Craft Day: Splatter Painting with Learning

After Bug's birthday, and seeing how some of the painting stations were received amongst the children, I figured I would incorporate certain ones into future craft days. The first one we did a couple of weeks ago was the splatter painting station. We used the sauce brush we bought from Dollarama and 6 different coloured paints. I made this into a learning craft day by incorporating numbers and letters. We have many individual wooden die we have used in a variety of different crafts and learning activities. So I chose one die that was numbered 1 through 6 and the other one lettered "G" through "L". I then labelled 6 plastic cups with one of the letters from the corresponding die. After, we took our canvas outside with the rest of the materials. In each cup, I poured a small amount of paint from 1 of the 6 different colours.

How the craft day panned out started with Bug rolling the number die first. We recognized the number first. Then I got him to roll the letter die. When he vocalized what letter was rolled, I got him to find the corresponding letter cup. Bug then would dip the sauce brush into the paint, stand back and whip his hand towards the canvas. The paint splattered the canvas...and the fence, but who cares when you are having fun. Depending on the number rolled, he would repeat that action with the same colour of paint. When Bug completed the numbered colour whips he rolled, we would start again until we deemed the masterpiece to be complete!

One more masterpiece I get to frame and hang in our house! I love how the artwork turned out. Check out the video to get a clearer image of how the craft was executed!

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Camp Mommy: Fire Bug!

Camp Mommy this week didn't cost me anything! We just used stuff around the house we already had. Bug has a firefighter rain jacket, and he loves using the garden house and spray nozzle to play with water. I figured, why not add the two together and create a fire fighting activity. I had some extra stuff lying around to take it to the next level, but you wouldn't need these things to make it fun. I'm not sure where I got this item; I'm a photographer on the side so I feel it was something that was purchased years ago as an added prop. It's a battery operated emergency light, and I thought it would be perfect to act as our emergency dispatch when we got notifications of a new fire. We left Bear to be in "charge" of this; he was quite enthralled with the rotating light.

We worked on numbers and letters during this activity. The current letters we are working on are "G" through "L". So 6 fires were drawn with chalk throughout our backyard, on the fence, house or sidewalk and then labelled with one of the 6 letters. Our fire dispatches were connect-the-dot images, that once completed would also be one of the 6 letters. Once all of that was prepared, I got Bug dressed in his fire suit and our Camp Mommy day began. Bug loves to spray our dog as well as everything else, so it seemed appropriate that our big pup was his fire dog!

Now that we were all ready, I would turn on our emergency light and exclaim that we had a new fire dispatch. Then we would grab one of the folded connect-the-dot pictures and work our way to find out where the fire was. Bug isn't coordinated enough yet with writing where he could draw the lines to connect the numbers, so I just got him to tell me where we start when we start counting and then to tell me what numbers would come next. After the letter was formed, I got him to identify it and then he grabbed his "fire hose" and went searching for the corresponding fire. Once found, he unleashed his water and enjoyed watching the chalk get washed away. In order to prevent Bug from running to the other chalk fires around the yard, I told him we had to go back to the department and wait for the next dispatch. We would talk, giggle and play with Bear, and then the emergency light would go off and our next dispatch would begin the play all over again. This is firefighter Bug in action!

I ended up having to redraw the fires around our yard to play again, until we didn't have a dry spot left. Bug kept saying cute things like "Uh, oh. There's another emergency" or "we saved all the people". Bear just sat watching all of his big brother's fire fighting skills!

I'm assuming most people wouldn't have a battery operated emergency light; but I'm sure most people have a smart phone of sorts. I'm sure you can find a video of fire trucks or one of siren sounds that you could easily use as your emergency dispatch sound. As for the fireman jacket, it just so happened that our rain jacket looked like that. But the best thing about kids is that their imagination is so vast and extraordinary, and you telling them any jacket is a fireman jacket will result in them running with the idea and having a blast!

I know I keep saying this, but it warms my heart every time...Bug just loves these. After this activity, when we spoke about the fun we had, he asked if we could do more camp mommy's! It's pretty amazing that with a little planning and scheduling in our busy lives, a simple event that didn't cost much can bring such joy to your little one's lives! Seeing as it's already the middle of summer, I'm getting a little bit sad that our summer days are now numbered which in turn means Camp Mommy events will have to be put on hold until next year. But I'm not letting that deter me from having scheduled days with my loves. I'm already looking at a plan for Mrs. Mom Learning Daze, to begin in the fall!

