Summer time where the living is easy....

I love summer. I think it has to do with getting out of school, knowing that you get to stay out until the sun goes down and if you are really lucky, you get to stay out and catch fireflies! I love homemade ice cream, cool evenings and warm days. I could, however, go a lifetime without another mosquito bite. I wanted to pass along somethings that have worked for me in the past that might make summer a little bit easier for you and more fun for the kids.

1) Think old school. Kids love to play grown up- yes even your little boys. They can hang a sheet in the back yard and put on a talent show for the parents at the end of the day. If they have the help and the sheets of a parent, anything is possible.
Example: When I was a little girl I wanted to be a singer. My friends and I put on a show in our living room, wearing our matching Underoos!, and singing along to our parents records that we loved. They gave us instruments and paid a small admission fee- which was spent on ice cream. I don't know where those pictures are but I have the greatest memories.

2) Edible Art: There are several ways to make edible art but one of my favorites is to mix corn syrup and food coloring. It is messy and will require a hose afterward so I suggest outside play that day. It does not dry hard but it taste great and looks cool. You can also mix corn starch with water and food coloring. It doesn't taste good but it is a great sensory-especially for little ones. It is an all time favorite at our house!

3) Sponge Fights: When it is hot outside or you have just been couped up it is nice to have a release. I found that a good old fashioned sponge fight turns aggression into fun! It may start out as a fight to the death but it usually ends with laughter. The dollar store has sponges in every shape, color, size, and texture. Each team gets a bucket of water and a set number of sponges. They can make forts with sheets or be out in the open. Moving targets are always good -it also wears them out faster!

4) Scavenger Hunt: I made up a scavenger hunt last spring break. It was great because I only did places that the kids were familiar with. Next time will be a bit more dificult. The age range for our group was 2-10 so everyone can participate.
I made clues such as: "Where do you see diamonds that are not shiny?"
I enclosed a cut out of a bat and ball. The answer was our local Triple A Baseball field.
They had their pictures taken by each clue and we made a scrapbook out of it at the end. I got a photo books from the dollar store and put the clues on one page and the picture on the next. Everyone was so happy and they have asked for another one this summer. It took some planning for a couple of days before hand but it was great for us all.

We started out at the donut store- clue: I cut out the letter D-O-N-U-T-S and his them around the house. They had to bring them back to the table and figure out where we were going. We had breakfast and gave the next clue. It was the ball park. Then we went to an old English style phone booth near by. The clue do not have to be difficult. Just think about things in your area.

I hope this makes the next couple of weeks a bit more enjoyable. I will be putting together a list of things that can be done for Fathers Day next time! Love and joy to you from Camp Chaos.

Reflections of Motherhood

I am blessed! I know this is a phrase that gets used a lot. But, I am. I have a job that changes daily, is demanding (to say the least), is rewarding and I get to stay at home (some days in my pajamas). Now tell me that I am not blessed.

My job as a Mother started long before the journey with my own children began. I was lead by example by so many strong women. If they weren't I never knew it. My mother had me at 18, that's a hurdle in itself, and she raised me by herself. She had a high school degree and the will to make a better life. Today- that would put most people out of the job market. She persevered. She bought her first house at 21. She worked hard, always. Our home was nice. It had nice things, was clean and I remember always having family or friends over. There were many times that I stayed with my family because my mom was working. Most of the time two jobs and sometimes three. Mind you, these women all contributed to my upbringing but there is only 1 momma!

I stayed a lot with my Aunt Marilyn & Uncle Rick. They had three girls and my Aunt was a stay at home Mom. I always thought she had it made. She watched her Soaps, drank coffee, smoked cigarettes, and did LOADS of laundry. Now, as an adult, I realize that she was keeping the wheels running. She was/is the best at stretching a dollar in her budget! Mimi (as our kids call her now) was the Mom I always wanted to be when I had children. She has many other talents but I'll share those on another day!

I also had two Great Aunts who played a tremendous role in my life.

First, my Great Aunt Carol. She always had a bowl on her coffee table that was filled with Orange slices. The gummy ones with sugar on them. I would not allow my children to have them, unless of course, we went to Aunt Carol's house. There were Ginger snaps and Animal Crackers, too. I have been given a cookie jar just like hers from her sister, Aunt Beverly. I'll talk about her in a minute. I keep it on my counter filled with Animal Crackers-just like Aunt Carol. I also used to love to go to her house because they had this old apple tree. The apples weren't for eating, so I am not sure what kind it was, but I loved to climb that tree. I am not sure if it was very big but to me it was huge. It was a triumph when I could climb it by myself! I always knew that Uncle Earl or Aunt Carol would be there should anything happen.

My Great Aunt Beverly. I remember so many things, so I'll try to limit them. I remember going to her apartment and spending the night. She always let me sleep in her bed. She taught me how to swim and she took me to Disneyland. She had a refrigerator that I marked my own growth on (virtually). It was one of the smallest fridges that I think I have ever seen but I remember thinking that someday I'll be bigger than that! Oh yeah, she and my Mom pierced my ears with an ice cube and a raw potato! They got one side done and I wasn't game for the other but I somehow ended up with two holes! She has been a Hairdresser for as long as I can remember. She used to take me to the beauty shop with her. I loved it! The chairs went around and around, Merritt's bakery was next door, and everyone was happy when they left! My Aunt was notorious for spoiling me. She would let me go to Merritt's and Braums all in one day!

My friend, Robbin. She was a young married woman when I met her. I was 12 and she was maybe, 25?! She was a wonderful role model. She taught me about music, religion, and believing in yourself. I spent a lot of time with Robbin. She listened, gave advice and didn't judge! I lived with Robbin in Paris, France. She was instrumental in helping me find me! Our paths have always crossed time and time again. I think she is one of the strongest women I know. I have had the joy of loving her child in so many ways and he doesn't even know it. He is 16 now. I took care of him for the first 6 months of his life. Then I came across them when he was in 2ND grade. She watched out for me and I watched out for him. This year, they lost her ex-husband to cancer. My first reaction was to take care of them. This I learned from the compassion of a 20 something woman who taught me how to believe in the greater good. Thank you, Robbin!

I know that I could write about so many more but these are the women I choose to pay homage to today. Mother's Day is coming on Sunday. I hope when you see me with my children- you all see a bit of yourselves. I am the mother I am today because of the women of yesterday. Thank you for being the guiding light of yesterday, today and tomorrow! I love you all. Happy Mother's Day!