Category Archives: Kid Activities

DIY // duct tape uncle sam hat

July 3, 2013

With the 4th of July right around the corner, we decided it would be fun to make some patriotic Uncle Sam hats using Duct tape and things we had around the house!
Even though you can buy them at the store, we thought it would be a fun activity to make them at home, and they were actually pretty fun to make, and didn’t take a lot of time!
You’ll need to gather a few supplies:
1) Recycled containers or cardboard to make your hat with.
2) Red, white, and blue duct tape
3) Pencil
4) Exacto knife
5) Scissors
6) White paper plate
7) Star template (or you can just free hand it)
8) Self healing cutting mat
Step One
Make your hat using recycled cardboard, or a cylinder type of container.  Use duct tape to start making the stripes. Start at the bottom and go to the top and trim off the excess.
Step Two
Use red and white duct tape to alternate the stripes up the hat.
Step Three
Continue around the hat with the red and white stripes
Step Four
After completing the stripes, line the top with red duct tape and trim off any excess.
Step Five
Wrap the base of the hat using white duct tape around the bottom.
Step Six
Lay out some blue duct tape sticky side down onto your self healing cutting mat.  Place some print outs of stars on top, and cut line them up and cut through them to the duct tape to cut out a star shape.
Step Seven
Using the exacto knife to carefully peel back the cut out stars.
Step Eight
Carefully peel back the duct tape with star shapes cut out in the center and line them around the bottom of the hat.
Step Nine
Place the top of the hat on top of the white paper plate and trace around the white paper plate.
Step Ten
Cut out the circle in the middle of the plate that you traced.
Step Eleven
Slide the white paper plate brim over the top of the hat.
Try it on your little patriotic sweethearts. And they can celebrate Independence Day in style!

passport to imagination craft class

June 24, 2013

Today I took the kids to a fun craft class at Michaels craft, part of the summer craft camps called Passport to Imagination.  It is going on now until August on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and they are only $2 for the 10am-noon craft session.  You can sign up at participating Michaels Craft!

The kids got to discover South America this week and sculpt and paint an ancient Moai head sculpture like the ones in the Easter Islands.

They also got to try their hand at weaving and make a woven pin!

They were some happy craft campers, and they are excited to go back for more!  And, it helps save me and them from summer bordeom, ha!

[Disclosure: Michaels will be sponsoring my children to attend the passport to imagination camps in exchange for a sponsored post.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

hd moment: the mountains were calling

June 21, 2013

Spending time in nature is a huge part of our family life.  We love it, we need it, we cherish it.    Lately, with our busy schedules we haven’t had as much time to get out into nature as much as we would like.  But, we could still hear them calling.  The mountains were calling, and we just couldn’t ignore it anymore.

We knew we didn’t have a lot of time, but we pack the kids in the car, and headed to one of our favorite spots.

We knew we only had a couple of hours of daylight left, but we just had to get out up there. We needed it.

If you’ve ever lived near the mountains, then perhaps you know what I’m talking about.  We lived away for many years without any mountains in sight, but I could still hear them calling my name.

I just love this little family of mine, and somehow that love intensifies when we remove our little family from distractions like TV’s, and other electronics, and it’s just us and nature.

Nature is truly good for the soul.  There’s just something about it!
Husband and I couldn’t be more happy than when we are lying on a blanket watching our children discover the world around them.  Building sandcastles, finding treasures (rocks), and digging for “buried treasures.” 
They were certain a pirate left his treasures here, they even claimed that there was an “X” to mark the spot!  I always say, nature is the best babysitter!
It was just what we needed!  We felt rejuvenated and ready to get back to the daily grind!
So, do you have a special place that helps rejuvenate your soul?  Do share!
And, be sure to share your special #HDmoments and tag it on your social media!  Haagen Dazs will be sharing their favorite moments over on their tumblr page!  
So, go on, get out there…. you know you need it too!
[Disclosure: Haagen Daz sent over product samples and gifts in exchange for me blogging about their “Moment’s for Me” campaign.  All thoughts and opinions are my own, all photos by me.]