What I've been doing while the computer is turned off...

Well, I've pretty much been completely off the computer for the last 2 weeks and its been crazy! I've been so busy each day that by the time the computer goes back on, I'm too tired to use it! Thus, the post at 9:30 in the morning. My kiddos have contracted some evil coughing bug and we are stuck at home and in bed, so I thought I would take some time to catch up on blogging (luckily Kevin forgot to lock the computer this morning!) Here is a little of what I've been using my extra time for:

(Click HERE for the recipe)

Kevin and I BOTH have been cooking tons of fun and semi-healthy food for our family in our spare time. This is the Pork Salad from Cafe Rio that we made for my birthday. YUMMO!

I've spent a lot of time getting Lily used to the idea of the potty. Not potty training yet... just helping her overcome her fear of sitting over a gaping hole with a sucking whirlpool inside threatening to swallow her up to her impending doom.

I've also been able to have one on one time with the girls and teach them more about the world around them.

And when we're not doing one on one, we've been able to play together. I don't have any pictures of it (because we were playing) but last night we played pillow hop and then spent an hour riding our sleeping bag down the stairs. So much fun!

We've been able to exercise EVERY DAY too! I have now completed 9 days in a row of the 30 Day Shred with Jillian Michaels, and several of those days the girls worked out with me. We've also been able to play outside and go on some very fun walks (thanks to a surprisingly warm Chicago November!)

(Click HERE to see where I bought the pattern)

And when the girls have been napping, Mommy's been busy making Christmas presents! We decided to have a completely homemade Christmas this year and thanks to months of addictive behavior on Pinterest, I've gathered tons of ideas that have finally been able to be put to good use. I started with these crocheted puppy dogs...

(These patterns are FREE! Click HERE to get them)

...and last night I finished these Barn Yard Hand Puppets! I still have to make the barn curtain for these, but so far they look pretty good.

Anyway, I AM tired, but I am having a blast utilizing my newly found time. How are you all doing on your internet goals? I would love to hear from you!

Outdoor Adventures: Pilgrims and Indians by Erin Uda

This week we’re going back in time to experience life as a Pilgrim or an Indian. Create a teepee in your yard using an online pattern, or a sheet and some sticks/PVC pipes. Let the kids help you tie, sew, and decorate. If you’re not crafty, feel free to use a tent and some imagination.

(Click HERE for image source and the pattern to make this Teepee)

If the teepee is a bit too involved for you, try making a fort using blankets, chairs, and books or tarps and rope. You can pretend to be the Pilgrims instead of the Indians.

Or do both – first be Indians, then be Pilgrims.

Spend a few hours living outside and learning what they went through that first winter. You could make it an immersive experience, actually having them carry buckets of water around and trying to re-create their simple, impoverished lives; or you could keep it fun and light by simply reading books and telling stories together in the teepee or fort once it’s finished, and then leaving it up for them to play in for a few days.

When it gets closer to Thanksgiving, plan a children’s feast. Bring the meal outside and talk about the first thanksgiving, the pilgrims, the Indians, and how they worked together and helped each other.

And remember to dress the part! Make a feather headdress and a paper grocery sack vest or a Pilgrim hat/bonnet and buckles for your shoes.

Recommended Reading:

• Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation, Diane Stanley
• Alligator arrived with apples: a potluck alphabet feast, Crescent Dragonwagon
• Friendship’s First Thanksgiving, William Accorsi
• I know an old lady who swallowed a pie, Alison Jackson
• Thanksgiving Day, Anne F. Rockwell

The "G" Date

Yesterday, Kevin and I had our "G" Date. So, as soon as Kevin returned home from work, we loaded the Girls into their stroller, and headed out for some Geocaching! There were Gobs of caches near our home and it didn't take long before we were Gallivanting around with our GPS to find these random treasures. The trail lead us through Gaggles of Geese (and Goose poop), Giant corn fields, and Gnarly forests. We ended up finding 2 Groovy caches before Going to Get some ice cream and then heading home for a Good night's sleep!

Anyway, it turned out to be a Great date enjoyed by all, and one that can be enjoyed for Generations to come. If you are interested in learning more about Geocaching, go to http://www.geocaching.com.

