The Mediocre Mom's Guide to Greatness

Friday March 5th, 2010

Today’s Activity:

The weather is warming up so take this opportunity to go for a family walk around the block.

Note:

You could even let your children ride their bike or scooter.

Evaluate:

Today I walked Max too and from school.  That’s a little bit of a cop out though because I do that everyday.   The reason I put this on here for today is because the weather is getting warmer and I LOVE going for nice spring walks with my family.  I think taking the time to go for a walk with your loved ones is a great way to strengthen relationships.  It’s like a mini vacation from responsibilities.  Also, going on a walk with your husband can be a great opportunity to get re-acquainted after a busy week.

Tags: outdoor, walk
Posted in Average Length Activities, Marriage | No Comments »

Tuesday March 2nd, 2010

The winner of Last Months Contest is Joylyn!  Thanks again so much to everyone who left a comment, it really did motivate me!  Joylyn, please email me at mediocremomsguide@gmail.com with your address and I will mail you your gift certificate.

Today’s Activity:

Play hot potato with a balloon.

Note:

This should not be a balloon with helium in it.  If you’ve never done this before the idea is to tap the balloon with your finger tips and pass it back and forth.  Don’t let it touch the ground!

Evaluate:

The kids loved this game.  Max even came up with different rules for different levels.  It was a fun activity to do together as a family and there was lots of laughter and of course a few tears.

Tags: baloon, indoor, outdoor, toss
Posted in Giveaway, Quick Activities | No Comments »

Saturday February 27th, 2010

Monthly Goal:

Today I spent $40 on Max’s Karate belt review instead of spending that $40 on going out to dinner with friends.  He is so excited about it that he even dreamed last night that he got his yellow belt and his dream came true so it was worth it!

Don’t forget to leave a comment about something good you did today so you can be entered in our drawing for a $25 GC.  Go here to learn more about our giveaway.

Today’s Activity:

This may be your last chance to find some snow nearby.  Head up to the mountains if there isn’t any close by and go sledding.

Note:

If you can’t come across enough to go sledding then throw as many snow balls as you can with what you have available.

Evaluate:

We didn’t get to do this today because we had a very full day.  Part of our full day was meeting some friends at McDonalds for lunch and I know my little ones didn’t mind.

RECOGNITION!

Amy has  been taking her kids to the park everyday before school to help them get their wiggles out.  What a great idea!

Tags: outdoor, sledding, snow
Posted in Long Activities | 1 Comment »

Tuesday January 5th, 2010

Today’s Activity:

Ask your kids what they want to do today.

Note:

You may need to set some limits depending on your day and budget.  For example, “What do you want to do at home today?”, “What do you want to do away from home that is free?”, or “What do you want to do that doesn’t cost more than $5?”

Evaluate:

Elese has really been wanting to paint her nails so this was the perfect opportunity for me to take the time to do it.

Tags: indoor, kids choice, outdoor
Posted in Average Length Activities | No Comments »

Saturday January 2nd, 2009

Today’s Activity:

Play Red Light Green Light.

Note:

Max took a community sports class a while back and when they played Red Light Green Light they also added a blue light, a strobe light and a yellow light.  The blue light meant you had to move backwards, strobe light meant you had to dance in place and the yellow light was slow motion.  Add these three lights to make the came a little more exciting and playful.

Evaluate:

This is a great game to keep the kids busy.  The other day we were waiting to go out to dinner and my husband started playing it with the kids.  He was just laying on the couch shouting out the light colors.  Our kids had a blast and my husband kept them entertained while resting at the same time.

Tags: blue light, indoor, outdoor, red light green light, rest
Posted in Quick Activities | No Comments »

Saturday December 19th, 2009

Today’s Activity:

After the water is frozen fill it up the rest of the way (not to the top though, we all know water expands when frozen).  Once you have filled it with water take your plastic cups and fill them with rocks until they are sturdy on top of the layer of ice and then freeze them again.  Once it is frozen remove the cup.  This may be hard because it WILL be frozen into the ice.  I recommend using a paper cup if you have it because you can use a blow dryer to melt the ice around it and plastic may melt.  If that doesn’t work, just bring it inside and wait it out…you could possibly fill the cup with hot water to help control where the ice melts.  Then remove the chunk of ice from the bucket and set it on your porch with a glowing tea light in it.

Note:

Don’t forget that today is the day you are going to finish up that last minute shopping.

