Window of Opportunity

Amelia is a girl who loves to paint, but her mama gets sick of doing the same old finger paints time and time again.  So, we decided to try some finger painting on the window instead!

In a bowl, we mixed:

1-2 Tablespoons of cornstarch 

1/3 cup of dishwashing liquid

Then, we divided the mixture into 4 bowls and added food coloring to each one to make four different colors.

Then the fun began!

Clean up was pretty easy, with a little water it came right off.  Next time, though, I may have her paint on the outside of the window, then I can just use the hose right on it.

A Winning Streak

Well, you all know I am not talking about the Cardinals.

Instead, I am referring to my absolutely glorious run at good books lately.  Since my last post, I have been flying through some incredible books that I had to share.  Thanks to the many emails and comments I received recommending more books to me.  I am slowly working through them.

Also, my friend, Lynn, sent me a website (www.goodreads.com) you can use to keep track of the books you've read, are reading, and want to read.  You can also share your picks with friends.  Interestingly enough, after joining, I found 3 other friends who are using goodreads too.  Its very similar to the application on facebook that I mentioned before, but good for the person who is not on facebook!  If anyone is interesting in signing up for goodreads, look me up when you get there, I could always use more friends!

Without further ado, my list of books for August:

Sharp Objects:  A Novel by Gillian Flynn

Kind of slow to start, but made up for it with a super creepy ending.  Stephen King says of this book, "I found myself dreading the last 30 pages or so but was helpless to stop turning them.  Then, after the lights were out, the story stayed in my head, coiled and hissing, like a snake in a cave".  Seriously, if Stephen King things its scary, then it is!

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

This book is 544 pages, but will most likely be read in 5 hours or less due to the artistic way it is written.  Its an incredible story and definitely a story every parent should read.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

While reading this book, I alternated between really wanting to and really NOT wanting to hike the Appalachian Trail.  Its written in a humorous way and with lots (maybe too much?) of historical background. 

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen

Very good, I particularly liked the unusual setting.  Definitely a quick read and a good book club discussion book.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

I just finished this last night and I feel like I need to read it again!  Its a lot to wrap your head around, but it is such an incredible story.  I laughed, I cried. It was unlike any book I've ever read.

Next up?  The Secret Life of Bees and I'm waiting for my library reserves to come in:  

Three Cups of Tea 

The Red Tent 

The Wednesday Letters

My Horizontal Life:  A Collection of One Night Stands

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Twilight

Keep those ideas coming and hopefully I'll see you on goodreads!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Boy, oh boy did we have a great time at the Cardinals game on Tuesday evening (despite the Cards 12-0 loss).  I am unsure whether Amelia even realized there was a baseball game going on.  She was so excited about the snacks--the peanuts, the popcorn, the Junior Mints, the Sno-Caps, the hot dog....I mean, can you really blame her?

Three generations of ladies

Papa, Amelia, GG--not sure if she's giving the finger here or what?

what is this?  A baby-free picture?  An oddity these days!

notice Amelia's death grip on the popcorn and her facial expression that says, "Don't even THINK about taking my popcorn, fool".

Icy Excavation

Amelia did some digging for toys today.  I thought this idea from HERE was so cute that we had to give it a try too.

I took some of her smallest toys, a few rocks, a binder clip, and a coin and dropped them into an old whipped cream container filled with water.  I left the container of water and toys in the freezer overnight.  

The next day I set up Amelia's table outside and gave her a spray bottle filled with hot water and a fork.  We were set up in the shade, but the sun would have helped things move along quicker too.

Amelia was really into it at first, determined to get the penguin out of the ice.  We took turns spraying the water until all of the toys were out and then she decided to "paint" with the large pieces of ice that were leftover.  

All in a Day's Work

Despite all of Amelia's picnicking and Six Flag going this weekend, she still had time to fight a fire or two!

Six Flags...and some other ramblings

I can vividly remember being so excited when I was younger to visit Six Flags that I didn't sleep the night before.  It seemed to take FOREVER to drive there and I remember Thunder River being my favorite ride. When I was very young, my brilliant parents decided to let me ride The Screamin' Eagle simply because I asked if I could.  I remember walking up to the "Are You Big Enough to Ride this Ride" ruler and the trusty teenage employee saying "Close enough".  It took many years before I rode it again, but it eventually became a favorite along with the Ninja, Mine Train, and Mo Mo the Monster.  One time in junior high I went to see one of the shows that Six Flags no longer puts on.  It was a celebrity look-alike show and my friend and I scored second row seats to see these people dressed up like people that were WAY before our time.  Nevertheless, the man impersonating Elton John stuck his microphone in front of me and he and I took turns singing the chorus to "Saturday Night's Alright".  Oh the memories!  To this day, every time I smell heated asphalt, I think "that smells like Six Flags!".  

My current feelings of Six Flags are less complementary.  The park lacks some of the appeal it had when I was a youngster or maybe its just because I am no longer seeing it through the eyes of a child.  But, as a parent, it was quite enjoyable to watch Amelia react to all of the things Six Flags still has to offer.  

Yesterday was Jason's work picnic, held at Six Flags.  The tickets, parking, and lunch were all very generously covered by Monsanto.  They even had face painting and some small everyone-who-plays-is-guaranteed-to-win-games back in the eating area.  It was a nice day and although Amelia has been one other time, it was as though she was seeing every thing for the first time!

