chance to win a $250 Camp Sweepstakes

Attention parents! Remember the summer day camp post I did about summer camps, and how quickly they fill up? If camp isn't in the budget this year, then try winning some! 

Savvy Source is offering a $250 Camp Sweepstakes to five different families. Entering is simple - all you have to do is share, tweet, or facebook this link with your friends and every time they visit Savvy Source, you get an entry for a chance to win $250 towards a camp of your choice! Visit the sweepstakes page to learn more and get the full scoop!

vintage carnival invitations

We finally decided on a theme for Noah's 4th Birthday - thanks to some cute vintage stuff I found at the craft store a few weeks ago. Plus, so much of it can be hand made, from games to decorations - and right now, I heart everything vintage...

I created these in PhotoShop using fun "carnival" style fonts - and colors red, gray and blue. My procrastination in getting the invites done were thanks to my fruitless attempts of finding red and white baker's twine at my local craft stores {who knew?} Etsy vendors carry a slew of these in small quantities and colors, but I didn't want to pay for shipping. More empty handed shopping trips followed, so I buckled down and ordered a giant spool online from We Sell Coffee - 3,400 yards to be exact {seems like the best value with shipping}. It finally arrived today, so we got to work... {I mean, this was our art project for the day}...

After I trimmed the edges with scalloped scissors, Noah pasted glue on the invite and adhered it to red card stock {8.5 x 11 cut in half}. Then he placed tiny colorful fasteners to the top.

Ava was in charge of cutting strands of string to lace around the fasteners...

I cut out triangle-shaped pieces out of origami paper {already had in the kids' art supplies}. Ava coordinated groups of 4 "flags" to go onto each card as the bunting... which I stuck on over the twine using double-sided foam tape...

This is how they turned out... in the grand scheme of things, I probably could have used any kind of string to create this effect, but for some reason, I had my mind fixed that it had to be red and white... oh well. So they are 2 weeks behind delivery...

Now, what to do with the rest of the 3,398 yards of twine?...

summer camps and classes

SavvySource, an online source by parents - for parents, is always one step ahead, and is now featuring a full online source to help parents locate a summer camp or class near you! Summer? Already? Just getting use to Spring? Oh yes. Spring is when we plan for summer... And finding a summer camp during the summer months isn't as easy as just dropping in. Registration is required - and they fill up early. And if you have two in tow like I do, you'll want to make sure there's room for them both {plus most offer a sibling discount}. You can research what's available in your city by visiting Savvy's Camp Classes right here.

Attending a summer day camp is an exciting venture for us. Even though most families think of this as a break between the school year, for us, {since we haven't technically started school} its a chance to try out an entirely new adventures that isn't offered any other time of the year. 

One of the places we love to try each year are the Little Explorer classes offered by the Nature and Science Museum. Here's Noah learning about volcanoes - needless to say, this one was a hit! More about this class and projects here.

From museums to ranches - this is when we can join in with other kids and take advantage of facilities that may otherwise be filled with day-to-day members or visitors. I had a lot of fun researching summer day camps in Dallas - and I'm thrilled to say, there's lots to choose from. I see a summer day camp as an investment and experiment - to try something new and see how the kids respond.

Who knows... maybe Ava has a natural knack for horseback riding, or Noah baking baklavas {oh I wish!}, or just good 'ol fashioned swimming lessons... {hard to choose right?} But that's why its all listed right there for you on SavvySource.

If you already pre-registered, or are returning to a camp your kids love, please share!

laundry re-do

Did I ever share with you our laundry room makeover? It's still a work in progress, but here is a quick snapshot of where it is now:

For before/after photos of converting what use to be a closet, jump over to the Art of Family Home.

Spring is in the air, and we're having picnics... well, indoor ones. And learning kinds. The Learn the Alphabet Picnic Basket we picked up from Lakeshore Learning last year proves to still be A and N's go-to game for fun. For Ava - this game is just as fun (if not more) than having a tea party. Perhaps because of all the cute miniature pieces it comes with...

Whatever the reason - I simply love how learning is byproduct. The focus is on having fun, who can match the fastest, and yes... there even is some dramatic play.

yea! the kids are old enough to...

wash our cars!

homegrown tomatoes

Everyday, Ava has been checking on her tomato plant. Anyone who comes over, she immediately wants to take out back to share how much her tomatoes are "growing." Occasionally we've been finding holes around it - dug up in neat burrows {still unsure what kind of critter is responsible...hmm....} But the tomatoes are still safe, and gardening has become one of Ava's favorite things to do. Today, they were riper than ripe... well one of them...

why having a good {and patient} dental hygienist helps

lesson plan - spring, windy, rainy day

Sunday nights, I try to hide in the children's art room and draft a lesson plan for the week. We were anticipating rain, so I found a few craft projects the kids could do. But first, I had to make our Spring tree {made with just large sheets of brown construction paper}. I also cut out green leaves and placed these in a small tray - each time the kids complete an activity, we can write on the leaf what they learned about "Spring" and add it to our tree {my hope is that it'll "bloom" before summer!}

Index cards with weather pictures are taped to the mirror on the side so that the kids can observe and talk about the weather... Today, it was...

