Just another week.

Well another week has come and gone, and we say "Hello" to August.  I often ask myself each and every summer," where does the time actually go"? 

I admit that I have a blast spending time with my kids as well as my husband, but capturing each moment and sharing these precious moments with close friends and family, that's what is important to me.  

This week, my work holds an annual VBS bible school with anyone that would like to come and participate.  We do games, snack, a story about the theme for the week/year.  This year we taught the kids that reading the bible, friends and family as well as praying to GOD helps everyone stand strong. It is offered to children from pre- school to grade 5.  Samantha is entering the 6th grade in September and she had the privilege to help me out with my little group.  

 Abby had a wonderful time playing and trying out a Popsicle.  Since she is at that wonderful age at 5 1/2 months she is chewing on everything that she puts into her mouth.  When she was done eating the Popsicle,  she got mad at my co worker because Abby wanted more.  But at least she loves to have them,  especially when her gums feel a little sore.  

This weekend our family is driving down to Mankato to the Vikings training camp and do a little swimming, bowling, maybe some autograph signing but will see what happens.  I am getting a few things together for my next blog project.  But I have to made up my mind on what to show.  Maybe 2 blogs in one.  Decisions, decisions.  

Wisconsin Dells trip

 

This past week the family went to Wisconsin Dells just for a get away for 4 days 5 nights.  The first hotel that we stayed at was Chula Vista.  

From our house to the hotel took about 3 hours and 22 minutes to get there.  I must admit that Abby did a great job on her fist road trip, even at 5 1/2 months.   Chula Vista reminds me of the outdoors.  It has foxes,deer, geese and antelope among with other wild life you may find.  

The wave pool was a lite ways down from he indoor watermark along with the outdoor and beach setting.  The kids loved the wave pool except for Abby.  But I will give her some time to get use to it.  Over all our stay was great for the first 2 1/2 days.  

Our next day stay was at Kalahari.  The resort was something you would want to stay a day or two.  The view from out room was ok,  but the sites that we saw was nice .  When you walk into the lobby,  there was 2 baby tigers that were about 3 to 4 months old and you got to take pictures with them if you wanted to.  Along with the tigers was a baby kangaroo that you could get a photo with also.  

There was also a indoor theme park that was open to the public as well as the guests staying at the resort.  From riding on a 8 story Ferris wheel to bowling on the second floor.  Samantha,Zack and Emma had a blast bowling and the scores to all 3 games were a little close.  But most of all the 3 older kids loved the go carts. 

The last 2 nights we stayed at was the Wilderness resort.  And I must admit the resort is pretty huge.  There are about 4 indoor and 2 outdoor water parks plus mini golf and laser tag.  All 6 of us has our work out since we did all the water parks and took a break to rest out of the water for a few with Abby.  Yes it is the Dells is known to be the water park capital of the world.  Everyone had a lot of fun playing and enjoying the vacation.  Thursday night we took time to go to downtown Dells to shop for sweatshirts for the older kids.  

But being home and looking forward to another week of work is what I am looking forward to.  

~Nicole

4th o July fun

Celebrating the 4th of July is one of the best holidays where families and friends get together for BBQ's, camping, Bon fires 

at night while watching fireworks, or even watching your kids laugh and play around win relatives or their friends from school.  

This year, the husband and I invited Zack's good friend form school along with his parents and younger sister for dinner and some neighborhood fireworks.  

We set off sparklers for he kids to do.

The 5 kids had the best time running around with sparklers acting like it was a flag waving behind them.  Us adults just had a friendly conversation about the upcoming school year along with catching up on small things.  Since Abby was a little small to hold a sparkler much less need her little eyes open till the beginning of the fire work show, she didn't mind getting spoiled by a little baby fix by Roseanne.  

Emma and Ella made the most if it by holding water balloons and pretending it as "babies".  These two girls are soo fun to watch and while I watched them play,  it made me think of the imagination I had at that age.  

To top it off the night with an awesome light show care of my neighbors across the street.  Us adults were planning on going to the local park to watch fireworks,  but caught up with our children's laughter and fireworks,  not to mention our biting friends, he mosquitoes.  

I am looking forward to having more play dates and adult get together a with our friends, the Brown family.  

