Bright Ideas for the Summertime

I thought I would share a couple of things I do at the Deaton homestead to stimulate our kids creative side.
(1) Karson took a couple art classes this summer at Memphis Marsha's, and I was introduced to Creative Clay. This clay is just the coolest. It's quick, air drying and you can make just about anything with it. Once it hardens, you can paint it. LOVE THIS STUFF!!!


(2) Wanna keep your wild and crazy kids busy for an hour or two, head to Dollar General and purchase some cheap shaving cream. They can spray it on themselves, the table, trampoline, everything. The clean-up is easy, the smell is fresh, and you can read a couple chapters of a good book---win, win!!!

(3) Most of our landscaping consists of white rocks and river rocks which I love (mainly because you don't have to replace it yearly). The kids enjoy painting the rocks with watercolor paint, and when it rains, the color is gone.

(4) I attempted Paper Mache yesterday. I cut a milk jug in half while the kids tore strips of newspaper. I concocted the nasty flour, water, salt mixture for some gluey mess. We're going to, hopefully, finish today with computer paper. The rain nearly destroyed our masks last night--they are supposed to dry for 24 hours. This is not a quick project (nor a clean one), but it's worth the effort. We may try a volcano next =). This is definitely an OUTDOOR activity.

(5) Nothing is more exciting than a treasure hunt. Isaac got a really cool treasure box at Disney World which has become the object of our hunts. I draw all kinds of things around the house, and the kids find those things with clues. At the end of the hunt, they have to find the treasure box filled with a special surprise.

(6) This project is time consuming and can sometimes be frustrating. You can create pets or other designs (we went with pets since my kids love them) with little plastic beads. When finished, you melt the beads together with an iron. *Speaking of pets, our beloved Princess Sparkles has been missing for almost a month now. While the kids were at Pap and Nana's (and we were vacationing in the mountains), her cage was left open and she hasn't been seen since. The kids seem TOTALLY unaffected by their missing pet which is nice. I miss ol' Sparkle Poo, but we'll probably be pet free for a while.

(some other ideas I've come across but haven't attempted)
(7) Good to Eat Crystals

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. boiling water

DIRECTIONS

1. Bring water to a boil and add sugar until dissolved.

2. Pour solution in a cup and add food coloring.

3. Tie end of a string and paper clip to the end of a pencil and place on top of cup. Make sure it dangles in the mix.

4. Set aside and check daily. DO NOT TOUCH or SHAKE (3-7 days).

(8) Goofy Goo (non edible)

2 tablespoons white glue
2 tablespoons water
Paper cups
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon borax laundry booster

1. Mix glue with 2 tablespoons water in a paper cup.
2. In another paper cup, mix 1/4 cup water, borax and 10 drops of food color.
3. Stir 2 tablespoons of the borax mixture into glue mixture until well blended. It's fun to play with in your hands! Store in an airtight container.

(9) Playtime Pasta

Assorted uncooked pasta shapes, such as ziti, macaroni, shells, bow-ties or rotelle
White vinegar
Small resealable plastic bags
DIRECTIONS
1. Put a handful of pasta, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 to 3 drops food color into a resealable plastic bag. Shake until pasta is tinted.
2. Spread pasta on paper plate or paper bag to dry.
3. Tint pasta different colors in separate bags.

String and make necklaces or bracelets once dry.

(10) I got these foam visors and stickers at Hobby Lobby for half price last week. I'm in charge of coming up with church camp activities for our kids. We're having church camp in Hendersonville at the end of the month. I'd love any other, non-messy, craft ideas any of you may have for camp.

Proud of the Red, White and Blue (and Sonic too)

Happy

Birthday

America!

Two of the cutest lil' sparklers I know =).

We watched Thunderfest from the cheap seats (aka Sonic drive-in on Louisville Road) last night. We met up with our cousins and the Maglinger/Garcia bunch and had the best time. My sister broke out a fun bag of tricks with sparklers and pop-its which kept the kids thoroughly entertained during the wait.

