a rare treat that they got for doing such a great job today, and also part of the slumber party fun. :)

Have fun playing with your kids!

Frolicky Friday

Whew! We had a blast today! I've made a point to play with the kids more this week, but part of our play time together was because I wanted to play too! We had fun! This week we've played Barbies, cars, matching games, read books together and hula hooped together. I'm still working on that last one. Jayla is a pro!

Specifically today, for Frolicky Friday, we played catch football together, did puzzles, played Barbies....I'm sure there was more. Bubbles! We played outside until it was almost dark. The weather was so great today! One of my favorite things to do with Jack, because his reaction is so cute, is to make funny faces or noises and see if he will imitate me. He just smiles or giggles and tries to do most anything I do. If he doesn't think he can, he just looks at me like I've totally lost it and starts laughing at me. If you could see me acting like a complete idiot, you'd probably think I'd lost it too! :)

They're such a blessing. I am so thankful for the opportunity to play with them any time I want!