Until next time

~Nicole

Upcycling a glass votive

I am going to admit that I am a junkie when it comes to Pinterest.  Who does not love going onto the site and just look around to see what trouble we can come up with.  It can be organizing the home to finding things to do with the kids during the long summer months. I have done this little glass votive that I cleaned out and decorated for my oldest daughter.  Here is what I did: 

The first thing I did was to put the candle in a pot of water and let the candle melt.  It took about 10 minutes or so but it went by quickly.

Then when the candle is all out of the votive, wash it out with mild soap and water.  Of course I don't have a picture for the second step but you have the idea.  

What you can do is use Mod Podge or go the effective way,  use one part or white glue and one part water.  Use any type of glitter that you may have at home or just stick to the color theme.  The possibilities are endless.  

Make sure you use a foam brush when applying the Mod Podge.  Work quickly because it dries fast.  One you coat the votive you are ready to use the glitter.

Since the glitter tube is small.  I just dumped the whole thing in a d tilted the votive so all the glitter stayed.  With the remaining glitter I just put it back in the container.  

And here is the finished project.  It took less than 5 minutes and I am planning on doing more of these as gifts and for around the house.  

Hope to give you more tutorials soon.  Have a good week.  

~Nicole

Summertime. 😃

I do hope that many of you are having a great summer as well as myself and my family.  Even though I have not been blogging in a few weeks,  things have been a little busy for me as well as my family.  Working at a child care center teaching 5 year olds their basic letters and numbers as well as following directions has keeping me on my feet at all times, not to mention my 4 children.     Samantha is officially in middle school,  Zack is in 5th and Emma is going into kindergarten.     The only child that is not leaving yet is Abby.  Here is a couple things I have done at work:  

        This was a little experiment at work that I did.  It was just about 4 drops of green food coloring and less than 1/4 cup of bubbles.  I gave each child a straw to blow into and TONS of bubbles covering the bowl.  

               As you can see my daughterer Emma having a lot of fun making a lot during the 20 minutes of blowing.  

                Last but not least Emma and her friend Amira with bubble "beards".  They called them that and thought it was funny because the bubbles would pop on their skin.              My husband is looking into a different position at his work and I sure do hope he applies since he has many years of experience as a manager.  I am crossing my fingers each day and maybe he may get the job.  Who knows.  My next blog I will show all you what I have done upcycling glass for your home or a gift for a teacher/co worker.  Till next time, my friends.          ~Nicole         

The school year is winding down: End of the school year

The school year is winding down: End of the school year: As the end of the school year is coming to an end once again, I find myself proud of Samantha and Zack.  Not only of their accomplishments b...

End of the school year

As the end of the school year is coming to an end once again, I find myself proud of Samantha and Zack.  Not only of their accomplishments but their ability to adventure on what they like to volunteer in from after school activities to just hanging out with their friends.

I always tell my children, no matter what they do in life Matt and I will be proud of them no matter what.  Samantha LOVES to be involved in after school activities, like Choir and learning how to p[lay cribbage.  She likes to have the ability to challange herself and work hard to make things perfect in her own way.  Zack on the other hand is a typical boy, likes to get down and dirty from playing kickball to football at recess with his friends.

As of this Friday, we will be housing a kindergartener, a 5th grader and a middle schooler.  The tears and cheers will be flowing and I am sure that Samantha will miss her teachers.  But I always tell her that visiting her most favorite teachers will want to hear what she has done in middle school so far.

Emma is looking forward to kindergarten.  So at work, she always practices her letters and numbers so she can show her teacher in the summer open house.  Getting "homework" in kindergarten will be something Emma is looking forward to and cannot wait to meet new friends in the long run.

Zack is a little apprehensive on starting 5ht grade in the fall, but I can see that he is going to look forward on the adventure in his life.  Maybe getting involved in a couple clubs that the school offers will open up some possibilities for him.

Then there is Abby, even she is close to 4 months (on June 6th), she is very alert and taking things in around her.  Knowing that she can recognize on how loud she can actually be, she thinks its not soo bad after all.  Finding foods she likes is something that I LOVE giving.  Her reactions and shivers on them are funny but yet cute. Cherishing every moment I am spending with Abby is rewarding but yet the months are flying by too quickly.  Just wish they would stay small forever.


~ Nicole