Cupcake Wars {Camping Theme} play date

Right after Vanessa moved back from Costa Rica, we were sitting on the bedroom floor of Abby's room looking at a creative cupcake book. We started brainstorming ideas of what we were going to do this Summer, and our idea of a Cupcake Wars play date was born.

We thought of some people that we knew would have fun with us, and like to bake. Vanessa even got a few of our friends to judge, just like on Cupcake Wars.

Savannah had fun thinking of different ideas, and was so excited to present her cupcakes to the judges. It may have even made her a little nervous. It was cute. Our first round was a lemon cupcake, vanilla butter cream, and toppings to look like corn. Our second round was a chocolate fudge cupcake, chocolate butter cream, and a chocolate dipped marshmallow - rolled in graham crackers.

Everyone of my friends are so creative. Even the judges had cute, snarky comments about our cupcakes. I may have even laughed a lot about the judging.  

Baking is definitely out of my comfort zone, and I stressed more than I needed to about this play date...but it turned out fun. It was fun to do a project with just Savannah, and I think she liked the one-on-one time with just me too.  

I think next time I want to be a judge, and eat all the cupcakes. 

The scary thing, this isn't even all of our kids. That is a whole lotta little people.

Thank you Paul for watching the babies for me.

Thank you Kristina, Stephanie, Gina, Jamie, Cathy, Emily, and Vanessa...it was a pleasure. {Please don't make me link to everyone's blog, I am too lazy!}

Summer: Day 6

On top of prepping for our Cupcake Wars competition yesterday, we had a couple of random things planned.

Sunday night Savannah and I sat down to plan out our week. Since a couple of days are up in the air, because we are trying to plan a day for Seven Peaks...we opted for a list to fill in as we go. So far, so good on this idea.

Savannah saw a couple of things on Pinterest that she wanted to try. One of them is freezing toys in a block of ice to chip away and get them out, and the other was a treasure map that I make and they follow to find something at the end.

The things I put on our list were a car wash for our bikes, and making gak.

After spending most of our morning shopping for our Cupcake Wars play date {more details to come} that is happening this afternoon, the kids wanted to do the car wash for their bikes.

I let them use the left over shaving cream from the moon dough, and they thought that was so fun. As always, if the water hose is involved it turns in to a water fight. Which I gladly sprayed those 3 down as they giggled.

Another simple day in the books, and yet so much fun.

Summer: Day 5 + our weekend.

Day 5 of Summer was Friday.

When we woke up I quickly put the kids to work unwrapping crayons so that we could work on our hot rocks project. This project was fun because it took a lot of little steps that we could work on it through out the day.

In the afternoon, we took our nature walk to find all of the smooth/flat rocks to color. 

We came home and washed and scrubbed all of our rocks, and put them in the oven. While those were getting warm enough, I planned on making moon dough while we were waiting.

Our moon dough worked, but I would do a few things differently. I would just keep it white, because mixing food coloring with your hands was kind of a disaster. Not sure what I was thinking. I just put a few pieces of wax paper down in front of the kids to mix up the shaving cream and corn starch...uh, another dumb idea. I would put it in some sort of container next time, and do it all without hands. Live and learn.

So, we cleaned up that mess when the rocks were ready, and I don't know that we will try that recipe again. 

The rocks on the other hand were so much fun, and I even couldn't stop coloring on the hot rocks. It was a perfect activity for both of my kids, and I can see us doing this a lot. Who doesn't have loads of crayons, and rocks?! Easy and free. Definitely my type of craft.

*** 

Saturday Paul and Savannah went to Idaho, and I was left to fend for myself with the babies. Good thing I have a really awesome friend that doesn't mind going to an early dinner at Popeye's, and walk around the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country with my kids.  It took up most of our afternoon, and was the perfect distraction for me...because I needed one.

***

Today is prep day for our Cupcake Wars party tomorrow. Can't wait to tell you about it.

Summer: Day 4

Hallelujah people! I ran my normal routine yesterday, and magically we had a better day. 

It is nice to not wake up to an alarm clock, and I feel like I could really get use to these quiet mornings. I love walking in to Savannah laying on her bed reading, and Devin using his LeapFrog Tag system to read by himself. The TV has rarely come on, and it makes our house feel much more calm.

We went to Daybreak beach in the afternoon, and we planned to stay a couple of hours...but didn't quite make it. I have a hard time in the heat, especially when you can't get in the water to cool off. Sabrina turned bright red as soon as we got there, and I knew right away she wasn't going to make it as long as the older kids.

{Savannah didn't want a pony tail, Devin didn't want to be in the picture, and Sabrina is worshiping the sun!}

It was fun that Rachel met us there with her little girl. I loved being able to chat about social media, blogs, and doing a little preschool for our kids in the Fall. 

I have been lucky to have so many friends that want to go on these adventures with us, friends always make it more fun!

