A happy medium

Last week I was sitting at gymnastics leafing through a Family Fun Magazine when I saw this recipe for how to make your own puff paint. I thought it looked like fun so I texted the recipe to myself for future reference. I have saved lots of things for future reference to do with the girls (thanks pinterest) but we never seemed to get around to doing them. After lunch I was cleaning up the kitchen I just thought, "What the heck, let's do something fun and creative and not worrying about the "list" of things I need to be doing."  So, I made the paint (it took less than 5 minutes), gathered up my little artists, and the fun began. 

Microwave puff paint 

1 Tablespoon flour

1 Tablespoon salt, 

1 Tablespoon baking powder, 

2 Tablespoons plus 1 or 2 tsp water,

 drops of food coloring. 

Stir until smooth. 

 Paint

then microwave pictures 20 to 30 seconds.

I made a double batch and then separated it into four containers and added the colors.

 I would suggest aprons. Since it's colored with food coloring I'm sure it would stain clothes. 

(It is edible, but probably wouldn't taste very good.)

 Let the painting begin. The magazine suggested using card stock paper.

 Paint

Then microwave.

 

 We found the thicker we painted on the paper the puffer it was when microwaved.

 Natalie tried one on regular paper and it seemed to work just fine too.

 

We're glad we found a new, cheap, easy medium to be creative with.

Home again, Home again...

After having such a good time with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins I wondered how I was going to keep the girl entertained at home. I haven't had to, they've been finding ways to entertain themselves.

The game is grab something that rolls and ride it down the driveway without having any control over it.

I LOVE this action sequence I was able to get of Nattie J:

Ems doesn't "play" it quite like the big girls yet.(Which is probably a good thing.)

For video actions of the girls you can go here:
https://vimeo.com/46324113
https://vimeo.com/46324112
https://vimeo.com/46324111

Trip Event 9: Temple Square

The day before we flew home we hit Temple Square. It was a total girl party. We had Grandma Myrna, Aunt Kaitlyn, Cousin Leslie, Camille, Nattie, Emmers, and me. We looked around Temple Square, hit the mall across the street (they really did a great job with it) and then headed to the Blacks' house for our final night out West.

It was so fun to have Leslie along!

In the visitor center

Emily, Leslie, Camille, and Natalie

Salt Lake City Temple

Natalie in front of the fountain she fell in last time we were here.

Camille with Alexander....these two are good friends and had lots of fun together.

Emily enjoying one of Leslie's Oreos....it's convenient to have a nice older cousin.

Trip Event 8: Rexburg Rapids

We went to Rexburg Rapids twice, once with Grandma Donna and once with Aunt Kaitlyn, Uncle Tim, and Uncle Spencer. We had a blast! They have a great area for kids to play, a wonderful lazy river, some slides and a "pool". I'm really surprise with all the work and money that it cost to build this place that the actual pool part is only 3 lanes wide, kind of seems like a waste.

Natalie on the slide

 

Em was a little unsure at first.

Who doesn't love a lazy river?

"Swimming" the lazy river

I love that Emily would just hold on as Kait toted her around

Kait and Spencer racing up the Aqua wall

Camille hates having water in her face so these videos are pretty amazing. She's getting brave. Of course, we have to have some jumping into the pool videos too.  These are super short because it was hard to get the girls to stay under very long. 

Trip Event 7: Yellowstone National Park

Growing up I went to Yellowstone Park almost every summer. It's a place everyone should go see at some point. Donna suggested we take the girls one day. It was fun to go and make some memories there with my girls.

Right before you get to West Yellowstone there is a spring where you can stop a get a drink. Such good water!

Howard Spring

Doesn't Camille look happy....I don't know what her deal was.

We looked around West Yellowstone for a little before heading into the park.

Back in the day you could have ridden in one of these bad boys to tour the park.

The girls were excited about this buffalo...."Don't worry girls we're in Yellowstone we'll see plenty of them today!"

I LOVE Emily in this picture. I can just read her thoughts,  "Have you SEEN this bear? It's awesome."

 "See? Real buffalo"

We loved the mud pots....it looked like bubbling chocolate milk.

Of course, we stopped at Old Faithful

We had really good seats. I picked a spot so the girls could stand in front of me when it went off and we could get a picture. Then just as it started some people came a plopped down right there....oh well, we still took pictures (Even if they're not the greatest.)
Video for Old Faithful -- https://vimeo.com/45832174

Norris Geyser Basin

While Natalie and Grandma napped in the car, Camille, Emily, and I went and explored Norris.

More buffalo

They got super close to the car. I seriously could have stuck my hand out at one point and touched one.
For a video of the buffalo -https://vimeo.com/45831852

Nothing finishes off a fun day like ice cream! (Thanks Grandma!)

Trip Event 6: Wilding Family Reunion

We left the Hart reunion and headed straight to the Wilding reunion. The week was packed with pure fun!
The Wildings had their reunion in Northern Idaho on Hayden Lake. All of us were there except Blake and his family. We sure missed them and their cute kids.

Random facts about the Wildings:

• 6 children 
• 5 boys
• 1 girl
• All 6 are married
• 5 have children -(No pressure Ryan and Tara you can borrow our girls anytime!)
• 19 grandchildren
• 13 girls
• 6 boys

We are spread out in Washington, Idaho, Texas, and New York. We did lots of fun activities including tie-dying, tubing, water-skiing, carnival for the kids, fishing, family skit night, family trivia night, fruit pizza bar, ice cream bar, s'mores bar, service project, secret cousins, and some all around fun. 

Tubing on the Lake:

Brad and the girls

Blurry picture but Nattie's face says it all.

Ready to squirt the tube riders

Bret and his girls ready to go.

Camille having fun on the dock

Natalie warming up after her dip in the lake.
(She had a lift-jacket on so she just got in...without permission. I was standing about 10 feet away and Camille says, "Natalie is in the lake, Natalie is in the lake!"  Playing in the lake is all good and fun but you have to make sure an adult knows that's what you're doing!) 

Fearless tube riders

Evelyn armed and ready to squirt

 

Going swimming?

Grandma needed in on the action

The big kids' turn to ride

Emily enjoyed her own tube

Water-skiing:

Brad looked pretty good out there

Touching the water

 one handed

Coming in

Fishing:

Ty catching a little fish

Audrey catching a little fish (I'm 99% sure it's the same fish Ty had caught)

Boat ride with the kiddos

Tara and Ryan got a fish

Natalie got a fish

Wow, what a great week and what great families we have. We sure love them all!