Prairie Lights 5K, Grand Prairie

For more holiday seasons than I can remember, we have loaded up the car with our kids, and other people and their kids, along with blankets and hot chocolate, and set off to visit Prairie Lights in Grand Prairie!

 

Prairie Lights is a drive through light display.  We LOVE the lights! 

We love driving through the park, singing with the Christmas songs on the radio, assuring us that we will be bringing a new set of other people and their kids the following year. 

Because nobody wants to attend THAT concert twice!     

 

But this year, we came for the Sneak-A-Peak 5K,

 because even I have gotten tired of our singing. 

 

My daughter was hoping to get to speak with Santa before the race. 

She has alot of explaining to do. 

But Prairie Lights doesn't officially open until Thanksgiving Day,

 and runs thru New Year's Eve. 

There are over 4 million sets of lights, which is amazing when you consider how hard it is to just put lights on your Christmas tree. 

 

My children choose to run ahead, while I decided to walk and talk with friends.  Because that's why you do a 5K, right?  To walk and talk with friends.  It should be on the t-shirt.  

 

This is everyone's favorite, the world's largest light tunnel.  

The lights race up and down the tunnel, it's really terrific!   

 

 

Prairie Lights is set up in Lynn Creek Park, which sits on Joe Pool Lake.  A visit to Lynn Creek Marina and The Oasis Restaurant before or after your drive makes for a perfect evening.  From their patio, you can see the lights reflecting off the water, it's amazing! 

Don't forget to take some bread to feed the ducks and monster size fish that hang out there! 

 

 

There is more than just lights!  At Holiday Village, you can enjoy rides, gift shop, concessions, a visit with Santa, walk through the Holiday Magic Lighted Forest, or enjoy Holiday Magic Live, a brand new live show by Texas Family Musicals.   

 

 

When all my walking and talking (and picture taking) was done, I was proud of my time! 

And while it may seem like a long time, you will need to plan longer for your visit.  The average drive thru and stop at Holiday Village takes about an hour and a half, add an hour or more for weekends and holidays. 

 

 

My Mommy Tips:

• Make a potty stop every chance you get, especially with little kids.  The lines just to get into the park can be long, so visit the potty before you get to the park.  The only potty break is at Holiday Village.  There is a port-a-potty located at the gate, and if you can, stop and use it before going inside.  
• The lines can be long to get inside the park.  Bring something to keep kiddos busy in the car, and maybe some snacks. 

Keep Having Fun in the Texas Sun!

(or under the Texas stars)

Michelle

How to make a scarecrow

My four year old has outgrown his 4T jeans and cooler weather clothing, and while the majority of them are going to find new homes at our church's Mission Center, we decided to recycle of a few of them and make a new friend, a scarecrow! 

Scarecrows are old.  They have been around for thousands of years.  The Egyptians, Romans and Greeks all used them to protect their crops from hungry birds, although they have not always been made out of hay.  Even native Americans used them!  To read more about the history of scarecrows;  http://www.spfdbus.com/thanksgiving/adopted-scarecrow/history_of_the_scarecrow.htm

If you want to stand up your scarecrow, you will need to make a frame out of wood.  If you are going to sit him on a bench or hay bale, you can skip this part.  We purchased the wood at Home Depot for $.92.  Because I wanted a preschooler sized scarecrow, I measured my little boy.  He is 42 inches tall and he is 41 inches from finger tip to finger tip.  Since I am planning to "plant" the bottom 12" of the frame, to make our scarecrow stand up, I need a stick that is 54" tall and one 41"  to secure his arms.  I used a screw to secure the 2 sticks together. 

As we are leaving the home improvement store, I'm thinking how cute my little guy is, carrying the wood and telling everyone he is going to make himself a scarecrow and use the wood to "hang it".  I think it's so cute that I'm trying to get a picture, and thinking how I wish I had let him wear his little Bob the Builder yellow hard hat, when he quickly turns around, and in a move right out of The Three Stooges, hits me on the nose with that 8 foot long piece of wood.  Instantly, the orange smocks are flying as admirers of my boy are ducking and taking cover as he twirls around to see why I'm shreiking, sending the wood swishing through the air.  My nose is now bleeding and I'm trying to grab the wood, and him.  We are a circus act, a sad, pitiful circus.  Learn from my mistakes... 

