Author Archives: Angie

The year Dad ran over the Rabbit.

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Angie

Dad is a truck driver. A long-haul driver for most of my childhood, he was often unable to make it home on the day everyone else celebrated a holiday. We therefore became accustomed, over the years, to writing letters to Santa and the Easter Bunny:   Did I mention my dad drives a BIG truck? &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Growing up Boonie | Tags: , | 1 Comment

Care Packages and Reverse Care Packages

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Angie

Deployed service members have limited access to a lot of the little things we take for granted, and care packages from friends and loved ones back home really mean a lot. How to ship? The US Postal Service offers a reduced FPO/AE rate on their large flat rate box. For $12.95 you can mail up &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Community | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Little Helpers

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Angie

I think kids should help out in the kitchen as frequently as possible. In order to convince you that this is true and good, I’m sharing a picture of Bug.   Yes, she’s covered in flour. Yes, she has squished blueberries in her toes. Yes, I had to watch her so closely that the recipe &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Cooking | 8 Comments

Going Green (For St. Patrick’s Day)

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Angie

Leprechauns invaded our home during the wee hours of the morning. They broke into my pantry, swiped my potatoes, and hid them throughout the house. The milk was green. My fresh-baked loaf of bread was green. Try eating a tuna salad sandwich on green bread. I dare you. Does anyone know of an earth-friendly, “green” &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Cooking, Crafts, Kids | Leave a comment

Two-for-One Space Shuttle: Valentine Box and Monster Truck Piñata

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Angie

Our nation’s farewell to the beloved space shuttle has been at the front of our minds this past few months, so it’s no wonder that when I asked our 2nd grader what type of Valentine’s Day box he wanted to decorate (thinking of the oatmeal-can rocket ship, or the ubiquitous construction paper-wrapped shoe box) he &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Crafts, Kids, Science | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fingerpainting with Pudding – Fun for the Bigs and the Littles

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Angie

  It’s been harder to find activities that are fun for both of the kids – the one-year-old as well as the eight-year-old – but this fingerpainting activity kept them both busy for nearly an hour (and not just the kids – Jason had a blast playing with his new camera lens). Finger painting with &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Crafts, Kids | 5 Comments

Water: Fun for the Bigs

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Angie

We have 48 hours of stuck-at-home time as the Big Winter Storm blows through the area.  “Big” is relative, as we’re only 50 miles from the US/Mexico border, but there you are. This is Part Two (see Part One). Oh Groundhog Day Tree, Oh Groundhog Day Tree… We borrowed the Ice Bauble idea from the &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Crafts, Kids, Science | 3 Comments

Water: Fun for the Littles

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Angie

We have 48 hours of stuck-in-the-house time as the Big Winter Storm blows through the area.  “Big” is relative, as we’re only 50 miles from the US/Mexico border, but local resources are stretched to the breaking point, so there you are. This is Part One (see Part Two) Water Play! Never leave a baby or &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Kids | Tags: , | 1 Comment

What’s in a Golf Ball?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Angie

My son asked us, this past summer, what’s inside a golf ball. This experiment is extra fun because you can tie it into your golf game (I don’t play golf, so I did not), geology (I am a geologist, so I did), and good mechanical/shop skills. Purpose: Find out what’s in the middle of a &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Kids, Science | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment

DIY Young Inventor’s Kit!

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Angie

For the low, low price of a laundry basket, Rubbermaid tote or similarly sized cardboard box, you too can start a Rube Goldberg-esque Inventor’s Kit for your child.   Step 1: Get a laundry basket-sized container. Step 2: Fill! The choice of odds and ends is up to you, and limited only by your creativity &hellip Continue reading »

Categories: Kids, Science | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments