Mercury

Jordan's version.




Carson's version.



As you know, we are currently in the first week of our solar system unit. Today the kids learned about Mercury. I showed them some pictures of the actual planet. I told them about the craters on Mercury. I thought they would be really excited about the idea of a planet full of holes. But, Carson was way more intrigued by the fact that a day is more than 200 Earth days. She was also sad when I explained that because of the extreme temperatures there is no life on Mercury. Her response, "But, there will be, Mama. There will." I didn't argue. She is smarter than me, and I would just end up being wrong!! Anyway, we made Mercury. We are making a paper plate solar system, so we used a paper plate again. If I had been thinking about it, I would have had them use a small plate. Mercury is the 2nd smallest planet--next to Pluto. So, you might want to use a small plate when completing this craft. This is also a fun color lesson. I mixed some black paint and some white paint together in front of them to create gray. Both of the kids were very excited watching the paint change colors. Then, I let the kids paint the paper plates with the gray paint. Then, I let Carson dip her thumb into the black paint to create thumbprint craters. I helped Jordan do his thumbprints. Jordan's thumbprints look really big because he got a ton of paint on his thumb. Carson's are smaller and more spread out. I want to warn any parent attempting this craft that it is very messy. Don't wear your favorite shirt!! Make sure to use washable tempura paints and add a little dish soap to the paint. Happy Crafting!!

Shabby chic butterfly

Carson and I spent most of our day at a Mommy & Me fancy dress brunch. It was so much fun. And, the decorations were done in such a fun shabby chic manner that I decided to let her make her very own shabby chic craft this afternoon. I took some old scrapbook paper and wrapped it around a toilet paper tube. Then, I let Carson pick another piece of scrapbook paper for her wings. She picked a pink and green pattern and wanted bright pink spots on the wings. She glued the bright pink dots onto the wings that I had cut out of the pink and green page that she picked. Then, She used some of the stickers that her Godmother gave her recently to decorate the wings. I stapled the wings to the toilet paper tube. We used tape to adhere the pipe cleaner antennae. And, she put the wiggle eyes on. And, voila, a shabby chic butterfly!! Happy crafting!

Sun!!

Today was a super fun craft day. We did a sun using a paper plate, yellow paint and pieces of yellow and orange construction paper. It was really fun to see even the youngest kids (Jordan, 20 months) painting and enjoying the craft. This is the start of our 3 week solar system unit, so there will be quite a few crafts. This one is fun because it includes the children's hand prints. I love any thing that has hand prints, foot prints or fingerprints. It is pretty self-explanatory, but I will go through the steps none-the-less.

Start with a large, white paper plate. Draw a yellow circle around the center of the plate. This is the boundary for the kids and helps them to follow directions and stay within the lines. Let them paint, using yellow tempura paint, the inside of the circle. Then trace the child's hand. I let the kids go off to play while the yellow circle dries. The parent should cut out the hand print over and over on the yellow and orange construction paper. I had about 24 hand prints. When the circle dries, glue the hand prints around the outside of the yellow circle. I did yellow all the way around, then staggered the orange, and then put yellow on again after that. It is a super fun, easy craft. And, it is a lovely keepsake. Have fun crafting!!!

Update on Life

I just wanted to make a quick update. I don't blog nearly enough, bit I do what I can. Anyway, things are going really well around here. In fact, I haven't been really sick in a couple of months. And, I have lost 33 pounds now!! I am so proud and happy. I can't believe it. I am attempting to become healthier in all things. We are spending a lot more time out of doors. We have been going to the park quite a lot. And, we are taking swimming lessons. I am still hitting the treadmill from home as well. I think that lifestyle change plus the Weight Watchers program is making a huge difference in my life. I am overjoyed.

Other than that, the kids are wonderful. I can't believe that Jordan will be 2 in 3 1/2 months. It is crazy how quickly life is flying by. I sure wish it would slow down every now and then, but what can you do? I am hoping that we will get the opportunity to slow down a bit this summer. David won't be going to school, so I hope to take it easy. Just spend the evening at the park or the pool together. No stress or strain. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Until next time...

