Sharpie Tie Dye

During Fox and Cash's nap time today we decided to try out some Sharpie tie-dyeing.


We took two old shirts (Jet's was actually a new white shirt just waiting to be decorated. Marvel's was a shirt with berry stains we've been using as a PJ shirt). We also used Sharpies (any colors you want) and rubbing alcohol.



We slid large plastic plates into the shirts and gathered the back of the shirts up with hair bands.



Then we placed them on top of mixing bowls. This gave the kids a sturdy work surface and kept any mess contained and off the table.



Then the kids just got to coloring.





Jet drew a "time machine portal".




Marvel drew a girl and some polka dots.



We tried a few different methods of applying the alcohol.

We started with straws.





They were a bit of a challenge for the kids and were taking a long time for any progress.

Then we tried a medicine dropper.



Much better!



The kids loved seeing how the designs morphed as they added the alcohol.





Once they were well blended they poured out the rest of their little bottles of alcohol on the shirts to really soak them.



We left them alone to dry. It took about an hour.





They loved the results! I think this will be a craft we repeat often. It was so fun and easy! There was very little mess to clean up.

Monkey-Proof Curtains

What you need:

Handful of screws
Sturdy tab-top curtain
1x4
Flat board (big enough to cover the 1/4)
Accent fabric (enough to cover the flat board)
Duct tape


First, you screw the curtain onto the 1x4 through the tab tops (we did one screw through each tab).

Then you screw that board securely to the wall above the window. Use as many screws as needed to get it really on there. We were able to screw it into studs.



Then you cover the thinner board with your chosen accent fabric (I duct taped it in the back).



Then screw that over the ugly 1x4.

"Stained Glass"

Ever since we took down the Christmas decorations I have been wanting to do something with the kids for the front windows. I remembered a craft I did in preschool that would be perfect. You can see my original artwork on the window in the background of this adorable pic of Jacob and me circa 1986.



I remembered there was wax paper and colored tissue paper involved. Seemed like a no brainer. We used school glue on a plate with little paint brushes. The twins do much better with glue if we do it that way.



Marvel and Jet got right to it. Jet was already covered in paint from an earlier project.



After watching them for a minute Fox had it figured out.



Cash was annoyed at first that the "paint" wasn't showing up. Then he started dipping the tissue right into the glue then sticking it to the paper. It worked really well!



Marvel had a whole story to go with her picture (it was a sheep shearing machine and a sheep).



I stuck them up on the windows (high where the toddlers wouldn't rip them down) with blue painters/masking tape.

Marvel's:


Jet's:


Fox's:


Cassius's:


They look so pretty in the morning when the sun is comming in there.



They gave this craft 8 thumbs up!

Where Our Wild Things learn

I finally have our little "school room" set up the way I want it. I think we'll probably get some billy bookcases to replace the huge plastic garage shelf. What we have in there now is working well though.


There is a good work/craft table for the kids. It has room for all 4 kids. It's made from a cheap table and two cheap coffee tables from ikea.




I picked up some sweet crates for super cheap off of craigslist. The shelf is easy to keep organized and find things.



I love the blue and brown colors. The brown is great for hiding all those fingerprints and crayon scribbles. Of course it is all high gloss for scrubability. Most of all it was nice to finally have the painting finished (thank to my cousin Jonathan!).

Before:


After:


I found a wallpaper border on Amazon that I just HAD to get for it!



The room has a good balance of space for the kids to do learning activities, reading, writing and crafts, but still being fun for the little ones to play without getting bored while the big kids need my help.

Update - We finally got the Billy Bookcases!

i'm knitting!

so, i have been looking at nook cases on etsy.com and falling in love with the looks of the knitted ones. i didn't want to spend a butt-load on one. i thought - hey, i can do that! i've been able to crochet (kinda) for years, but i have never been able to figure out knitting. then i saw this yarn at micheals and fell in love. i got some bamboo needles and spent the day trying to figure it out.

after about 4 "do overs" i was finally getting the hang of it.

i got a little cocky and decided to try a ribbed cuff at the top. it didn't turn out too awful...

i couldn't figure out how to lash it all together after i was done. going down the side did not go well.

for the bottom i tried crocheting it. it looks a bit odd, but not as bad as the side.

it fits snugly and is so nice and soft! i'm very pleased with myself.

Winter Weather in Providence (Village, tx)

We woke up this morning to cold wet drizzly weather. Around lunchtime it started snowing and it was coming down fast and sticking. The kids were glued to the windows and singing Christmas songs and just dying to get out there. We know better than to wait around cause snow doesn't stay here long. We started scrambling to get enough warm clothes on everyone to go out and play. We get snow like once a year, so it's not like we have snow boots and snow pants or anything. Bundling up our kids means layers - tights/t-shirts/jeans/sweatshirts/fleece/hoodies/jackets for the big kids. Cotton footie pajamas covered with fleece pajamas and topped off with a hooded jacket for the little guys. Of course we can't forget the classic sock/baggie/sock combo as a warm and waterproof glove substitute. Everyone pottied? Out the door!

Fox and Cash spent most the time standing looking cold, yelling at the neighbors dogs, and yelling at the snow.

Cash ate a metric ton of snow. Gotta stay hydrated!

Marvel and Jet got busy doing all the required snow activities.

Snow Angels? Check!

Snow Balls? Check!

Snowman? Umm...

and of course we could never forget the snow butt prints (Marvel was very proud of this).


Our house looks so pretty in the snow (you can't even see the yard!).

and here's a freebie pic of snugly Cassius warming up with Mama.