LA Fair Competitions

Thanks to some brilliant mamas I'm looking at what things my kids and I would like to participate in at the LA County Fair this year. Most of the contests require mail by dates by early July, so it's time to look through and decide what you and your kids would like to do!

This year's theme is America's Kids: Surrounded by Science. You can find the Entire Competition Book here, but I also wanted to highlight a few of the fun things I think my kids will be participating in.

Science Lab Coloring Contest - Put your coloring skills to work in this creative coloring contest. You can make your science lab serious, silly...or someplace in between, just print thier science lab drawing and let your kids color away!

Design an Insect Competition - Imagine you’ve just returned from a scientific expedition to an exotic land (or the empty lot near your house) and you’ve discovered a new species of insect! What does it look like? You decide! This is more than a coloring contest…it’s a decorating contest! You can use paint, markers, glitter, sequins, puff paint, jewels, buttons, feathers, or just about anything you can dream up. Let your imagination go buggy!

There are tons and tons of competitions and contests, science fair experiements, craft work, baked goods, etc. Take some time and look through the entire Competition Book, I'm sure you and your kids will be inspired!

Need a laugh? It's gettin real in the parking lot...

(Disclaimer: I apologize in advance for a tiny bit of bad language.)

Quiet Moments

Last night I celebrated the birthday of a very good friend. Fifteen of us headed out for a large, delicious, rowdy dinner together. We had way too much fun. Over the years, we've had lots of these birthday dinners. These women are near and dear to my heart. But its not because of dinner's like this. The moments I treasure, are the ones that come later in the evening, when the crowd has thinned, and the sound decibel has lowered, and you suddenly find yourself standing in a circle, outside, in the dark and the cold, bearing one another's burdens. These are the moments that I cherish. The ones where hearts open up to talk about wounds, and friends gather together and pray.

This morning as I'm still pondering these things, and begging my Heavenly Father to intervene, I'm reminded that its these quieter moments that make up a lifetime. And it's true for our kids too.

Though there will be memories made at the amusement parks and the birthday parties through life, these are not the things our children are going to cherish. What's going to encourage their hearts, and give them strength each day is the quieter moments. Snuggling together on an overcast morning, whispers of "I love you's", and conversations while you're driving.

I'm hoping the sum of these quiet moments make a lifetime of cherished moments.

Reminds me of Chris Tomlin's song says, "In the secret, in the quiet place, in the stillness you are there." Lord, help me to remember its the quiet moments you call us too, and the quiet moments that matter most.

Get Ahead of the Summer Boredom

Blogosphere right now has a plethora of ideas to keep your kids busy all summer long. Today, I wanted to point you in the direction of two featuring the same idea.

Boredom Busters!

With summer here you're bound to eventual hear those not-so-favorite words, "Mom, I'm bored." To get ahead of the boredom curve why not put together some Boredom Busters. Get some notecards or print or use a template and whip up some activity cards, put them in a jar, bucket or box and point your kids to them as needed.

You can find lots of great boredom busters here at Intentionally Katie from last summer to help you aid making your own.

Or check out The Happy Housewife's printable template of ideas. She's created 80 activities for you to print and given you 15 blanks to make your own!

You might want to make several jars and divide them into categories, inside, outside, baking, crafting, etc - or just put them all in one and let the fun begin! Happy Boredom Busting!!

Still need more ideas? Check these ideas out too:
I'm Bored Let's Make Something
Little Wonders' Days
Thrifty Northwest Mom
The Daily Digi

100 Days of Summer

Here's 100 days of summer, one a day activities you and your kids will love! This sweet list comes from momadvice.com.

There are lots of baking and cooking together ideas in here which I love! Day 42, day 70 and day 77 are my particular favorites. But there's lots of great ideas for activities and adventures with small twists on your regular ventures that will make them extra special and fun!

What's your favorite summer time activity?