LEGO Wall!

A LEGO wall of our very own. This project has been on my mind since I posted about one like it on Apartment Therapy a couple of years ago. It wasn't hard to get the kid or the Hubs on side. We did a little research and this is the way we decided to go about it.

We picked the colour. With much debate. I wanted grey. But those panels are bigger and more expensive per square inch. But I REALLY didn't want the green. I couldn't bear the green. So, we went with blue.

We picked the wall with the least amount of surface area. Because LEGO is expensive! We ordered our 60 panels online as it turns out that our local LEGO store has a policy of selling a maximum of 5 pieces at any one time.

Hubs screwed in hardboard into the studs. Then he unscrewed them all. Because he realized that gluing them onto the wall before screwing them in would give them that extra bit of stability that would be so important when you are pulling LEGO pieces off the wall. Nobody wants the wall to give way when you tug at it. So he added some adhesive and screwed them back in. There were a couple of heavy sighs and an eye roll or two but in the end it was deemed well worth it.

Since each plate has rounded corners you can see a tiny gap where they join up. We decided to paint in behind where the base plates would meet up. We got some matched paint that worked great. And then we practiced by putting up the base plates temporarily with masking tape.

We also painted a frame around the wall as we weren't sure if we wanted to have to cut a whack of base plates to make them reach from wall to wall. In the end, it's very easy to cut them it turns out, with just a standard industrial cutter and a metal straight edge. We may end up buying a few more base plates to finish off around the edges of the wall.

Next, it was time for tiling. Spud was very helpful in getting each base plate out of its package. Hubs cut the few tiles we had to. Hubs and Spud took turns sanding the backside of each one.

Then it was glueing time.

Note that LEGO pieces themselves work brilliantly at holding it all in place for the 24 hour curing time required for the glue to dry.

Here are some close ups of the little collaborative mosaic-like project we worked on as a family this weekend. It was inspired by a little friend who thoughtfully brought Spud a "room warming" present full of little, unique LEGO bricks. It was a really fun project to work on together. It's terribly addictive in fact — my fingers are SO sore from prying apart so many little pieces. But we enjoyed the process and we are all a little proud of the way it came out.

Activity Advent Day #13: Play Holiday Charades

Hey check out all our other Activity Advent entries here.

Paper Rockets

Decorated paper made into a tube makes a fun indoor paper rocket. And easy! Tape up one end and slip a straw in the other end. Blow in the straw to launch the rocket. Hubs also had the idea of adding a fin to enhance stability but we didn't get that far. Next time.

What we did do is set up a target field in our hallway which turned out to be loads of fun.

Check out the full tutorial on making paper rockets at Curious Kangaroos.

Playful Learning eCourse: Through the Lens

Spud has been taking a lot of photos lately!

I feel like I'm having a secret peek into the future ... the future of learning online. Spud and I signed up for an eCourse through Playful Learning ... a photo journaling class ... and it's been an amazing experience. It's surprising how connected we are feeling to the virtual classroom. The course uses online tools that allow us to share our assignments with the other students, using voice over and photos/video, and in turn we get aural comments and feedback from the facilitator and other students ... from around the world!

We are not even half way through the self-paced course material yet but each assignment had been so fun and inspiring! Playful Learning Ecademy has a slew of courses to choose from. And here's an offer for you to get 30% off any of them. Simply click on the Playful Learning button on my sidebar and enter the user code above. Before August 10th. And let me know how it goes!

Archery Club Open House

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

The North Shore Archery Club not too far from our stomping grounds, had an open house yesterday. So we gave it whirl. Spud had a great time and wants to sign up for lessons!

Another entry in our Summer Fun Passport:

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Glow-in-the-Dark Tub Time

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |   TICK!

Our third entry into our Summer Fun Passport: Tub + Kid + Glow Sticks = FUN!

The glow-in-the-dark glasses added a lot to the fun as well.

And the parents had fun taking crazy neon-like photos!

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Check out our working list.

LEGO Maze

SUMMER FUN PASSPORT ENTRY  |  TICK!

Summer is starting early for us. Who cares if it's raining outside and school isn't out yet! Originally inspired by this, we put the idea of making each other mazes out of LEGO on our summer bucket list.

First Spud (with support from Hubs) created his masterpiece (above); a maze through buildings and structures from around the world. Landmarks include: the Birds Nest, The Empire State Building, The Great Pyramids of Giza, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a Mayan ruin, The Gherkin, Tour Eiffel, St. Basil's Cathedral and last but not least, our very own Lion's Gate Bridge (check out cool vintage shots here).