Rain is in the forecast, so we started an umbrella art project.

For the full scoop on how to do this sticky umbrella art project and what they look like finished, see our Creative Crafting Corner.

Onto the rest of our lesson plan... I read Charlotte's Web and The Very Busy Spider and made spiders of our own with colorful pipe cleaners and googly-eyes...

The kids practiced their worksheets found in their baskets {I cut theme-related sheets out from their preschool workbooks} focusing on the colors red and orange, and cutting and pasting the shapes rectangles and squares. I really like how organized the day was. Not everything had to be written down in the lesson plan book either {that would have drove me insane}. Instead, we let the day open itself up for learning opportunities around us. Like when we were in the backyard, Noah went through a web and he felt a "string" stick to his arm... or when he played with his ambulance and police cars - and he noticed the "rectangle" shapes... oh yes, learning is everywhere...

How do you organize your learning day? Do you start out with a theme? The weather?

star wars makes a come back

Up in the attic, I came across Aaron's "bag" from childhood. A small maroon bag holding years of war, triumph, and probably some brother rivalry. In this bag was Aaron's collection of Star Wars figures - and its been sitting in our attic for far too long. Since Aaron had already introduced these characters to the kids during their bedtime stories - I thought it was time for them to see the characters themselves. Albeit its nice how they used their imaginations. But to me, this was one less thing to collect dust. Aaron refused. Until today...

Aaron took a deep breath, and made an introductory speech...

They didn't know what to make of some of the creatures. It probably didn't mirror what they had imagined. They looked on with interest. Noah picked up Luke and admired his sword.... I on the other hand wasn't too impressed with some of the not-so-cute figurines and weapons. So while the kids weren't looking, I started to sort through the crowd and placed some back in the bag.... these were our favorites...

As for the rest, well - it was time to play! In her tutu, Ava gathered two Princess Leias, and the three of them went right into action...

It made Aaron surprisingly happy to see years and years of his joy playing {as boys did back then} in the hands of his daughter and son... who pretended the Ewoks were ordering pizza from Jabba the Hutt... simply priceless!

sharing stories while rummaging through old clothes

What started out as Spring cleaning over the spring break week - you know, hang up bright Spring colors to liven up the place from winter.... has actually turned into a colossal cleaning - so much so that we've actually looked at the possibility of moving! Have we really outgrown our space? It's hard to believe that's the case. And I don't think it is. What is however, is letting go.

In consigning some of the children's Spring clothing from last year, Ava stumbled upon some of her favorite dresses. She grabbed onto these tightly and made a pretending "wailing" noise.

Then Noah clued in and pulled one out right from under her and ran, teasing her, "Ava... look what I've got?"...

Ava was so funny about it. She turned and ran right after him. As soon as she got one dress, Noah picked up another favorite. What was a huge draining experience, cleaning, hanging, ticketing, and pinning the clothes for the consignment sale, actually turned into a little bit of whimsical fun. The kids chased each other round the dinner table, hid among piles of clothes, and in between breaks, asked, "Mom. Did I wear this when I was a baby?"

And so the stories were shared. Needless to stay, another storage bin has been filled with items the kids (and I) couldn't part with. In fact, I ended up consigning Ava's first birthday dress and regretted it. I went to the sale and lucky me, it was still there! When Ava asked me about the dress, I told her I was saving it for.  

Ava said, "that's so nice of you to save it for my daughter." 

{sighing}....

lambs... and lions... oh my!

An easy lamb/lion double-mask the kids will flip over. Plus it took less than 10 minutes. Details and photos on Creative Crafting. 

anniversary weekend

In deciding what and how to spend our anniversary weekend, we went through a gamut of ideas - from soaking somewhere on an exotic beach far away, to a last minute weekend deal to another city out of state. But when it came down to the last hour to decide, we felt there was just enough time to celebrate just being us, here at home. Although Aaron started his new job, he was able to take Friday off, so that we could head out to the Dallas Arboretum for a picnic lunch. Little did we know that the entire city had the same idea - it was packed! And in typical Texas fashion - it turned out to be a very hot day! Still, we were mesmerized by the abundance of color, welcoming Spring. 

Right now, the arboretum is hosting a special fairytale castles display - fitting so perfectly with the celebrated theme of the weekend {smiling}. The Beauty and the Beast castle was our favorite...

