Off to the Water Park!!

We are on Spring Break this week, so we will be taking the kids to CoCo Key Water Resort in Rockford, Illinois for two days. The kids are suuuuper excited!!! :)

Science Experiments

Caroline and I are studying all about the states of matter in Science so we checked this book out at the library.The first experiment that we did was "Ooblik". You just mix corn starch and water together until you get a gooey mixture. When you hold it tightly in your hand, it feels like a solid, but then when you let go, it oozes through your fingers like it is a liquid. The kids played with their Ooblik mixture for quite some time. Since it was nice outside, they took it out and really had a blast with it.

(Notice the bare feet and green grass?? The very next day that grass was covered with two inches of snow!!)

Caroline decided to get her feet in the ooblik. :) Why not??Oh, to be a kid again!

The next experiment was "Balloon Blow - Up" to show how gas fills up a space.

We filled a juice bottle half way with vinegar and then we put two tablespoons of baking soda in a large, stretched out balloon with a funnel. (we just made a funnel out of a rolled up piece of paper) We then put the balloon over the mouth of the juice bottle and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar. Voila!!! The balloon filled up with the gas (carbon dioxide) that was released. Cool!!

I love the look on Caroline's face in this next picture as the balloon is blowing up from the gases that are being realeased and I love how you can see Luke running away in the distance because he is afraid the balloon is going to explode. ;) After the balloon was blown up, Caroline drew a silly face on it.
The kids sure had fun doing these experiments.

Favorites on Fridays

Favorite Easter Candy: Brach's Classic Jelly Beans

I was walking down the seasonal aisle at Target last night (yes, I go there now) and I was overwhelmed at how many kinds of candy there were. I try to stick with the basics at Easter . . . chocolate bunnies, chocolate eggs, Reese's Peanut Butter cups, Robin's Eggs, and good ole' classic Brach's jelly beans.
I guess I like the classic candies because that is what I rememebr finding in my basket as a child. I remember being so thrilled that I was allowed to eat candy in the morning before church. And I remember how I loved digging through that easter grass in my basket for just one more jelly bean and being so excited when I found one, even if it was black. ;)

Arboretum

Last week it got up to 70 degrees so we erased all of our plans and headed to the Arboretum for a picnic and some fun!! Look at that clear blue sky!!

The kids had so much fun being outside with no coats on!!

Eating a snack on "Big Rock"

You can do it!!

Making a "zen" garden.

Caroline took this picture of a twisted tree. Can you tell why the Arboretum is one of our very favorite places to be??

Yummy Snack

In the mood to eat something "bad"?? This yummy snack will satisfy the sweetest of teeth. Just a squirt of REAL (not the kind with high fructose corn syrup) whipped cream (we used Redi Whip) and a chocolate chip on top of a juicy berry. yum!! Eat a few!! (OK, maybe ten!)

We loved it on strawberries . . .

. . . and raspberries.

Enjoy!!

Happy "First Day of Spring"

Yesterday, the kids and I were running around in the backyard with no shoes on. Today . . . well, look at this . . .

What a difference a day makes!!

"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

Favorites on Fridays

Favorite Maple Syrup: My Brother's (and his family's) of course!!

Steve and his family make maple syrup every year from the trees behind their home. (they have LOTS of trees!) It is a very long and hard process and the results are definitely worth it!! They produce a very rich and dark syrup that we love. I will NEVER buy another bottle of Aunt Jemima again!

If you would like to purchase a bottle like this, e-mail me at FiveKoz@sbcglobal.net . They are $15. Way cheaper than in the stores and way better!! :)

Caroline's Valentine Party Photos . . . Finally

Well . . . I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from Caroline's Valentine party, which I realize was over a month ago! (how time flies!!)

It was a very sweet party and most of it was coordinated by Caroline herself. She looooves doing things like this.

the flowers . . .the favors . . .
the food . . .

little heart tarts and raspberry lemonade

heart-shaped ham and cheese / peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

"decorate yourself" cupcakes heart-shaped Jello Jigglers (a favorite)
strawberries and heart-shaped watermelon pieces

the sweet girls . . .

CarolineNoelle

Kelsey
Jillian
Bethany

Kelly
Alie
Caroline thought it was a fun party!
These girls are a blessing to Caroline.