A few days later, I made one for Spud to try. Quite a bit less intricate. Lazy, you might say, in comparison. But it does have a giant marble and a Crazy Crocodile!

And our first entry in our Summer Fun Passport:

We took the Summer Bucket List Challenge. Our working list is here.

Our Passport to Summer Fun 2012

Well, we've got our summer fun bucket list done. Now introducing our passport where we are going to keep track of all that fun! Woot.

Each activity is on colour-coded paper according to category and tucked in the front and back of the passport cover. See our bucket list for the categories. The ones with grey bars are activities that are best for evenings or weekends, in other words, save for when Hubs can play too.

Once an activity is done, we will glue/tape it onto one of the pages. Date it. Rate it. Make a note. Or put a stamp on it ... Spud and I whipped these up the other evening.

This is a tradition I wish we would have started a few years ago. I love the idea of having a little keepsake at the end of summer to remember all the good times! Next time I hope I'll have the time to make the book from scratch. Just too busy lately. But I found our little gem at our library's bookstore, a fundraiser shop, full of beautiful, amazing things, which I am happy to support.

Want to sign up for the summer bucket list challenge too? Visit The Happy Family Movement.


UPDATE:
Here's our self-referential passport entry...

Look What Came In The Mail: The Kiwi Crate

Look what those lovely people over at Kiwi Crate sent our way so we could try it out and share our findings.

It's a sample of a subscription box service that includes all the materials you need to complete themed projects ... with the kids! Isn't it adorable? Look what's inside.

... everything we needed to make our own wind sock and document our wind findings. First I want to say 'thank you' for the wicked pair of kid-sized scissors! Also the pastels and the beautiful shiny ribbon. I also loved that the glue dots and sticker-tape strips were just the amount we needed. No excess. So tidy.

It also came with a little booklet that gives the how-to and also some thought starters / tips on how to take the activities further.

When it came time to decorate, I asked Spud what he thought of when he thought of wind. He said "Sailboat!". He ran into his room to retrieve his muse ...

On the other side of this is a chart where our little wind scientist is keeping a daily record of the wind on our deck.

Ah, there it is, breezing about. Spud declared out loud "I'm proud of this!". Well, that's an endorsement if I've ever heard one. And you know what's really great? We still have a whole other project to tackle next weekend.

So, for $20 / month you get a Kiwi Crate delivered to your door (update: ships in Canada now too) filled with opportunities to use your hands and imagination together with your little people. I think this would make a fantastic gift ... you know ... the kind that "keeps on giving". Especially for super busy or not-so-crafty-type parents.  I can also see this being a very handy thing to bring on the next road trip, a visit to Grandma's, or even camping ... since it literally has everything you need contained in the box, it makes packing up activities that much easier.

Summer Fun Passport List 2012

Two year's ago our summer bucket list ended up in this paper boat. Last year I just kept track of some ideas on Google docs. But this year, we are going all out; this summer's bucket list is going to be a Summer Fun Passport.

I will post on how it's going to work. Soon. But first, we have come up with our dream list. Including links and notes (which I will add as we find them). It's super long. I can't imagine we will get through it all but we will have a good time trying. And keep the leftovers for next summer!

1. READ + WRITE + DO

• Make A Bucket List Passport!
• Write a Book Review
• Write Letters to Family (with our letter writing kit)
• Join the Library/School Summer Reading Clubs
• DIY Mini Mail Boxes and Write notes to Each Other
• Find Math Games (like Make the Biggest Number)
• Choose a Science Experiment to do with Daddy (from this book)
• Make a Ziplock Bag Explode
• Make a Naked Egg
• Work on Stamp Collection
• Use (one of the many) Activity Books We Already Own
• Learn 3 Camping Knots (get knot tying books from the library + go here)

2. GO OUTSIDE

• Take in a Round of Mini-Golf
• See An Outdoor Movie
• Go Kayaking
• Go Berry Picking
• Spend A Hot Afternoon at an Outdoor Pool
• Visit the Chinese Summer Night Market (Richmond has 2 now!)
• Try Archery
• Play Date: Sidewalk Chalk
• Play Date: Bike Ride on the Seawall
• Play Date: Water Park
• Go Camping with Friends
• Host a Beach Potluck with Friends
• Go Birding
• Grow Beans
  
• Make Art, En Plein Air (with portable easel kit and sketchbox)
  
