Thanksgiving Craft

The cold air has set in, the sun is setting earlier and earlier each night, and the dark sky presents itself all too early these days.  I strive on the change of season.  I love everything that comes with it.  The change of temps, colors, scents, holidays, etc.  Just when I get tired of my decorations in the house, it seems as if it is time to switch them out.  And just when I am sick of the heat and humidity, the cool crisp air flows in just in time to get my senses eager for the upcoming season.

Now that the sky is black at an all too early 5:00, and the temperatures are a little too chilly to spend the evening outside, we are resulting to being creative.  I have been trying to compile some crafts to do with Carson now that we are going to be "stuck inside" for a while.

Last week we decided to start with a fun Thanksgiving craft that I spotted on Pinterest.  I thought it would be pretty simple, I had all of the items on hand, and I thought Carson would have fun with it.

We made a turkey out of Carson's hand and foot.  I traced his hand on different colors of construction paper, traced his shoe on brown paper, cut everything out, and glued all the pieces on a black piece of construction paper.  I didn't know what Carson would think of sitting still long enough for me to trace his hand....but it turns out---he loved it!  My initial thought was I was going to trace each hand once, and use it as a "pattern" for the rest of the colors.  But he loved having his hand traced so much, that I ended up doing it 6 individual times.  It was so cute to watch him try his best to sit still, and he continuously said "that tickles mom!"  

Carson is big into glue right now.  I feel like it is his age, and the desire to do "big kid" things.  He helped me glue all of his hands feathers on the paper, and was a big help.  He was covered with glue by the time we were finished, but seeing his smile the entire time was worth it.  

After we got everything glued down, we added a couple eyes, and this fun little saying that I made.

After we were finished, Carson said he wanted to give his turkey to Frannie!  It was so cute.  I tried my best to get a picture of him with it, and this is what I get.  He is almost impossible to photograph these days.  Seriously!

Carson had so much fun with this craft, and I had a blast with him!  I think we are going to make another one, and I would like to store it in his keepsake box.  I think it would be so much fun to do one each year, and see the difference a year makes when it comes to the size of his hands and shoe!

If you are looking for a fun craft to do with your kiddos---give this one a try!  It is sure to be fun, and could possibly make a neat homemade gift for the grandparents, or a fun keepsake.

First Annual Slip n' Slide Party

Wow.  I can't believe I forgot to document this one!  Seriously.  It is one of the most talked about Summer memories that we had this year.

On July 3rd, Carl and I decided to host our very first slip n' slide party.  It was so much fun!  We had been talking about it for a while, and finally made it come to life.  We have since decided that it's going to be an annual event.  Because it was just that much fun!

A 4th of July party just wouldn't be the same without my traditional flag cake!

If you don't know Carl personally, I will give you a little run down of him.  A very short description of the Hubs.  Here is goes:  He is a kid himself!  I sometimes feel like I am parenting 3 boys.  Ha.  He is having so much fun with Carson's toys, that I sometimes wonder if he buys them for himself instead of his 3 year old.

Every once in a while, Carl will make a pit stop on his way home from work, and meander into Wal Mart.  He will usually get some essentials that I mentioned that we need, and then he gets all wrapped up in the departments that apparently just "suck him in."  He will look through the seasonal aisles, make his way through the toys, and then the electronics.  He usually comes home with a few items that were definitely not on the list, and proceeds to give me an ear full about what TV was on sale, how much, why he needs a bigger TV, etc.  I listen, to entertain the fact that I should sound interested in the things that he enjoys, and then proceed to do whatever I was doing.  I really don't think I actually listen to any of it, because if you would ask me the size, brand, or price of said TV he was just ranting about---I more than likely know nothing.

Anyway.  He made a pit stop at Wal Mart one early morning in June, and came home all giddy.  Like, a kid on Christmas morning kind of giddy.  I instantly knew he got something that "Carson would enjoy" but in reality, he was more excited.  He came home with a slip n' slide.  Like.....all excited telling me about this piece of plastic, and how all the kids would have so much fun, and we should have a party, and invite all the cousins over, and have food, and makes smores, and do sparklers---the whole bit.

I was excited too, because it did sound like so much fun!  But with everyone's busy Summer schedules, I had no idea when we would be able to host the party....in hopes that everyone would be able to make it.

With July 4th landing on a Wednesday this year, a lot of people were sticking around home for the actual holiday, and going away the weekend before or after the holiday.  So, we thought it would be perfect to throw the party on July 3rd.  Everyone would have the 4th off of work, and the kids could have fun without having a strict bedtime.

Carl spent a lot of time perfecting this piece of art that is the slip n' slide.  We ended up added a tarp to the actual slide, to make it longer.  Yes, we were those redneck hicks making a slide in our backyard with a blue tarp.  I was reminiscing with Carl about how my siblings and I used to always make a slide like this when we were kids.  But I am pretty sure we used garbage sacks.  So comparing garbage sacks to a tarp----we felt pretty high class.  HA!

All the kids took their turn on the slide.  They were talking strategy, and trying to come up with new and fun ways to go down the slide.  Ya know...things we all did as kids.  It was a beautiful night for this fun activity.  I think it is safe to say everyone had a complete blast!  Even Carl.  The big kid himself.

The following day, a few text messages were swapped in regards to the party.  Everyone was talking about how their body ached, how they were so sore, the kids were sleeping in big time, and we all had a good laugh.

This is one of our favorite family memories from this past Summer!  Carl is already talking strategy for next year, and how he is going to make it bigger and better.  We are already looking forward to next year's party---apparently :)

We ended the evening with sparklers, and everyone's face lit up in excitement.  This was the first time that we let Carson hold on to one by himself, and have his own sparkler to twirl around.  He thought he was pretty big stuff.  

 These pictures make me miss Summer a little bit.  But, I mean---we are planning on decorating for Christmas this weekend, so the hype of this new activity at hand has me all excited for the next season change.

Christmas in July?  Yes, I am super late on posting this one!  I just don't want to forget all the fun we had, nor have the pictures get lost somewhere.