Once we get home, and I get cleaned up, I gathered a pair of his favorite jeans and a button down shirt.  We aren't really trying to scare away any crows, and I want it to look more like a scarecrow than a little boy. I like the way the hay looks sticking out of the holes of a button down shirt! 

We purchased a bale of straw at our local feed store for $8. Ask for straw instead of hay, because it's less expensive, and your scarecrow will never know the difference!    Stuff the jeans and shirt.  Again, I want some of the hay to show, so I overstuffed and pulled some down the arms and legs of the jeans.  Then using twine, tie them off so it doesn't fall out. Use tacks or a staple gun to secure the shirt and jeans to the frame.  I also used safety pins to attach the shirt to the jeans. 

The head is the most complicated part of the scarecrow.  The first jack-o-lanterns were made to adorn scarecrows.  You can also use a pumpkin and paint a face on it. (it will last much longer than if you carve it).
When I was a child, we had a scarecrow every year, and my mom would use a small, white pillowcase and paint a face onto it.  It's lighter and will stay in place much longer.  I outlined the face, and since this is a project for my little one and he WANTED to paint, I let him fill in the eyes, etc.  I probably could have done a better job, but the project is about him, and for him, not me. 

Every good scarecrow needs a hat!  My little guy wasn't about to share one of his baseball caps, but he was fine letting me use one of his brother's knit hats.  Be sure and stuff a little extra straw under the hat for hair! 
 

Our weekend with Frog

My four year old just started his last year of preschool.  This week, his teachers passed out book bags  for the children to take home.  Leo brought home the class mascot, a stuffed frog.  I just love his fun, creative teachers!  The idea is that Frog will accompany him during the weekend, we will take pictures and make a journal entry about their adventures! 

Our first stop on Saturday was at Leo's t-ball game.  He had a blast cheering on our team, and laughed when Leo detoured between bases to come get a "kiss and hug" from me! 

We also visited my daughter's Girl Scout troop's community garden.  While we pulled some weeds, and picked some eggplants that are growing, Frog watched us from a fallen tree.  It looks like we have some tomato hornworms; I wonder if frogs eat those? 

On Sunday, Frog accompanied us to the Dallas Zoo!  He chilled in the Nature Exchange while Leo read him a book. 

Leo and Frog played on the giant spider web at the zoo, however, I think Frog was a little worried that the spider might come back!   

And they were definitely worried about the return of the owner of this nest!  Hey, where did Leo go? 

We got home, and Frog enjoyed hanging out with some of the friends he made at our house.  In case you didn't know, frogs are terrible gossips!  I wonder what they were talking about. 

On Monday, we took Frog with us swimming, but he wouldn't get in, the water was too chilly! 

And finally, Frog went with us to Cole's football game.

Houston Toad

We enjoyed our weekend with Frog, who will now go hopping back to class, and onto adventures with another friend.  However, Frog has cousins in Texas who are facing a much less happy future.  Already on the endangered species list, the largest population of Houston Toads exists in Bastrop county, and the devastating drought and wildfires of 2011 decimated their already dangerously low numbers.  To learn more about the toad, or how you can help, please visit the Houston Zoo's website. 

Dallas Zoo Nature Journal Contest

Each summer the Dallas Zoo holds a nature journal contest in their Nature Exchange at the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo.  The zoo chooses from a one page submission of a contestant's nature journal, the entry that they think is the best, most detailed.  My daughter entered a page from her journal of her experiences this summer watching an antlion.  A few days ago we were notified that she was one of the winners!  She was awarded 5000 pts. to use in the Nature Exchange, and a notebook from their gift shop.

The Nature Exchange at the Dallas Zoo is filled with amazing items. Visitors are encouraged to bring in items they have found outside of the zoo, and turn them in for points, which they can use to trade for items others have brought.  My daughter started her painted animal skull collection from a cow skull she traded for at the zoo.  She and my son have also acquired numerous rocks and minerals, small vials of sand from around the world, and lots of other items!  My 4 year old always gets petrified wood, his favorite.  The Nature Exchange also awards points for bringing in your nature journal, and letting one of the zoo naturalist tell you a little about it! 

