Princess Maryn
Princess Lindsey 
Lady Lauren
Queen Halle
Court Jester Carson
Princess Brianne
Lady Ashley
Looking forward to warmer days. 
For the second year some neighborhood girlfriends and I have done a rotating "craft camp" to help keep the kids busy and the mom's sane during summer break. It's similar to a joyschool--moms take turns having the children over for 2 hours one day each week, during which time the kids do crafts. Each week has a "theme". For example, one mom did crafts and activities on nutrition, one on Mexico, and one on Bubbles, Balls, and Balloons. I feel so lucky to rub shoulders with these women. They are all three incredibly creative and talented! Last year, we each took one week per month. This year, schedules made it more conducive to have each take three weeks in a row. I wondered how this would be...if we'd get burnt out, but I actually liked it better. You could (pardon the term) "get your turn over with" and enjoy the rest of the summer, plus (and to me this was the best part) if you had a larger theme that encompassed more than you could fit into one day, you could spread it over the three week period of time. I chose HAWAII for my theme. We had a fun three weeks making seashell creatures, tissue paper flowers, "grass" skirts (out of crepe paper), learning the hula, eating Hawaiian foods, and even learning about the ukulele with a special musical guest who came and played for us (thanks, Grandma Dixie!). I also made little workbooks for the kids to fill out and they seemed to enjoy that. It really was a lot of fun. The only thing I would have changed was the crafts...they were awesome craft ideas I found online, but I didn't stop to think about the fact that the younger children (4-5) would need so much one-on-one help with them. Oh, well...lesson learned.
We wrapped up our three weeks with a Craft Family Luau. A couple things didn't go as I'd planned (I actually forgot about TWO of the games I'd planned--DUH..., and you couldn't hear the Hawaiian music outside coming from the indoor speakers, so I was kind of bummed), but in all we had a great time hanging out with these families that we just like SOOO much. 
The kids played a couple games and had a hula-hoop contest, and even the dads were good sports with our race to see who could don the grass skirt and coconut bra the fastest (they so did not want to do that, but were nice enough to humor me). The wives had a riot and deep down...I think the men liked it...
We had pulled pork sandwiches, fruit kabobs, mango salsa & chips, corn, chocolate-covered macadamia nuts, and believe it or not, banana bread. (Trusty Wikipedia told me it's a common ingredient to authentic luaus. So it MUST be true, right???)
Have I ever mentioned how much I love this guy???
When it was over, the kids got a kick
I am loving this little summer thing I've got going on with a couple of girlfriends. We've created a sort of "Craft Camp" that takes place for two hours each week to help keep our kids from getting bored during these summer months. We're rotating weeks, so each mom takes a monthly turn hosting, helping the kids through 2-3 themed activities or crafts. Last Tuesday was my turn. The theme was "Magic". It was so fun! (A little exhausting, but fun!)
We started out by painting our magic wands (the cardboard tubes that come on the bottom of dry cleaning hangers). While they dried, I amazed my 3-6 year old audience with a flashy magic trick using baking soda and vinegar.
Then we read a fun book about a magician and his rabbit who become separated and eventually find their way back to one another. Tying the book into our next activity, we then "looked for a magician's rabbit", letting each kid hide a little stuffed bunny in my family room (a version of "Hot/Cold"). While they did that, I pulled each child aside, teaching them a simple magic trick which they then performed later for the group using their magic wand and wearing a glittery magic cape.
We made construction bunnies that popped out of construction top hats and then the kids did their grand finale trick: turning a white carnation into the color of their choice. Of course, that trick took a few days to complete!
I want to thank my mommy-friends for doing this with me. I had a blast hosting and can't wait to do it again. My kids are already looking forward to Tuesday because they know they'll be doing crafts and activities about "Turtles"! See our pictures (and magic tricks) below!
Wyatt, the Great, holding his neon green flowerLadies & Gentlemen, presenting the newest, coolest,
most spectacular magicians to hit the Abracadabra-Circuit!
Turn off my music player & enjoy these two
videos of their sleight of hand!
