Homemade Watercolor Paints

Oh, yes, another Pinterest find.  Seriously, if you are not on that website, run there!  The number of wonderful ideas I have found is so wonderful.  I am so thankful for the creativity out there as I would never have known about this stuff without it!

Finn and I made homemade water color paints with the recipe found here.  We had all the stuff in our cupboards which solidfied this as a project that day.

First we mixed all the colors we wanted and Finn had fun experimenting with how to make lots of colors from the food coloring we had.  Then, you have to let the paints set up.  We put it by the wood fire and left them over night.

 The next day, they were ready.  We just dip the paint brushes in water and paint away.  Our house is now decorated with lots of water color pictures and these paints are still going strong.  A little goes a long way!

Homemade Popsicles

With the wonderful warm weather last week, Finn was excited to have some summery type treats, so we broke out our popsicle molds.  It is so great to make the popsicles because then I know that Josette is getting a good healthy treat.  We just blended frozen peaches and coconut milk and I felt happy to give Josette her first popsicle and Finn thoroughly enjoyed it too.

Welcome Spring at the Beach

Is it spring or summer, you ask?  We have had unseasonably warm temps here.  In fact, I heard on the radio that is was 40 degrees higher than average yesterday.  Sean has been doing some boat work.  He pulled out the sunscreen and I commented that the smell made me feel like we should be going to the beach.  He replied that we should given that it would be so warm.  I often forget how close that beautiful Atlantic ocean is.  So, the kiddos and I said "carpe diem" and headed to the sand and waves.  It was a perfect day and everyone had a blast.  Josette was incredibly keen on the water and gave no second thoughts to walking right into the cold water and waves, giggling the entire time.  Finn was also more than happy to splash and try to jump waves.  There was also lots of sand castle building and playing.  Of course I took a billion pictures, so enjoy:

Sugaring, Take 2

Well, making maple syrup is a strenuous business.  You have to get that sap boiling and then....well, you watch it boil....and boil, and boil...

So what do you do while that sap is boiling?

Serious conversation:

 Oh, those willy leprechauns got Lily:

 Play baseball:

 How many  balls do you need?

 Just hang out:

 Play hide-and-seek:

 Geek out and find some aquatic insects, hello little Tricopteran:

 Get stuck in the mud:

 Do some swinging:

 Uh, oh, the leprechauns got Liam too:

 Play some sticks:

 Read some books:

 Take a nap:

 Oh, boy, its ready to move!

 The final boil down inside:

 Taste-testing:

 There is some beautiful maple syrup:

 Liquid gold:

Josette's Apple

If you recall from my last posts, Josette has a tendency to raid the fridge.  I was putting things away one day and I didn't actually notice her get in and grab an apple.  I turn around and she was happily munching away.  I was amazed at what she could do with two bottom teeth.  She thoroughly enjoyed it.