Trading Card / Playing Card Storage

I don't know how it is where you are, but around here, young elementary school boys must have Pokemon cards.  They are a pretty big deal to a few of my boys right now, and it seems that they always want to take a big handful whenever they are getting together with cousins or friends.  After losing several and sending a bunch (left in pockets) through the wash, I decided we had to come up with a better way to store these trading cards while on the go.

 

Here is my solution. . .

 

 

A mini Johnson & Johnson first aid kit box.  I was able to find these for 99 cents at Walmart in the sample/trial size section.  I just took the first aid supplies out and added them to my supplies, then handed the boxes over to my boys.  So far, they have done a good job at keeping those precious cards safe and my boys happy.

This box could be used to store playing cards or other types of trading cards as well.  Pretty handy for just a dollar, and you get to beef up your first aid supplies too.  Not bad.

Peanut Butter Play Dough

Yesterday, my boys and I made an old favorite.  It is a peanut butter play dough recipe given to me by my aunt, back when I was a little girl.

They can play with it just like a normal play dough, with the advantage of being able to eat their creations.  One of their favorite things to create with this play dough is "peanut butter cookies".  Looks like the real deal and tastes great without the baking time. ;)

There are a lot of recipes like this out there in blogland, but I still prefer this one due to the fact that it is super easy, not too sweet, and has no sugar or corn syrup.  This recipe makes a large batch - - way more than my boys can handle in one sitting, so plan accordingly.

Peanut Butter Play Dough

2 cups powdered milk
2 cups peanut butter
1 cup honey

Mix all ingredients together until well incorporated, then dump onto countertop and knead until smooth.  Then let the kids make things and eat 'em up.

A couple quick notes:

1.  The kind of powdered milk necessary for this recipe is the fine stuff, like is pictured below.

 

2.  Since this recipe contains peanut butter and honey, I would not use it for anyone under the age of two.

 

Linking up with:

 

30 handmade days

Simon Says Art

My boys and I tried a little Simon Says Drawing.  It was alot of fun and we will definitely do it again!  I found this idea on Pinterest, and it is blogged about here at the Artful Parent.

It was interesting to see how differently they chose to draw some things, even though they were given the same instructions.

And . . . I couldn't trip them up.  Not even once, did they draw something if I didn't say "Simon Says" first.

** I recommend that you use some big sheets of paper for this activity.  We used paper from the drawing paper rolls found at Ikea.

Linking up with:

Diana Rambles

Happy and Blessed Home

30 handmade days

   

Planting Easter Grass

My boys and I planted our annual Easter Grass last night.  We should see it sprout in about one week.  Our fingers are crossed.

A Spur of the Moment Cookout

On Friday, the weather was really nice and my husband got off work early.  So, we decided to get out of town for a quick cookout, before the bad weather returns next week.

Dutch oven dinner.

A little exploring

 

Toasting marshmallows

 

S'mores with fudge stripe cookies.  Easy!

Glow Sticks at Dusk.

The pretty sunset.

Summer cannot come soon enough!

It's Planting Time!

My boys and I will be planting our annual Easter Grass on Monday.  If you want to join us, you will need the following supplies:

1. Planting Containers
2. Potting Soil
3. Grass Seed

This is a fun tradition that my boys and I look forward to each year.  Please click here for the simple instructions at my other blog on how to plant and take care of your Easter Grass.

Wood Block Memory Matching Game

Awhile ago, I found this cute idea on Pinterest.  It is blogged about at here at Tidbits.  I made a small set of  20 blocks (10 matches).  My blocks measured about 2" x 2" x 1/2", and I covered them with scraps of scrapbook paper I had on  hand.  In her blog post, Cami does not use mod podge on her blocks, but I did, and I loved the way they turned out.

More importantly, my boys loved playing with this set.  Unfortunately, it had to move on to another home, but I might just have to make another set for them.

These blocks take quite a bit of work, but as long as your kids are not going to be chewing on them, they are really sturdy and built to last, and most importantly they are really fun for the kids.  I recommend them.

Glow Stick Lantern

My boys discovered I had picked up some glow sticks on my latest trip to Target.  They simply had to make one of these lanterns ASAP.  It is amazing what joy a couple of glow sticks, some glitter, and a jar can produce.

**  In case you are wondering, we used two glow stick bracelets.  Cut open both ends and shake carefully into the jar, then add some glitter, put on the lid and give the jar a good shake.  Then turn off the lights and enjoy your glowing, sparkling lantern.

Getaway

My husband had a conference in Phoenix, so the three little boys and I tagged along for a little getaway.  The weather is perfect in Phoenix at this time of year and we had a great time enjoying it and getting a few days off from the dreary winter we are still experiencing at home.  This is the time of year that I miss living there most.

The two big boys had school, so they couldn't come, but they had a great time staying with the grandparents.

Ahhhhh.  So nice.  Phoenix, we miss you!

Little House Books - For Boys Too

When I was young, I loved the Little House on the Prairie book series.  I read all of them several times.  When I was a young adult I saw the entire series for an excellent price on one of my mom's book orders (she was a kindergarten teacher).  So, I bought it, and saved it to recommend to my daughters someday. 

Not too long ago, I was cleaning the garage out and ran onto the bin that held the books.  I remembered that my older brother had said that he had read the books to his boys when they were young and they had really enjoyed them, so I pulled them out for my eight year old.  He agreed to read them with me.  Not only has he read them, he has really liked them.  In fact, we just started By the Shores of Silver Lake, and he actually had to blink back tears when Jack died. Now admittedly, he will freely admit that Farmer Boy was his favorite book in the series, but he still likes them and looks forward to our reading every night.

So, even though I don't have a daughter, I can still share some of my favorite childhood books with my kids. 

Extra Mini Icebox Cakes

Yesterday was son #3's Mom and Me day at preschool.  Mom and Me day is a chance for the preschooler and their mom (or other adult) to teach the preschool how to do something.  We decided to demonstrate how to make mini icebox cakes.  It was fun.

Saltwater Kids has a great tutorial on how to make them.  We follow it pretty closely, except we don't use quite as much cream between each layer and we use homemade chocolate wafer cookies - so much better. (Recipe found here.)

I made a couple in jars, as usual, to give to friends.

We made a bunch of extra mini versions to give to the preschoolers.

We made a tag and attached one to each cake that explains how they are to be stored and eaten. You can download it for free here.

It was a good day!