5 simple activities for family fun!

Spending time with the kids doing something fun shouldn't have to involve a degree in education and a second mortgage to pay for.  (Although, that can be fun on occasion too!).

So here are 4 simple ways we've had fun lately...

1. Make Goop

2 cups of cornflour
2 cups of water
Food colouring

Mix in a container until combined and let the kids go crazy.  I actually think for the mix I made I didn't measure it just added enough ingredients until it looked right.
The boys loved it because it's quite solid to pick up and then melts in their hand.  Mum and Dad may have had a little try as well because it really is pretty great.

2. Tracing pictures

This was really fun...simply ask the kids to choose a picture book and sticky tape some baking paper over the top of it.  Grab some pencils and copy away.  The boys weren't sure about it all, but after having a try were really happy with their reproductions. 

 

3. Make paper boats

We found some instructions here and the boys and their Dad had fun following along building and then floating their boats.  Of course it didn't take long for them to work out how to sink their boats either!  

4. Make a volcano

You will need:

Bicarb Soda
Food colour (optional)
Vinegar
Dishwashing liquid

Add the Bicarb soda and food colour to a container.  (It is better to give it a mix to combine it as the first time I didn't and most of the colour stayed on the bottom).  Add a squirt of dishwashing liquid to the vinegar and then pour over the Bicarb soda mixture.   You will want enough supplies to have a few goes I'm guessing!

5. Make gingerbread cookies

We used a recipe from Taste and they turned out really great and were eaten by everyone! We decorated by placing the icing in a zip lock back and snipping the corner which is such an easy way to do it if you don't have the "proper" tools. It was fun coming up with lots of different looking gingerbread men with the odd cyclops thrown in!

So there you have it, 5 simple "if I can do them so can you" ways to have some family fun!

What are some of your simple ideas for having fun as a family?

Friday Favourites #1

There are so many amazing people out there doing amazing things!  I have so much admiration for Mums, and bloggers and entrepreneurs and for beautiful people serving our community and world.  Then there are all those that are adding colour and art and music.  Farmers that grow and produce amazing food and cooks that give us all sorts of delicious recipes!  All of those people sharing their stories and inspiring others...it absolutely takes all of us to make this world the special place it is! 

So my version of Friday favourites could include just about anyone or anything! ha ha.  Here goes round 1...

My boys...Yeah so that's a no brainer really.  These guys are what it's all about for me.  My husband and children teach me and help me grow and make me laugh and smile everyday.  Everything is just that much better with them around that's for sure! 

Dirty Dancing the Musical:  (Melbourne March 2015) Are you kidding me?  I have not arranged tickets YET but it looks amazing!  Girls night out coming right up!
More information here!

Happy Families Podcast: Dr Justin Coulson has just launched an amazing new podcast to help parents create happy families! With 4 podcasts already available to listen too (#1 Habits to make your family stronger, #2 How gratitude can make your family happier #3  5 Things your child should hear every day and #4 The 5 things no child should hear from their parents) there is a heap of great ideas to help strengthen your family!  Check out more at his website Happy Families or download at iTunes here.

Spring: Woohoo it's spring!  The sun has been making the odd appearance and my energy levels are building up again!   There is so much to look forward to with birthday celebrations, Halloween, local festivals, the last term of school/kinder and of course Christmas and New Years!  Such a fun time of year! Oh and I seriously need to get some spring cleaning done...I feel like as much as I keep removing "stuff" from our house, it just keeps accumulating!!!  I'm looking forward to throwing the windows open, playing some loud 90's music and clearing the place out!

This door:

How amazing is it?  The funniest thing is I shared it on IG and the person that owns the door found me!  (through another person).  This online world is so small I tell you!
Anyway, I would LOVE this door for our new home, it's so bright and cheerful and I'm hoping that it will encourage people to use the front door (because everyone keeps telling me that everyone in the country goes straight to your back door).  

Here's hoping you all have an amazing weekend enjoying all of your favourite people and things and making memories with your family!

September: Bits and pieces...

Some signs that Spring is on it's way. 

Dylan and Ethan had athletics day.  Louis was home sick so we missed the whole thing.  They both did really well, although Dylan looked a little miserable by the end of the day.  He was not impressed with me taking photos and just wanted to rest after a big day. 

Ethan was full of beans and we sat out for a while chatting and taking photos. 

Some reading...

Up the block for some lessons in lawn mowing...

Excursion day...the boys were off to the Melbourne Zoo for the day with school.  Huge day.  Dylan was a little nervous about it...

Meanwhile, this little guy and I hung out...

We drove over and had a visit to Nanna's new block of land which is only about half an hour away.  Very exciting! 

Then, before we knew it, it was time to pick up those boys from the bus stop.  We got there early enough for a few more pictures first...

We had a look and read of some of the war memorials in town while we were waiting...

Then we collected two very tired boys.  Very tired.  In fact, meltdowns occurred once we arrived home. 

And that's September...