Little Mummies

I've decided to make this summer different that summers past.  I want it to be.... productive.  I know, weird, right?  Previously I believed whole heartedly in just letting the little goobers run amuck and entertain themselves.  However, this usually doesn't end well.


So, because I stopped homeschooling in January, I still have tons of super fun stuff I had planned for the second half of the school year.  "Hey!"  I thought.  "Why not USE that stuff to keep the punks busy and learning through the summer.  AND, lose some guilt about the money I spent on curriculum that is sitting on the shelf collecting dust."  :0)


Well, PROJECT #1
Egyptian Mummies


First they colored while I read a bit about mummies.  I don't know about your kids, but with mine, if their hands aren't busy, their ears don't work.  

Punk #6 coloring

 "Stained Glass" pictures

Even the teenage girl joined us.  :0)

So after they finished coloring

and I finished reading,

I thought it would be fun to

mummify the children.

Doesn't he look eager?

I know, he looks less than thrilled, 

but trust me, he was loving it!

See?  Happy little mummy.

Of course he had to look

somewhat zombie-fied

as well.

All of a sudden, my punk says,

"Mommy, I don't feel good!

I need out of this!"

I let him unwrap immediately.

Right after I made him pose

for one more picture.

I was doing my best to convince him

everything was okay, and 

he was NOT going to get sick.

Poor kid couldn't tear that one-ply

toilet paper off fast enough!

Notice how pale he is?

Even his lips are white.

Poor baby!

                 
                                Before                                  After!

Something tells me he will

NOT 

want to be a mummy for Halloween.

But, none of that scared Jay in the least.

You can see Jared lying on the couch

in the background.

Recuperating.

His best mummy face.

Time to rip it off

and watch 

the Mummy Episode of

Phineas and Ferb.

So, the next time you feel the need to waste 4 rolls of perfectly good toilet paper, go ahead and teach your punks a little bit about mummies and wrap 'em up!

WARNING: May cause unexpected nausea!

"O" is for Octopus!

This week is "O" week.  We have been learning about the ocean and the octopus.  After making some octopus critters to hang on my already overly decorated fridge, and reading stories about the ocean, I decided to try something special for lunch.  It was an idea I found online and thought was too great not to try!  I'd like to share it with you!

Boiled Octopus!

Yes, I know!  My boys were a little freaked out too.  But, just like I told them, TRUST ME!

Here goes.  Step by step.  Are you ready?

Start with regular hot dogs.  The bun-length ones would be great too!

Slice through the hot dog, leaving an inch or so at the top.  Then rotate the hot dog 1/4 turn and repeat.  You will now have four sections.  Cut each section one more time so you have 8 legs.

Your octopi (that sounds so weird!  Why can't we just say "octopuses"?  Who makes these rules, anyway?) are now ready to be boiled.

Drop them in the boiling water.  Don't worry, they won't feel a thing!

The legs begin to curl up as they cook.  Honestly, I don't know how long I cooked them for.  I was making mac n cheese at the same time, so you get the idea.

TA-DA!  Boiled octopus, and if your kids are like mine, they will LOVE it!  I wish I had that green ketchup (do they still make that?) for them to dip it in because it would have looked like algae.

Brave octopus eating boy.

And look, here's another one!  Of course, it helps to always have chocolate milk to wash your octopus down with!


Their dinner conversation was almost as entertaining for me as the octopus was for them!

Jared:  I don't know if I'd eat REAL octopus.

Me:  Shawna has eaten it.  She liked it.

Jay:  I ate alligator before!

Jared:  What did it taste like?

Jay:  (pause)...  ALLIGATOR!

Jared just gave him a look.

A few minutes later:

Jay:  They're gooder with ketchup!

Jared:  You mean BETTER!

Jay:  NO...  GOODER!

What can I say?  I always have a reason to smile!