Teenage Ninja Turtle Handmade Ornaments - Simple Craft, Keepsake

When our cousin came to visit for a month from Guatemala, I had four kids at home for christmas. It was also one of the coldest Chicago winters in a long long time. Winter is a good time to craft. I take a break in the summer because, well its warm and we are outside mostly. So Winter Solstice brings out crafts.

TMNT are all the rage this year with the kids. There is a new cartoon on netflix, and the movie was available on DVD, which they love. Event baby girl gets into it. You would think she is the "girl" ---nope. She is Leonardo. Partially because he loves blue. I explain to her he was a great artist. As were all 4 of the Renaissance turtles (you knew that right?). 

Making the TMNT Craft ornaments.

• These were once clear bulbs, thrifted. 

• I had acrylic paint in the basement and I filled each bulb and I'd roll the paint around inside the bulb. returning every 40 minutes to roll the paint around. 

• Even once the bulbs were finished, and hung on the tree, I continued to Roll the Paint around inside the bulb --- it takes forever to dry. 

• I used permanent marker to draw in the faces.

• Felt pieces from other crafts served as their masks. 

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Handmade Ornaments.
Notice the different smiles.

Names and Dates on the Ornaments.

In addition, the elf left us a cute note this year before he
left for the North Pole on Christmas Eve.

Chrispy Cold Dragon Breath, frozen boogers, cold Chicago
Christmas 2014.

Make Mistakes, breathe, reflect, Laugh.Out.Loud.

LaPorte County Fair, Indiana: Fun Things to do from our Summer BucketList. Part II

Just beyond the schoolhouse is the barn. We explored old fashioned tools, and barn purposes. Then we hit the laundry area... We were here for over 45 minutes, just doing the laundry. Yes my kids got soaked, but we hit the car to change our clothes before the carnival. I always have extra clothes in the car, which I rotate as the seasons change,... And their growing sizes!

The kids had small sized era- appropriate costumes to wear! They could walk a nearby "master gardeners" typical family food and health garden, growing their food in the traditional way, and their wellness herbs too!! Again city kids exploring survival on a whole new scale, cause you can't just run to the grocery store in those days.

We experienced an old post office, showing the methods of sorting and delivering mail. Need a job? How about the pony express? I loved explaining to my older son why being an orphan is referenced...

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Outside the old post office was an ol' fashioned checks board on a tree stump.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Old washing tubs with plungers for rotation washed the rags with feldspar soap (which is still available in today's supermarkets!). Then rink out thru rollers into the rinse tub. For tough stains scrub on a waRsh board ;-) I lived when I heard "Mom, they have our drying racks" for air / line drying the laundered rags. Then there was a small ironing board to press the clothes after washing.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

LaPorte County Fair ..., a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Not pictured here, my Younger son took too the outdoor style laundry tub - a large steel basin - and got in with his feet instead of using the rotating plungers.

As we left, we saw an outdoor kitchen with a grill and water kettle, boiled by a fire. A volunteer lady in costume rinsing the evening beans for tomorrow's meal - happy to explain her process.

We loved today's Pioneer town visit - this will be a must do for years to come! Off to the carnival, older son loved playing games, younger son too. It wasn't about winning, they knew that was nearly impossible. But older son promised our neighbor friend a prize from the carnival - which he reminded me about for days prior to Our Visit!!!


Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

City Kids Exploring the Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014. Summer Bucket List Item. Part I

Pioneer town is a fantastic set up of turn of the century life in America at the LaPorte County Fair, in Indiana. The fair is an annual summer bucket list item because we can experience so much rural traditional fun, less than two-hours from our Windy City home. We experienced a school house, post office, ol' fashion wood games, and chores like laundry.

After feeding the animals, bits of corn from a quarter machine, we headed to the next game area. Simple spinning tips, a wooden Sliding gingerbread man and catch the strung ball in a cap ol' fashioned games kept us going for another 30 minutes.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

The volunteer teacher truly embraced her role! My children sat in the hard benches, and experienced using a small chalkboard to practice their penmanship.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Here my older son is experiencing classic ol' fashion corporal punishment: the classroom volunteer teacher said put your nose on that dot on the chalkboard. "mom, this is hard!"

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

More punishment...
It's the dunce hat. You could be expected to sit here for the entire class period, or stand facing the wall. Torture!

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Pioneer Town at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 City Kids Exploring, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do. Part III

We love the LaPorte county fair! It's rural fun at it's finest. Apart from the junk food joy my kids like we also really like the nature centered and REAL life learning for us City Kids. Entry is $5 for adults, kids under 12 Are free. Carnival rides And games are extra.

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

1st stop is the gold fish fishing challenge. If you fish in the morning, you're guarenteed to carry around your $1 goldfish winning catch all day.

My younger son didn't like the authentic smell of the animal Showing Area

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Fun ol' fashion games

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

In the back of this 1st stall were some crafts. Exit the back door into the carnival OR we turned right and walked the Prarie flowers and explored the path. And look at this great bee identification sign, helped with IDs for our recent burrowing beetles found in evanston, and the all black worker bees found collecting earlier this year.

One of our first stops was the 4H fair. Here younger son discovered the Lego builds that kids made.

Chicago City Kids at the LaPorte County Fair, 2014 - Summer Bucket List must do, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

It was one of his highlights of the day. He's our Lego monster! We also found over 50 boards dedicated to bug collecting... Moms spent 30 minutes exploring :-)

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, 2014

Our next day was spent driving into LaPorte Indiana, in advance of the annual county fair. We took the side roads in and enjoyed some scenery and rural living atmosphere. This year we took in route 2, east bound off 421 south and arrived just to catch the tail end of the parade. People watching was just as fun when the parade was over as during. The main strip thru town is closed for the occasion.

Off of route 2 driving in we caught a train.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

A float full of army brats and a Marine Corp soldier in the front Seat.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Farm equipment sales, which we forget how huge those pieces are sometimes.

The whistle stop restaurant off the tracks.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

And an all American farmers float heading home.

City Mouse at the July 4 Parade in LaPorte Indiana, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

Tomorrow is the start of pre-fair festivities, but we'll be back next week for the fair fun - hog contest, horse rodeo, and car derby here we come!!

Make mistakes, breathe, reflect. And Laugh.Out.Loud