She loved every ride she went on with the exception of what I've termed the "Scooby Doo fiasco". This was more Jason and I's fault though for taking her on this ride.  It was the same ride that I knew as a child where you ride a boat through a dark cave and watch as people/ghosts/cartoon characters move and talk around you.  I don't exactly remember what the ride was called when I was younger (Tunnel of Love?), but maybe some of you..ahem...older readers out there can help me out.  I do remember, however, the boats which are the exact same one they use for the Scooby Doo ride.  I also remember the jerky motion of the boats and the strange smell of the cave (mildew, perhaps?).  Amelia was not amused with any of this, though, and buried her head into my arm looking up only when I would say things in a sing-song voice like "oh, look at the puppy!".  It is a little scary in there and loud! But, she survived and said she would try to ride again when she was 3, but not a second before. I guess this is not unlike taking your 6ish year old on the Screamin' Eagle.

She also rode the Moon Cars, 

the Colossus (ferris wheel), 

the kiddie swings, 

the airplanes,

the Carousel, 

 a tiny train, 

and the big train.  She loved one more than the next and we didn't hear a single complaint. Throughout the day, when asked, she mentioned each of these rides as being her "favorite".  

Jason asked as we were pulling up if I thought she would like the Log Flume.  You know, the ride that is a nice relaxing float along a "river" in a log shaped boat with subtle twists and turns and then ends with a 60 FOOT PLUNGE!  He was serious, too!  Unfortunately she didn't meet the 42" height requirement--ha!

Its hard to say what Amelia's favorite part of the day was.  Maybe all of the characters she got to meet.  (Notice how I sent Jason in to stand by all of the characters?  What a guy!  Although, secretly I think he liked it):

Or was it the lunch she ate of chicken fingers followed by some yummy ice cream?

 No, actually I think the best part about Amelia's day had to have been the fountains in the kiddie area. She could not get enough!

Nope, the magic of Six Flags has definitely not been lost.

Supper by the Shore

(Well, not exactly, but its the only illiteration I could come up with on a Sunday night after a super busy weekend)

Jason got home a little earlier than usual on Friday--before I had a chance to even start dinner.  So, we had the "Do you want this or that or those" conversation for a good 45 minutes before deciding that we would just pick up some pizza for dinner.  I certainly did not put up a fight because I honestly think I could eat pizza every day of the week--especially when that pizza is Stefanina's. 

On our way out the door we decided we would make our pizza night into an impromptu picnic.  So I quickly packed up some fruit and drinks and we picked up our pizza, salad, and garlic bread and headed to City Centre park to enjoy our dinner.  And while it definitely was not a picnic Martha Stewart would feature on her show (we didn't even use plates!), it was lovely nonetheless.  The park is beautifully landscaped and we had our picnic in between the lake and the gazebo.  Amelia thought it was so funny that we were eating outside, sitting on a blanket no less!  

And, of course, she loves pizza just as much as her mama so she chowed down!

Afterwards we checked out the fish in the nearby pond and then stopped by the playground on the way out!  

What's for Dinner?

It was Amelia's night to cook and boy did she make some interesting combinations!

We did this fun activity right before dinnertime, so we both already had food on the brain.  We went through some old magazines (fortunately, we have TONS of Cooking Light hanging around) and found pictures of food.  Then, Amelia decided what everyone was going to have on their plate for dinner.  

Jason must have looked really hungry because as soon as he walked in, Amelia served him the plate with a salmon filet, turkey sandwich, and a slice of pizza!

Jumpin' Bean

I've been wanting to try Jump 4 Fun for awhile now.  Its gotten great reviews from some fellow moms.  Once again, the rainy weather was all the motivation I needed to get out and do something.  

GG came along for the ride--literally! 

Amelia divided her time equally between the huge inflatables and the toddler area.  She loved them both, although I am really not sure who had more fun!  We were all sweating and out of breath during the majority of our visit.

Amelia had a love-hate relationship with Batman (whom she called "Bat Guy").  She crawled through his legs once and went all the way through the obstacle course and even down the slide, but at some point she decided she didn't really like him anymore. Maybe "Bat Guy" sounds too much like "Bad Guy"?

In this photo, she is actually desperately saying, "All Done" repeatedly while her mom tries to get the camera to take the picture.

All in all, it was loads of fun and we will be back---this place will be perfect during the cold winter months!

Baby Steps!

On my very first Mother's Day, Jason gave me a kit to make a stepping stone. He assumed, of course, that I would make it sometime during the next few months and find a special spot for it at our new house, but along with two moves, buying a new house and having a one year old running around, I never got around to it.  But, the rainy weather we had yesterday provided the perfect opportunity to finally get around to making the stone.  As usual, Amelia was a HUGE help!

She loved pouring in the water and mixing it up!  

Her favorite part, though, was definitely putting her hands in the mixture and keeping them very still while I pushed each tiny little finger down to make her imprint. Our first go around was just one hand, but she kept wanting to do it again.  I got to thinking about it and thought two hands would be better anyway, so we smoothed it out and tried again.

Amelia was entertained for a short while with putting on the glass pieces.  She especially liked pushing them down into the muck!  

The whole thing from start to finish (including clean-up) only took about half an hour and I LOVE the end result

The stone needs to set for 2 days before we venture out and find the perfect spot for it in the yard!