Our Very First EVER Insect Collection Bug Box it only took 2 years

Exploring Insects has been tremendous for our family. Learning, experiencing, and sharing wonderful moments together.

Our Very First EVER Insect Collection Bug Box it only took 2 years

The big reveal!

We are excited to share our FIRST BUG BOX! 

We made plenty of mistakes in making this collection. AND we learned more then our mistakes. That's probably why we keep doing it? We are avid bug collectors as our family hobby - Learn more at areyousureaboutthatblog.blogspot.com

Our Very First EVER Insect Collection Bug Box it only took 2 years 

These were some of the tools - totally amateur that made this bug box collection happen. 

• Empty containers (cleaned after the nutella was gone!)
• Pin cushion (I would use a box tho - little yucky bug bits and all)
• Clear nail polish - that is ONLY for the bugs.
• Nail polish remover - the poison that kills them in the bug jar (on a cotton ball- toxic!)
• Plastic tupperware container - to hold the stages bug in an air tight lid while they "cure"
• That PLUS Sign cut out - was for the moth balls. Now we just shave bits into the box directly . . . easier and clean.

We love insect collecting. Check out our blog to learn more about how to set up your own supplies. areyousureaboutthatblog.blogspot.com

How about in video versions. . . 

Our Very First EVER Insect Collection Bug Box it only took 2 years

Fathers Day Gift, Easy Handmade Kids Craft, Summer Fun, Week One

My younger son graduated kindergarten, we actually call it the end of year celebration ceremony (we believe you don't "graduate" until high school and then college. We want to hold school standards in a high regard, and if the kids keep having these "graduation ceremonies" then they will start to lose their value. (Their 8th grade graduations will be recognized with a small family dinner at a restaurant of their choice.)

Younger sons first day of summer starts this Monday, or my older son still has one additional week of school. I asked my younger son what he wants to do on his first day of summer, he said let's go to culvers for ice cream. I said are you sure there isn't more you want to do, we have a whole day of fun we can have, so he said let's go to the zoo. And so we did, on Monday we hit the zoo first thing in the morning with our popcorn made it home. We saw the animals that he wanted to see and that he picked. Baby girl did not mind at all her brother making all the decisions that day. Then we drove straight to culvers and thankfully since it's about 30 minutes from the zoo both the kids took a nap in the car on the way there.

> > It was an all fun day! > >

Tuesday we were bums, and got started on Father's Day gifts (which is coming up this Sunday) and I finished my sanding and painting my frames (for my Chicago Water Colors I wanted to hand in the powder room). Its gonna be a rainy week to boot. I had looked up some ideas on Pinterest and questions to ask the kid regarding their dad. And I knew I would make the handmade card for him.

A picture of my dad, I drew Daddy behind a Rainbow.

"Hanging Out" with Older Son.

All About my Dad, these were fun to ask and write. 

All About my Dad Questions: (Thanks Pinterest)

I loved some of the 1 or 2 question cards for dad - So of course Type A mom decides to make a chart. Specifically with open ended questions so the kids could give me loads of details. 

• My Favorite thing to do with my dad is:
• Describe Dad:
• If I could take my dad anywhere in the Tardis, we'd go: (yes we were going thru a phase)
• My Dad is special because:
• About my Dad:
• My Dad Makes: $____
• The most awesome thing  about my dad:
• My dad works:
• If I could take my dad anywhere in the world we'd go:

That night of making Father's Day cards, baby girl told her dad she's going to make him a card with the sun on it. Well that was not on our list, so of course we added that to the list and made her card the next day.

Baby girl wanted to make dad a card with the Sun on It! 

WE LOVE YOU DAD

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

Monarch Caterpillar Discovery in our Chicago Garden with 3 year old toddler

Date: June 22, 2015 > 

Monarch Caterpillar Discovery in our Garden > > 

Baby girl was playing In our yard on her stroller and she discovered twi lovely caterpillars. Both were on opposite ends of this plant bed, but both enjoying the Dill Weed. 

She is happy to pose with her discoveries. While I do have glass viles to collect soft body specimens in alcohol, however I haven't developed an interest or a need to collect soft body insects. 

How about in video versions. . . we have more monarch caterpillars - and a BUTTERFLY CAGE with caterpillars on the youtube channel. We even filmed a butterfly release many, many, many times.

Monarch Caterpillar Discovery in our Chicago Garden with 3 year old toddler

Carpenter Bee Fed Sugar Water

Carpenter Bee, fed sugar wAter, but was found again. > > We found a carpenter bee on May 4, on our walk back home from dropping the boys off at school. He was soaking wet, probably from the nights rain storm that had just ended a few hours earlier. Baby girl (3 years old) picked him up even tho his legs were still moving. She screamed a little and I calmed her saying "he wont hurt you." I found a small piece of paper and placed bee on that. She held him - gently - the entire way home. I asked her if we should try to save him first? Or just pin him? She said lets try to help him live. > > I had just read an article on bees that lay helpless, sometimes all they need is a little sugar water to get them back on their feet again. > > When we arrived at home I filled a short lipped lid with a splash of filtered water and teaspoon of white sugar. I use agave in my coffee religiously, but I keep sugar on hand for baking. Chocolate chop cookies just aren't as good without white sugar... > > See more of our adventures at areyousureaboutthatblog dot blogspot dot com > > I angled the lid on a brick piece - and baby girl placed him (upside down) on the lid. I picked him right side up and near the waters edge.then we covered him with a paper tent so a bird wouldnt get a quick snack! Then took this picture. We waited a few minutes, but he just sat there. So we went inside to go about our day and check back later. > > > > Maybe an hour later we peeked out the kitchen window and noticed he was gone! Yaayyy. But our success was short lived. The afternoon was sunny and humid. So after school chores and homework we headed to the park. > > On our walk home, there was the same bee, laying by our garage in the alley. Is it the same bee? Sure is, notice the markings on his back. Same bare spot. Also a good way to Identify carpenter bees (bald back). > > Here he is pinned using an 001 stainless steel pin on the pinning block. > > > > > Make Mistakes, breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud

Handmade Easy Elephant Paws for Baby Girl or as a Gift.

Homemade Easy Elephant Paws Costume for Kids

After sewing the schools costumes this year, my daughters reminding me that she wants elephant paws (a la one of the shows characters). I finished embroidering my boys jerseys, which was thrilling all its own. I can't believe sometimes how easy it is to learn new things. So of course after I showed baby girl that I had finished the boys names, she asked "Whats for me?" Mommy suddenly remembered the Elephant Paws request. And so a star was born... 

Well a basement singer. My universal sewing machine made in Japan is the rock star of this performance. I had made practice stitches of each setting to remember for future use. Said sewing stitch aid as also used here in this project. Baby girl pulled up a chair and sat next to me the whole 20 minutes of sewing. She asked lots of questions and I answered each one as I sewed. Logistics: the elephant paws were sewn wrong way facing first to be inverted when complete. First sew on nails. Then 3 layers if felt. Between the top two layers I stuffed the bunting (using what I had on hand). Then I sewed layer 1-2 closed. I don't want her hands touching the stuffing, pulling it out, getting it dirty, etc. 

Beautiful Purple Elephant Paws, with pink nails. My Daughters color choices can't be beat!  Getting paws on by herself, "but mommy I need help." Nope! "Just like daddy said, if you want your new bracelet - or in your case paws - you need to be able to put it on yourself."  And she did!! 

Baby girl is so excited to try on her elephant paws! 

Trying on her new elephant paws. Pink painted toe nails. Nice touch! 

Date: May 15, 2015

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