• Go on a new hike
• Go to Family Overnight Summer Camp

3. MAKE STUFF

• Draw a Castle (use our How to Draw A Castle book)
• Make Paper Beads in Different Shapes (must find sparkly paper)
• Make a Heart Map (want to hang it next to last year's heart map)
• Make Paper Dragons and Monsters (from paper craft books)
• Make a Lego Maze (originally seen here)
• Make a Family Tree (research ideas for making a simplified version)
• Create Cityscape with Block Printing
• Q-tip Art (get Pointillism / Seurat books from the library). (also see here).
• DIY Shrinkie Dinks (use #6 plastic)
• Make a Klimt-inspired Art Piece (inspired by our trip to Vienna. See here + here.)
• Make a Paper Weaving
• Craft Foam Bath Murals (will this make bathtime more fun?)
• Make Music with Glasses
• Rebuild LEGO Hogwarts to its Original Glory (good luck with this one Daddy)

4. EAT AND DRINK

• Make a Root Beer Float
• Make Popsicles
• Take a Kiddie Cooking Class (here)
• Lemonade Stand
• Make a Solar Powered Lunch (pizza and tea)
• Make Rock Candy
• Make Sprinkle Milkshakes. See our watermelon sprinkle shakes here.

5. BE HELPFUL

• Wash the Car
• Wash the Windows
• Harvest Our Tomatoes and Lettuce
• Make a Blessing Bag and Find Someone Who Needs It To Give To
• Make Your Parents Dinner
• Do Some Weeding on the Deck

SPONTANEOUS ADDITIONS:

Glow-in-the-Dark Tub Time

Make a 3-string guitar out of a cigar box!
Swim in the Ocean
Spend a day sailing a MacGregor
Have an Olympic-inspired day!

We've signed up for the summer bucket list challenge here: The Happy Family Movement. So are you doing a bucket list year? What's on it that you are most looking forward to?

Be Creative Every Day: Draw A Stick Man

Spud's GrandMary sent this fun, creative, online activity to us, called Draw A Stick Man.

There are 2 episodes (we wish there were more!) each one telling a story that requires the listener to draw in props throughout. Such a great idea.

Here is Spud's stick man in a tiger costume!

We are going to try it on our iPhone next ... it's free!

Math Printable: Make the Biggest Number

Last week was Spud's student led conference which was such a treat. The whole experience was so inspiring, in large part due to Spud's grade 2 teacher, Ms. C. Yay for wonderful teachers! He gave us a tour of his classroom, showed us some key journal entries, his portfolio, taught us a game in Spanish and we played this fun math game that's all about learning place value. It was so fun that I made a printable for it to share.

How to play: Roll a die and decide which column to put the number in: ones, tens, or hundreds. Take turns until each person has a 3 digit number.

It was Spud's idea to make a version for 4 digit numbers. He wants me to make one for 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 too. Ha! But to start, the pdf for 3 and 4 digits is here under "games".

Surprise Ball for Valentine's Day

I wrapped inside a few candies and stickers for Spud to unravel after dinner today. This is his first surprise ball and I'm excited that I managed to make it look at least a little bit like a heart.

Resolutions. Right On Track.

Well, my New Year's resolution was pretty standard. We recently signed up for a family membership at the Y and we are taking full advantage. The little Bub is in swimming lessons and Hubs and I collectively have taken in yoga, spinning, water running, and Latin Funk. Yup! It's awesome.

Spud had his own list this year. "I want to try 2 new sports and 1 new instrument, preferably a brass instrument, like the sousaphone." OK. First of all I want to say, what's wrong with something simple (and small!) like a recorder, my little friend? But we will tackle that later. In the meantime, 2 sports? 2 ticks.

First, curling.

This is our view. We sit behind the glass, watch, sip coffee, get caught up with each other. We even brought some paperwork with us last time.

And this is where we are sitting. Seriously. It's like we've been transported in both time and space. It's a beautiful 90 minutes I will miss dearly if Spud decides curling is not for him.

Anyway, on to sport 2, skiing!

So far we have a winner. Spud is happily going to curling each week but he is still a little unsure about it. Skiing on the other hand? An instant hit. He's had one lesson and one full day on the bunny hill with Daddio. He has been heard to say "I think I was born to ski!" Now that's not to say he's careening down the hill on his own at any great speed or anything, he's a cautious kid, but he loves it. And that's what counts. I'm sure this crazy-awesome "magic carpet" that replaces the need for any dreadful rope tow, has got to add to the love.