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Carnival and Chocolate

Posted on July 31, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Yesterday, I wrote all about our travels to Canada, Australia, India, Russia, France, Mexico, and China while staying home. Thanks to the Passport to Fun programs at Michaels, we had the adventure of our life at the local craft store. In the end, we went to eight of the eighteen countries. We missed two because the boys were still in school at the end of June. Then, I completely forgot about the Egypt day on June 25 and Bahamas on June 28. Luckily, I got our act together in time for Canada and beyond. I wish we had been able to make a few others, but they did not work with our schedules and two did not seem age appropriate for my kids.

On Saturday, the program ended with Brazil. What a way to end it making Rio Carnival masks. The boys had a blast working on these with all of the glitter, feathers, and sequins.

Brazil

Of course, while in Michaels we HAD to check out other items. TechyDad looked for a case to house his grandfather’s old telescope in. Both of the ones in stock were cracked, so we are waiting on that. Then, we looked around for ideas to use for NHL’s 8th birthday. NHL has said that he wants lions and other animals as the focus. We chatted about it while walking around and came up with a safari theme. Seems perfect since he loved the Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I know one day I would love to take him on the African Trek I went on.

While checking out the Wilton cupcake making supplies, we wandered over to their chocolate mold section. NHL fell in love with some things there. TechyDad thought they were really interesting and said we should use our coupons and pick them up. So we did. Don’t these look fun?

So we will be making the Oreo/Pretzel molds to go along with some kind of lion cupcake. Do not think there will be time to paint the chocolate and make it pretty, but it’s still fun and something the kids can help with. If you have any lion cupcake suggestions – I would love to know.

What have you been up to this weekend of July?

Categories:
arts and crafts baking birthday decisions Educational food glorious food fun jsl local event nhl photos summer TechyDad weekend yummy

Summer Full of Crafts Around the World

Posted on July 30, 2011 10:03 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

Over the last month, we have spent a lot of time at a very unlikely location. Michaels may be one of my favorite stores to go and get baking, yarn, and other fun crafting supplies. The two of you like to go there, but it was never a favorite. This summer, Michaels teams up with crafting sponsors to have their Passport to Fun program. Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, they had items to make and take that went along with their passport filled with countries. Over the weeks, we not only went to Cananda, but several others.

We traveled to Australia where you made a Koala Bear pin and Aboriginal Art using chalk.

In India, you made elephant pins with different fun glitter glues and henna hands with markers.

For our time in Russia, nesting doll puppets and a bear pin were our adventure. Both of you were excited to make your own nesting dolls like the ones at Mimi’s house.

Oui, we went to France. While there, you made a cute Frenchman pin and then had an amazing time showing your Impressionist style using Crayola Twistables Slick Stix. I have a feeling we may be buying some of these for future fun.

Our trip to Mexico reminded us of the suns at the Mexican area of It’s a Small World. You used Crayola Model Magic to create your own suns and also made a tissue paper flower.

China was a little messy, but lots of fun. You were able to try some Tibetan sand paintings of your own.

Today is the last of the events for Brazil. I know that I am sad to see this part of our summer over. Luckily, I have a lot of crafting supplies home and we can try some of the other items that were located in the great passport from Michaels. Yes, it has been a fun summer filled with new crafts and learning about different locations in the world. I know both of you will remember much of this. I hope we can continue to explore these items for the rest of the summer.

Love,

Mommy

_______________________________________

If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

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arts and crafts Dear Kid Saturday Educational fun interesting jsl local event nhl photos summer

Reptile Ready

Posted on July 29, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

The summer programs at our local libraries have been absolutely amazing this summer. I could not imagine what we would do if we did not have them to go to. While at the chocolate tasting experience, the librarian mentioned another event coming up. It was going to be Reptile Adventure with Jessica Shea. The description was “Touch a snake, pet a turtle, and see eye-to-eye with a South American frog.” Yes, Reptile Adventure was coming to help the kids learn and meet some of their friends.

NHL was very excited about the program, but JSL opted not to go. He was tired and stayed back with Papa to rest and relax. I thought this was an amazing opportunity to introduce the kids to the wonders of reptiles. I still remember meeting several snakes and other critters during a Girl Scout event when I was a child.

When NHL and I walked into the meeting room, there were several reptiles already out to greet the excited children. One of them was Plaid.