This weekend is a little sad for me. We usually spend it at the lake with my extended family at the Pogue compound on Nolin. Long story short, my grandfather isn't in the best of health and the lake property has been sold (or at least I think so???). It will be odd not going there on the weekend holidays and catching up with everyone. However, most of my cousins are grown, a couple of them married and with kids. It's sad to think of losing touch with them--thank goodness for Facebook and blogging, huh? I have some of the best memories at the lake and hope to create those with my children. We did start a new tradition though and went to Barren River this afternoon. I'm hoping my parents will purchase a cabin there soon. It close to BG, not quite as big as Nolin, has a cool beach, Lodge, etc. We hung out with Matt's family riding on the boat and jet ski and swimming in the lake. It was such a nice afternoon. This weather has been AWESOME!!!

Miles and Pap SeaDooin'

Enjoying the lake and boat with Uncle Seth.

Isaac SeaDooin' and swimming like a fish.

I know it's hard to believe that I have a daughter that's a drama Queen. I'm sure I'm the only blogging mother with one of "those" =). She was unhappy almost the entire time we were out on the lake. The girl has some EXTREME phobias. She WOULD NOT get in and almost hyperventilated on a couple different occasions (not really but she was breathing heavily). She never warmed up to getting on the SeaDoo, getting in the water; the only thing she wanted to do was GET OFF that boat.

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Happy 4th of July to everyone!!! Here's to a long night of listening to firecrackers and bottle rockets =)!!!

Undefeated

Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar, all for the Sidewinders, stand up and HOLLER

HEY HEY

hey hey

HEY HEY

hey hey

HEY

hey

HEY

hey

HEY HEY HEY HEY

Isaac and his pal Mason LIVE for the dirt. Among all the players on the team, I believe these two had the least interest in being competitive. All they care about is getting dirty, acting goofy, and using "crazy" talk.
Getting his trophy--he has shown EVERYONE. It's been to church and various other places. I imagine it will be left somewhere like all of Isaac's other things. He has things scattered all over Bowling Green.

I believe trophy night was one of the hottest of the year. We cooked all night long at Plano Park. I don't think I've ever sweated that much in my life. The boys peeled their shirts off after about an hour. They have that luxury =).

BEYOND Paradise

Matt and I found a beautiful cabin in the mountains to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Since we took the big, $$$ Disney trip in May, we wanted to do something a bit "lower" key in June. I couldn't think of a better and more affordable place than Gatlinburg.

One of our first stops on Friday was the SkyLift. Since I left my digital camera back at the cabin, I purchased a disposable at the top of the mountain. Am I glad that I did, look at that beautiful view!!!

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Another stop included the Hollywood Wax Museum. I haven't had this much fun in a while. The figures were SO lifelike--it was almost scary--like they could come alive at any moment.

Me and Angelina and Matt and Forrest.


Matt chillin' with his favorite singer of all times Willie. Me rockin' it out with my girls Celine, Hilary, Christina and Britney.

Matt getting frisky with Pam Anderson and exercising a demon.

Me getting frisky with Hef =) and chopped up in the Texas Chainsaw lounge.
Sailing away with Leo...

We dined at the Dixie Stampede on Friday night. It was our first experience, and we both highly recommend it. And, YES, we are sporting airbrush t-shirts. There is no shortage on t-shirts, candy and Old Tyme photo places in G-burg.

We hiked Rainbow Falls on Saturday. I didn't want to lug a camera for 5.4 miles so we posed next to the sign =). We did the Chimney Tops on our first anniversary so it was cool to do another hike on our 10th.

I'll spare everyone all the other shenanigans of the trip (most of which took place in our cabin--if you know what I mean--HAH). I'm incredibly thankful to be married to my best friend. We have a lot of fun, lots of laughs, see life the same way and are completely still "into" each other. Here's to many, many more!!!!