Why drawings in a nature journal?  It would be much easier to just take pictures and add to your journal, but not nearly as educational.  By drawing your subject, you are learning parts of it.  A photo may give you a better picture of a blue jay, but by drawing it you realize which wings are a darker shade of blue, and you will find that you remember it much longer than just from looking at a picture. 

This is a copy of my daughter's antlion entry.  An antlion is a small bug, similar to a doodlebug, but very veracious in their appetite, and killing capacity, of ants.  For a first hand account of this, find an antlion burrow, which appears to be a small mound and funnel in the dirt.  If you place an ant in this trap, being careful not to be bitten by the ant, the capture of the ant by the antlion, who is hiding down at the bottom of the trap, will certainly entertain and surprise you!


My Mommy Tips:  It's helps to guide children when they are first starting a nature journal.  For toddlers and preschoolers, take crayons and colored pencils out to the park, and show them different things to draw, or even doing rubbings of different leaves. 

For older children, give them a subject to make an entry about, depending on the season.  Starting with something big, like a tree.  It helps if you do a little research about it at home before going out, so they know what to look for.  An example is a pecan tree.  What the tree looks like depends on the season.  Are pecans present.  What about squirrels?  Can you find pecans on the ground, and have any of them been eaten?  Are there bird or nest in the tree?  

Some of our favorite journal entries have been:

• bird nest
• cattails
• sweet gum trees
• old stumps
• creek beds
• pine cones
• mockingbirds
• soft shell turtles
• caterpillars

we're going on a bear hunt

We’re going on a bear hunt… I’m not afraid!

I’ve got good friends to come with me.

What do I see?

It's the Thursday night before school starts, and just as we have for the past 7 years, we are going on a "bear hunt".  What started as a spontaneous night walk one evening with some friends, has turned into a yearly back to school ritual for us. 

The town we live in has a "linear park", a trail system that connects the parks, to be used for walking, running, bicycling, etc.  The trail runs along a creek, and cuts through some very wooded sections, really making you feel like you are out in a forest, not inside town.  Wild animals such as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, etc do live there, but no bears.  When we went on our first hunt, our children were still in preschool, and the lyrical chant, "going on a bear hunt", was a staple in our song repertoire.   The first bear hunt was filled with clingy children, fearing every noise in the dark was a bear poised to attack.  We walked along slowly, taking time to stop and stare in awe at the night time creatures we encountered along the walk, such a glo worms, spiders working on webs that shimmered in the  flashlight's beam, and lightening bugs that lit up the night, always in the tall grass just off the trail (where they weren't allowed to go). 

We enjoyed it so much that we made an annual event out of it.  My brother-in-law even dressed in a bear costume one night, an amazing contribution considering how warm August summer nights can be.  As my kids have gotten older, it has lost a little of it's magic for them.  My oldest no longer fear the bears, or any creatures in the forest.  This last year, my daughter and friends ran the entire trail, waiting for us at the park on the other end.  Some of the moms wait for us there, with cold drinks and our "bear trail mix".  The kids play on the playground while we chat for a bit, before returning home via the trail.  It's just under a four mile walk.  Each year we have recruited families with young children to join us, and it's fun to see the excitement as they make their first "bear hunt".  Not only are we offering the kids a chance to connect with nature during a time that they may not usually be outdoors, but when we finished, they are feeling that exhausted pride that comes from overcoming a challenge and facing our fears. 

Bear Trail Mix
1 box of each of the 3 flavors of Teddy Grahams, honey, chocolate and chocolate chip
1 bag pretzels
1 bag mini marshmallows
2 large bags of gummy bears

My Mommy Tips:
We have a standing rule, adults carry flashlights, kids carry glowsticks.  Since we adults are very outnumbered by the kids, who are running back and forth in the dark, this rule makes it easy to keep up with where the kids are, even if we can't tell who it is.  Even from quite a distance back, it's easy to tell if it's an adult or child going off the trail.  Also, it's a matter of comfort for the adults, because what is the first thing a child will do with a flashlight?  A- shine it in your face! 

