SUMMER CHECKLIST OF FUN!!

Every summer the kids and I make a "mailbag" or a summer checklist of fun things to go and do. In the past I have always used index cards and the kids would write an idea on each one, decorate it and we would pick from the mailbag 2 or 3 ideas each week. Earlier this spring a friend sent me an idea for a summer checklist.. I LOVED it and thought we would try it out.

I love this idea verses my old idea of the mailbag for several reasons.

1.) It is in my FACE and reminding me that it is SUMMER and that means do extra special things with the GREENETEAM! Because we home school year round I think this is EXTRA IMPORTANT.. It is summer after all!!

2.) At the end of the summer we will be able to see ALL that we have accomplished. :) Does this mean everything will get checked off?? NO.. however we have ideas and will TRY OUR BEST!!

We had almost 9 pages of IDEAS for the summer... Woo Hoo. As we complete each one we will put a sticker on the check spot. Should be fun to see what we accomplish this summer. It is sure looking like a great time indeed. If you have a fun summer idea please feel free to share or post it.

Bocce Ball

Maddie ready to conquer the world at Bocce Ball.

Goal is to aim the larger balls at the small white ball.

Jack striking a pose!

One of our favorite outdoor games to play is Bocce Ball. We started playing as a family 3 years ago. It is a game that all the kids (ages 3.5/4.0 and up) can play. It is a very simple lawn game of trying to get as close as possible to the Pallino Ball or goal ball. Average set will cost you $20 and will provide hours and hours of fun outdoors!! Great for Spring, Summer or fall and is great for almost any age.

We love having tournaments at our house. Sunday we kicked off our first Spring game and I am proud to report that GIRLS RULE!!

The Perfect Sunday

Today was a perfect Spring Day here in Georgia. I love being by the water so decided to head to Van Pugh Park to spend the day with the family. Van Pugh gets my number one vote for a beach/Park at Lake Lanier. We have lived here 12 years and by far this is the best beach we have found. It is run by The Core of Engineers. The day entry fee is $4 and a season long pass is $30.

We ate before we left. I wanted everyone to just be able to enjoy playing at the park for 3 or 4 hours without having to worry about lunch, snacks, clean up etc. We packed scooters, helmets, soccer and footballs, jump rope, bubbles, and some kites. Twenty minutes later we were at the park.

There is a large field away from the water,near the bathrooms, perfect for tossing the football and kicking around the soccer ball. There are a few benches which we used although the next time I may throw in a few lawn chairs so we can sit under the trees and out of the sun. The kids loved it. Everyone could do what they wanted which was great.

When everyone had their share of playing we packed it all away, got out the kites and headed for the beach/water portion of the park. The wind was perfect for flying kites and the scenery was beautiful. It was the perfect Sunday at the park.

Fish Craft

FUN FISH FROM OUR 2nd CRAFT CLASS


At our second craft class we made these fun fish. I loved that all the kids chose their favorite color and then preceded to decorate them however they wished. Out of 11 projects there were no two that were alike other than the shape.

To make the craft I free handed the basic form of the fish. I then traced it on various colored construction paper. The kids then cut them out, tweaking the lines a little if they wanted them bigger or smaller. They then added google eyes, streamers for the tail (we cut the streamers in half as otherwise I thought they looked to big). They used construction paper to make triangle shapes for fins, circles on the fish etc. They also used shiny paper and sequins to decorate. It was a simple fun craft that all ages had fun with.


What I love about this kind of project is that it can be a supplemental activity to go along with a great field trip. I love taking my kids to a pond, a pet store, or even the aquarium and then following it up with this type of craft at home. You can also serve a fun snack or dinner. Fish Sticks, goldfish crackers, and gummi fish are just a few ideas. If you have a little one at home try reading stories about fish, talk about the letter F, and then even practice writing the letter F or the word FISH. It makes for a fun and educational day.

Spring is here!!

The Greeneteam ready for their first water fight of the season.

Love this shot of the kids in action!! Looks like a scene from a movie.

An inexpensive and fun treat.



I believe Spring has officially arrived in Georgia!! Today we are at a gorgeous 78 degrees! Smiling kids in swimsuits, water gun fights, and ice cream cones with sprinkles!! The Greeneteam is living the life today! Happy Spring!!

