Matt, Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

On Tuesday, Matthew had a school math project due that involved a snowman.

The students were given a list of items that could be used to "build" their snowman. The math portion was that they were unable to go over $60 with their purchase of supplies. They also had to create an advertisement as to why someone would want to buy their snowman. Finally, they had to create a snowman on a 12 x 18 piece of paper which represented the one in their advertisement.

Now, you all know I'm the crafter but math, well I conceded all math issues to Dave after all he is an accountant. So, Dave and Matt worked on the calculations, completing the supply order and then the advertisement. Matt's pitch for buying his snowman is that it will do your homework for you. He also gave the snowman a name - Bells Jingle!

Monday the kids were off for MLK Jr's birthday so Matt and I took that day to make his snowman come to life. 

When the assignment was first given, we decided that he would make it using mini marshmallows. So, out came the marshmallows and hot glue. Matt traced 3 circles using two bowls and a coffee mug to make the snowman's body. Then we got busy! I dispensed the hot glue and he placed the marshmallows on the outline. A few times he did touch the glue but he quickly learned how to avoid doing that. We used about 3/4's of a bag of marshmallows (Matt was hoping to have some left over to eat).  He did a great job! We let the snowman set for a few hours just to make sure the marshmallows adhered to the glue and let them dry out a bit before "dressing" him.

Thankfully, I have quite a bit of left over felt in my craft supplies. The snowman's hat, scarf, gloves, eyes, mouth and nose were cut from felt and attached with hot glue. The sticks for the arms were from outside our home. We attached 3 buttons with hot glue and made the shovel from card stock (also on hand in my craft room). 

It was fun helping Matt create Bells Jingle. 

Oh, by the way, that many marshmallows actually weighed down the paper quite a bit. Matt transported it in a box the next day so he wouldn't drop it due to its weight. 

So, on Monday we did build a snowman! A marshmallow snowman!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Play Dates? Not at the Wessel House

Another  one of my "bad mother" admissions is that I've never been a big fan of the "play date". The reason, sadly a selfish one, is that when the kid were younger it seemed that I always ended up being the one having to do the entertaining of the kids invited. Emily and Matt loved the idea of a play date but after 10 minutes they would have no idea what to do anymore leaving the task of entertaining my job. This being the case, when young, play dates were very few.

As the kids have gotten older, play dates or as Emily likes to say "get togethers" are more palatable because the kids are more independent and able to think of things to keep their guests occupied.

One thing is for sure though, if planned accordingly, a "play date" usually doesn't occur. Why? because 9 times out of 10 it turns into a craft date. 

One of Emily's friends, who is also a neighbor, loves to craft. So, last week we made the plan that she would come over for a "craft date". The kids (including Matt) were able to choose paint, paper and embellishments to "create" a notebook clipboard and picture frame. The kids were excellent at taking direction on how to cut and modge podge the papers on to the frame and clipboard. Of course, the most fun was when they styled the items with the embellishments they found in my bins of supplies in the craft room. 

Matt chose a patterned paper that resembles a sheriff's badge star and embellished his frame with fireman stickers.

Emily and Gianna chose the same paper for their clipboards. Emily's frame has cupcake paper and sweets embellishments. Gianna's paper is a colorful zebra stripe embellished with jewels.

At the end of the day, everyone was very happy with their creations.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Tokens

For the past day and a half, I've been tormented by a migraine. Yesterday, it kicked in around 1 p.m. When I picked the kids up from school, I explained that I needed to go straight to my room and lay down. I left Emily in charge (we didn't tell Matt as he would have been upset that he couldn't be in charge). While I was resting, they both did their homework, set the table for dinner and cleaned their rooms, which included dusting. What wonderful surprises! After a quick dinner of pancakes, I went back to relaxing.  

I woke this morning feeling better but still felt in in my eyes, so I knew there was a possibility that the day may turn into another "bad" day and it did. After finishing the winter bulletin board at church, I came home to rest but sadly it did not take the pain away. I did the same thing today as yesterday in that once I got the kids I came home to rest. Today, my special surprise was get well cards from the kids. 

Matt's was simple but so him. That is him and me on both the front and inside the card. You have to love that he put his full name on the front of the card. Like I might not know who Matthew is. Then there is his simple message of "Feel Well!" He made me another card that looks the same inside saying "Get Well" but the front shows the sun, a cloud and a mountain. Apparently they are all items in a little song he knows. He also did come up at one time gave me an ice pack, sang "Silent Night" and gave me his two stuffed snakes to guard me while I rested....he so wanted to take care of me.

Emily also made a card. The cover saying "Feel Better Mom" and then "Read me" on the bottom. Hearts and stars were her decorative motif.

Inside was the real gem! She cut out a heart that she place in the middle. On it she wrote, "My Mom by Emily - You always warm my heart. I love you like a cute bunny. You're beautiful princess. You shine like a morning glory. Feel better." What was even more precious is that in the midst of comforting me, she still put in her request for a pet. In the bottom right corner, she drew a bunny and said "P.S. I want a bunny and name it Mistletoe".

It is these little mementos that make my "job" as a mom totally worthwhile. Seeing how much they want to care for me knows that we are raising these two kids right.  

Prepping for the Thanksgiving Weekend

Yesterday the kids had the day off school - their first official day of Thanksgiving break. Because it is a 5 day break and I prefer them not watching television, playing computer and Wii all day long I took them to the craft store to get a few "projects" to do. Okay, I personally wanted to go to the store to check out Cricut cartridges on sale, so it was a win win in my book.

Emily got a Shrinky Dinks fashion boutique, not a surprise. She wanted to get a garden kit but I told her that its probably not the ideal kit for winter time. Matt chose a metallic tattoo kit. This should be interesting! Oh, and he wanted the cross so he could paint it and put it in his room.

When we first walked into the store the kids spotted the Gingerbread kits. They insisted on getting one to do for when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit before Christmas (they remembered doing ones in years past). They did go for the multiple small house kit instead of one big house, so get ready to be "creative" when you come to visit Grandma & Grandpa.