Trying to stay entertained

It has been such a hot summer that Ellie and I have not been doing anything outside that doesn't involve water, MEANING, we've been indoors trying to stay entertained. We did a lot of swimming at the beginning of the summer but really haven't been much in the past two months. Stephen and I have taken her to Ijump several times, bowling, and tree top but that gets expensive. I've taken her to the book store a few times to play with the dolls and the train table but that is kinda far so that takes that off the list. Entertainment comes down to play dates (which we love), borrowing friends kids, and making stuff. We have jumped on the trampoline on the rare occasion that it isn't sweltering and actually Stephen has jumped out there with her several times with the sprinklers on.

We've baked and cooked like crazy but today I decided we were going to make some crafty stuff. I searched a few blogs, made a list, and then Ellie and I headed to Wal Mart to buy our supplies. We made window paint and painted the double doors going onto the deck and she had so much fun. Who knew? She also used the paint to paint the bathtub during bath time...

While I made lunch, daddy and Ellie made Ice Cream in a bag and it was actually DELICIOUS! It was so good that they immediately made a triple batch after tasting the first batch. Granted, one batch is only enough for one person, if even that :). Ellie enjoyed making it and then putting sprinkles and chocolate chips on hers. YUM

We made one batch of homemade doodle paint and it turned out good so we'll make more tomorrow or one day next week. I have to buy the squirt bottles to put them in first. We still have plans to make play dough, puff paint, bird treats, and several other things. I think a couple of things a day is good for now though :).

Oh, and Ellie and I made a "busy tray". It's basically a cookie sheet covered in scrap book paper. We made letter magnets out of clear stones and card stock that she can put on the cookie sheet to practice her letters/spelling. (No, she isn't spelling, I said practice :) ). It can also be used to put a color sheet on and has a lip all the way around so that her colored pencils don't fall off. I plan to make some cards with different words on them that she can put the corresponding letter magnet on each letter on the card. It could also be used as a snack tray. I'm going to leave it in the car for those times when we have to wait and Ellie is bored :) Anyways, it's so cute and I got the idea off of another blog. The magnet idea is from http://www.our-everyday-art.com/2010/12/alphabet-magnets.html and the busy board is from http://inbetweenlaundry.blogspot.com/2010/10/busy-tray.html