Science and Laughter

 

 That's right.  Science class starts at age 2 in the G-clan household.  "Why?" you ask, because:

A)  Science is fun.
B)  My daughter asked to do a "Science Peer-i-scent" aka "Science Experiment."  Yes, that's right, she asked to learn.  I'm sorry people, but all the mounds of dishes, laundry and toys can wait.  If my Sesame requests to learn, I'm going to soak up the opportunity.
C)  I secretly love having a toddler about so I can make messes and then blame her.
D)  Science is fun.  Duh.

Today's adventure includes a lesson in density.  :)  I completely stole this experiment from an episode of Sid the Science Kid saw this somewhere, and decided to spice it up a bit.

So.
Here we go.

The cast of characters:

As you can see, I have six glasses out that appear to be filled with water.

Oh, but they are not all water.
Muahahahaha.


(That was my evil scientist laugh - I felt it was appropriate here)

That's right.  White Vinegar.

With the baking soda.

Boo-yah.  Take that Sid the Science Kid.  I'll take your density and raise you...um...some cool reaction thing.

(Note:  Husband is the scientist.  I studied liberal arts.  Cut me some slack on the terminology.)

Step 1:  Begin adding one ingredient to each glass.

Step 2:  Take excessive photos of terrific, tiny toddler hands.

Step 3:  Stir ingredients in and discuss why some float (pepper & parm) and why some dissolve (sugar & salt).

Step 4:  Take photo of cute little scientist in her apron.

Step 5:  Be sad when you realize your baking soda is old and does not react well with vinegar.

Step 6:  Show toddler the fabulous lemonade and mix it together with enthusiasm.

Step 7:  Be sad again and start gagging when you realize your baking soda is not expired - you only mixed it with water.  How do you know this?  You just drank vinegar-lemonade.

Ew.

Gross.

Step 8:  Listen to your toddler laugh hysterically while you spit, gag and rapidly drink coffee to wash away the gross-ness that is vinegar-lemonade.

Step 9:  Improvise and make cool vinegar-lemonade-baking soda explosion.

Step 10:  Laugh at the cool bubbles with your toddler and admire the sweet mess you made together. :)

Tomorrow's play time experiment:

And, to appease Grammy :):

Guess who is starting to dig story time at our house!?  Little Dude LOVES it when Sesame and I read.  It makes me so happy.  :)

Total Clearance Score!

This:

was the ultimate Clearance Section score today.  I've been pining away for a leather topped bench with storage inside for a year or two now.  It's the perfect place to plop down and put on shoes while hiding laundry or random crap that is lying around my house before unexpected company appears toys.

The kids and I were winding up a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond, aka "The Sheet Store" to Sesame, when I spotted a random clearance section.  And there it sat, calling forth with blissful angelic sounds, "the leather bench" (said with the SNL Sean Connery accent.*)

The bright yellow clearance tag read "retail price 149.99 clearance price 20.98"  I looked over my shoulder thinking I was on candid camera.  Nope.  No cameras.  Upon further inspection I found the purpose of the drastically reduced price.

A broken hinge.  No big deal.  Even I could fix that.

Two scuffs and a slight puncture.  

On the back.  

The part that faces the wall. 

The part that will not be seen by anyone.

I whipped out my cell phone, thankful A) I had it with me and B) it was charged for once.  Husband agreed this would be a wise purchase.  I mean, seriously, you can't even buy plastic storage tubs for 20.98!?

So.  There I am.  My cart is full with a 2.5 year old Shirley Temple look alike, a Care Bear and a floral print purse in the front; and, a large infant carrier, complete with 9 week old slumbering babe, in the back.  I already squeezed the 10 tray/organizers under the carseat in an effort to not carry them in my hand.  So.  Out of necessity, I scooted the brown leather bench across the entire front of the store, with my feet, whilst dragging a cart full of children behind me.  I wasn't about to leave the bench just sitting there.  Hello!?  Someone could snatch it up!

Also, watching my mild TV obsession, American Pickers, paid off.  I chose a line with a young male cashier and politely asked, "There are a few other damages that aren't mentioned on the sticker," points to the small puncture (on the back!) and scuff marks on the front, "Would you take 15 for it?"  And what does he do?!  GRANT MY REQUEST!!  AND I had a 20 % off coupon?!  Jigga what?!  Take that!  

Leather bench total cost: 16.00

Score.

Another project I've been working to conquer before we house family for a week:

Sesame's Big Big Girl Room.

Theme: Polka Dots.  :)  Love

Progress is slow but looks better everyday.

 

I'll keep you posted as I paint.  I saved a ton of money by purchasing paint samples in all the colors.  The circles don't take up too much space and thusly, saved money.  Sweet.  Money that I can buy more sweet, cheap leather benches with!?  Just kidding.

If you've made it this far in this post you deserve a cookie.  Thank you for putting up with my overflowing joy at saving a few dollars.  :)  Have a great day!


*If you get that reference then we can be friends.  If not, we need to talk more.  Note: This does not apply to family members.  I love you always and anyway.)

My Best George.