Bears in Texas
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, "Bears have been making a slow and natural return to Texas since 1984, when a black bear was observed in Big Bend National Park for the first time in nearly 50 years."  Today, bears are returning to Texas, and being spotted as far as the Hill Country and in East Texas.   The East Texas Black Bear Taskforce offers land owners information on how to welcome and coexist with these returning Texas natives. 

our big, flat Texas family

When my daughter, Danielle, was in second grade, her teacher had us do a Flat Stanley project.  If you have never heard of poor little Flat Stanley, he is a character in a book by Jeff Brown.  In the stories, Stanley is flattened when a bulletin board falls on him.  He then travels around by mail, visiting family and friends.  We had lots of fun with our "Flat Danielle", however she got lost all the time. 

Our family has so many amazing places in Texas we want to visit, but we never have enough time.  I was looking for a fun way to let the kids experience and learn about Texas, when I remembered Flat Danielle. 

So we made Our Big, Flat Texas Family, in hopes that we can send "us" around Texas to different places, and track our journey on facebook!  Like so many things we do, it's really an educational activity for my kids, but they don't know it! 
Come visit our facebook page, and travel with us.   
http://www.facebook.com/OurBigFlatTexasFamily?skip_nax_wizard=true

If you would be interested in hosting Our Big, Flat Texas Family, downloading and printing our photo, taking it to a family friendly Texas landmark, historical site or someplace significant to YOU or your town, pose for a picture while holding "us", and posting it to our facebook page, then please email me at havingfuninthetexassun@gmail.com.  Thank You so much and please join us as we, hopefully, see and learn about lots of Texas! 

Glowing Mountain Dew

Every now and then you hear about some "sciency thing", some outrageous experiment that everyone has got to try.  Several years ago there were videos on Youtube of people popping popcorn kernals with cell phones.  I read about it and realized it was a hoax, but we I kept that to myself and did it with the kids anyway.  I think it's an important learning process for kids to realize that NOT EVERY SCIENCE EXPERIMENT WORKS.  They aren't really EXPERIMENTING with anything if the results are conclusive.  To feed their intriguing minds, you have to offer doubt.  There has to be some uncertainty, or they are just SCIENCE ACTIVITIES.  The kids were disappointed when nothing happened, but they learned some important lessons, including.... NOT TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET!

My husband was planning one of our weekly Family Mad Science Nights, and heard about making Mountain Dew glow, simply by adding dishing washing liquid, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.  He was VERY excited about this activity, and eager to get home from work that Thursday and try it out! 

My kids and I gave each other a guilty, but quiet smile.  We had Been There, Done That, already, and we knew it was also a hoax.  During a campout my husband hadn't attended, we tried making "homemade glowsticks".  The concoction was a disappointing dud.  However, when we got home and did more research, I found some fun glow stick activities, and one using a mountain dew bottle. 

Items Needed:
Mountain Dew 16 oz. bottle filled 1/3 way with water
kitchen dish soap
1 capful Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 glowstick
scissors

Add all ingredients to the Mountain Dew bottle ( or any green bottle works well).  Activate the glowstick, and then cut it in two and drop into the bottle.  The contents will spill out.  Be careful not to get the chemicals on your skin or in your eyes.  Replace the lid on the bottle and tighten.  Shake and watch as the entire bottle glows! 

Lowe's Build and Grow

The second and fourth weekend of each month, Lowe's Home Improvement Store has a workshop for kids, Lowe's Build and Grow.   Children are provided with a Lowe's apron, goggles, and upon completion of their project, a patch and certificate!  During this summer, their theme is "Dreamworks", and each project has been from a Dreamworks movie.  The one my four year old is working on is a Kung Fu Panda Building Tower. 

These FREE workshops are alot of fun for kids, but they are inconspicuously doing a lot of learning, too.  My older kids, who still love these workshops, are learning to follow directions and the importance of doing a job correctly.  Little ones like my youngest still need help, but are learning important hand eye coordination and small motor control skills. 

And they are all learning the pride of accomplishing something you can be proud of....