Outdoor Adventures: Winter Fashion Show by Erin Uda

This week I've been getting a little behind on computer stuff now that I am trying to avoid it during my "work hours". So today I had to convinced my hubby that I could practice self control if he left the computer unlocked, and that I would only use it during nap time! Well, it is now nap time and I have another fantastic post for you from my sister Erin. Enjoy!

Naomi

Winter Fashion Show

It’s finally starting to get cold outside, and for those of us who can’t wait to start wearing our favorite winter gear, this activity is for you.

This week, host an outdoor winter fashion show using what’s in your closets. Pull out a few pieces of your child’s favorite winter clothing – snow suits, striped tights, boots – and walk the runway outside.

Set up an area in your yard or at the park for the kids to walk up and down and show off their new (and old) winter clothes. Pull out a few props, like a snowboard or sled, or invite your neighbors and friends to make it even more fun. An elevated catwalk (try using the park tables) lets everyone have a good view of the action.

See how many unique winter outfits you can create with what you already have. If you need some fashion inspiration, spend a few minutes with your kids looking at their favorite stores’ websites. How are the pint-sized fashion plates dressed? Or ask yourselves: Where do we like to go and what do we like to do in the winter? Then create activity-appropriate outfits. If you need a little bit of creative direction, try picking outfits for the following categories: winter sports, school day, play time, party wear, pajamas, or holiday.

Consider using an older sibling or parent as the announcer, and another as a photographer. Prepare an introduction for each child and be ready with some witty comments about each outfit while the kids are showing off. And remember the music!

Take a picture of each child’s outfits. Hang them on the inside of their closet door or put them in a book so your child can find her favorite outfit quickly when it’s time to get ready. You could also include a few pictures of hairstyles to choose from, making mornings a little bit easier.

If you’d rather show each piece individually, you could lay the clothes out on the floor to make a collage, or use a site like THIS ONE to make a personalized outfit collage using items found on your favorite store’s website.

Recommended Reading:

• The Emperor’s New Clothes, Hans Christian Anderson
• Ella Sarah Gets Dressed, Margaret Chodos-Irvine
• Fancy Nancy, Jane O’Connor
• All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go, Daniel M. Joseph
• Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing, Judi Barrett
• The Kettles Get New Clothes, Dayle Ann Dodds

Because sometimes Mommies need discipline too...

I've joked around about it a time or two, but last week I came to the realization that I ABSOLUTELY have a real life addiction to the computer, and a real life addiction to food. Sure, a lot of moms love a chocolaty snack and a little computer time... but I seem to be incapable of controlling my need for both. Let me give you an un-exaggerated, true example:

The situation? The other day I woke up, stayed in my PJ's, gave my kiddos yogurt and grapes, plugged them into the TV, and then sat and surfed Pinterest and Facebook for 3 hours! When I finally realized how much time I had wasted and how long my kids had been watching TV, I decided to FINALLY get myself and my kids out of our PJ's and attempt making a recipe from pinterest rather than just staring at one. So we all got dressed and then made some of the most amazing cookies on the planet earth... but then what? Well, then we all ate a cookie and some lunch, Lily went down for a nap, Brooklyn went up to her room to color for quiet time, and I sat back down at the computer desk and ate 15 cookies BY MYSELF whilst wasting my time (and simultaneously storing extra calories) checking, and rechecking my email and facebook to see if anything new happened in the last 30 seconds. Its sad but true. I thought long and hard about this situation (that happens more than I'd like to admit) and decided I would put an end to it. I threw away all the yummy snacks in my cupboards and turned off the computer in hopes of having more productive and meaningful days.

The problem? I still had ingredients to make snacks when a craving hit (and I did). Also, my kids are very independent and easily entertained, so I had too much time on my hands and chose to use it playing around on the computer since I still had the power to turn the computer on. Every time I passed the darn thing I turned it on and compulsively checked my emails and my favorite blogs... and every time I passed the kitchen, something new and yummy entered my mouth, and incidentally, my already full belly.

Moral of the story? Sometimes mommies need discipline too, and sometimes they can't give it to themselves. I realized I actually needed help. I identified the root of the problem: I often feel lonely in the stay-at-home mom universe and I turn to food and the computer to fill the void. Then I asked for help! I asked my wonderful and always supportive husband to take ALL the Halloween candy to work and only bring home one piece per child each day. I made him throw away all the cookies, cake, and frosting in our fridge and on our counters. And then I had him do the unthinkable! I made him lock the computer. That's right! Last week every morning before he left to work, my husband locked our computer so I could not access it. Then when he got home he unlocked it.