 My bestest buddy George is pregnant and expecting her first baby in August.  I threw a small baby shower for her last week.  It ended up being too much fun!  :)

Her sister practicing her Auntie duty of book reading.  Note: She is practicing her story telling abilities on a stuffed lamb, which, for whatever reason, makes me giggle.  :)

Mmmm...Yogurt Parfait Bar...Mmmm

It's the three of us!  Yay!

It's the three of us in Superstar mode.  :)  YAY!

Our next fun task was freezer paper stenciling onesies for Carlos (George's unborn baby's in-utero name) and maybe one or two for Squirt.  Sesame woke up from her nap and painted a onesie for Squirt...She also might have painted her mouth when I was taking photos.

This stripey onesie was Sesame's creation.  Not too bad for a 2-year-old!  :)  Good times had by all!

Cabin Fever and Sesame's Stitchery!

So.  I broke out the sewing machine this afternoon.  :)  It's been awhile.  I scoured the internet searching for a pattern that could be cut out and completed in one afternoon nap time.  Dana at Made did not disappoint. :)  She has a tutorial for how to make your own pattern from you child's existing clothes which I then used to make Sesame a pair of leggings.  Guess what?!  I made them in an hour and a half!  Moi, me the girl who cuts out fifty billion patterns and never, ever actually completes ANY of them!  Seriously kids, if I can do this, so can you!  :)  AND the cost is AWESOME-TASTIC

Old pale pink Gap Stretch t-shirt from high school:  Free

Elastic from an old pair of sweat pants:  Free

Hearing husband giggle at my comments to myself while doing project:  Free and fun!

See.

Awesome.

Tastic.

And look:

They didn't turn out too badly!  :)  I'm going to try them on her when she wakes from her nap.  I'll let you know if I find any complications then.  :)

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So last Thursday we had a a bit of snow here in the midwest.  Just a tad.  :)  While I heart snow, it does tend to produce a bit of cabin fever in the house. I cried out to facebook asking for ideas to entertain a two year old.  The internet did not disappoint.

Exhibit A:

Out modified version of MckMama's Winter Suncatcher.  Too fun!  The cupcake tray made awesome sun catchers with four small versions of various colors.  We played with water and food coloring to maker ours.  Hence the brownish, purple one.  That was Sesame's creation.  :)

Another favorite (from MckMama again) was rice on a cookie sheet.  :)

We got a good solid hour of play time out of this one!  We even put our alphabet magnets on the tray, covered them with rice and went on a "treasure hunt" for them.  I might have had more fun than Sesame.  I also might have started talking in a pirate voice and scowling whilst on our treasure hunt.  And, I  might have frightened her to saying: "Momma, why you scare me??"  and "No, silly talk.  Scae-wee."

We also played in cabinets.  Because, why not really!  :)  Oh, and at this point in our play time I noticed something.

See that star.  Can you see what's in it???  No??  Let me zoom in a bit.

Blue food coloring.  On her little toe.  Now, I ask you, how does one manage to squish blue food coloring between their little and ring toe???  It's not on top of her toe, just in the crease between them.  My daughter is turning into a smurf.

But a very happy, hobbit like smurf!  :)

Beware: We Have A 2 Year Old Amongst Us.

This post is not as menacing as the title leads to believe!  :)  I'm merely here to share a piece of our lives from the past week.  Sesame turned two last Wednesday.  TWO!  I can hardly believe my little girl has gone from this:

to this:

In two years!  Goodness gracious.  She is so much fun!  :)  The Lord has truly blessed our family with Sesame's vivacious personality.  I can not wait to see who she grows into!  :)

We had her 2nd birthday party on the 15th.  A small gathering at our house with family and honorary Aunts and Uncles.  : )  No need for a ginormous celebration at age two - family was overwhelming enough for her!

I saw this awesome rainbow cake on Make-and-Love-It and knew it would be perfect for Sesame.  I gave a talented young lady a call to see if she would help out with the cake and away we went!  Jane (note: she is 12 years old...TWELVE...and an awesome baker!) and I were up until 1 am making this fabulous cake.  We had so much fun and Sesame loved it!

How awesome is that?!  It tasted fabulous too!  : )  We ended up with half the cake left - so we fed it to the Middle School kids at church.  : ) They are so reliable to eat up the sweets we have leftover!  : )

Sesame was in rare form - so excited about the presents she could hardly contain herself.

Related much?  I think so...

Loving her cake.  : )  She is soooooooooo my daughter!

I heart this photo for so many reasons.  First of all, it contains all of my grandparents - a very rare photo op.  :)  Secondly, they are all reading one of the books Sesame received for her birthday.  Remember the "Little Miss Sunshine" and "Little Miss Naughty" books?  My George gifted them to Sesame.  Love.  :)  Yes, well, my awesome grandparents are reading those books.  :)  It makes me smile.  :)

This photo is great because it shows:  The girls I nannied for playing ring-around-the-rosy with my daughter.  Yes, I baby sat for them.  I'm playing my old card here.  Not only do I think of them as sisters, but my daughter ADORES them.  I"m pretty certain, if given the option, she would live with them forever. Afterall, when you build tents and pretend to be in a battle zone taking cover under the kitchen table, how could a 2 year old not love you.  :)

Awesome day.  Awesome food.  Awesome family.  I heart birthdays and can't wait for more memories!  :)