Home Depot also offers a similar, Free Kid's Workshops on the first Saturday of each month, from 9am - noon. 

Arlington Animal Shelter Tour and Dog Grooming Class

My daughter's Girl Scout troop visited the Arlington Animal Shelter for their Responsible Pet Owner Grooming Academy!  It was a great class to introduce basic dog grooming and care to kids!  The girls learned so many great things, and got to meet 3 wonderful Dog Scouts!

Some of the things they learned were;

How to introduce themselves to a dog, by letting the dog sniff the BACK of their hand

How to check a dog's collar, by using the two finger rule.  You should be able to slide your index and middle finger between the dog's neck and it's collar. 

How to clean up after a dog.  They even used fake poop, although I'm sure they had the real stuff lying around somewhere! We learned that in the city of Arlington, not cleaning up after your dog can result in a fine of up to $300.00!

How to bathe a dog, including wiping down it's face, and starting with appropriate soap at the nape of the neck and working their way down.  They even got to bathe the Dog Scouts!  My daughter and friends bathed a beautiful Great Dane named Rocky. 

The girls earned their Animal Shelter Tour Fun Patch when they took us behind the scenes at the shelter.  They showed us everything, the workrooms, the laundry room, where animals are kept under quarantine (the door, not the room).  They also showed us where the dogs get their exercise, vet check ups and surgeries.  They even showed us where they play music for the animals at night to keep them from getting lonely!  Dogs and cats enjoy and benefit from different music!  And finally, we got to look at the adorable dogs and cats just waiting to find their forever homes!

So, what's a Dog Scout?  The dog scout program allows dogs to earn badges, just like Girl Scouts do!  They earn badges for obedience, agility, water sports, hiking and more!  Visit their website for more information; http://www.dogscouts.org/

Our troop is planning to come back and complete a service project.  My daughter also wants us to come back and volunteer.  The animal shelter is happy to have all volunteers, as long as anyone under 18 is accompanied by an adult at all times, and no more than 2 children to one adult.  I'm excited, because everyone there seemed to really enjoy themselves! 

I found out about the class just by chance, as I was visiting their website looking for information on the Arlington Dog Park, Tails and Trails.  So I wondered, what else can you find at other Texas cities animal services web sites.....

Dallas Animal Services has a list of dog friendly restaurants in Dallas. 

BARC, Houston's Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control, has information on Houston area dog parks

El Paso Animal Control states that animals ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED to be microchipped. 

Lubbock Animal Services offers a (TNR) program for feral cat colonies.  TNR stands for TRAP, NEUTER and RELEASE.   A feral cat colony can be registered through the city. 

The Animal Care Division of the City of Corpus Christi offers tips for hurricane evacuation with your pet, or what to do if you are forced to leave your pet behind.  They also offer a list of animal friendly lodging options. 

The Beaumont Animal Services  started August 1st in the Rachel Ray/ASPCA $100,000 Challenge.  The challenge is aimed to help humane societies in saving as many MORE animals as possible.  In 2011, Austin Pets Alive  was the grand winner, although we know all those animals and new owners were winners!! 

Photo A Day Challenge

I take lots of pictures, every day.  Usually, they are really bad.... occassionally, I get off a good one!  But I do think they are getting better!  I'm excited because I'm going to be participating in the August Photo A Day Challenge offered by Fat Mum Slim!  She is a blogger out of Australia, and I hope she comes and checks out some of my fun Texas pics, even if they are bad!!

http://fatmumslim.com.au/here-it-is-photo-a-day-august-challenge-list/#comment-44952

Here's the list of photo of the day themes for August. 

