fun things to do at home

Here's a fun craft I've been doing with the kids when its too hot to be outside, or we just want to veg out in the evening, and not turn on the tube.

Here's the canon site where instructions are in english (so start here), they have cute animals and an entire paper town (we've done lots of cars , the police station, & the little mouse on my mouse pad*) and here is the konica site where I got the house, instructions are in Japanese, but if I can figure it out, so can you!

I recommend the following supplies:

heavyweight cardstock

a ruler

an empty ballpoint pen (use this with the ruler to score the lines before folding)

a scrapbooking adhesive thingy

HAVE FUN!

* I covered the mouse pad (ugly plain green thing) with fabric Priscilla had given us as creative gift wrapping (talk about repurposing a couple times over). Let me know if you want instructions. It took all of ten minutes and now I like my mouse pad...

Last Minute Play Date

Meet us tomorrow, Monday, July 21st at 11:00am... "Splash Pad" at Sigler Park in Westminster is FREE!!!

Update on Class with Shaila

Ok mommies (and daddies too)... Shaila loves the idea of guiding us in a parenting class. However, in her wisdom, she has suggested that it wait until Spring. That way we can all get a bit more settled with so many of us starting new preschools, kindergarten and in general just adjusting to the new changes at LBCC. We will most likely meet twice per month during eight week sessions. I'll keep you all filled in as we progess.

In the meantime, I am still in need of our support forum - so here's my suggestion:

We determine one or two evenings per month (I would like Tuesdays from like 7pm-9pm?), we meet at someone's house (I am happy to offer mine although its tiny - I think we can fit perhaps 8 of us?) or maybe a church (it might be wise for someone other than me to pursue this option, although the First Congregational Church of Long Beach might be an option -they seem very nice and have a public meeting space I think... )

We can create a list of topics (ie: discipline, sleep, siblings, etc...) and just talk about parenting for a couple of hours a month... We can do this until Shaila is ready in the Spring - and best of all, it will be free!

Any takers?

THURSDAY AT KIRA's

Playdate Thursday morning - my casa. Bring suits & towels. Inspired by our amazing Priscilla, I will also have craft tables under the shade. I'll make smoothies.

10:00 am to whenever

The Beach

So, is anyone doing the bay on Fridays, like last year? Reece is finally out of school and I am ready to fill our schedule with activities!

$1 Wednesday Morning Movies - I'll play hookie for that!

Starting June 25th AMC is doing a $1 Movie on Wednesday mornings. The first one is Mr. Magorium's Magic Emporium. My cousin, Mollie, said that there were some mature underlying themes -- like what happens when someone dies -- in this movie that made her son sad. I wonder how this would be for my sensitive girl?

Viv hasn't actually been to the movies yet...just turned 3, and I think the time is ripe! I will try to play hookie to get to a few of these even though Viv has preschool on Wednesdays. Anyone else up for a morning movie?

Splash Away at Loralei and Ethan's Casa

Tuesday, June 24th at 12:00

Bring your suits if it is hot. We will have water painting, chalk drawing, and small water slide kiddie pool. I will provide drinks and pizza.

Call me if you need directions

430-3094

POSSIBLE CLASS with SHAILA...need input!

In an effort to retain the wonderful support community from our parent participation lectures, I have approached Shaila with the idea that she lead us in a class.

She would be open to it with the caveat that the prep time on her part would not be extensive (she has five classes in the fall and busy busy boys) and we give her more info on what exactly we want... I would like to ask her to really just guide us and give us her pearls of wisdom. I think she was an amazing, patient and thoughtful guide when she subbed for lectures last year.

I would be willing to procur a space, collect fees (I'm thinking $160-$180 for an eight-ten week class with a minimum of 13 participants), and create a topic outline with all of your input.

Shaila wanted to know what we were thinking as far as :

length of time? format? expectations? start date?

please post comments so we can get this rolling.

I for one am certainly in need of that regular parenting reminder that we got every week... I always felt like a more thoughtful parent when taking the parent ed classes... and I would love it if we could entice our favorite guru to help us!

REMINDER: THURSDAY PLAYDATE AT KIRA's

Playdate at my house THIS Thursday June 12 (around 9:30-ish). Bring bathing suits and towels. I'll have snacks.

e-mail me if you need my address...kira@tangarang.com

(see Abby & Brenda, I can be responsible... :)

Kira

Idyllwild Family Camp

My mom is talking up Idyllwild Family Camp for summer 2009. I didn't even know something like "Family Camp" existed -- I thought that was only in the movies, like in Dirty Dancing. I would love to do this. I would love for something like this to become a tradition. And how cool if some other families we from LB did it, too?!?

Check it out -- apparently Summer 2008 is booked. Registration for Summer 2009 is in February.

One note: My mom, who teaches art and ceramics at Carson High, just told me that the first time she ever tried ceramics was at Idyllwild's camp! She's an awesome ceramicist today. Wonder what this camp may uncover, inspire in our kids?!