Oscar Stew

I’m sure you have all figured out by now that I am a sucker for all things cheap and homemade. I have to give credit to my mom for teaching me how to get my hands dirty, and my dad for the cheapskate genes. I think I got the best of both worlds!

When the thunderstorms roll in, I love to gather the kids around the kitchen table and get crafty. We have several sets of store-bought watercolors, but I wanted to try this recipe to see how it compares. Plus I knew the kids would enjoy mixing it up themselves. Recipe courtesy of Kid Concoctions.

3 tbs corn starch
3 tbs baking soda
3 tbs vinegar
1 1/2 tsp of corn syrup
food coloring
small containers

Mix the cornstarch, baking soda & corn syrup, then add the vinegar. Divide into small containers and add 7-8 drops of food coloring.

Drew really enjoyed watching the vinegar and baking soda fizz up, Brinley wasn’t phased at all until we mixed up the pink paint.

We used the watercolors to paint on sturdy chipboard that I had previously cut up and made into postcards. (if you think you might be on our mailing list, act surprised when your postcard arrives!)

Rowan was chillin’ in bouncer on the table (gasp!) while we worked. Before I know it, she will be old enough to join us…

Drew and Brinley were both quite serious about their work…

Ever since Drew started Kindergarten, he is all about drawing/painting flags.

So, my review? The water colors were MUCH more vibrant than the store bought variety, easier to use too. When the paint dried, it left a powdery residue on the paper that brushed off easily. And you do have to stir the containers every once in a while because the cornstarch starts to settle at the bottom. After the kids were done I let the watercolors dry up in the containers, so all we need next time is a wet brush and we are good to go. I’d say it was a success!

The sphere of all things cold and delectable. The orb of creamy happiness. The globe of glucose. I’m talking about the ice-cream ball. This is multi-tasking’s finest fifteen minutes. They’re playing outside, they’re burning calories, and they’re making ice-cream. Is this a good activity? Ohhhhh yeaaaahhh. 

Here the kids are heavily engaged in a battle of ice-cream soccer.

Check out this intense game of ice-cream pushball. The big kid has to sit downhill and concentrate, while the little kid leisurely horks down her sandwich.

Goal! Basket! Point! Touchdown! Home run! I could keep going, as I’m unsure of what game they are playing at this point…

Ah the sweet reward. Mix in some mini Reese’s, and it’s a masterpiece for the mouth.

Just so there’s no confusion or trickery, the borders are clearly identified. No trespassing.

Manly men doing manly things. Be sure to top it off and squeegee the windows too, Drew. I wonder how he feels about $3.62/gallon gas?

Drew burned up his back tire until the whole thing was bald down to the cords. The Tire Fairy came and rewarded him with more rubber for the road, and Daddy was there to provide technical support. 

Brinley was imitating me as I read a novel. Nice choice Brinley…

Camo X 4. All I see is Drew’s floating head and his arm holding the broom. The rest of him is invisible! He does get points for sweeping the floor…

Brinley had a big nasty splinter, and the only thing I could find to distract her during surgery was this lollipop from Christmas. Drew insisted that life be fair, so I dug deep in the drawer and discovered a candy cane. Tasty! No judgements please…

Rowan blows bubbles when she’s happy. Twiggy’s looking mighty chubby no?

She is becoming quite the drooler as well.

Brinleys first and hopefully LAST dreadlock. I have no idea how it happened, I did her hair and sent her off into the backyard. An hour later I discovered this bad boy. I hacked that thing off faster than you can say Bob Marley.

Honk! Honk! Vrrrrooom, there goes Daddy once again. One of the benefits of living so close to the airport. The kids are yelling at him making sure he won’t forget to bring Froot Loops home from his trip.

Drew has mastered the art of frisbee. I told him I wasn’t going over any fences to retrieve runaways, so he figured out that straight up was a safe bet. Meanwhile Brinley stuffed her cheeks with frozen grapes.

Rowan has warmed up to laying in the grass.

See?

And we still haven’t seen hide nor hair of this good lookin’ fella…