I'll be posting the photos here, so go check it out and come play with me!!  It's fun to see others photos, too!!

twisted balloons

About two years ago, I was going to work a summer kid's program at our church, and one of the activities was going to be Silly Human Tricks.  Each week we were going to "learn" something new.... play Happy Birthday on the piano, juggle, etc.  Unfortunantly, the class was cancelled but my kids and I decided that we would do it as a family, instead!  
One of the activities was making a balloon dog.  We got a pump, balloons and a book at Party City.  After a few mistakes, we quickly had a house full of colorful pups bouncing around!  My daughter loved making them, and using the book, learned how to make swords, and then flowers.  We looked online for different ideas, where you can find just about anything in the shape of a balloon!  She loves doing it so much that she now offers her "balloon art" to family friends for birthday parties.  Of course, any job that pays in birthday cake can't be all bad!!
The hobby is actually called Balloon Twisting or Balloon Sculpting.  I tried to twist a few of them myself, and it's not that easy, especially if you have the fear of them popping all the time! 

Here's our list of Silly Human Tricks we attempted to learn that summer...

1.   Simple card trick
2.   play Happy Birthday on piano
3.   juggle 3 balls
4.   balloon animals
5.   "read someone's mind"
6.   pig latin
7.   pull a tablecloth off a set table
8.   yo - yo trick
9.   spin a basketball on your finger
10. alphabet in sign language (which certainly isn't silly, but I thought I could sneak it in)!

Dr Dreadful Zombie Lab

Summer is wearing down on us, we were so exhausted yesterday after a full day of fun and sun, that we skipped our weekly Family Mad Science Night, and dinner too.  So today, while my little one wasn't quite feeling himself, we had a Family Science Night - Afternoon Edition! 

I bought the kids a Dr. Dreadful Zombie Lab kit.  I love any activity that makes kids follow WRITTEN directions, and there are unrepairable consequences if you don't follow them correctly!  It's one of the reasons I will buy those expensive novelty cake and brownie mixes for them, too!

We set up the lab, which is a skull, and then made "edible" things like brain juice, barf and gummy bugs!  Trust me, it all taste terrible, sour and nasty, but we all have to at least taste it.... as any self respecting mad scientist would! 
 

our Texas fairy garden

My 12 year old has always liked cactus, and we started a cactus garden for him when he was very young.  When my daughter brought home a cow skull to add to her collection, her brother convinced her it would look good alongside his cactus.  He was right, and we all liked the Southwestern flair it added to the garden.  I guess we weren't the only ones that appreciated it, however, because soon after we added it, a little fairy moved in!  We haven't seen her yet, but we really like what she has done with the place! 

Apparently, Texas fairies aren't like other fairies.  She even has a little horse, and built a fence for him.  We've been sneaking him apple bits, I hope she doesn't mind.  Like most Texas girls, it's probably better to stay on her good side! 

A happy lizard watches over the cactus while sunning on a rock. 

She cleaned out some of the cactus, and built a pathway.  This is one busy girl!

Of course, she is all girl, too!  As soon as she moved in, she hung a pink candelier inside her new home, and laid out a pink rug.  My daughter was thrilled, and named her Georgia, after the artist, Georgia O'keefe, who also saw the beauty in old cow skulls. 

 

My daughter loves that she wears a cowgirl hat, too.  But it seems today she left it at home, must be a "big hair" day! 

And like any good Texan, she even flies the Lone Star!  My daughter and I have really enjoyed watching as she has magically transformed our little garden.  We hope we just get to meet her one day! 

If you would like to see some of her fairy friend's homes, visit The Magic Onions Fairy Garden Contest 2012 at http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2012/04/fairy-garden-contest-2012.html. 

10 fun things to do with your kids in the rain

John Ruskin wrote, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."  Obviously he didn't live near a Texas tornado, with his head buried between his legs in a "duck and cover" position.   But I understand what he meant; rain, cold fronts, heat waves they all have a purpose.  As we haven't had any rain in a while, it seemed like a perfect time to plan some activities to be prepared when it does! 

Here are some fool proof ideas to get you and your kiddos to pull on your slickers and rain boots (Have you seen how cute some of those are lately?) and carpe the dreary diem! 

1.  Visit your local playground, which is now a waterpark.  Splash in the puddles!  Take a ride on the wet slides!  Swing high in the air, and put your head back to feel the drops hit your face!  Have a picnic under a sheltering tree. 

2.  Get out the kids slip n slide, no water hose needed!  Add a few drops of tear free baby shampoo for some slick fun!

3.  Give the kids a disposable, waterproof camera.  Let them experience the rain through the viewfinder.  Encourage them to take pictures of the rain coming down, puddles and rain drops falling off leaves.  See how many of the leaves you can identify when you get home from developing the film.  Use a field guide or the computer as a reference. 