True story, NHL walked right by Plaid and did not notice him sitting there until he nearly bumped into him and it scared him. It was definitely a kodak moment since I had watched the entire event (wish I had my video camera turned on).

Jessica was so patient with the rather large and young crowd before her. She introduced all of her reptile friends that were visiting. Then the best part for the kids, every animal was brought around for them to get a close look, and in most instances touch. Here are a few of the reptile friends that came to visit:

The part that the kids loved, was the opportunity to touch and hold any of the reptiles that Jessica said were up to it. NHL did not want to hold the big lizard, but he asked to hold the spotted turtle named Seurat (love the name):

Then, we went to wait on line to hold the Python. NHL was not too sure about this, but he allowed the Python on his lap and was petting it while chatting away about snakes. A special thanks for the patience of Chris from the library. He was a rock star handling the reptiles and helping with the kids.

After this, we went back over to Jessica who had the Legless Lizard out. I was floored with what I witnessed. Without even blinking NHL picked it up and I got this photo to prove how great he did:

Yes, this truly was a FUN and EDUCATIONAL experience for everyone that was there. When it was time to go, Jessica told the kids to each take a special sticker. NHL did and was so proud to show it to others the rest of the afternoon.

Thanks to the library, we now know about another great business that helps to educate children in our area and may be a fantastic future birthday party experience. Can you imagine?!

So my question to you this week is inspired by our reptile encounter:

What reptile would you love to know/learn more about and why? Oh and no saying you don’t like them – you probably have never met any like these to appreciate them.

____________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #162

Categories:
Aloha Friday Educational fun local event nhl photos summer

Kid Style Chocolate Blind Taste Testing

Posted on July 27, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Disclosure: This was a free event at a local library. Thank you to the amazing librarian for organizing this event. I know my boys had a fantastic time and we all enjoyed staying dry during the storm that passed while participating.

Categories:
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When Art Meets the Library

Posted on July 21, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

This summer, the boys and I have been trying to get to some of the free or less expensive events around the Capital District. The library that I went to as a child still has some amazing programs and we love spending time there.

Most of the events for children have materials already included and you do not have to sign up. One exception to that rule was earlier this week. The library had a “Make a Story Tower with Tang Museum” where kids would construct a 3-D tower that tells a story. NHL and I were intrigued and we got him into one of the last spots. The teacher in me loved the connection of art and literature.

When we arrived, the two women from Tang greeted the children and sat them down for a group circle. The kids were introduced to this:

This is a replica of a piece that is currently at the Tang Museum at Skidmore College in Saratoga called Tower of Babel by Josh Dorman. Dorman’s art, done in 2008, is made out of ink, acrylic, oil, antique paper on 32 adjoined panels which make it 96×48”. Thanks to the artist’s gallery online, I was able to check out more about him and his other amazing work that is also on display at the Tang Museum until August 16

The kids were fascinated by the art in front of their eyes. I do not think they understood when Leah told them the “real” piece is actually in Saratoga and so much larger. They really were way too mesmerized with the poster in front of them. The kids were brainstorming what Dorman may have been depicting with his art. To help them out, they had blown up sections of the Tower of Babel to look at.

When you look at this work up close, it has so many hidden details that tell story after story. That is exactly what this was about. Letting the kids brainstorm and make a tower of their own to tell a story. To do this, tables were set up with lots of supplies.

Barbara and Leah from the museum really interacted with the kids. They listened to them, helped them to find what they needed for their masterpieces, and even let my 4 year old participate since they had an extra space for him. Check out my kiddos making their towers:

When they were finished, the boys had their two story towers.

The kids met back in a circle at the end and NHL was the first to share his story. He was inspired to make a tower about Disney’s Animal Kingdom and some things that happened with the animals on the safari. He started with his Tree of Life and then moved onto savannah and other animal habitats.

Yes, this is why I love going to the library and keeping up on programs that are taking place. I also adore that museums like the Tang at Skidmore College are working with kids to integrate art into the world of learning (teacher geek talk for you). I know I am quite intrigued with their Family Saturday program. Check it out because they are running the same one that we participated in on August 5.

Disclosure: I was not asked to write this post about our experience. It was free to sign up, we loved it, and I wanted to toot the horn for all involved.