Museum of Paleontology

I've been meaning to take the kids here all summer long, but we finally got to go, and the kids had such a great time. The museum is small and not at all overwhelming There is a lot to look at, and it is mixed with some things that are hands on.  Here's some pictures :)

So interesting!

Matthew was into it too!

Allosaurus

Look at that face! They were amazed to see real dinosaur eggs

Trying to get Matthew to pose... lol

Dinosaur puzzle!

Matthew was fascinated by climbing the stairs

Digging for Fossils

Beach fun!

Canoeing in the Ocean! Auntie Grace, William, Joshua, Uncle Johnny

 

 

It was such a fun place to go, because we could take turns in the canoe, and the rest of us could play in the water. What was wonderful was that there were no big waves, so the kids could play safely.  There were also birds, and Matthew loved chasing and feeding them. 

Playing.. with a bottle of Pedialyte :)

Ellen and Kathryn making sand castles

Joshua digging for Plesiosaurs.  (What else would he do?!)

Kathryn running on the beach

Ellen!

Grandma and Matthew

Auntie Sarah with Nathan and Kathryn

We also went to a sand "mountain".  They wasted no time in climbing it, jumping off of it. So fun!

Nathan getting ready for a jump

Matthew even was determined to climb to the top

Girls collecting shells

What a fun day. We also enjoyed the visit with Auntie Grace.  So sorry the whole family couldn't be here, but what fun to see her!

(Oh the look from Joshua.. so funny to me!)

Slip and Slide

Kids playing outside! We had a great time :)  They always get to play with Nathan and Ellen, cousins who live next door. It's so fun to see them play together and enjoy each other!!

Strawberry cloth!

I finished a skirt for Kathryn, and she loves it.  (As do I! )  Using a tutorial found here .  It is ruffled and pretty and pink and has strawberries all over it.  So fun. 

I also used this wonderful material (bought at JoAnn's) to make an apron for my best friend's daughter.  I actually ended up making it reversible, which was fun.

Strawberry Side

And "Gardening Side" (as Kathryn said)

Love how the "pocket" turned out 

Oh how I love to make things.  Next up: I must sew something for my boys!

Painting Wooden bird houses!

Matthew painted some of the roof... but then got bored and tried to paint his high chair and eat the paintbrush... so I took over

Kathryn wanted it all green, so focused! She did paint a flower and grass on the back after it dried

Joshua painting.. with the dinosaur watching him. (That's an Elasmosaurus, in case you were wondering. Oh the things you learn as a boy's mommy!)

And my William, painting with a smile.

 Nathan and Ellen came over to visit, and did a great job on their tractor and telephone.  We love living close to cousins!




I then made a display above Kathryn's bed with the bird houses.  Since the kids are all sharing a room right now, I have to make a girl space in the boy's jungle room.  She had a fairy canopy I had to take down for space issues, but she still has pictures of  Tinkerbell all over her wall.  I found this adorable little shelf at a thrift store, and with the bird houses and Fairies from the Disney Store, I think it looks great! And the kids are so proud that their painted birdhouses are part of the decorations in their room.

Chore Chart

So I made something... our family needed this Chore Chart to help organize the things we do every day.  I had been using charts that I would print out on paper, and the kids would put stickers up every day.  It was very consumable so I wanted to do something that lasted longer.  Plus, I had to make copies every week and sometimes I just didn't do it!

Hello, new chore chart!

I made it from the back side of a cork board (so I can still use the cork board),
I cut a piece of cloth from a pillowcase, folded two placemats in half and sewed each to the cloth, creating 5 pockets in each.
Using a scrap of black vinyl, I made a center strip.
I used Mod Podge to attach the cloth to the back of a cork board, and the strip to the center.
Then I attached the brown ribbon all around the edges to finish it off. 
I used scrapbook paper and stickers to make our labels.  M&D = Mom and Dad, and the first initial for each kid. I used fat popsicle sticks to make our job labels.


The kids are really excited about completing their jobs.  The jobs they have to do are on the top pockets, the jobs they complete, they put the popsicle stick into the bottom pocket.  At the end of the day I trade each job completed for one "kid buck", 2 extra if they finish all the jobs assigned.  If they work extra hard or do something wonderful I give extra kid bucks.  Then they turn the kid bucks in for special things.  5 gets a 'treat', 15 gets 20 minutes of game time (my way out of the constant asking for games... they have to earn it! )  If they save up 100, I will give them $5 to spend or save as they wish.  So far, this has been working great.  And right now, game time and treats are more fun and exciting than real money! I'll probably keep readjusting things as necessary, but I'm so happy to finally have a workable chore chart that isn't just something I throw away every week.  This way, the kids can have different jobs to do every day, it can change as needed.

They think that it is great that Mom and Dad have chores to do too... but it is important for them to see that everyone works hard in this family :)

(Sharing/linking here: Sumo's Sweet Stuff  and here

 So fun to see all the creations people make!)