4.  Break out the sidewalk chalk, and create some wet chalk masterpieces!  Chalk takes on new hues when it's wet, and then the rain will wash it all away! 

5.  Drag out some potting soil, and let the kids make mud pies!  Encourage them to expand to cookies, cakes and bowls of mud soup!  Open up the sand box and build sandcastles with moats!  Just leave the top off when the sun comes out to let it dry up.  In the Texas sun, it won't take long!

6.  Take a sensory field trip to a botanical garden.  The incredible smells unleashed by the rain create an all new experience! 

7.  Get out the easel and some inexpensive watercolors, no water needed.  Paint on something that won't get soggy, like cardboard, clay pots or pieces of canvas or fabric! 

8.  Enjoy a wet safari!  Take a walk or a hike, and look for earthworms, frogs and other creatures who love the rain! 

9.  Ever wonder where the term, "ducky weather" comes from?  Ducks love the rain!  Get out your childs rubber ducks and let them splash around in plastic tubs, pools or buckets! 

10. Give your child some toy boats, or make some from objects found around your house, and race them down the street in the gutters (the low space next to the curb where the water runs down).  Always supervise your children in or near the street, and stay far away from the entrances to the underground storm drains!  As a child growing up in Houston, this was one of our favorite rainy day activities!  All the kids on our block would show up with their "homemade" boats for racing!

These are just some of the great ideas you can use to turn every day into a great weather day! I would love to hear of some other ideas you have!  Remember, these are just for those long, drippy wet days.  Stay safe on cold or stormy days, and always take cover indoors if there is lightening.  Have fun! 

Thanks to Jean Bean Photography for the great photo!  To see more of her work, visit her facebook page; http://www.facebook.com/#!/JeanBeanPhotography

Chick-fil-a Cow Appreciation Day

For the fourth year in a row, we have participated in Chick-fil-A's Cow Appreciation Day.  Participation is easy when free food is involved!








Chick-fil-A hands out a free meal to anyone who comes in dressed like a cow. We keep telling the kids that you don't also have to act like a cow, but they do it anyway. Except I don't think cows actually eat chicken...

We meet with a bunch of our friends at a nearby park to decorate our shirts.  Each year we have decorated them a little different, and this year we decided to try spray paint!   Some of the shirts ended up more paint than shirt. My daughter even asked me if she could spray paint her legs. I was so proud of her as I told her no. I couldn't believe she asked first! 

This is one of my daughter's friends.  She made a matching cow shirt for her American Girl doll, too.  How cute (and creative) is that? 

Some other friends brought hats to paint, too!  Chick-fil-A has costume and mask downloads on their website, but what I really like about this event is the creativity the kids show!  They come up with some of the cutest things.  It's like Halloween use to be when I was a kid, before the reign of the store bought costume. 

As we left the park, and were driving to Chick-fil-A, we spotted a couple of coyotes in a field.  My son exclaimed that they thought we were cows, and were hunting us.  The remaining short drive was spent with a car of screaming kids!  My four year doesn't need to worry, he would wear the coyote out, too.  To see more of the Chick-fil-A costumes, visit their website; http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Cows/Appreciation-Day

Afterwards, we drove down to Historic Mansfield to see the newest addition there.  It's a very stylishly painted piano sitting out in front of the Chamber of Commerce.  Their mission is "To bring awareness to Historic Downtown Mansfield by creating public displays of interactive art."  How cool is that? 

Mansfield Music Mentors is just two doors down from the chamber.  The hope is that the piano will inspire pianist and other musicians for spontaneous concerts on the street. 

Of course, some not so skilled pianist will take their turns at "tickling the ivories"too.  I headed into the chamber as my junior Van Cliburn's banged away of the keys.  Thankfully, the sound is a little muffled in there. It just makes me giggle to see the kids in their cow shirts, playing on this colorful piano. 

 I love summer!

This plaque is on the piano.  For more information visit www.Mansfield88.com .