Because they could do this...

After lunch, the kids set out to look for butterflies...

Got some!

And we can't ever leave the arboretum without cooling off by the frogs. 

And running barefoot through the grass...

After the picnic, we dropped the kids off with Grandma, and Aaron and I "escaped" for some pampering and dinner, and then a quick road trip to East Texas' Gladewater and then down south to Roundtop {population 90} for antique shopping. I know what you're thinking - population 90? But actually, this is antique week, where more than 100,000 travelers come here to sell, shop, and well, wear their cowboy boots and have a good 'ol time. I wish I took photos of this - but alas, Aaron and I had too much fun rummaging through history, talking to people, and sipping margaritas under the warm sun.

Thanks everyone for all the love and sweet sentiments from last week's anniversary post! We are touched by each and everyone of you!! 

a love story

When I was a little girl, I was into ant farms, chasing ice cream trucks, and collecting stickers. It wasn't until college before I started dreaming about prince charming {sparked mostly when I'd procrastinate studying at the library}. And because life seems to swivel faster with each year, I decided {and secretly hoped} that fate would bring him to me. Maybe I'd rear-end him with my car, and fall instantly in love... or we'd bump shopping carts in the grocery store.. {you get the idea}. For someone who is always chasing time, I was certain that the love-at-first-sight scenario was the most efficient approach to this entire matter. I really believed in this. I had to, there were so many other important things to do... like graduating.

I transferred to a state school, where among 35 thousand, I felt small, bright-eyed, and comfortable. I was walking slowly across campus one day, with my nose stuck in my history book, when out of nowhere someone in a black shirt appears right in front of me. I stop, annoyed for a sec and about to say, "excuse me," when suddenly I feel a gust of butterflies in my stomach. My knees felt weak when I realized, he wasn't a stranger at all. He was the humble, charmingly witty {to an eleven yr old}, dirty-blonde haired boy from my 6th grade Science class, standing tall, dark and handsome right before me. I thought the butterflies were because I had found an old friend. But a few weeks later, on March 25th, 1998, we went out on our first date. We both went home that night, and knew. Our fairytale was just beginning...

Three years later, on this day, Aaron and I tied the knot before God and our loved ones.

Little did we know about the amount of work that goes into a marriage... preparing and planning for the future together - All we knew on this day was that this is the hand we will be holding, long past we are old and gray - rocking on the front porch, waiting for the great grand-kids to come over. And that image still gives me butterflies.

The image in my head - not this one {Aaron PhotoShopped us into this pic back in '04}. It makes me laugh.

 

We've been saying it all week - "I can't believe its been 10 years... really?" No! The laugh lines on our face confirm this to be true. I went through some of our old pictures today {spring cleaning still..} and there were so many journeys from this past decade - globe trotting to more than 50 cities, two home renovations, and our own new lives as parents to two amazing children.

I am so blessed to be walking this earth with you Aaron, holding my hand. Happy 10th Anniversary...

... you still give me butterflies....

nowrouz 2011 celebrated

Happy Nowrouz! This past Sunday, we celebrated Nowrouz, which literally translates to "New Light" - and is a Persian holiday commemorating the first day of Spring/birth of new life/and New Year! I personally enjoy recognizing "New Year" on this day instead of the cold of January - because it really does feel like a new beginning today. I've started "spring cleaning" around the house {still a work in progress} which is also a customary thing to do in preparation - as well as giving each other gifts, buying new clothes, and visiting relatives and friends. 

Traditionally, I remember from my childhood sitting up late at night and peeling dried fruits for the Haft Mēwa or "Seven Fruits" dish we would make with pistachios, almonds, walnuts, raisins, and so on. But since my nephew is allergic to nuts, we skipped this and instead jumped into more child/spring friendly activities associated with this time of year... yep, an egg hunt, coloring, and confetti bash...

For their gift baskets this year, I went with an earthy/Spring theme, and found some garden gloves, shovels, rakes, and books about earth day... Fancy Nancy Every Day is Earth Day for Ava and Noah got a younger version called I'm Not Too Little To Help The Earth, with moving tabs and sensory pages.

When we got home, we took advantage of what was left of the daylight, and started planting our new "garden." The kids picked out plants from the nursery {tomatoes, strawberries, lemons} and Aaron and I added green onion seeds {these grow great in this climate} and cilantro {a salad staple}.

As they sowed their seeds into the dirt, we talked about the delicate process and patience it takes to bring them to life. Just as the New Year - today - marks a new beginning, so too does the deepening understanding that no matter where we are in our lives, we should take great care with what we are given - be responsible and respectful of ourselves, our environments, and most graciously, of time...