Home Depot Kid Workshops

I have wanted John to take the boys to a Home Depot Kids Workshop forever!! Today was finally the day. I had seen that they were going to be building the Home Depot Car and thought this would be the perfect one to try and it was!!

They came home with rave reviews.

John thought the project was great and taught several lessons. Carson loved the entire experience. Probably his favorite thing was the apron and the collectors pin that he received. He also talked about the safety glasses, the hammer, gluing things, and putting on the stickers. Jack thought the car he made was really cool and he has already given it a prime spot in his room. Both boys can't wait to go back next month!

I love that the workshop is FREE. I also love that it teaches them some do it yourself type skills and teaches about tool safety. Most of all I love that it is some guy bonding time.

Each month Home Depot features a different project for kids to build. The first time you are given an apron and each time you are given a collectors pin featuring the project you made. You are also given a certificate. Home Depots workshops are the first Saturday of every month.

Mini Man Snack Bar!!

Do your kids ever complain that things aren't fair?? Mine do it all the time and this week was no exception. Last night my girls were talking about how fun the AHG lock in was going to be. Games, Crafts, Pizza, a midnight Sundae bar, and tons of snacks and popcorn. Across the table sat my boys getting more and more upset every time the girls would mention another fun thing. "What are we going to do?" they said. I joked with them that we would be cleaning the garage and scrubbing toilets. They seriously almost started to cry.

I was kidding of course about the toilets...seriously toilets on a Friday night?? I had fun planned for them all along. They got a trip to the QT for dinner. Now I know that may not seem like a treat to you or I , but to twin 9 year old boys going to the QT for a hot dog or taquito and getting to pick out a slushy is like winning the jackpot.

When they got home, I had a Mini Man Snack Bar set up with 2 Powerade's!! (see photo) You can call it what you want.. I chose mini man snack bar because my boys are always saying that they are little men.

My idea was to take a large tray and line it with coffee filters. My bowls so to speak. I did not have to dirty up a ton of dishes and the filters are small enough that I could put out a variety of sweets and treats just like the girls were going to be getting at their lock in. I told my boys that when the treats were gone their snacking was done for the night. They loved it !!

What I love about it..

*No Dishes
* I can recycle the filters by just shaking them out.
*Limits the amount of snacks the boys can eat.
*Keeps little man hands out of my full bags of snacks. I prefer using smaller containers for kids and then refilling if necessary. You just never know where their hands have been.

It is now 9:00 the boys are content with snacks, drinks, movies, and the Wii. The girls I am sure are having a blast. What does that mean for this mama of four? It means that, for tonight in our little world, life seems fair.

Our First Gingerbread House

Today the Greeneteam and I attempted to decorate our first Gingerbread House! We bought one of the premade store kits. We created our own design based on some of the inspiration we had seen at The Grove Park Inn.

The kids had fun for about an hour. Eating candy, competing on sides, decorating the roof. Lots of fun.. Then they got bored!! A little bit of a bummer for me as I ended up completing the outside yard area of the gingerbread house alone! I really thought that at least Makenna would hang in for the long haul. Oh well maybe next year.

I loved the premade kit just for the ease of it. Simple, boom bang done. We sat the plastic on a much larger piece of foil for the overall yard area. We used the boxed candy that came in the kit but added a lot of our own. We also made two batches of Royal icing.

Some of the extra items we used were large spice drops, candy canes, mini marshmallows, peppermints, fruit loops, cookie cereal, puffed wheat cereal, powdered sugar, and sprinkles.

Such a fun project!! We will definitely add this to our list of fun things to do and maybe just maybe in a few years we will enter one of our creations in the competition at the Grove Park Inn.

The Greeneteam with their first Gingerbread Creation Ever!! Watch out Grove Park Nationals!

National Gingerbread Competition.. Grove Park Inn

My favorite thing about Home Schooling my kids is the FIELD TRIPS that I take them on. I love planning them, taking them and honestly experiencing things with them that I don't think we would have as much time to do if they were in school.

Today I decided to take them to the Grove Park Inn and Resort in Asheville, NC. They host the National Competion for Gingerbread every year. I saw this advertised through the FISH radio Station and instantly thought ROADTRIP!!

I have never attempted making a gingerbread house with the Greeneteam before. This year is going to be our first. (Because I bought a kit) I thought maybe this would give us inspiration and really get our creative juices flowing.

