Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Ice Blocking


Pioneer Day
Ice-Blocking

It's hot here in the summer, so we like to beat the heat with a little ice-blocking.  All you need is a grassy hill, block of ice and a towel.  

*This activity like sledding can be dangerous, so please take adequate precautions.  
**Only Ice-Block with a responsible adult.  
***Wear a helmet of some sort, and/or some sort of safety gear.

You want to pick a hill based on your skill level and age of participants.  If you have little kids, you might choose a smaller hill.  Remember, you pick up speed the longer the hill.  Plus, you have to carry the ice back up the hill.  Check the hill for lumps, holes or other dangers that you might hit on the way down.
*Check with the rules of your local park/hill, some forbid ice-blocking.

For the ice you can either just buy a block of ice at your local store or make your own.  I would bring one ice block per every two to three people.
Pioneer day
Home made ice
We like to make our own, because the ones a the store are too skinny for bigger booties, and have no handle.  We picked up some water basins (similar to the ones you get at the hospital) and some dog ropes at the local $ store.  Fill the water basin a little more than half full with water.  Place a dog toy rope halfway in the water where you would like your handle.  Place water in the freezer at least overnight.

Head out to your favorite hill and climb to the top.  
Remove ice from water basin. 


 Fold your towel in thirds the long way, then again the shorter way.  Your towel should now fit nicely on your block of ice.  We like to use a full size towel for cushion and to keep our booties dry longer.  As the ice melts you will begin to get wet.  I might suggest bringing more than one towel.






We found everyone sat a little different on the ice.  Some people liked to cross their legs, others found it easier to to balance with their legs straight out, so whatever feels more comfortable and balanced to you and your particular body type.  The dog rope offers a little more stability and balance.  If you bought a block of ice from the store only sit on two-thirds of your towel and use the other third as a handle.  This helps you balance a little better.


*As the ice begins melt, you will go faster!



Wipe Out!  This is why I suggest wearing a helmet!













We found the dog rope handle made it easier to carry the ice back up the hill.



*If the ice starts to break a part or melt to much, discontinue use of that ice block!


Have Fun! Be Safe!
Take some funny Pictures!
(We even took a wet booty picture of the kids all standing together,
 that was pretty funny, but we didn't include it on the blog, sorry)

If you liked this post, you might also like:
Shaving Cream Fight
mustruninthefamily.com

Catching Frogs
Frogs

Who's the Dude?

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Gooey Caramel Popcorn

Gooey Caramel popcorn
Caramel Popcorn

Our favorite summer activity to do together as a family, is backyard movie night.  We bought a fancy projector at an auction.  We hook it up to our portable DVD player, add some speakers and there you have it, your own personal Drive-in type movie.  We love to invite friends and family over and make it a big event.  Everyone brings their favorite treats to share.  We have a theater style popcorn popper.  So, we usually provide all the popcorn.  We love to make caramel popcorn to go along with it.

This was a family favorite growing up.  We loved that it was GOOEY!
Thanks Mom for teaching me how to make it!

Gooey Caramel Popcorn

1/2 cup Butter
1/2 Cup Corn Syrup
1 Cup Light or Dark Brown Sugar
2 Bags of your favorite Microwave Popcorn or 1/2 Cup Dry Kernels Popped
(I like to use an air popper to cut the fat calories)

Gooey Carmel Popcorn
Ingredients needed

popcorn maker


Pop popcorn as per package directions.  

popping popcorn

Pour popcorn into a large bowl.  
 Gently shake popcorn to get the kernels to the bottom of the bowl.  
Scoop out popcorn, removing popcorn on the top of the bowl first, 
leaving all the kernels behind.  

popcorn kernels

Place scooped out popcorn into a large glass bowl (or one that won't melt).  

In a saucepan, boil butter, corn syrup and brown sugar for 3 minutes,
 constantly stirring with a wooden spoon.  
*Do not use a metal spoon and try not to scrape the sides/bottom of the pan.  




 



After 3 minutes remove from heat.  
(cook time may vary from cook-top to cook-top and altitude)







Pour all over the popcorn, not just in one spot. 





Take your wooden spoon, and stir the popcorn, 
until the caramel completely and evenly covers it.  






 
Enjoy!

*If your caramel is hard, and you want it gooey, reduce the cook time 
and or cooking temperature.

**Increase cook time for harder caramel or popcorn balls.
Remove from bowl, spread on wax paper for cooling harder caramel popcorn.









Friday, June 26, 2015

Air Show Craft- Foam Airplanes


Flash back from last summer, when we saw these at the store again today.
We were so excited for the Air Show to come to town.  The Thunder Birds were going to be flying, and we wanted to do a craft while we waited.  

Plane Party


We found these at our local $ store, and picked up one for each family member.
They are also on Amazon for a little more.  
We got out the permanent markers and each designed our own planes. 
 *Non-permanent markers will smudge and get on your hands.

plane craft

airplane party


Transportation craft

plane

plane craft

foam plane

airplane

airplane craft

airplane design

 We then, took them outside and flew them.  We had races, and tried to see who could get theirs to fly the furthest.  Of course, they then started weighing them down with screws, because they were sure they could get it to fly further.  A few actually got it to fly better.  


Plane party craft
Racing Planes
Plane races
Who can fly the furthest
These planes broke after about an hour of play, so they are fragile. For $1.00 each the kiddos, and even my Hubby had a blast making and flying them.

Would be fun for a birthday party, Scouting or youth group party!
We hope this sparks some creative ideas and you have as much fun as we did!

Leave us a comment on how your airplanes turned out!

If you liked this post, you might also like:
Fun Bubbles
bubble snake

Catching Frogs
frog hunting

Ice Blocking
Pioneer Day

Who's the Dude?