Duct Tape Waterbed...Pinterest Idea on Crack..

Time for another Pinterest inspired activity. I swear Pinterest will make me fat and drunk but a crafty, fun mom! The original post is here: http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/2012/02/redneck-waterbed.html, which is a really cool blog about sensory, play and having fun with your kids.

So, we splurged on the plastic sheeting (18.00 for two, you use only one at a time.) and some more duct tape and turned on the water!

Fold over the 15x25 3.5 mil plastic sheeting so its folded in half and duct tape the three open sides. Now this SOUNDS super easy. It's not. Its a pain in the arse, particularly if you decide to do it alone, without grown up assistance, outside in 90 degree heat. Once I moved the process inside, put on a movie for the boys, and got comfy on the floor, it got easier.

Once you get most of the 3 sides taped up, head outside, insert a hose into an open space, and tape it closed around the hose. Turn on water, mix a frosty cold beverage and wait. And wait, wait, wait, because it takes a REALLY long time to fill up a huge water bed. Check your tape for leaks and get tipsy on your blueberry vodka lemonade.

Once the bed fills up, remove the hose and force your children on it. Why force? Because despite the fact that the older child BEGGED you to make this, he's inside boycotting all outside activities and watching a movie because you implemented a no video game policy. So you let the little one enjoy it for awhile solo.

That's my picky eater....can you tell from the skinny body? Sigh. Feel free to come make him eat...I dare you..come on over.

Then add a hose and force the older child out to have some non electronic fun. Then sit back, drink more, and watch as they realize it IS fun outside and they WILL NOT die from mommy's ideas.

What's awesome about adding a hose is this turns the waterbed into THE.BEST.SLIP.N.SLIDE.EVER. Because not only is it squishy and jumpable, it's now SLIPPERY. You cannot resist the awesomesauce.

I don't know why it's so hard to get my older son's photograph...he either makes a weird face or turns right before I snap. I think it's a conspiracy.

And this is why I love my husband. Because after a hard day turning wrenches, he is willing to throw on his bathing suit and water slide in the front yard without questioning WHY there is a giant waterbed in his front yard.

It was a ton of fun. I'm glad we have one more plastic sheet left, which we'll use again after the front grass grows back from our two days of watersliding. We made such a mess that the water ran into the neighbors side of the yard, and he had to put on boots just to go fetch his trashcan. But he's such an awesome neighbor, he just smiled, and after I apologized for the water, he replied, "Kids have to have fun, it's hot out!" I love retired, grandpa neighbors. (Did I mention he's done plumbing work for me? I'm going to miss him when we finally sell our house.)

I bet we were a site for people passing by, and I know I probably turned into Scary Mommy once or twice on this day but I hope they remember the sliding and the water and the fun.

I know I will.

Pinterest Inspired--Colorful Sprite

I saw this super cute idea on Pinterest about putting Kool-Aid ice cubes in Sprite. I saw this post pinned and had to replicate!

Instead of mixing up Kool-Aid (because the only reason I buy Kool Aid is to dye yarn, so I'm not using it to DRINK!) I used PowerAde ready to serve. I poured PowerAde into ice cubes, and once frozen, put in a glass of Sprite for the munchkins. Add a crazy straw and it's perfect!

Best part is, as the ice melts not only does it flavor the Sprite but you can crush it up and eat it, slushie like!!

Enjoy!!!

Blueberry Love

We visited the local blueberry picking farm the other day. I highly suggest this activity if you have one near you. Not only do you get a quick, fun, learning experience for the kids, but you get great, healthy food to make a plethora of recipes from.

Blue Harvest Farms uses no pesticides so you can eat RIGHT off the bush! How cool is that!?? Located in Covington, LA off Hwy 21, it's a reasonably priced activity for all. At 10.00 a gallon or 2.00 a pound, it's far cheaper, even with gas, than the 4.00 a pint (or more) price for blueberries in the store. And you picked these yourself, it sounds like work, but it's fun!

Check out Blue Harvest Farms site and Facebook page for details on hours and tips.

Here's our little bit of fun while visiting...

All images ©Amy Dutsch, 2012

Delight me with a comment and a repin! :)

~~Amy

Summer Fun....

So, my boys have been driving me CA-RAZY! A friend suggested turning off the TV and just letting the boys get used to being bored. I admit, I use the TV and various screens as crutches. I am forever trying to shoved 48 hours worth of work into 24, so I tend to let the kids get away with watching more TV than I'd like.

So I turned it off. I'm really not a huge TV watcher during the day myself, but my boys had gotten used to it as background noise. This TV is also a hand me down and is slightly possessed and may or may not turn back on easily once off, so I tended to keep it on.

Well today, I turned it off all day. My older son, H, didn't get any screen time til his little brother's nap. The day went much better. No, I still didn't have time to get work done until E's nap time, BUT, I did science experiments with the boys, ran errands, cleaned, and was able to read magazines. Best of all, my boys were forced to learn to get along better. And they did!

I can only hope I can keep this  up and the boys will learn they will not die if they don't have a screen in front of them!!

Here's a little of what they do when I unplug their little behinds...

Color with Window Markers from Crayola. Very cool markers, basically dry erase that you wipe right off any glass or mirror!

Splash in the pool together...although that usually does end in screaming and fighting...

Sometimes, they are calm enough to actually sit and talk to the dog....usually they're trying to squish her...

We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Wordless Wednesday