The team in front of this year's winner. She was from Austell, GA and won with a set of Russian Nesting Dolls. They were gorgeous.

I had such a hard time picking just a couple of pics for this post.. There were at least 50 photos to pick from. I sooo wanted to post all the amazing creations. I love art, creativity and food. This field trip encompassed all of those! Talk about an amazing competion!! We loved it!!

The display at The Grove Park Inn runs from Nov 17th-Jan 2, 2011 If you are not a guest at the hotel you may view the display Monday-Thursday. See their website for directions and more information.

If I could be Oprah for a day!!

How many of us have seen the Oprah Show where she gives away her favorite things? Oh to be in the audience for one of those shows!! I can only imagine how much fun it is to be her during those give away episodes!! Just to see the look on everyones faces as she keeps bringing out new things. FUN!!



Well, if I could be Oprah for a day; one of my favorite things to give away at Christmas would be a copy of The Twelve Blessings of Christmas by T.J. Mills. I happened upon this book at a garage sale one day with the intent on giving it away as a door prize at MOPS. Just before giving it away I decided to read it first. You guessed it.. I kept it for myself.



I absolutely love it. I love getting it out every year at Christmas and just reading about the 12 different Blessings. It remindes me every year to be thankful. It is filled with wonderful Crafts, Recipes and reminders as to how we can be blessings at Christmas. It also focus's on traditional things to do with your family. I love that!!



If I could be Oprah for a day and send it to all my friends I would. I figure the next best thing to that is to share what a wonderful treasure of a book it is. So to each of you I would say order this book and if you are able buy an extra copy and share it with a friend. Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday to Jesus Cake

THE TWELVE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTMAS.. by T.J. Mills.

This is the best Happy Birthday to Jesus Cake that I have ever come across. I love that each thing placed on the cake symbolizes Jesus's love for us. I have been using this with my kids for at least 4 or 5 years. We always read the Christmas Story from the Bible first and then the kids take turns putting each symbol on the cake. At the end we light the candles and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

I use the same Angel, Star, and fake Evergreen each year. We made the Angel and Star out of thin foam craft sheets white for the Angel and Yellow for the star. I used a pipe cleaner to make the Angels Halo. Very Simple and such a great way to explain what Christmas is really about.

Christmas in the Park

This weekend take the time to go to Christmas in the Park at Suwanee Town Center. Shadowbrook Baptist Church is sponsoring a really great event. This is our first year attending and we will definitely be adding it to our list of FUN and FREE things to do.

Jack and Maddie at the Post Office writing a letter to a Soldier.
All of us inside the refreshment tent getting hot chocolate and a cookie or two!!

Shadowbrook Church has made a small tent town within the park. There is a Library, Bakery, Military Post office, Santa Shop, Chapel, Candy Store, Refreshment area, Nativity, Concert Arena and Train station. It is all so nicely done. There are games, trees lit up, Christmas Music and so much more.

Sadly tonight we arrived with only half an hour left to go. In that amount of time we made a candy cane craft, played two games, went to the refreshment tent, the Santa Shop, and mailed a letter to a soldier. My kids are already asking if they can head back tomorrow. I know I would like to go back to see the Starry Night Nativity and to let the kids ride the train. If we can fit it in we will definitely head back.

Supper with Santa

The Greeneteam with Santa at our Annual Supper with Santa Visit. 8 years running I believe!!

The Girls having dinner and getting ready for a fun evening of doorprizes, balloons and more!!

Each year the Greeneteam and I attend an event at the Gainesville Mall called Supper with Santa. It is the BEST deal in town as far as I am concerned. Ticket prices run just $3 per child and $4 for adults.

Included in the price.. Dinner, Dessert, Pics with Santa, Face Painting, Balloons, Doorprizes, and a Merry Go Round Ride on the Carousel.

Do I NEED to say anymore?? Such a deal!! My kids love it and so do I. If only every mall would offer such a wonderful event at such a GREAT price.

Christmas at Amicalola Deer Park

During the Christmas Season Amicalola Deer Park has visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus. First we headed out on a Sleigh hay ride. We fed the deer first, and then we went to visit Santa's cabin. It was decorated with a tree etc and had a small table with hot chocolate ($1) cookies and candy canes (free)

There was plenty of time to take YOUR OWN photos and talk with Santa. He even came out to the sleigh ride and did some magic for the kids. I loved that the kids had just seen the reindeer and were now seeing Santa. It made for some curiosity and questioning.

