One of Miss Enigma’s favorite past times is  digging in the dirt. Last year for her birthday, I suggested Grandpa make her a sandbox. It has been the best birthday gift ever. She has played in it almost every day for two years.

During our family Easter, I noticed all of the kids where playing in the sandbox, from the youngest to the oldest. Don’t let the picture fool you, the biggest kiddo was right in there too, building a fort. I  just caught him on break in this picture.

What’s sandbox play without a little sand in the hair? Or a lot of sand in the hair? Couldn’t resist this picture. He just kept quietly putting piles of sand in his hair. It’s  such fun watching kids be kids.

Since Grandpa’s sandbox continues to be a hit with all of the kids that visit our home, I thought I should share the simple DIY project. It is an easy weekend project.

 DIY Square Foot Sandbox

I wanted Miss Enigma’s sandbox to match the square foot gardens that line our backyard sidewalk. My father helped me build my square foot gardens so putting together a sandbox was quite easy.

Step 1: Cut four, 4ft – 2 x 8 boards. My father can make ANYTHING; however, Home Depot offered to cut the wood for him. Having someone else do it is always the easiest! You don’t need a saw, the home improvement store will cut it for you! (photo by MacGyver, age 6)

Step 2: Assemble boards with screws. (photo by MacGyver, age 6)

Step 3: Protect boards with linseed oil. (photo by MacGyver)

Step 4: Fill with play sand and dig in!

Square Foot Gardening

If you are thinking about creating your own square foot garden, you might be interested in my post with step by step directions and photos, including the recommended soil mixture.

I would highly recommend a square foot gardening project with your children. If you have limited space or are in a school setting it is perfect! If you have a big back yard like us, it is wonderful because you can section off little gardening areas.

Happy Digging and Happy Sand Castles!

Life with Jeannine

Do you have a little sand digger?

We Have a WINNER selected by Rafflecopter and random.org

You can view results on our original Post: Eater Basket Stuffer Ideas

Congratulations Bernice!

Bernice Mattila Garcia March 13, 2013 at 5:43 pm

Hmm, I don’t do Easter baskets. I might send something to my mom – I’m thinking a box full of pinwheels will make her smile. She can prop them in the snowy banks of her yard until spring actually arrives in Northern MN! LOL

Contact us at our email: winner at waddleeahchaa dot com

(Prize must be claimed by Friday, March 22, 2013.)

Original Post: Eater Basket Stuffer Ideas

Educational Toy GIVEAWAY: IKEA TITTA DJUR Finger Puppets

Why we love these Finger Puppets from IKEA:

They’re cute! Ten come in a package, making them a bargain. When I saw this set of ten finger puppets, I knew I had to snag a set to put in hiding for Miss Enigma’s Easter Basket. Lucky you, I also snagged a set for one lucky winner.

The puppets are made of felt and include details like the lion’s fuzzy mane and the shark’s jagged teeth. I have no doubt in my mind that we will enjoy many creative puppets shows. These puppets will pair nicely with a book like Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.  The characters in the book can easily be adapted to the included puppets. From there the sky’s the limited.

I like gifts and toys that spark creativity. Yeah, for a learning toy Easter Basket find!

Last week, I highlighted the amazingly creative The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet. What says Easter more than spring colors.? The Coloring Book  is also going into the kiddo’s Easter Basket this year.  With that in mind I thought I would share some of my Easter Basket Stuffer Ideas. There are several general categories that I begin searching for as spring approaches.

Easter Basket Stuffer Ideas

• Books!!! The children always receive a book in their Easter Basket. Are you surprised?
• Art Supplies
• Small Learning Toys or Games
• Swim and Water Toys
• Gardening Supplies, Tools, Plants and Seeds
• Creepy Critters (butterfly rearing kit) or Treats for the Birds
• Battery Powered Toothbrush for Kids (Practical for Mom, Fun for Kids!)

Books, Books, Books! You can never have too many books!

Spring into Easter with Colorful Art Supplies!

Grow, Learn and be Merry!

Play, Explore, Learn!

We’re GIVING AWAY one IKEA TITTA DJUR Finger Puppets

To enter this contest, use the Rafflecopter to answer the following question. After you leave a comment, you can move ahead with more entries.

Answer the following question in the comments section of this post.

What surprises will the Easter Bunny stuff into your Easter Baskets this year?  (Or just say “Hey.” We’re flexible around here.)

The Rules:

No entries after 11:59 pm Central Time, Sunday, March 17, 2013

(Happy St. Patrick’s Day!)

The winner must be a resident of The United States.

The winner will be selected at random and announced Monday, March 18, 2013. Check back to claim your prize. It might be you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We’re also GIVING AWAY one set of Rory’s Story Cubes!

