Tuesday

Tuesday's summer activity was to make homemade strawberry lemonade (yes, another recipe from pinterest): http://laylita.com/recipes/2012/06/08/strawberry-lemonade/ It was a fun and easy recipe to follow. I cut all the fruits and the kids put them in the magic bullet (thanks again mom!). Heidi wanted to blend the fruits this time, she's getting more brave and less scared of the loud noise. The kids enjoy helping me in the kitchen, so it was fun to do. In the end, Heidi loved the lemonade, Noah did not.

More Summer

And we're back! Heidi had Princess Prep School last week so summer activities were on hold for a week. She had a blast at camp and is now home reciting scriptures about serving others... love it! Anyway... this week we are back to doing our summer activities. Monday's activity was to make homemade finger paints and paint pictures. It was really a very easy recipe and things I had on hand. Here's a link to where I found the recipe: http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/83641390_g4h4MdyA_c.jpg. The kids watched as I mixed the mixture on the stove, then we put a small amount in ice cube trays, added the food coloring (which was fun mixing colors for the kids to see how to mix colors to make new colors), and finally the fun of finger painting began.



And of course, if you're outside with finger paints it eventually turns into outside water play.

Since Hannah is usually asleep during our summer activities, I took a picture of her cute little nose crinkle. Enjoy!

More Ice Cream

Friday's Summer Activity was to make ice cream with our friends. We invited our playgroup over to do the "Make Your Own Ice Cream" and we had about 15 kids in our house, it was pretty much complete madness, but yet we had a blast. I forgot to take pictures because there was so much going on, so you'll just have to imagine my house with 15 kids in it. When the kids came over we let them play, eat lunch, then make ice cream, and finally the kids went to run around in the sprinklers outside while a few of us moms cleaned the kitchen from all the ice cream. My favorite part of making the ice cream is when people said, "this really does taste like ice cream." Yep... I promised ice cream and that's what they got. There are only 3 ingredients for the ice cream, which surprised everyone, and it tasted just like ice cream. All the moms brought toppings to go along with the ice cream, so my kids had ice cream with chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, mini m&m's, marshmallows, bananas, and sprinkles. Hence the need for running around in the backyard after eating all that! Thanks to everyone who came and made a fun afternoon for everyone.

Mail Time

Wednesday and Thursday's Summer Activities were to make a package for someone and then mail it to them. Wednesday the kids ran around the house and found things to put in the package which included two boxes of flower seeds, pictures they colored, princess tattoos, and who knows what else they might have put in there while I wasn't looking. After the package was filled they decorated the outside with stickers. They had a blast thinking of all the things they could send to the person who would receive their package. On Thursday we took the package to the mail center and mailed it to the recipient. This summer activity will be repeated later in the summer so more people can receive packages from the Menchaca Munchkins. Look out Uncle Robby, the kids are very excited about all the things they can send you this summer!

Picnic and Popsicles

Monday's summer activity was to have an outdoor picnic. Monday morning we went to the gym at 8:30, then I had a doctor's appointment at 10:30, and finally the kids and I went to the Arboretum after the appointment to have our picnic. When we got there I noticed Thunder Cloud Subs closed down so our only option for food was Five Guys Burgers. I would have much rather made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before going, but since they would have been in the hot car since 8:30 that morning, I decided to buy food at the Arboretum. The kids love cheeseburgers, so it was just fine. We don't get to go to the Arboretum very often since it's across town and the kids were very excited to run around and climb on the cow statues. The weather was absolutely perfect, a beautifully overcast day, absolutely perfect for an outdoor picnic. The kids played on the cows for a while, ate their lunch, and then played for about another 30 minutes. When it was time to go the kids wanted to stay and play for longer, but it was getting close to nap time so we had to hit the road.


Tuesday we decided to make homemade Popsicles. We went to the grocery store that morning and bought strawberries and watermelon. At home I showed the kids how we puree fruits in our magic bullet and then poured the juice into our popsicle holders. (Thanks Mom for the magic bullet! Best thing ever!!!) After nap time the popsicles were ready to eat! The kids ate their homemade popsicles with a smile.

My Little Gymnast

Heidi started gymnastics in January and has loved going every week. She has improved so much in the few months she's been going. She can now do a cartwheel, forward roll, and she attempts a handstand. Her upper and lower body strength has also improved and she can now jump off the springboard. This week they had an "awards" day and gave the parents a few minutes to take pictures of the kids doing gymnastics. Here is her gymnastics scrapbook page.

Sidewalk Chalk

What summer would be complete without sidewalk chalk?? Friday's summer activity was to draw on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. We normally do sidewalk chalk on the back porch, but for a fun change we moved to the driveway. Hopefully the HOA will not fine us for our beautiful art work, and if they do.. oh well, the kids are only young once. Heidi and Noah had a blast drawing on the driveway and now they can't wait for daddy to come home and see their masterpiece.

Airplanes

Thursday's summer activity was to make paper airplanes... but not your typical paper airplane. Again, I found inspiration from pinterest and found these paper and straw airplanes to make. They were quick and easy to make and once again the kids had a blast playing with them. If I were to do them again I would let the kids color the paper first and then make the airplane. After making the planes they took them upstairs to the playroom and flew them all around. Another great summer activity! Later in the day we practiced writing the letter A, for Airplane!