Riot and Frolic

Let's review the simpleness that was Theme Week #1:

Monday

Leaf Magnets: a fairly fool-proof craft that included enough exercise and education to look like a school thingy.

Tuesday

Placecards: in case the girls got lost around our huge dining room table, I made (the ladies were too busy playing outside/helping pick up construction material from the siding that is getting put on our house [huzzah!]) the fantastically easy table decorations from Craft-a-Day, which I cannot recommend highly enough.

The book is filled with [guess how many] 365 SUPER SIMPLE, QUICK, AWESOME CRAFTS.  Depending on your age range, you could complete most of the projects in under 10 minutes, with very basic art supplies (paper, scissors, and glue are the most needed).  It comes with templates to match the seasonal theme weeks [hmmmm, I wonder where I got the idea for theme weeks…] and is perfect for a soothing mini-craft session, or making stuff with kids.  

peanut butter cheerios are also highly recommended

Also note our snazzy centerpiece, made with the leftover leaves from Monday's project.  

Wednesday

Leaf barrettes: also from the amazing Craft-a-Day, I traced the handy leaf template onto some felt, released my inner perfectionist, and let the girls (who more or LESS know how to use scissors) cut out their own leaves.  

Mae Cake conceded after a few minutes and let me "finish" hers, V did a pretty good job, and Zoo's looked more like a diamond than a leaf, but they were all very proud of their work, and wore their hair ornaments proudly for the rest of the week.

Even Zoo.  Who has minimal hair.

Thursday

Thursday got away from me, theme-week-wise, since I finally got to break in my new waffle iron.  I diligently searched the interwebs for the most reliable looking recipe I could find and this one seemed to fit the bill: Waffle of Insane Greatness.  It was not badly named.

I thought I died for a second when I took my first bite: crispy, chewy, salty, sweet… HOW DID I EVER LOVE EGGOS?!

Eight waffles later (I SWEAR I MADE EXTRA FOR THE GUYS WORKING ON THE HOUSE), I had perfected my technique, but lost time (patience/energy) for making stuff.

Friday

Field trip to the Arboretum: the one in Chanhassen.  Why did people keep asking me "Which one?"  IS THERE MORE THAN ONE?!

It's so damn pretty.  We saw about a tenth of it and I loved everything: flowers, trees (CHANGING COLORS!), waterfalls, ponds, herbs, maple syrup house, bakery…

Um, the muffins there are amazing.  

We're going back this month because A) the ladies are free B) I want to see ALL OF IT (there were rumors of fairy gardens and playgrounds, so… that's a whole day) C) you basically get a two-for-one with any paid admission.  

Plus, I need to take more pictures like this:
Happy Monday!

Three years ago: A Hard Day's Night, in which I'm self-important.