Why so extreme? Well, I recognized my need for purpose and motivation when trying to overcome a problem, and I needed to see my role as a stay-at-home mom as a job that starts at 8 am and ends at 5 pm. After that, parenting is a joint effort shared between my wonderful husband and myself. But during those hours it is my responsibility to teach and care for my children. And like many work places, the employee (me) should not be allowed to waste work hours on websites like pinterest and facebook.

The result? Last week was the funnest and most tiring week I've ever had with my children! When they colored, I colored with them. When they ate, I ate with them. When they ran around outside, I ran with them. I did not merely sit and observe their activities, I became an itrigul part of them, teaching along the way. I had so much fun and so did they. On top of that, my house was clean each night when my husband came home from work, and dinner was on the stove! And our whole family slept better than ever at the end of each active and productive day!

The point? If you are struggling with an addiction yourself, ASK FOR HELP. Sometimes we just can't do everything by ourselves. And sometimes we just need a little discipline enforced by people we love, and who we know love us as well. Obviously I am still using the computer, but I am learning moderation. For the next 3 days my husband is out of town for work and he left the computer unlocked for me. After a week of going without, I am trying to catch up on blogging, but still trying to remember to use moderation and to play with my kids. I think this will be a long process but one that will really make a difference in my life and the lives of my family members. All addictions, no matter how harmless they seem, cause damage to the addicted person and those they love. But I will overcome my vices! Wish me luck!

Naomi

Outdoor Adventures: Family History - Graveyard Visit by Erin Uda

(Click HERE for image source)

This week we’re visiting a GRAVEYARD. A bit creepy, I know, but I thought it would be appropriate for the Halloween season.

(Click HERE for image source)

Most graveyards are peaceful, and have beautiful, artistic elements incorporated into the headstones or markers. And some, especially those that are older, feel more like cities than fields. The sepulchers look like houses, and entire families are buried there. Others, like the military graveyard in Arlington, have rows and rows of crosses or stars representing the vast number of soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom.

(Click HERE for image source)

Be sure to do some research before you go, so you choose an appropriate site. You can visit THIS slightly morbid, but incredibly interesting site to find graveyards nearby with famous (or slightly famous) residents. For instance, I learned that the man who invented disposable diapers is buried in the Provo, UT Cemetery!

If you have relatives buried nearby, make a special effort to visit their graves. Spend some time talking to your child about family and ancestors. Tell her about your family when you were little, and about a relative whom you loved and has since passed on. Has your child experienced loss yet? If so, this might be a good time to talk about it. If you like, leave a flower or other token on their grave before you go.

(Click HERE for image source)

If you don’t have family nearby, do your best to visit the oldest graveyard in your area. Look at the markers and headstones and try to discover something about the people there. Talk about how the world was different when they were alive and what their lives may have been like when they were little.

If it’s a nice day, take a picnic with you. Enjoy your meal in a beautiful, peaceful spot.

Graveyards are quiet places that allow us to see life from a different perspective. While you’re there, take a few minutes to sit and think about the things you want to accomplish in your life. How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone?

Activity- find the following:

• A bench
• Someone who was over 75 years old
• Someone who was less than 5 years old
• Someone born before 1900
• A famous person
• A picture or statue of an angel
• A very old tree
• Someone with the same first name
• Someone you’re related to (if possible)
• A poem

When you get home, try a few activities that focus on your family’s history.

Go through your family photos. Talk about each person in your family with your child and try to learn something new about them. Talk about where your ancestors lived and what things they would have done when they were younger.

If you have old family records or journals, read a few excerpts or act out a story you find.

Create a family tree. You can do this in so many fun, crafty ways. To make the standard version, write your child’s name on the left side of your paper; to the right make a sideways V with the open side facing away from the name. Now write the parents’ names, one at each point of the V. Continue to write names until you’re stumped.

If you have a lot of pictures of family members, try making a family collage in the general shape of a tree. Or just put them together in a book from the youngest to the oldest, grouped by families.

(Click HERE for image source)

If you live close enough to your relatives, try a thumbprint tree. It’s so cute to see everyone’s green thumbprints look like leaves at the ends of the branches. Click THIS link for a template.

If you’re interested in finding more names for your family tree, you can download FREE Personal
Ancestry File (PAF) software at THIS LINK. They also have a ton of ideas for finding more family names.

