summer list...check check check.

We are still working on checking off things from the summer list.

We've done a lot of stuff,
but I'm not sure Santa Cruz is in the cards for us this summer,
so that one may remain unchecked.
Why has summer gone so fast?!
How is it already August?
I don't think we're going to make it to Waterworld either.
Honestly...I'm just not in the mood for that one!

The other day Avery was at a friend's house
and I pulled out the shoeboxes for the boys to make dioramas.
They were the ones that wanted that one on the list.
We've made several dioramas over the years just for fun,
and they always surprise me with how much they love it.



They were very quiet.





Riley made a beach scene.







Colin picked leaves from the backyard for his camping scene.





I just noticed he used real rocks, too.
Very authentic.



He made a paper tent.



I like it.
Definitely reminiscent of our camping trip...minus all the DIRT.



Riley made a beach scene.



Did you notice the shark fin in the foreground?
And the sunbather?  I die!



I love those crafty times with the kids.
I cannot believe there are only three weeks till school starts.
And then...QUIET.
And quiet makes me a little sad.
Even though their bickering can drive me batty,
I think a totally quiet house is worse.
Is that weird?

Anyway...if you need something to do this week make a diorama.
Or make sidewalk chalk paint.
Or whip up a batch of mini Mexican bites and fall in love.
Or ponder what kind of Jamaican spiritual awakening it takes to
change oneself from Snoop Dogg to Snoop Lion.

Haha - that story really cracks me up.
I'm pretty sure I know EXACTLY what kind of "spiritual awakening" he had in Jamaica.
Oh, silly Snoop Lion.

o crafty day: ice cream watercolor.

This year I put on our summer list
that I wanted to do a weekly craft with the kids.
Actually, if I'm being honest,
it was on last year's summer list too,
but I never was able to pull it off.

This summer, I'm determined.
So yesterday, we painted.

I saw this idea on
Art Projects for Kids.

Have the kids draw a tall ice cream cone on
a piece of watercolor paper.
{i drew avery's for her.}
Watercolor paper is a little pricier than regular paper,
but worth it. 
It's very sturdy and
doesn't curl when it gets wet.

I cut the paper in half, so it was 4.5"x12".

Then they trace over the pencil in black crayon,
so the watercolor will stay inside the lines.

We talked about different ice cream flavors,
and then they painted.

Whenever we get ice cream,
the flavors they order are so gross to me.
Their favorite: blue bubblegum with gummi bears.
Blecccccchhhh.
I'm a rocky road girl, through and through.

I made one, too.

Riley wasn't really interested in this craft.
He painted an ice cream cone,
but only to make me happy.
He did give me some ideas for next week, though....

Here they are, in all their glory.

For further artistic research,
I promised them that today we could
go out for double scoops.

Life imitates art.