Summer Bucket List: Ducks

     With Father's Day right around the corner, I wanted to take the kiddos to the park so I could take some pictures of them for a project I am working on for the hubby.  Since we were there, we decided to check out the ducks, which is one of the activities from Our Summer Bucket List.  Usually we go and feed the ducks, but this time there were signs posted all around the pond stating NOT to feed the ducks.  I wonder why? Oh well, the kiddos like watching them, but they were a little bummed they didn't get to throw out the bread we brought for them.  So to cheer them up we got a rainbow snow cone!

 Kinley loved watching the ducks and kept saying "quack, quack."

Look at that yummy rainbow snow cone we got! 

They loved it too!

Kinley kept going back for more!

Liam has a huge sweet tooth like me, but we both agreed this was really sweet.  

I wonder what kind of syrup they used.

Another great day outside.

Summer Bucket List: My Kids' Cafe

     This day we didn't have any plans so it was a perfect day for a half day activity from Our Summer Bucket List.  This new place called My Kids' Cafe opened up so we went to check it out.  Good thing we went on a Thursday because it was $5 admission day! Whoo-hoo.  I do have to say, if you go make sure to wear or bring your socks, if you don't you'll have to buy some there.  They are only a dollar, but if you want to save your money, just bring your own.  This place was pretty neat, small, but the kiddos had a great time.

The first room we played in was the Lego Room.

He liked constructing what was on the picture cards.

Kinley just wondered around to the different Lego bins.

Next we went to the Sensory Room.  

They had a small swimming pool, table, and some tubes set up for 

the kids to play in sand?  Nope it was dried RICE!

They totally destroyed this room, rice was everywhere!

Then we headed to the room with the make believe play.

Kinley's favorite was the little grocery store.  

She's my little shopper and Liam was the clerk!

While little Miss was playing in the cabin, 

Liam found some HUGE Legos to play with. 

Just as he finished stacking them, they would tumble over.

They weren't the best Legos, so he finally just moved on to something else.

Go Liam go!

There was another room for Dress Up play.

As you can see, Kinley goes right for the shoes (just like her momma).

Liam went for the hats.

We checked out the Reading Nook too.

But they weren't too interested in sitting down to read some books, so we moved on.

They're absolute favorite was the Art Room.

They drew with markers on construction paper, chalk on the chalk board, 

colored in coloring books, and painted on the butcher paper.

Mommy did a little art too!

My little artist!

After a couple of hours, it was time for lunch.

So we headed to the mall for some yummy Chic-fil-a then to the

Barnes and Noble Cafe for a sweet treat.

Fun, lunch, and a treat.....a perfect summer day!

Summer Bucket List: Picnic

     Before the heat wave moved in we were able to go outside for a picnic on on the patio.  I found some cute trays at Hobby Lobby that served perfect for the kiddos' lunch.

After lunch we enjoyed some rainbow sprinkle birthday cake pops for dessert.

My little sweetie.

After our picnic outside we went in for some fun in the cool air conditioned house.

Summer Bucket List: Silly String

     When I was making the summer baskets for the kiddos I found some fun silly string or as the Dollar Tree calls it, Goofy String, to add in.  Liam and I have played with this before and had so much fun.  Kinley didn't care for it much.  When I sprayed Liam she thought I was hurting him, so she started to cry a little.  But once the can was empty she liked playing with the string on the ground.

Gotcha Liam!

So silly playing with silly string!

Summer Bucket List: Sidewalk Chalk

     I love when Liam picks the sidewalk chalk out of Our Summer Bucket List.  It's so fun to draw outside and be creative.  The kiddos really loved it too!

Look at those happy kiddos!

Liam drew some of the Skylander Giants

Here's Eruptor 

And Kinley just doodled.

She is happy girl when she gets to color.

Here's what I drew....

I love drawing rainbows....

Drawing with chalk is always a messy activity.

Bright and beautiful flower....

And a tree with me and the hubby's initials.

Another artistic day!

National Donut Day

     If you love donuts, you know that last week, Friday June 6th was National Donut Day.    Many Donut Shops offer FREE donuts, such as Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts, and even Shipley Do-Nuts. Make sure to check out what shops around your area offer a free tasty donut on National Donut Day.  I would have loved to go get a fresh donut right off the line at Krispy Kreme, but then again I REALLY don't want to drive all the way to El Paso to get it.  So instead I found this yummy recipe for some baked donuts.  I already have the donut pan and all the ingredients, so why not.  And they turned out AMAZING!

Modified recipe from Tidy Mom

What you need:

Donuts

1 cup all purpose flour (sifted)

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

1 egg (room temperature, slightly beaten)

1/3 cup whole milk

1 TBSP vegatable oil

2 tsp lemon juice

2 1/2 TBsp real maple syrup

Topping

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

4 TBsp unsalted butter (melted)

How to make them:

Preheat oven to 400˚F.

Mix cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl or plate, set aside.

In a large bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients.

Make a hold in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in the hole.

Gently fold everything together until combined.

Place the donut batter in a pastry bag or plastic bag, snip off 1/2' off the top and pipe it into the wells of the donut pan. (Be careful NOT to over fill. It will create donuts without holes).

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown, and turn out on wire rack to cool slightly.

While still a little warm,  dunk both sides of the donuts into the melted butter, then dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture to coat both sides.

Then ENJOY!

Summer Bucket List: Popsicles

     Today was another HOT HOT day, so why not make some Popsicles!  I found these cute Crayola Freez'r Pops popsicle molds at Walmart which I thought would be perfect.  Liam picked out the Sharkleberry Fin Kool-Aid flavor.  Popsicles are so easy to make, its the waiting for them to freeze that takes forever.

We added some orange juice, diced up strawberries,  Kool-Aid mix and water together. 

Gave it a stir, then poured it into the molds.

My helper is so handsome!

Then into the freezer they go!

When they were ready we went out back to enjoy them.

I thought I thought it would be an easier clean up!

Little Miss loved them!

Liam too!

The strawberries floated to the top, 

which turned out to be the bottom when you inverted them.

Kind of hard get to the yumminess at the bottom, but she tried.

YUM! YUM! YUM!