Recommended Reading:

• The Kids’ Family Tree Book, Caroline Leavitt
• Fancy Nancy: My Family History, Jane O’Connor
• Me and My Family Tree, Joan Sweeney
• Evie Finds Her Family Tree, Ashley B. Ransburg 

The "F" Date

Yesterday was our "F" date! So, Kevin decided to make it a Family date and had planned to take ALL the Females living under his roof on a Fishing trip...but when the plans Fell through, he decided to take us to Johansen's Farm instead. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the Flu and was banished to the house until I started Feeling better :(

But that's OK. The rest of the Family enjoyed a Fun Filled afternoon petting Farm animals, Frolicking in the hay, Feigning Fright in the haunted corn maze, pretending to Free Willy, Flipping in the bounce house, and Falling down giant slides!

It turned out to be a great evening for Kevin and the girls, and I was able to get some much needed rest whilst watching the Food network in my Fuzzy pajamas :) Stay tuned for the "G" date, and as always, Feel Free to share your date ideas with us ANYTIME!

Pumpkin Carving and Pumpkin Seed Recipes!

Last night for Family Home Evening we decorated PUMPKINS for our front porch! 

 We started out the night by getting the girls all geared up for some painting. They loved swirling colors all over their little orange friends... and then their hands, faces, and chairs! :) And while they were painting the town, Kevin and I started carving our own pumpkins.

Kevin carved this fantastic Cannibal Pumpkin (complements of Pinterest) and its accompanying victim. Lily had unfortunately become very attached to the little pumpkin and was very upset when she saw it being eaten!

I also stole some inspiration from Pinterest and carved this fun little Puking Pumpkin. Brooklyn and Lily both worked VERY hard with me to separate the seeds from the pumpkin puke so we could bake them today.

The girls' pumpkins both came out resembling "modern art" and they are both very proud of their creative efforts!

Side by side our pumpkins make a pretty fun scene. Our neighbor even took a moment to stop and complement them (which made me feel good since his porch is TOTALLY decked out for Halloween!)

l

Anyway, this is what our porch looks like right now. Not much when it comes to decorating, but it is enough to make my girls happy and to leave me with a little less stress and a little extra spending money!

As for those seeds... Brooklyn and I got them all seasoned up and baked today and they turned out great! In fact, I offered Brooklyn some cookie dough after lunch and she turned it down with a request for seeds instead! I didn't think that was possible.

When the seeds were all done, we sat down together on the couch and munched on them whilst reading Halloween books under a blanket. It was AWESOME!

If you are looking for some good Pumpkin Seed Recipes, we borrowed THIS ONE from 100Cookbooks.com:

Curried Pumpkin Seeds

1 egg white
2 teaspoon curry powder
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grained sea salt
1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 375.

In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the egg white, curry powder and salt. Add the pumpkin seeds and toss well. Drain off any excess egg white (using a strainer) and place seeds in a single layer across a baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes or until seeds are golden. Sprinkle with a bit more curry powder when they come out of the oven. Taste and season with more salt if needed.

Makes one cup.

And then we made our own by mixing 1 Cup of seeds with 2 Tablespoons of melted garlic butter, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, spreading it out on a pan, and baking at 375 for 14 minutes. YUMMO!

Outdoor Adventures: Pumpkins by Erin Uda

This week, try to visit a pumpkin patch with your children to see where the bright orange gourd is grown. Look at all the varieties; shapes, sizes, colors. Pick your own if you can and take it home to decorate.

Did you know pumpkins are related to cucumbers? On your way to the pumpkin patch, you might want to play a quiz game using some little-known facts about pumpkins. Print out the following facts:

• What kind of vegetable is a pumpkin? Trick question. A pumpkin is a fruit; specifically, a squash.
• How many continents do pumpkins grow on? Pumpkins grow on 6 out of 7 continents, even in Alaska!
• What is the (self-proclaimed) pumpkin capital of the world? Morton, IL (This is also the corporate base of Libby’s Pumpkin.)
• Who was the first person to carve a pumpkin? The Irish. They originally carved turnips for All Hallow’s Eve, but when Irish immigrants found pumpkins they liked carving them better.
• Is the orange part of the pumpkin the only part you can eat? No. Pumpkin flowers are also edible.
• How big can you make a pumpkin pie? The biggest pumpkin pie ever made was over 5 feet wide!
• How much water is in a pumpkin? Pumpkins are 90% water; watermelons are 92%.
• Are pumpkins healthy for you? Yes, before we add sugar! Pumpkins have Vitamin A and potassium, plus fiber.
• What is the most famous pumpkin vehicle? Cinderella’s chariot.
• How much did the biggest pumpkin weigh? The heaviest pumpkin weighed 1,140 pounds

Or you can study The parts of a pumpkin together!

