Apologizing

I read a interesting article tonight.
It's not rocket science....but it made me think.
I often neglect to apologize to my child.
When I screw up...when I blow up.....when I am selfish where she is concerned.

I will apologize to her more often....not just because I "should" but
because of what it "means" to her.

You can find the article HERE

The Chalkboard

Our chalkboard.
It's my most favorite thing in our house.
I LOVE changing it....I love when Mr. JaneSays and Chloe write on it and I don't know they have...it's a pleasant surprise.
It's great for lists, announcements, notes and inspiration.
Enjoy some of our chalking.

Couple of Thangs

I had a free afternoon.
What better to do with a free afternoon than thrift or antique ?
I dialed up Mom, I knew she would be a willing participant.
I did not buy one thing....sad but true.
Saw a few things I liked but really I'm out of space...I have
zero room for anything else.
I really liked this PAINTS sign.
It was gigantic.
I really have no where it would fit, comfortably....wish I did.

And oh...this outdoor set.
Look at the cushions...swoon.....there was a covered swing
2 chairs and 2 tables that matched.
What a beauty.

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Time to get out the sparklers and firecrackers.
It's getting dark and Chloe is chompin' at the bit.
Ta ta....

Tubular Owls

I have always kept toilet paper rolls
and paper towel rolls
just in case we needed them.
but I always end up tossing them after I collect a few because I
never have big plans for them.
Well after I saw this post
I collected me a little pile of tubes
for a finally worthy creation.

First cut your longer tubes in half (if you like)
and then paint them all
and allow them to dry.
Smush each side down towards the inside of the tube until you get ears.

Apply your eyes.
We used some googly eyes
and made our own out of black and white felt too.
Cut and glue on beaks.
The beak is just a triangle.
We used mustard colored felt, you could use fabric or painted cardboard.
Love the cross-eyed one.
Next cut wings from paper or fabric we used fabric.

Each owl gets 2 wings so they will be the same fold your fabric or paper over and cut
2 at the same time.
Cut your wings in an eye shape.
Glue these onto the side of your owl.
What a colorful smart little family.
They were way too cute to go nameless.
Meet our owls....Gatorade is my personal favorite.
Cotton Candy is Chloe's favorite.
Raspberry is the one Chloe made especially for her daddy and also the one who takes a plunge
into my kitchen sink daily. I have them lined up on my windowsill above my sink, and every time I turn on the faucet Raspberry gets nudged and into the sink he goes.

He stares me down from the bottom of my sink with those googly eyes until I pick him up and place him safely back on the windowsill and there he nervously awaits his next plunge.

Checkin off the List

Monday we took a real swing at
the Summer To Do List.
Made some scrumptious cupcakes.
Cookies and Cream...of the OREO nature.
Used this recipe.
They were divine.
Only changes I made were
- I baked mine 22 minutes.
- I didn't add any OREOS to the top I thought the ones included in the batter
would be plenty there is too much of a good thing...ya know ?

Cupcakes check.

We went to our local library....we have never been can you believe that ?
Up until now we had no need, with my mom being a retired 1st grade teacher Chloe has had an abundance of books her whole life.
But now, she has outgrown and surpassed all of mom's first grade level books and we need new stuff to read.
I buy a lot of Chloe's books at thrift stores but I knew it would be a great experience for her to get a library card, choose books and check them out herself.
We signed her up, got her card and off we sent to the stacks.
Chloe quickly picked 5 books (which is the limit for a first time checker outer).
Then she was not going to go quietly.....she just had to play on the computers a bit, as if she is not able to get online and play at home...silly...but I obliged her and let her peck around on pbs kids for a bit.
Back at home after we made the cupcakes she sat down and read all 5 books, so she is ready to go back for more tomorrow.

Library check....and a little independence to boot.

Saturday night we made our late night do-nut run, that was kinda a flop. We were all too tired and not in the mood for sugar by the time we got our do-nuts. The best do-nut shop is 45 mins. away and the drive ruined the do-nut mood.

Late Nite Do-Nut Run check.

how are you doing on your Summer list ?

What I'm Reading

Well not what I'm reading but what I read.
The Help is the book I just finished
ok...let me say first if you have quit reading
if you have zero time for reading
get a Kindle or other e-reader.
I had quit reading...... if it didn't have 32 or less pages
with a nice colorful glossy cover and was based on a pirate,
a Spanish speaking Chiuaua, a dinosaur or a fairy I wasn't reading it.

For those of you completely against kindles and the like.....Yes I love print, but I and thankful for my kindle it makes reading simpler
more convenient, more doable for me.
It gave me back reading.

So The Help, when I tell you about a book I read I really only wanna give my opinion, I will not tell you one thing that happens in the book, so you can experience it for yourselves.

This book is wonderful. I was eager to read EVERY day. I was transported back to a time I didn't know......a time where things were VERY different for whites and blacks. I learned a lot from this book a whole lot. I attached myself to several characters and each day as if I knew them personally I switched on my kindle to see how they were doing. I would find myself daydreaming at work about them and feel really silly when I realized I was pondering the situations of fictional characters.....it is that good.

I will say this....the ending left me lonely, I needed more there was soooo much more I need to know about.
Maybe the movie will answer some of the questions I was left with.

Read this book before you see the movie, it is a lovely charming lil' book.

Right now I am reading the book about the little boy who went to heaven, Heaven is For Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Trip of His Trip o Heaven and Back.
About halfway in I am not enjoying this book but maybe I'll press on and I'll fill you in later.

Sparkler Writing Equals Summer Fun

Need a fun Summer activity?
Have some sparklers?
Have a camera with a long exposure setting like the night setting on a SLR camera for instance ?

Yes?
Then you are ready for a very fun and exciting Summer activity.
Wait until its dark, grab your sparklers and head outside.
Sit your camera on a flat surface or use your steadiest hand....long exposures
are just that...they take a long time so you have to hold your camera very still.

(I had my flash firing, if you want your photos all dark don't do that and you can also have your sparkler writers wear all black too, for darker photos )Then have your sparkler artists draw designs, letters, symbols.
It will take practice you will miss shots, you will have blurry shots, and you will have shots where absolutely nothing is happening with the sparkler.
We did this for a long time, its fun and addictive.
We did initials, hearts, start, Mickey Mouse and MORE !!

Go sparkle and have some fun.
Please be safe with your sparklers.