A $160 swing set, dyeing eggs and an the Easter egg tablecloth

 If you follow me on Instagram, you may remember the first picture I ever posted was a swing set sale at Toys R Us. Last year, (right before Christmas) we were shopping and Daddy spotted a CRAZY deal.  I remember we just kept looking at the tag and reading it because we knew it just had to be wrong. It was a swing set priced at $199.99. The original price was $999.99. What??? You read that correctly. We still had Madison's swing set from when she was 4 (she'll soon be 13).  Daddy had been talking about getting a new one for a while, but they are just so expensive. This deal sounded too good to be true- you know that old saying... So, we had Tatti decide which one she would want (there were 2 on sale) and Daddy proceeded to ask the salesperson: Is this for real? We found out it was ! I also had a 20% off everything coupon- that worked!  We payed  for the swing set and then I went crazy sending texts to everyone I knew with little children about the other swing set: that deal was too good not to share!    

After a very long, cold, hard winter: Daddy decided it was time to assemble the swingset on Easter weekend.

So, with the help of Pappy, this is what they started with.  I had read numerous reveiws online about assembly and warned Daddy : that it would not be pretty. It was taking several skilled men an entire weekend to assemble. But, the directions said 1 person could put it together in 4 hours!!!! I already warned them that the holes did not line up, etc.

Here are the beginning stages of the new swing set.

Tatti had to try out the new rock wall and climb under the roof: which was her secret hiding spot!                                             

Both Tatti and Madison just hung out on day 1of construction.   They played volleyball, soccer, kickball and ate popsicles!    Gammie did what she does best: cooked!                                                

This is what was built at the end of Day 1 as much of time was spend organizing all of the un-labled parts.                                           

While Daddy and Pappy continued to build the swing set on Day 2: we decided to dye our eggs: outside!                                    

      

 I boiled the eggs and gathered the supplies and Madison and I carried them into the yard and set them up. It was a little chilly (because of the wind), but it was fine!                         

We have a little Easter egg dyeing tradition that my Mom came up with. Every year we dye our eggs on the same  two tablecloths. They are just plastic tablecloths. One is for Tatti and one is for Madison.  Everyone who helps dye eggs that year writes a message on the tablecloth with a sharpie. Then, we have memories from each year of egg dyeing. This year my message was about the swing set. So, they'll remember what year we put the swing set up by reading the "Easter Tablecloth."                                            

We love our Easter tradition. Do you have any special ones?                                                

We  tried 2 new ways to do eggs this year. If you glide a  crayon onto a hot egg, it will just melt right onto it!  We also put 2/3 cup (hot or cold) water in a bowl with a pack of Kool Aid. It smells better than regular dye, but got a little "blotchy" on the egg.                               

             

 I felt like we were in a movie: If you dye eggs, they will come!!! We had several visitors: which the girls just loved!!                             

 

First, our neighbors stopped by and then Pam even came outside to enjoy the fun.   Of course they all had to sign the tablecloth!

Then, my cousin and his kids were driving by, so they stopped in too! The more, the merrier!

 

Here are their beautiful creations!!!!              

 You thought I forgot about the swing set, didn't you?                                             

This is what it looked like when I took Madison to softball practice.                                      

When we got back home, it was finished!  So, 2 handy, tired, grown men and 2 days later- it's finished!  That's $160 well spent!!!!  If it was $1000- I'm not so sure!!!  Be sure to check your local Toys R Us around Christmas time. Maybe these are deals they have every year! Be sure to clear a weekend on your calendar too!                                                           

              

Egg-citing Eggs: Experminets to do at home...

My daughter had her school curriculum fair coming up. What’s a mother to do? Scour Pinterest to find some easy and super cute projects- right???  That's exactly what I did. Since Easter was quickly approaching- we decided: EGGS! Incredible, edible, eggs!

Experiment #1:  Egg Bouncing Ball

Materials: Egg, jar, vinegar

 This one is super easy and totally cool!  You just get a jar, put an egg in, fill it with vinegar and.. wait.  Then after a day (or more) the shell will "disappear" and  your egg will bounce, no really!  Now, not high, but just a little bit. How cool is that? It's cool!
 
Egg Experiment #2: Egg gets sucked into bottle

Materials: Hard boiled egg, bottle or carafe, paper, matches

This experiment can be described in 2 words: EPIC FAIL!!!  We started out  with a hard boiled egg with the shell on.  That didn't work, so then we used an egg with the shell off. That didn't work either.  Maybe the opening in the bottle was too small??!!!   We put a piece of paper lit with a match into the bottle and then stuck the egg on top. The egg's supposed to get sucked down into the bottle, but after 100 a few matches, we gave up!  I've seen tons of photos on the web where this experiment worked- ours are not among those!! HA! You can't win them all...