So bummed...

I am so bummed. Jackie, the friend for whom I was throwing the shower, e-mailed me to let me know that her Mother-in-law is going to throw the shower instead. She said that the MIL wants me to help and to call her. I called her. She doesn't want me to help!! She doesn't want to do what Jackie wants to do either. I feel sad. Jackie was super excited, and so was I. Now, it is going to be in a tea room. No duckie punch. No bunny garden. Just cucumber sandwiches and fake flowers. Blech. We'll see what happens. At this point I am afraid they are going to move it to a Sunday, and I won't be able to attend at all. Am I just being selfish here? I should be thrilled that they are so excited to throw her a shower as well.

Other than that, I think the weight watchers thing is going really well this week. I still have two days before weigh in. I really hope this is working out. It is an expensive program. If I don't get healthy on this program then I don't know what I will do.

Long Time, No Write

I will be the first to admit that I am the world's most inconsistent blogger. And, that is not because I am not interested in blogs. I love reading blogs. I absolutely drool of crafty blogs likes TidyMom and Couture Parties. The ideas a re amazing. And, the pictures are so fun that it is like slipping into another world for awhile. It is like a temporary escape--not that I Really need one. I have to say that overall my life is pretty easy. But, it is fun none-the-less.

But, I am mostly writing to say that I have taken yet another positive step toward becoming healthy. I joined Weight Watchers last week. I LOVE their calculator. I love that I can calculate anything I eat anywhere I go. It is this little blue piece of heaven. I mean, let's face it, most of us have no idea how many calories we are actually shoveling into our mouths. We guesstimate and are often wrong. Now, this calculator actually uses a formula to determine the amount of PointsPlus Points in a food. It takes into account fiber, protein, fat and carbs. And, I have to admit, it is working. The program is perfect for me because they stress not eating preservatives and nitrates. It is a whole foods based diet, so it is perfect for my Lupus. It also stresses being active. Sadly, I fell on my bum last week, and my hip is green and blue and not up to activity. I am hoping that next week will be better. I pulled some muscles, so I don't want to push it too hard and make things worse.

On another note, my awesome friend, Jackie, is having her first baby in June. I get to throw her a girlie, fun shower since she is having a girl. She wants to focus on bunnies with her colors being pink and green. I am going to make a baby garden!! I am so excited!! This is going to be so much fun. And, I love that I get to do this for her. She is such a sweet, loving person. She is going to be a fabulous mom!! Madison Elizabeth is terribly lucky to have her. And, I am terribly lucky to get to create this celebration!! Not only do I get to throw one of my favorite people a shower, but I get to research all of the lovely crafting blogs that I so enjoy. I will post pictures of the big day!! Hopefully I will be better about blogging too!

Another Set Back

I spent my night coughing. I have this horrible pain in my side. It feels like my lung is cramping or something. Really painful. I have to go back to the doctor again. I get exhausted of being sick like this. It is disheartening. It seems like there should be a direct link between the work I am doing to live healthy and my health. I just haven't seen it. I know it will take time. This is not an overnight thing. But, I can't seem to get well. It is just hard to deal with from time to time. I will perk up in a little while.

In any case, I thought I would blog about something else--eating out. I have always thought that eating out at most places would be impossible if I want to be healthy. That is just not true. I can get fish at a lot of places. I have recently discovered that I can get a burger too!! Chili's has served a black bean patty for years. I am not a big black bean fan, so that wasn't especially helpful for me. But, Red Robin is now serving Boca, Garden or turkey burgers!! I love my Boca burgers so much. There isn't a price change and the burgers are huge!! I was very impressed. But, I have to say(to my fellow Eureka fans) I have found myself wishing for Cafe Diem. I want a place where I can go in and say, "Give me a piece of salmon the size of my palm and a couple of red potatoes sprinkled with olive oil and garlic." Aside from the impossibility of such a place existing, it sure sounds nice. I have also never seen anyone pay for anything at Cafe Diem. That would be awesome too!!