Free eBook: Draw Nothing

Betsy Streeter, a cartoonist and illustrator,  created this lovely little ebook to inspire the whole family to have fun doodling. So cute and original! Click here for your free copy!

This Is How We Do Olympics

As a little girl, I dreamed of one day competing in the Olympics just like Mary Lou Retton. Of course that never happened, but we did the next best thing...the Olympics came to us!

My cousins and I would have Olympic competitions for all kinds of games, from running to skipping to leap frog. I don't remember us actually giving out medals or anything but it sure was a blast!

So in honor of the Olympics that start tomorrow, here's a list of silly competitions that you can do with your little guys and dolls:

1. Crab Walk (crawl on your hands and knees facing up)
2. Camel Walk (crawl on your hands and feet with your bottom lifted up)
3. Create an Obstacle Course (you can do this indoors if it's snowy or rainy)
4. Jumping Jacks Marathon
5. Balancing A Book On Your Head
6. Pop a Balloon By Sitting On It
7. How Many Times Can You Say Your Favorite Tongue Twister
8. Skate Around The Tile Floor In Socks
9. Indoor Hocky (use a balloon and clean fly swatters)
10. Discuss (throw paper plates)

When the games are all done give everyone a certificate for participating, snuggle up with some fudge brownies and milk and enjoy the opening ceremonies!

Vintage Scrapbooking Links

Make a Smilebox greeting

I've been scrapbooking with the Tea Time Scrapperz (that's what we call our little club, tee hee), for about 8 years now. I'm embarrassed to say that I have been working on the the same 3 albums for those 8 years and I am nowhere nearly done. I haven't even started my wedding album! Ahhh!

Well you know mama, it's tough to get around to scrapbooking when you have to nurse, dig crayons out of mouths and referee a wrestling match between the boys. But sometimes we just have to let those dishes pile up, let the kids stay in jammies and watch cartoons all day, put on some Billie Holiday and get scrappin'. Here are some lovely scrapbooking links to get you in the mood!

Vintage Scrapbooking Heaven ~ The name really says it all! Plus is has link for tons of free downloads

Scrapbook Elements ~ Gorgeous heirloom style digital layouts.

Premade Pages by Nycole ~ This etsy seller has beautiful handcrafted, premade layouts for the busy mama (my aunt made me for my last baby shower. they make it so easy!)

Heartspeak ~ Another etsy seller. She makes cute, chipboard albums. All you have to do is trim the photos to fit the page and your done!

Vintage Collage for Scrapbooking - Beautiful idea book!
Shabby & Beyond Scrapbooking Ideas - Another great source of inspiration!

You'll Know It's Time to Turn the Page When You Hear The Chime...

Remember those books-on-record you had as a kid? They were fantastic weren't they. Well last year as I was searching the web for an audio version of the classic The Carrot Seed for our homeschool, I found Kiddie Records Weekly. This wonderful website has hundreds of our beloved classic books-on-record. You can listen via audio stream, download the torrent zip file, or purchase a CD with all the stories. Here are some of our favorites:

2005 week 30

2009 Week 20

2009 Week 8

Next time you get the urge to turn on the boob tube to babysit the kids (I know I'm guilty of this), bring out some play dough, crayons & coloring books or cars and have your little guys and dolls listen to classic chidren stories instead!