Water "Painting"

Another hot summer day for Lizzy in the kiddie pool. She is a fish and absolutely loves it. Today I brought out some extra "toys" for Lizzy to explore and learn from. Some cleaning sponges, some paint stamping sponges, a paintbrush, a small watering can, and a dish for water. I let Lizzy explore the toys and find out what she would do with them. She played hockey with the cleaning sponge by kicking it back and forth and saying she was playing hockey. She used the sponge stamps on the patio to stamp the different shapes, she used the paintbrush to write her name and paint flowers onto the concrete, she used her water dish, hands and feet, to stamp on the ground. So simple, fun, and for the most part not messy.

Nature Collage

Most of the nature in our backyard is dying in this heat but I had lots of contact paper and I knew Lizzy would enjoy making a nature collage. I let Lizzy go outside to look for things to add to her collage. She stuck everything onto the contact paper, when she was done I sealed it with clear contact paper and we put it up to display on our glass door. This could really be a great activity to do in the spring when all the flowers have bloomed for a really colorful collage.

Active Play Ideas

Lizzy has lots of energy and some of the things she does to keep active are listed bellow. We are always looking for new ideas that are easy, indoors if possible (for the summer), and fun.

Hopping Ball

Playing Catch

Hop Scotch

Riding Scooter

Riding Bike

Shapes Twister

Yoga DVDs

Dance

Video Games

I usually bring books, stickers, crayons, coloring pages, and whatever else fits in Lizzy's backpack with me when we go out to keep her entertained. When those things aren't keeping her happy when we are out I take the leapfrog video game player for Lizzy and she will spend lots of time playing with it. All the games are "educational" but in my opinion I don't see it as an educational tool just entertainment for when we are out. This video game player and our cell phones have saved us of meltdowns several times while we have been out.

Carousel Ride

Banana Splits and the Park

Making and Playing with Playdoh

Jump Street

Today was hot and dusty so we went to check out Jump Street an indoor trampoline park. Lizzy had lots of fun jumping, meeting new people, doing somersaults, and jumping with mommy. The only thing that would get her to leave was the promise of smoothies on the way home.

(If you look close you can see orbs in the pictures. Either ghosts were having fun too, or it was really dusty in there from the dust storm outside)

Adventures Out West: Apache Trail to Canyon Lake

As my parent's visit came to an end we drove the Apache Trail to Canyon Lake where we took a relaxing steamboat cruise. It was quite beautiful and relaxing.

Chickens and Rainbows

Over the weekend we made it out to visit my aunt in Huachuahua City, AZ. She lives out in the high dessert where it is cooler and greener than it is in Phoenix. It was nice to see her home, meet her chickens, dog, and Mike got to see my uncle's telescope. Lizzy fed the chickens and had lots of fun on the trampoline! It was a rainy weekend and we even saw a double rainbow! Here are some pictures from our time there:

Adventures Out West: Tombstone, Arizona

"The town too tough to die."