Springtime Scavenger Hunt

Springtime is the best time to have a Scavenger Hunt or Wild Goose Chase. Now you may be asking yourself "What's the difference between a Scavenger Hunt and a Wild Goose Chase?" They both take some planning and they both are so much fun. You need chaperons for both. They can be done in one place but it is more fun if you have to travel. The difference is a Wild Goose Chase takes you all over the place looking for the next stop before ending with a big treat (party, pizza, picnic, etc.). A Scavenger Hunt is when you look for items to earn points to win a prize. So although they are very similar, they are very different too. If you are really creative, you can come up with riddles to lead your groups from clue to clue in the Wild Goose Chase. If you do a Scavenger Hunt, you can make things more challenging by putting name brands on the list. Instead of a generic "toothpaste" put "Crest Toothpaste". Instead of putting "a sports car" put "a Mustang Convertible". You can reward 1/2 points for the generic so everyone can receive something. Mix it up! Wild Goose Chases and Scavenger Hunts are more fun if it continues after the finish line so plan a fun picnic with games afterward. Be sure to invite your neighbors children (and parents) to join in the fun. Bring Spring in with a bang and host a community Wild Goose Chase or Scavenger Hunt. The items found in the Scavenger Hunt could be things they need to collect for those in need in your area (canned food, coats, blankets, etc.). Ask for food donations from local grocery stores (Safeway, Food Lion, Costco, Walmart, etc.) to feed the participants at the picnic and get some volunteers in your neighborhood to help. This is a great way for people to do a Spring Cleaning. Have a neighborhood Spring Cleaning on Saturday and plan a Community Scavenger Hunt on Sunday afternoon to collect items for your local shelter, or food pantry. Be creative and have fun. Remember, Spring is here!

The Weekend Is Over

This has been a weekend that kept going and going. My daughter had her placement test on Friday (to see if she is ready for the third grade). Then we went shopping at Walmart for her birthday "goody bags" for her friends and decorations for her party. This is not easy when shopping with a seven (almost eight) year old who wants to give each friend a new bike and a large paper bag full of goodies per child attending her birthday party. Her big gift was waiting in my car, a big girls bike. Once we got home, my daughter needed the party bags to be filled right away. By the time I fell into bed, I was drained. Saturday came (Birthday party day) and I was once again on the run. My husband and I needed to buy her birthday presents (I know it's kind-of last minute but that's the only way my husband shops). Then I had to race to wrap them (God bless gift bags and tissue paper). We grabbed a quick lunch (a snack really) and went back to get the cake, balloons and ice-cream. With cake, ice-cream, gifts, balloons, and party decorations in our hands, we raced across the parking lot to set up before our daughter arrived. We finished with about five minutes to spare. Guests arrived and for the next hour and a half I rushed around tending to everyones needs, preventing little finger from stealing icing from the cake and trying to carry on conversation with the adults who stayed (did I mention the party was at Tony's Pizza and there is no seperate room for this party?). When everyone left, it was time to pay, gather our things and go home (with a sleepover). We got home and started a movie while the girls got ready for bed. The girls started fighting. I was hanging on by a thread. My husband had abandond me (he's a truck driver and had to leave right after the party ~ it's still abandoning me). I have NEVER been so happy to go to bed before in my life. Sunday came with a bang. I had a sore throat and a house full of 7 to 8 years old to get ready for church. With the children fed and clothed and myself showered and dressed, off we went to church. After church, we took the children home and headed to my second daughter's house (I have four daughters in case you missed that). For the next four hours, I was helping my second daughter and her family move into their new house. Then I raced off to Easter program practice and Evening service at church before falling in bed around 9 PM. Is it any wonder I'm so FRAZZLED?

Stress Ball Craft

Another craft from FRAZZLED that is so quick and easy your children could make them and sell them to make some money. It's inexpensive enough that the original start-up cost is affordable. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 1. A medium sized balloon 2. A half cup of sand or salt 3. A funnel DIRECTIONS: 1. Place the balloon over the small end of a funnel. 2. Pour a half of a cup of sand or salt into the funnel and fill the balloon. Be sure to use all of the half cup of filling stuff. 3. Squeeze out any air that may be in the balloon and tie off the end. VARIATIONS: Use other fillers to give your stress ball a different feel. Try cornstarch, rice, oatmeal, flour, etc. You can use the Stress Ball as a ball for your children to toss around. You can also use some material and sew it as a covering for your Stress Ball. If you crochet or knit, you can make a "sock" for a covering. Have fun and be creative!

Tornado In A Bottle Craft

FRAZZLED NANNY here with a new craft. Two of my daughters have made Tornadoes in a bottle and they loved them. I hope your children will enjoy them as well. WHAT YOU WILL NEED: 1. A clear, empty soda bottle with the lid (cap). Any size will work but these directions are for a 16 oz bottle so you may find some minor adjustments are needed for larger bottles. 2. 2 drops of clear dish liquid detergent. 3. 1 teaspoon of glitter. 4. Water. DIRECTIONS: 1. Fill the clear soda bottle with water; leaving about a half inch to an inch from the top. 2. Add the two drops of dish liquid and the glitter. 3. Put the lid (cap) on tightly. 4. Holding the bottle by the neck, rotate your wrist several times. When you stop rotating your wrist, a mini-tornado will form inside the bottle. VARIATIONS: 1. Use blue food coloring to make your tornado look more like it is in the sky. Add it the same time as the glitter. 2. If you are artistic, use a permanent marker or paint (make sure it will stick to plastic) and draw or paint a scene on the bottle ~ a landscape would really look cool! Now enjoy! Your children will love this fun craft. It's a great rainy day project or a project when your children are bored.

About my BLOG

Well, I made it to day two and I'm posting my second blog. I thought I should tell you more about myself. What better way for you to get to know me? You might even find out why I consider myself FRAZZLED... First, you should know that I have been married for 20 years (June 09). My husband is a wonderful man who has always been there for us. We were blessed with one biological daughter and triple blessed with three adopted girls. We have two precious female cats, Artimis (my temporary avatar) and Alvina (an adorable calico ball of fur). We also have two wonderful female dogs, Aurora (a black chow/shepherd mix) and Pixie (a black and white chihuahua/Jack Russel Terrier mix). All four are pampered and adored (yes I'm just being nice - they're spoiled rotten). We just bought our first home (May 08). Our two oldest daughters have given us three grandchildren (our fourth is due late May 09). We have two grandsons, a granddaughter and our grand-baby to be is a girl. Our third daughter (the biological one) is a freshman in college. She is planning on being a High School Science teacher. Our youngest is about to finish the second grade (she's also turning 8 on Saturday). I home school her and she is doing great! I love my Lord and Savior, my family, writing, art, crafts, cooking, baking, knitting, crocheting, music & dancing. I was a youth leader for 12 years and a foster mom for 13 years. I've worked as a church secretary for four years and am currently a stay at home mom. I've served on a church board, organized a ladies group, lead Bible Study for teens and one for ladies. I lead an adult Praise and Worship Team while leading a teen Praise and Worship dance team. I love to try new recipes (by throwing whatever I have on hand together). I have a strange hodge-podge of talents. I'm hoping to bring my experience and talents to my blog. If I can help, inspire or pass along some bit of knowledge than I consider myself blessed. So stop by sometime and leave me a comment.

Blogging 101

I am starting a blog today. I must be insane! I will need a lot of faith to get through this experience. Bare with me, I am after all FRAZZLED!