There are many other fun fall activities, like hay rides, farm visits, and corn mazes. If you don’t plan to visit one of these venues, try making your own this week:

Corn Maze: Make your own maze in your backyard. Bring some kitchen chairs outside and arrange them in a winding pattern; backs facing backs to form a path. Cover them with blankets (either over just the chair, or over the top as well) and you have a simple maze.

Hay Ride: Break out the wagon and take your little ones on a tour of the neighborhood. Keep an eye out for fun porch decorations and decide which houses you think will be the most fun to visit next week. Better yet, let them wear their costumes on the ride.

Petting Zoo: All these farm activities make me feel the need to find a petting zoo. If there isn’t one close to where you live, try to find an inexpensive alternative. There may be a horse pasture relatively close, or a pet store or breeder who wouldn’t mind having you visit the animals.

Recommended Reading:

• It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!, Charles M Schultz
• Pumpkin Jack, Will Hubbell
• Too Many Pumpkins, Linda White
• The Runaway Pumpkin, Kevin Lewis
• Big Pumpkin, Erica Silverman
• The Night Before Halloween, Natasha Wing

P.S. A side note from Naomi: I just added a new tab at the top-left of the page called "Calendar". If you go to it, you will be able to see all the themes and activities I am planning for each week. Click on an activity and get some ideas of how to do it yourself. If you click on today's date there will be several links for fun pumpkin carving ideas. Enjoy!

-Naomi

Halloween Sneak Peek...

For Halloween this year, Brooklyn put in a special request to be dressed up as a "Pink Cowgirl" with a pink horse. And because the only thing I love about Halloween (besides gorging myself with sweet-chocolatey-goodness) is watching my kids dress up and party... I caved!

So, I jumped onto dandee-designs.com and pulled up the HOBBY HORSE TUTORIAL and got to work! An old fuzzy sock, plunger, some felt, safety eyes, twine, and a little yarn later, we had this guy all ready to ride!

I know its not the most beautiful horse around, but it is pink, and it does match Brooklyn's pink boots. (And in my line of work, that counts for something!)

Now I just need to find her a pink cowgirl hat and we should be good to go. Oh yeah! and in case you were wondering... she will be accompanied on her trick-or-treating adventures by her little sister dressed as a baby cow, her daddy dressed as a cowboy, and her mom dressed as a mommy cow... Sexy... I know ;)

CHOCOLATE!!!

Yesterday I had one of those insane chocolate cravings that I FREQUENTLY get, but didn't have any chocolate in the house. So, I did what any desperate woman would do and hopped on PINTEREST to find a quick chocolatey recipe to save the day.

It didn't take long before I stumbled on THIS chocolate gem that just happens to be LOADED with chocolate, and at the same time, its gluten and lactose FREE! (But I assure you, it is NOT fat free!) Enjoy!

Flourless Fudge Cookies

• 2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional, I didn't use any and the cookies were still incredible)
• 1 cup cocoa powder, Dutch Process preferred (For darker, richer-looking cookies, substitute 1/4 cup black cocoa for 1/4 cup of the Dutch-process cocoa)
• 3 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract

Directions

1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease two baking sheets. Or line with parchment, and grease the parchment.

2) Stir together all of the ingredients till smooth. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl, and stir again till smooth.

3) Drop the soft, batter-like dough onto the prepared baking sheets in 1 1/2" circles; a tablespoon cookie scoop works well here.

4) Bake the cookies for 8 minutes; they should spread, become somewhat shiny, and develop faintly crackly tops.

5) Remove the cookies from the oven, and allow them to cool right on the pan.

6) Yield: 16 large (3") cookies.

Nutrition information

 

Serving Size: 1 cookie, 29g Servings Per Batch: 16 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 80 Calories from Fat: 10 Total Fat: 3g Saturated Fat: 0g Trans Fat: 0g. Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 47mg Total Carbohydrate: 18g Dietary Fiber: 1g Sugars: 17g Protein: 1g. 