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Camp Mommy: Bug Safari with my Bug!

Today, I was bound and determined to do our Camp Mommy activity. The morning started off with a very cool wind, and potential rain clouds in the sky. So I quickly got our activity ready and went outside to set it up. While I was inside, getting the boys ready, it rained for about 5 minutes and I was worried it was going to be too wet for the kids to handle. But thankfully, the sun came out and even though there was still a wind, it wasn't enough to deter this VDV mommy from completing our much anticipated weekly fun.

From Dollarama, I bought this package of balloons with sticks that you attach to them once they are blown up. I thought this was perfect to use for some number learning and recognition with our event today. Bug already had the Melissa and Doug critter set of a bug hat, some binoculars, a magnifying glass, a bug cage and a number of creepy crawlies. To prepare for our outdoor fun, I wrote numbers on the balloons 1 through 7, and then set them up sporadically around the yard. The balloon sticks worked perfect as I didn't have helium balloons and with the wind, the balloons wouldn't have lasted if they were actually floating attached to string. Under each balloon, I set the corresponding number of bugs on the grass. Once it was all set up, I got Bug to use his binoculars to search for the number 1. Once he correctly recognized it (obviously I have been working with him lots in regards to his numbers because he didn't need any help at all in this department), he used his magnifying glass to look at the bugs. Really, the bugs were big enough you didn't need the magnifying glass, but he loved it nonetheless. Then we opened up his bug cage and counted the bugs as we put them individually in their new home. The process was then started all over again until all the numbers were worked through in consecutive order and the bugs were picked up. Here is a video of our bug safari.

Bear sat watching the fun on a blanket in the yard. I couldn't completely leave him out, so I had purchased him a new bumblebee stuffed toy to stick with the theme. He sat around, throwing him around and laughing, so it's safe to say Bear had fun too!

Once all the bug collecting was completed, I got my Bug to close his eyes and I hid a big yellow centipede in the yard (I showed him the bug first so he knew what he was looking for). Then I told him he could open his eyes and go searching. A lot of our play is geared around Bug finding things or playing hide 'n seek...but it's simply because he loves it so much. After he found the centipede, he wanted to hide it for me to find. He wasn't as stealthy as I was, opting to tell me where he hid it. He also tended to hid it below one of the balloons from our early part of the activity, and would tell me the number of balloon it was hidden under. It just added to more learning for him and continued number recognition.  Here's the video of this added fun.

While we were playing hide 'n seek with our big bug, my Bug would "hide" quite conspicuously behind balloons, thinking he couldn't be seen. It was pretty funny to watch!

Once we came inside, Bear went down for his nap with his new bumblebee friend. Then Bug and I sat and watched "A Bug's Life" while eating our Worms 'n Dirt dessert!

When Bear woke up, we had a little dessert for him too. He didn't eat the gummy worms, as he has a tendency to shove as much food into his mouth as possible so I figured it was safest not to give him a sticky, gummy candy. But he thoroughly enjoyed the Oreo crumbs and chocolate pudding.

All in all, this was another successful Camp Mommy activity! I love seeing how all the on the side learning is paying off...and I love how Bug has just as much fun with the learning activities as he does with the imaginary ones.

PS. If you don't have bugs or any of the extra stuff we used, you can buy a package of little bugs from Dollarama for $1 (I believe there are 10 in the package so buy as many as you need to have enough for the added sum of the numbered balloons). Dollarama also has an insect cage or really any type of container could work...you could even buy insect stickers to add to it so it looks more like an insect house. The binoculars and magnifying glass were just an added bonus, but I'm pretty sure Dollarama has those items too.

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Bug Turns 4!!

Well, I can't believe it. My first born is now a 4 year old. It's crazy how fast time flies. I feel like I can barely remember when he was small enough to lay in my arms, falling asleep soundly while I cuddle him. He's still a very affectionate little man, but his cuddling is now limited to when he wants to do it. He easily gives me hugs and kisses (constantly saying "oh, you forgot me a hug and a keeessss" - exactly how he says it when he wants some love), but cuddles come only when he doesn't want to be jumping off the walls, playing with his toys or just being the goof that he is!

