FROZEN: Antarctica at your fingertips

We didn’t set out to study Antarctica. We stumbled onto it through a book, which is my favorite way to discover anything. And if you don’t have a copy of MAPS  by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski, do WHATEVER you must do to add this book to your collection. It’s a children’s book, but honestly I’ve come close … Continue reading

Boredom Buster: Treasure Hunt

Portland, Maine – I don’t know if you’ve been following our weather lately. But like a faithful metronome, we oscillate between windchill 28 below and 46 above. Either it’s unsafe to leave the house or it’s raining so hard that huge chunks of ice floating by also make it tricky to play outside with my … Continue reading

‘B’ is for Boats. Really BIG BOATS

Portland, Maine – From the working fishing wharves of Old Port where lobster are sold fresh every day to the island ferry boat rides to the shipping channel for cargo and crude oil, our port is a busy one. It’s one HUGE adventure to small boys… and mom… and dad. But the first time my … Continue reading

Bring your picnic basket and kids here…

Charleston, South Carolina – There are many beaches to choose from in the Charleston area. And the more you visit or the longer you live there, you find that there is something special about each one. Surfing at Folly Beach, bike paths and wide beaches at Kiawah, etc., etc. But there is only one spot … Continue reading

The Leg Bone’s Connected to the…

When C was first born, some expert in the one of the 30 baby books I consumed said I should sing to my baby, give him a massage, establish a bedtime routine for baby and on and on and on. The advice is really endless and each missive more important than the next (you feel … Continue reading

The Pay-Off!

When I look around our Adventure Room (formerly the bonus room), I have to admit, I get a little bit teary. Look at where we started…. And here we are today! And I have to say, that having all of you along for the ride, has made this experience even better. So, thank you! Today, … Continue reading

A DIY Ocean to Play In!

After weeks of oppressive heat, the rain is here. Great for our pitiful looking flowers. Bad for dispensing of a certain 3-year-old’s energy. It’s time to distract and engage him. At least I can wear out that active little brain! So, we are going to make a very cool ocean sensory bin. This “sensory bin” … Continue reading

Piratey Sails for our Ship

A great looking pirate ship needs great looking sails. And by great looking sails, I mean worn, torn and a little haggard… proof that they have, indeed, sailed the seven seas! TO THE LINEN CLOSET! I don’t know about you, but while we have a king size bed, we do not have king size pillows … Continue reading

Part 2: Building a Pirate Ship!

Hey all! It’s Mike again (Anna’s husband)… I see the Pirate Ship blog yesterday was popular. Something about Pirates. I’ll explain the masts and rigging in a minute. Much easier than I thought it would be. But first I have to tell you a quick ditty about the time I was on a secret archeological … Continue reading

A Manly Swashbuckler Needs a Feathered Hat

It seemed like such a simple plan. Cut two pirate hat shapes out of craft foam. Glue together. Decorate. Wear. All went beautifully until we got to the ‘wear’ part. It ripped. Immediately. The satisfaction of Crowley stenciling the Jolly Roger on the front of that hat was gone. Ugh. Ugh. And ugh. So it … Continue reading

Are You Hooked?

Your little pirate has an eye patch and a spyglass, now we need a hook for the hand! Here’s an easy way to make one in about 15 minutes! You Need: Red solo cup Red duct tape Aluminum foil Instructions: STEP ONE: – ADULT ONLY – using sharp end of scizzors cut a hole in … Continue reading

A Quick Pirate Eye Patch

We call my dad, Jerrypedia… because his name is Jerry and he’s like Wikipedia but more accurate. He’s a walking, talking encyclopedia. At all times, we are ONE phone call away from anything we need to know. Lost on a highway? No problem. See a bird and want to know which type it is? No … Continue reading