Hints: I read through the comment section of the original recipe and saw that tons of people had trouble with the batter being too thin. I did NOT have that problem. When I mixed the ingredients I used my Kitchen Aid at top speed with the whisk attachment. It made my batter stiff and sticky. The result? Instead of having flat cookies that spread, my cookies held their shape EXACTLY as I had placed them (so if you try this you might want to shape them better than I did) and had a crispy outer shell with a fudge-like interior. AMAZING!

Also, I had to cook my cookies for 12 minutes instead of 8, but I've found that I almost always have to cook longer than recipes call for in my oven, so I'm not sure how that will work out in another kitchen. Anyway, good luck and have a chocolate filled day!

Outdoor Adventures: Leaves by Erin Uda (and a quick update)

Erin has another wonderful outdoor post to share with you today, but first a quick update on the Phineas and Ferb Challenge: You saw most of what we did during the week on my last post, but there were several things we did where we didn't bring the camera. Those things included leaf fights and frolicking, long walks, reading under the blankets together, enjoying yummy treats, playing with friends, and having wild dance parties in the living room. It was a fun week and a great opportunity to be reminded how to have unplanned fun. I hope you all had a successful week as well! (Oh yeah! and I forgot to mention, this week we will be focusing on Fall themed activities. Feel free to join along and share your ideas.)

-Naomi 

This week’s post is super simple:

Rake…

Jump…

Repeat!

If the leaves aren’t quite ready to be jumped in yet, here are some other leaf-related ideas:

1. Look at the different colors on the trees as you drive around your neighborhood or a scenic loop. Talk about which tree you like best and why the leaves change color every year.
2. Pick some fall leaves on a nature walk. Dip them in wax, if desired, to keep the color, or press them between the pages of a heavy book; frame your favorites in shadow boxes.
3. Make a Book of Leaves: Pick one leaf from each different type of tree you see (maple, oak, etc). When you get home, find pictures of the full tree online and print them out. Mount each leaf to a piece of paper, and create a book showing your leaves and the trees they come from.
4. Create shapes and animals using the leaves you find. (See Leaf Man for some inspiration, or check out THIS website.)

Recommended Books:

• Leaf Man, Lois Ehlert
• Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, Lois Ehlert
• We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt, Steve Metzger
• Leaves! Leaves! Leaves!, Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
• Leaf Man, Lois Ehlert
• Leaves, David Ezra Stein

Phineas and Ferb Challenge Update

 So far the Phineas and Ferb Challenge is going REALLY well at the Hanks Home!

We've spent a LOT of time playing at the different parks around our house, (indoor and outdoor) as well as taking walks around the complex and neighborhood. The girls have even run a few impromptu races around the sidewalk triangle in front of our house!

Brooklyn has also asked to color several times this week and one day she even asked if she could make a puppet show. So, I printed off some farm animals for her to use and she colored, cut, and glued them together all by herself to make Popsicle stick puppets!

One of my favorite requests this week was to go to the library! When we got there, we read a few books together and then gathered a bunch of books and DVD's to bring home.

Then the girls played with the library toys for about an hour before we decided to head home.

It was so much fun watching them build with the Lego's and play with the other kids. Totally a worth while trip. And when we got home they both sat and read by themselves, to each other, and with me for another hour!

During one of Lily's naps this week, Brooklyn and I played with sidewalk chalk on our front porch.We got to practice drawing all sorts of fun things together and really enjoyed the sunshine at the same time.

Another request this week was to paint pumpkins. I didn't happen to have any laying around so I pulled out some wooden pumpkins on sticks that I had in my craft boxes and we got to work.

Daddy helped the girls paint their pumpkins and when they were all dry, everyone got to draw a face for their wooden jack-o-lantern.

Then, when the pumpkins where completely finished, the girls wanted to plant them outside. So... we stuck them in some old flower planters for everyone to enjoy.

And last to report, last night Brooklyn asked if she could find a buried treasure. Her dad gathered some pocket change and buried it in the garden for her to find. She dug around until she found it and then buried it again and re-found it over and over until her fingernails were black with dirt and she was all worn out.

Anyway, that is how our week has been going so far. We've really had a lot of fun and hope to continue having more fun for the rest of the week. What kind of things have you done with your children during the Phineas and Ferb Challenge? We would love to hear about all your adventures!