I started off his special day with a little surprise in his room and the hallway just outside. I blew up a bunch of balloons and placed them all on his floor while he was asleep the night before. He has a whiteboard in his room that we change the date on each day, so I also wrote him a big happy birthday greeting. Then in the hallway, I hung a bunch of multi-coloured streamers from the ceiling and a happy birthday banner he got to walk through, throughout the day. He woke up and was thoroughly surprised, with his big smile that melts my heart on a regular basis! I also got him some funny glasses...he's obsessed with sunglasses so these were perfect!



Once he was awake, we made birthday pancake casserole...a new tradition I started with our family this year. This is the recipe that I got off pinterest. If you haven't tried this yet; seriously, you must. It is so good, and you don't have to make individual pancakes. You get the pancake flavor with perfect texture and fluffiness with one cooking process. I added sprinkles to my mixture just for the birthday pancake theme. When I make this breakfast on a regular day, I leave those out. Bug likes anything that resembles a cake, so this is always a hit!

Then we went out for the day, ran a few errands for his birthday dinner and went to a toy store. I promised him that on his birthday we could go to the toy store so he could pick out a special toy. He was all excited for it the days leading up to his birthday; but once at the store and I prompted him to go pick out a toy, he told me "no Mommy, I don't need a toy. I have too many"! Haha...I was shocked!! So we just looked around for a bit, and I finally convinced him to pick something. He found an Etch-A-Sketch and was sold instantly. Great choice my boy.

Once we were home, Bear went down for a nap and then Bug and I started preparing our dinner for the night. We made homemade pizzas, with homemade dough and homemade pizza sauce. With the dough, I also added 1 tsp of thyme, 1 tsp of marjoram, 1 tsp of onion powder and 1 tsp of garlic powder. Bug loved rolling out the dough and putting the toppings on! We also made a jelly roll of sorts for his cake as his big cake was planned for his party on the weekend.



We ended the night with opening presents and some family cuddles. It was a great birthday, and Bug just loved it. He kept saying how he was now 4...again reminding me how quickly this is all going by! So I got in a few extra squeezes that night from Bug and Bear.

Now to his party, which was 4 days after his actual birthday. I really wanted this party to be lots of fun and gear it around entertaining all the kids that were coming. I'm sure we will have more boy themed birthday parties in our future, but we did have a few little beauties coming to the party so I wanted to appeal to their feminine side too. We are a very crafty family, so it only seemed logical to have a painting party. So with the theme decided on, I had to start thinking of a cake. I really wanted to try my hand at baking and decorating something you could potentially find at a bakery. I designed my own cake, in the shape of a paint pallet, with a rice krispie easel and chocolate paint brushes. I try not to be one to brag, but I was so proud of myself for this accomplishment and amazed at how well it turned out! I also made a dozen cupcakes in case there wasn't enough cake to go around. I made smaller chocolate paint brushes to embellish the top of the cupcakes. Honestly, I keep looking at the pictures and I still can't believe how well it turned out. Especially for it being my very first themed birthday cake!

As for the rest of the party, I organized 7 painting stations. Each station had paint, disposable plates to put the paint on and some painting utensil. I wanted to make it fun and a little out of the ordinary for the kids, so what we painted with were items you wouldn't normally think to paint with. We used plungers, a small brush from a dust pan (a really bristley one which left awesome brush strokes), a paint roller wrapped in bubble wrap, small condiment jars filled with paint for drizzle bottles, a rubber sauce brush used for splatter painting, sponges, and a fly swatter (the imprint from this one was actually really cool).  All of these items were purchased at Dollarama and cost about 15 dollars (I bought a couple of each to ensure each kid had something to paint with). I, unfortunately was to busy helping the kids and enjoying myself so I only got a couple of pictures of the action. The first is of Bug painting with the brush, and the second is of him doing the splatter painting.

All the kids had a blast and the finished products were amazing! Bug's is the bottom left corner canvas.

I also went a little overboard and bought some cute canvas aprons from Michaels (they come in a 5 pack and are a bit expensive, but I bought them over the course of the month and used a 40% or 50% coupon each time). I wrote "Artist" on each one with their name underneath, so the kids had a little memento to take home with them and reuse.

