Crafts and Experiments

 We read that you could fit an entire cup of popcorn into a cup of milk.  So, we tried it.

It worked!  So, we tired water and popcorn, which worked too.  Water and rice did not, so we did not attempt milk and rice.

Emily spied an American Girl doll backpack at the store one day.  While she was admiring it, I thought to myself "I could make that."  So, when I had a bit of time to spare, I cut a template for the front and back out of some scratch paper, then pieced the pockets together from there.

I loved the big zipper pull that i had in my stash.  The heavy decorative pull will be appreciated by Emily I think.

All done.  There are a few things I would change, but I hope she will enjoy playing with her Coral and Coral's new backpack on her birthday.

I also found the motivation to finish the 2 almost finished projects that had been on my sewing desk for months (a pair of oven mitts and a small zipper pouch.) 

Since they were not for anyone special, it was really hard to find the motivation to finish them.

Grace really wanted to pass out mustache lollipops to her enrichment day friends.  I didn't have any black card stock, and ended up fighting colored paper, which was brutal.  Luckily, she only needed 20. They were so funny, I took one of the less than perfect ones for myself.  Juliet opted for lips, and I had plenty of cardstock for that.

I'm rereading some Agatha Christie novels which led to my decision to make Yorkshire pudding.  It was so good.  Since many in my crew opted against them, I ended up getting them for 3 lunches during the week!!

We were poised to do a bacteria experiment, but the dishes are supposed to be kept between 85-100F and there is just nowhere in our house that warm in February.  We'll have to try again once we are truly warm.

It's been a busy, fun kind of few months.

later days

All the other Spring Fun!

My children had school on both Good Friday and Easter Monday, but the Rosenthals were passing through on their way home from visiting family in Michigan and so we spent an unexpected evening socializing with some of our "Houston friends!"

The twins twinning:

For 6 weeks, each Monday and Tuesday, Alice and Emily went to makers club.  It was actually only 3 weeks each, but it was 6 weeks of picking up the two not attending makers club, racing home to meet the bus, then loading up the twins and heading back up to the school.

Next year though, I can't wait, because we can just do homework at the school until club concludes!  And Emily and Alice will be together and William can join!!!!!

Alice is practicing spelling, William practicing writing, and they are making sure that the grocery list is complete.  Happy Days.  Reading my list as the store is always an adventure! = D

Grace picked out some pokemon cookies at the store (thanks Avia) and I tried to convince the kids that they were leftover Christmas (santa's belt) and Easter (bunny) cookies.  They didn't buy it.  Also, Pikachu is an elf in the picture.

The Oldsmobile plan chimneys are visible all over Lansing.  The low clouds made them look even taller.  I like how much this accurately represents my impression of Michigan.

Emily likes to go to rummage sales as much as I do.  She was all smiles before we went to 3 last Saturday!

We made homemade 'baby food' to go with a doll that Alice gifted one of her friends for their birthday today.  The twins really like to feed their babies too, now that they know it's a thing*. = )

I'm not sure what it is about this time of year, but my friends all seem to have children with birthdays.  And all of their children are turning 10.  All.of.them.  So, I took a picture with my 9 year old.  Because I still have one.  At least for a few more months. = )

I made a new dish last week, with okra.  I was surprised to find okra up here, but it went so well with the Cajun flavor!

Grace and Juliet helped me make cookies for my mops meeting last week.  It was our next to last meeting of the year!

The twins left finger prints all over the glass door while we were waiting for their medicine to arrive.  It took for.ev.er.  So, I had them clean the door when they were done.

Grace decided that she wanted to buy a replacement umbrella with her birthday money (she broke her old one) at the zoo gift shop.  So, on Wednesday, after their medicine shipment arrived, we headed to the zoo. Grace is roaring, and Juliet is hissing (like the snake behind her.)

And we had to go see the tiger, like Grace's tiger ears!  But, he was asleep.  We weren't sure what tigers dreamed about, but they were impressed by the size of his paws. = )

We didn't stay long, since we had to go set up for MOPS, and it was cold again, but it was awesome to exercise their birthday membership!

We received a lovely box of goodies from a family friend.  Emily has been thoroughly enjoying them.  Here, she is creating a card to give her teacher for teacher appreciation week.  = )

One of the strange perks of living in Michigan is how fresh the dairy is!  We were drinking this milk on May 2nd.  And it was still good! = 0

I'm glad, because my family is so not consistent with their milk consumption.  And it was better to overbuy than underbuy.

Also, last weekend, not this weekend, but last weekend it was warm enough for me to mow the yard in so few layers that I got a sunburn!  (such that it is.)  Alice helped with the picture taking. ; )

My children doing 'tricks' (?)

later days

*Alice tested it out on their dolls before we made up all the baggies.  It's just baking soda and food coloring, so I wasn't worried.  But it's always good to test.