Two of my four were convinced that he was the REAL DEAL... they pulled on whiskers, noticed his gray eyebrows, and thought his hands looked really old. Maddie could not have been more delighted with Santa. She must have hugged him a dozen times!!

The only thing I would have loved more is if this was all happening at NIGHT. It would have seemed truly magical. Probably not possible but oh if it was!!

The Greeneteam on the Sleigh Hay Ride at Amicalola Deer Park.
"Mom which one of these do you think is Santa's deer?"
The Greeneteam with Santa
Santa and Maddie!!

Santa will be at Amicalola Deer Park

11-13-10/12-19-10

Saturday and Sunday

12-5pm

www.amicaloladeerpark.com

"THANKSGIVING IN A BAG"

This year my small group in our Home school Club was in charge of the Thanksgiving Feast. My idea for a coordinating service project was to create and then donate

"THANKSGIVING IN A BAG".

I had seen a similar idea from my friend Jennie a few years back. She had friends bring items for a Birthday bag. Cake mix, candles, plates, napkins, icing etc. The kids then decorated the bags, filled it with the Birthday party items and her kids took them to the local food shelter. I loved the idea and have had it in the back of my head since.

I got on a local food site to see what items were needed for their food pantry. Most of them were Thanksgiving oriented. (see Makenna's list below) I then posted the list to my home school group and asked them to bring what they could to our feast.

When I initially started this project I planned to go and buy all the foods on the list. However, during prep of the paper bags and sample bags Makenna said something that made me think maybe the kids should just go door to door collecting for our HS food drive.

I am so glad that we did the door to door collecting. The kids loved asking for donations. They ran around the neighborhood for over 2 hours. When they would get a can of food they would give me the thumbs up. When they were turned down they would give me a thumbs down, or shake their heads no. They all participated and in just a little over 2 hours had collected almost 45 cans of food.

Maddie was particularly excited after collecting several cans. I asked her why she was so happy and she replied..."Mama it just feels good to help other people"!!

Thats my girl.. Lesson learned!!

Our list for door to door collecting of foods!!In two hours the Greeneteam collected almost 45 cans!!
Our sample Thanksgiving bags.

Van Pugh Park North -Lake Sidney Lanier

I love going to the beach in the summer. We only live 15-20 minutes from Lake Lanier Islands in Buford. A couple of weekends ago I was looking for a beach with a boat ramp so that we could put my cousins wave runner in. I wanted a place where the kids could play and swim while they were waiting for their turn.

I lucked into finding a beach called Van Pugh Park North. It was exactly what I wanted. It has a spot to put your boat in, a playground that over looks the lake, and 2 different beach areas. Both areas have a safety line for swimming which I love. It also has several picnic table spots as well as a huge pavilion with a fireplace that would be so fun to host a family gathering or party!! The views are beautiful and I will say that so far it is the nicest park I have come across on the lake. Entry fee is $4 per car with a season pass available for $30.

My recommendation: While the weather is still gorgeous grab a picnic, your suits and towels and go spend the day at this wonderful park. We may just see you there!!

Jackson pushing his cousin on the swing. This play area is very nice and over looks the lake.
Having a picnic at Van Pugh with the family.. Gotta love takeout picnics!! :)Maddie and Carson near the spot to get on the wave runner.

Dinnertime Trivia

I thought I would tell you about a FUN GAME we made up called Dinnertime Trivia. This is very similar to the game show that Alex Tribec hosts. ????????? Can't think of the name of the show. Anyhow, we play this game using skittles (see picture below).

Each Color of Skittle represents a category:

Blue: Geography

Pink: Math

Green: History

Red: Science

Peach: Spelling

We go around the table and each person answers a question per category. (Based on their age level) If they get the answer right they get to EAT the skittle/dessert. If they answer the question wrong we give them another question. While playing you can answer in any order you want until you have eaten all your skittles. Depending on how long you want to make the game you can just extend it with another round of Skittles for each person.

My kids love this game and so do John and I. It is a fun way to make them earn their dessert. It also makes for a longer evening at the dinner table talking, learning, and having fun which in my opinion is never a bad thing.

Maddie and John playing Dinnertime Trivia. John is usually the host of our game!!