You know you had a good trip to the beach when you have to sweep and vacuum every part the house we walked in to get to the showers. I am not even sure the sand will ever come out of Sabrina's pants. I definitely need to plan a water park/splash pad soon so I can wear a swimming suit...this farmers tan I have goin' is not hot. 

I had plans to spend another day outside today, but instead of going and doing...I am using my "fun for the kids" board on Pinterest to plan out something different.

I plan on doing these hot rocks, because we have a lot of rocks...and crayons. I have really wanted to try this fun foam, because I just recently trashed all of our play dough. 

Happy weekend folks. I know what I am doing this weekend, nothing but sittin' on my bootay.

Summer: Day 3

Here is where I tell you day 3 was mostly a fail. Wah, wah, wah!

I decided that I wanted to run my schedule backwards, and it was not as successful. That is what I get for trying to beat the heat, and go to the park first thing in the morning. Lesson learned.

We had a blast, like so much fun I lost track of time. We went to Copperton Park, which is a favorite that we haven't gone to nearly enough.

We rolled out of bed, ate breakfast, cleaned a little, and then headed over to meet our friends.

Word to the wise if you go to this park, watch out for the grumpy old grounds keeper. He will yell at little 3 year old boys for playing in the water fountain. He doesn't approve of this. It made me sad, because our boys were having so much fun, and I even took pictures of their water fight. Blarg. Maybe it was wasting a little water, but they are 3 year olds...and boys. Oh well. 

We played for 2 hours, and that meant it was Devin and Bina's nap time when we got in the car. They fell asleep as soon as the car got rollin', and whenever that happens...it never ends well.

We went straight from the park to lunch and dessert with Daddy. Everything was fine until we got home, and Devin started becoming really tired. There is always that sketchy time of giving late naps, and them never going to bed at night. I decided to not do naps, and by 7:00...I was screamin' UNCLE!

I am hoping that today I can get back in my groove, and planned Daybreak Beach with friends in the afternoon...after good naps. :)

Week 1 is almost over, and I am sad because I know how fast this Summer is going to go for us. Even though it wasn't a spectacular day, I still got to sleep in...and that is always a good thing in my book.

Play date: Tracy Aviary

With the Pass of All Passes you can get in to the Tracy Aviary for just $1 per person on Tuesdays. I knew this week would be less crowded, because school is still in session in some parts of our area. So I planned a play date in the afternoon on my Facebook page {like it if you wanna be in the know for the next one!}. 

We repeated our routine from yesterday in the morning. I did snap at Paul, and had to apologize...but other than that it went pretty smoothly. Sabrina even got in a decent nap before it was time to head out.

We have not been to Tracy Aviary since they did the update, and I have to say I was really impressed. I definitely didn't plan enough time to do and see everything that I wanted.

We took our time, and the kids enjoyed this date a lot. This will be something we do again very soon.

I love that you can find shade easily, and you can pay the quarter to feed the ducks. Note to self: the kids would have liked to spend more time digging in the sand pit.

{Making my lady friends take my challenge with me.}

***

The kids really wanted to have water fight when we got home, and so it was the perfect distraction for them while I cooked dinner. 

Today was another day of pretty good balance, IMO. We cleaned, read, napped, and didn't watch any TV...and still had plenty of fun.

Wednesday's plan is a new park, and I hope to come up with an art project of some sort. Pinterest is totally coming in handy this Summer. 

Summer: Day 1

When I would think about being a stay at home Mom, I dreamed of days that went exactly like today did. I don't know if it was my Summer beginners luck, but today went perfect. I went to bed giving myself a big pat on the back.

My schedule that I had for our first day was:

Wake up {not early}, eat breakfast, feed Zoe, clean, and do our favorite pajamas in the park. Our afternoon we would venture to the Library to sign up for some Summer reading programs, run errands, eat Dinner out, and ride bikes.

Everything ran just as I had hoped, we got home from the park just in time for Sabrina's nap. While she napped, I got ready for the day...and the kids played {nicely, I might add}. When I got done, it was lunch and Devin's nap. I decided that because Savannah doesn't nap, and the other 2 do, she would need to have quiet time during the same time. She colored and read books in my bed with me, while I had quiet time too.

Devin took almost a 4 hour nap, it was ridiculously awesome. I finally woke him up, when it was time to have more fun.

We headed to the Library, and to run errands. Did you know they even have a Summer reading program for babies? I didn't. We made some reading goals, checked out some new books {Boxcar Children and Baby-sitters Club!!}, and headed home excited to start something new. 

It was a full day of fun. Savannah declared this the best first day of Summer ever, and that made me feel good. It goes to show you, you really don't have to do anything extravagant, or spend lots of money for your kids to have fun every day. 

Tuesday's plan is Tracy Aviary. I will report tomorrow. :)

PS I have a love/hate relationship with these beads, but if you want to occupy hours of time {like we have}...go purchase these, like soon.