For this birthday, and probably ones in the future, I really want my boys parties to be focused around having fun and spending time with friends. I don't want it to be gift oriented; for many reasons. 1) my children have too many toys as it is, and they honestly don't need more. The will get gifts from us and family so getting more from friends just seems to be redundant and a waste of money as many of the toys will probably be forgotten by the end of the day. 2) as a mother of 2, I understand how pricey it can get to buy a toy. I don't want parents to feel obligated to get my son(s) a gift, especially since I just want the kids to come over and have a really rad play date! 3) I want my kids growing up, enjoying the company and excitement that comes with a party...not the expectation that they get a gift. And last but not least 4) kids get bored after opening a few gifts, and they get irritable because they want to actually open the toy and play with it. But we tell them they can't because they have a handful of other gifts they have to open and again, are not allowed to play with. This process alone can take an hour; and really, who has time for that, when the kids can be outside playing or eating paint! Plus, you are left with an ornery kid who is actively thinking about how to make your night full of attitude, temper tantrums and crazy behaviours because you tortured them by dangling new toys in front of them that they have to stare at in it's packaging until their friends leave. So this year, what we told the invitees was to bring a toonie. I bought a little jar to collect the money, and then we would take that money and let Bug go pick out an item from a toy store or buy ice cream or whatever he wants to do with it. This way, we could start teaching him about money, and then he could go to the store and get something that really held his interest and wouldn't end up in the bottom of his toy box! Some how, he still ended up with $51...and I'm not crazy, so 20.5 kids were not invited to this party...hahaha...I'm not that brave!

Once the party ended, and it was just down to the VDV four, Mommy VDV had a nap! Haha...honestly, I did. It was a busy day yesterday preparing so that the day could be pulled off stress free (which it was, and it was truly amazing). And I also like to torture myself and made myself work out after only have 3 hours of sleep (it was my first day off yesterday, getting off of a nightshift). So my husband was awesome and watched the boys while I caught up on some much needed zzzz's (but here I am tonight, catching up on my blog, negating the catch up of my afternoon nap...oh well, I know my priorities). Once awake, I got some cuddles in with my love muffins and Bug and Bear did their daily wrestling, giggling and goofing around.

Bug ended the night cuddling with me, talking about how fun his party was and telling me "I like you, I love you"! My life never feels more fulfilled then when I see the joy in my sons' eyes and smiles...and truly know that I have made their day! This is what I strive for as a mom, to create moments like these.

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Camp (travelling) Mommy: Neighbourhood Scavenger Hunt

This week's Camp Mommy was extremely cheap; however, some preparation was needed. The VDV four went on a mini vacation to the Great Canadian North to celebrate a very important, surprise 50th birthday party. I didn't take any time off work, so our vacation was limited to the 4 days off I have every set. With my whole time off work being occupied with our travelling and family visiting, we wouldn't arrive back in Calgary in time to do Camp Mommy before I started back to work for my set on. So, I looked at the list (yes I have a list of all the activities I'd like to do with the boys this summer), and chose one of the easiest ideas to plan for our excursion up north. I had to do some research with family in the small town we were visiting, as I live in a large city so anything I put on the list, I'm sure we can easily find here. This town we were going to though, has a population of about 1200 people and obviously isn't structurally built like a big city. So, I came up with a list of items we could go searching for throughout the town, and double checked with our family up there to make sure these items could be found by my four year old's eyes. Then I printed off a list and packed it in our suitcase. Bug loves searching for things, so this was another big hit. He also loves lists and anything that resembles a booklet of instructions, so he held onto his folded checklist and referenced to it many times during our hunt.

This was also a great way to explore the new town we were visiting. It got Bug out of the house, searching for items and getting exercise. He would run up to something he remembered seeing on the list...which ended up making this somewhat of a memory game too!

I couldn't not do Camp Mommy this week...Bug asks for our fun weekly activity all the time, and I didn't want the fact that we were travelling to be an excuse not to do it. Even though I think he probably wouldn't have minded as we were busy with family events and parties, it was nice to bring a little bit of our normal routine from home. Plus, it brings a huge smile to my face when I see the reaction the words, "it's time for Camp Mommy" elicit from my goofy boy!

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