To WIN head over to our post: How to Spark Children’s Story Telling and Writing

Sharing this week at:

Hip Homeschool Moms

We try not to shower junk upon our children. Despite their pleas for stuff we typically say NO.  Nevertheless, I have two big weaknesses when it comes to the kiddos: books and art supplies. I guess you have noticed I am addicted to books and I love art. I want to grow thinking children who read endlessly and in their spare time create delightful, outside-the-box works of art. (Oh, and I would like for them to care for nature and to be compassionate champions for the less fortunate. But for today I’ll attempt to stick to the lighter topic of books and art.)

So . . . when I find a book that integrates art . . . well  . . . I’m in L-O-V-E!!! I have two new favorite loves.

The first is The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet

The second is Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates

The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet is unlike any other coloring book I’ve experienced. I like it much more than those doodle books I’ve seen. I would describe The Coloring Book as the “thinking person’s” coloring book. It challenges children to think about and experiment with colors, shapes and design.

This is a hard review because I want to show you every single page. There is such variety and inspiration.

Early in the book a line of doodles spill over the pages, inviting children to . . .

• Follow the loops . . .
• Or color them in.

Later on in the book, budding artists are directed to

• Color some squares . . .
• Draw new lines between the lines . . .
• Now do the same to design the sofa, the rug and the picture.

Then there are these simple directions

• Color what you see . . .
• And again!

I have not one, but two of these books tucked away as Easter Basket Stuffers! Don’t walk, RUN and snatch yourself a couple copies of The Coloring Book for the kiddos in your life! (To tell you the truth, I want one for myself!) Throw in a set of good colored pencils or watercolor paints and you are set for Easter.

Now meet the new love of my life: Dog! Dog Loves Drawing by Louise Yates is the new favorite book in our home. And that is really saying something because we read a ton of books. The first time we snuggled-up to read this charming book the kiddos oohed and aahed, giggled and cheered. We ended with, “That was a good book! Can we read it again!” Miss Enigma has carried around this book (including sleeping with it) for two weeks solid.

Dog’s Aunt Dora sends him a sketchbook and “Dog knew exactly what to do. . . .” He drew a door and then a stickman. Next, they DOODLE together because that’s the best way to come up with good ideas.You know I’ve got to love a book that doodles.

Look at Dog and stickman holding hands. Are you in love yet?

They quickly color-up some new friends and soon they are spilling onto the next page. They drift in and out of pages and through colors of adventure.

Before long dog has to dash out to buy some more paper.

Never fear we will be visiting Dog again. There’s absolutely no way I can read an inspiring book such as this without getting some creative ideas of my own.

Life with Jeannine

Come win our fabulous Art Set Easter Basket Stuffer

Both The Coloring Book and Dog Loves Drawing tie in nicely with our

IKEA Art Set GIVEAWAY: All Children Can Draw Colored Pencils Activity

 Oodles of Doodles Book Recommendations

Art Supplies For Children Easter Basket Stuffers

It’s a dreary, rainy day today. My kiddos usually spend their afternoons playing in our big backyard. Luckily, Grandma gave Miss Enigma a Discovery Kids Build and Play Construction Fort Set for Christmas. Excellent indoor activity for dreary winter days.

The box features several designs to spark the children’s architecture creativity. Add a sheet and you take the construction fort to a whole new level. Miss Enigma is big into making tents, stringing sheets from bed to bed and chair to chair. These construction pieces are perfect for her tent building. Ask our dogs. They have spent many hours snuggling with Miss Enigma inside her tents.

The 77 construction pieces come with sticks and connectors.

Here’s where it gets complicated . . . the sticks connect to the connectors.

Wait that’s actually really easy. So simple a child can do it! Just give it a little muscle.

A plan for a ship design is being hatched.

“You sit in the Captain’s Chair. Let me see how tall the ship needs to be.”

“A few more snaps and we’re ready to cast off into the deep blue sea.”

Monday the children used the Build and Play pieces to construct a puppet theater.

Absolutely perfect stage for their Five Little Ducks puppet show!

Review of the Build and Play Construction Fort

• sparks creativity and problem solving
• develops spatial reasoning
• requires patience and cooperation
• introduces basics of geometry and structures
• extremely versatile
• gender neutral
• fun
• even better with snacks under the sheet

Things to Consider

• recommended 5+, however, younger children will need adult help
• this is a learning toy, some children may need help designing sturdy structures
• these are not permanent tents, they will fall down if children do not play carefully
• If you have a kid like MacGyver, he’ll want more pieces!

As I type, the kiddos are busy building an airplane. Perhaps I’ll have update photos tomorrow . . .

Life with Jeannine

What do your kiddos do on dreary, rainy days?