Egg Experiment #3: Karate Chop Egg
Materials: Raw egg, cup of water, pie tin, empty paper towel tube

This one is so much fun! We were skeptical about it, but it works!  You can see from Tatti's face that she's super impressed and amazed.  You just need a tall cup filled with water. Then you put a pie tin on top of that, an empty paper towel tube on top of that. Then, place the egg on top of that.  You need to quickly karate chop the pie tin and: voila!! The egg falls into the cup!! It's so cool!! We really thought it would smash all over the table!!!

Egg Experiment #4:  Egg Geodes

Materials:  Raw egg shells (with eggs cleaned out),  Epsom salts, water and food coloring

 You need to cook equal parts of Epsom salts and water on the stove. (Don't boil it!)  Then put the mixture into the eggshells.  Add 1-2 drops of food coloring. Put the eggs into the fridge for at least 3 hours. Note: The eggs may be watery. You can pour the liquid off of them and enjoy the beautiful crystals that they made!

Egg Experiment #5: Egg Volcanoes

Materials: Empty eggshells, baking soda, vinegar, food coloring

Tatti had so much fun with these! You just need a cleaned out eggshell. Put baking soda inside the shell. Put 2 drops of food coloring in the shell and then dump in vinegar. Watch your eggs erupt!!!!

 

All these egg experiments were a hit!  They are easy too! So, hurry and try some- there are a few days left before Easter, so it's the perfect time to do some Egg-citing Eggs-periments!!

Here's a shot of Tatti   at the Curriculum Fair.

After a big success: what do you do? Go for ice cream of course!!!

 

April- Less Than Jake and meet Remington...

We went to see Mommy’s favorite band in the world- Less Than Jake!! Here are some pics before the show!

This is the 8th time I've seen them and they never disappoint!! They put on an awesome show and give it their all. They've been my favorite band since high school and always will be. There music just makes me feel good!!  Tatti had a girl scout sleepover that night, so it didn't make me feel too bad to be somewhere without her. Although, I can probably count the times we've gone out without her on one hand. We just miss her too much!!

         
       

           


         
I love all kinds of music, but none quite as much as these guys...

We also go to visit with the Super Cute Remmy! His name is Remington and he's our cousin.

He's adorable!! He's very serious...  He also has a precious little scar in his eyebrow (just like Dylan McKay).  Chicks dig scars- right? That's what Daddy says anyway!!

Him and Tatti sat on the floor to watch SpongeBob and he just kept looking at her- too cute!

When his daddy came to pick him up; he just kept saying- da da da da....  There's Remmy! We just love having all these kids in our family!! How lucky are we?

What about the rest of March?

Here’s a recap of the rest of March!

 Tatti was invited to a birthday party. It was at a Family Fun Center. It was cool for the kids to be able to go swimming when it was still winter outside. Wish we had something like this closer than 45 minutes away!

Tatti's girl scout group got to go to Build A Bear and they had tons of fun!

 There's the rest of our March. What will April bring?

March So Far...

We had a  fun night babysitting our cousins!  They are both 1 1/2 and are just loads of fun. They have the best little personalities!!

Meet Aven and Khloe. I know- you can't handle how cute they are!!!

Meet Aven: He is a big fan of technology!!! So is Daddy! He also likes dragons, dinosaurs, music, calling 911 (he did that!) and downloading stuff onto my phone at the age of 1. I told you he liked technology.  He is a ham- he always smiles for the camera. He also makes that surprised face often which is just too cute!!  He is just so chill. He's always happy and we just love him to pieces!

Meet Khloe: She is a ball of fire! She laughs a lot. She has no fear! ( Just like her dad) Her eyes- stop.  Beautiful!!  She likes dogs, cats, fruit and Minnie Mouse.  She giggles a lot and likes to sing and dance. She also knows what the fox says. LOVE HER!!!

It was a fun night of singing, dancing, jumping, playing, screaming (at puppies) and eating popsicles. Hope we get to do it again soon!!!

Tatti had a fun St. Patty's day:

 The leprechaun visited our house. What a greeting- Hi written in toothpaste in Tatti's bathroom.  He also peed (green) in the toilet! He left chocolate coins, mustaches and jewels for Tatti's face. What would St. Patty's be without a holiday appropriate donut from Gammie?

 She wore the jewels to school, but not the facial hair. They all stayed on her face too!!  It was a great day!