Evaluate:

It’s actually been warmer here over the past couple of days so my ice didn’t stay frozen and I didn’t have any room in my freezer.  Pretty sure this craft is a bust for me.  I LOVE the look of these though so hopefully I can clear up some freezer space for next year.  I’ll let you know later today or tomorrow if I got it to work.

Tags: ice lights, indoor, outdoor, shopping
Posted in Average Length Activities, Crafts | No Comments »

Friday December 18th, 2009

Today’s Activity:

Fill up your buckets part way with water.  Leave them out for the night to freeze.  Sorry but this will take two days and I didn’t realize it until I tried it today.

THIS is what you will do tomorrow…after the water is frozen fill it up the rest of the way (not to the top though, we all know water expands when frozen).  Once you have filled it with water take your plastic cups and fill them with rocks until they are sturdy on top of the layer of ice and then freeze them again.  Once it is frozen remove the cup.  This may be hard because it WILL be frozen into the ice.  I recommend using a paper cup if you have it because you can use a blow dryer to melt the ice around it and plastic may melt.  If that doesn’t work, just bring it inside and wait it out…you could possibly fill the cup with hot water to help control where the ice melts.  Then remove the chunk of ice from the bucket and set it on your porch with a glowing tea light in it.

Option 2:

This is also a drawn out activity but I did this today as well.  I ran into a cute Gingerbread House kit at Costco and Max has been begging to make one so we did that today too.  Although I did most of the decorating (I know, it looks like a kid did it) the kids enjoyed watching me get very messy as well as eating the leftover frosting and candy.

Note:

Take the opportunity to teach your kids a little bit about the science of water turning to ice.

Evaluate:

Like I said above, this is going to take longer than I thought but other than that it was fun to do with the kids and I’m excited about it.   Mine aren’t done yet and they won’t be until Saturday but I have seen these and I think they are AWESOME!

Tags: craft, gingerbread house, ice candle, indoor, lights, outdoor, tea candle
Posted in Average Length Activities | No Comments »

Tuesday December 15th, 2009

Today’s Activity:

Go outside and build a snowman.  Afterward come inside and have some hot chocolate.

Note:

If it isn’t snowman building snow at least get bundled up and go outside and play.

Evaluate:

After being cooped up in a vacation home with the kids all weekend (while my husband worked) playing with the kids was the farthest thing from my mind and yelling at them was the closest.   Once we were outside building this cute little snowman I starting feeling much better about my crazy Christmas hyper kids.  They LOVE this new snowy friend and Max suggested that we name him Frosty.  Every time we went outside today he would say, “Hi Frosty.  Bye Frosty.  Goodnight Frosty.”  Later on while at the grocery store Elese was singing Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer at the top of her lungs and shortly after that she and Max were holding hands and singing Jingle Bells.  My point is…remember how much fun Christmas was as a kid?  Remember the joy you found in little things?  So this week, while your kids are bouncing off the walls with excitement do your best to just sit back, put in some ear plugs and let them have their fun.

Tags: cold, hot chocolate, outdoor, snow
Posted in Average Length Activities | No Comments »

Monday November 9th, 2009

Today’s Activity:

This one is simple but fun.  Play Ring around the Rosies.

Note:

Jump in and play with them and if the weather is good and you have a trampoline play it on there.

Tags: indoor, jump, outdoor, ring around the rosies
Posted in Quick Activities | No Comments »

Wednesday October 28, 2009

Today’s Activity:

You know all those leaves on your lawn are driving you crazy so have the kid’s help you take care of that today.  Rake up all the leaves and then let the kids jump in them!  Once you are done put them in garbage bags to through them out.  Last year we did this the day before the garbage man came so we put the leaves directly into the garbage can.  Max thought it was a great adventure to climb into the garbage can and smooch down the leaves with is feet.

Note:

One of my fondest memories of my dad was going up to the State Capitol Building (he worked there) and raking up HUGE piles of leaves and jumping in them.  I remember thinking that he was the grounds keeper or something and that’s what he did for work.  Not true though, he was a lawyer.

Evaluate:

I wasn’t able to do this yesterday because it snowed here.  I’m hopeful that the weather is better today so we can get some of those leaves raked up.  If you have snow then have the kids help you shovel.  I added these pictures of my children doing this two years ago.  Also, on Monday my kids decided to play in the leaves and jump on the tramp that was covered in leaves.  I hope these pictures inspire you to get outside and have some fall fun with your kids.

Tags: jump, leaves, outdoor, rake
Posted in Average Length Activities | No Comments »