It's Free Fun Fridays again!!!

Rather than posting exactly my post from last year with updates, I will spare you the details. However, I will post the 2016 Free Fun Fridays list from the Highland
Street Foundation.

If interested, you can read my post from last year at Battleship Cove http://survivingsah.blogspot.com/2015/07/our-visit-to-battleship-cove.html?m=1

Make Your Own Moonsand!

We had a great time last night making and playing with our own homemade Moonsand. Best part was it was made with 2 ingredients I had just lying around. Its super simple and fun. Its a bit messy but nothing a broom and a dustpan can't fix, oh and a bath, they will definitely need a bath!

All you need is

8 cups of flour
1 cup of baby oil

and a container to put it in.

Take off your rings and mash it all together. Make sure to really work the oil into the flour. It only takes a moment and things start forming together

That's it, now let the kids take over and have fun. I throw in some plastic cups last night but you can add so many things that can scoop, poke shapes, add dolls.

When the kiddos are done, you can bag it up in a large ziplock bag and save it for another day of play.

This sand is a great sensory craft to do with toddlers, Even my 8 year old loved playing in it.

Soaking Up The Last Few Days Of Summer

Though the rest of the area is no longer experiencing heat. My towering apartment is anything but cool. With my eight year old home for the long weekend I had to come up with something fun that will cool us off.

While giving the baby a bath I thought to myself at least she will feel cool. Then I figured why can't we all take baths. After her bath I put her down for a nap. Once she was out like a light I drew myself a bath with a bath bomb from Lush. If you haven't been to a Lush store you have no idea what you are missing. If there are no Lush stores near you, order from them online. They are amazing natural products.

I soaked in the now pink scented water with little seaweed paper pink hearts floating around me. Loreena Mckennitt played softly from my phone. I was in bliss!

Then came time for my oldest's bath. She loves baths and had already used her own bath bomb and a half of mine. So I had to come up with a different bath for her. The girl loves bubble baths but I took it a step further.

I took the Dawn and with a bit of water in a bowl I whipped up a bowl full of foam. This is not like a normal bubble bath bubbles, these are dense soap foam. I then added food coloring all around the bowl (it didn't mix well so I learnt you can just dump the food coloring in the middle) then I later the foam on top of the already drawn bath water. I had to do two bowls for one color. I did this for another two colors. You could make the foam bigger or do more colors.

In the future I think I will make bowls of colored foam and add them one after another. The first color I put down ran all over the place by the time I whipped up the next color.

She had a blast. The color washed into the water after a bit of playing but it was fun. She enjoyed mixing all the colors making swirls.

Give it a try. It's a mess if you are not careful with the food coloring. I think I dyed my bathroom sink green. But I still enjoyed surprising my daughter with this cool bath. Messes are a part of life, thank goodness for rubbing alcohol!

Our Visit to Battleship Cove

We visited Battleship Cove in Fall River MA. as a part of the Highland Foundation's Free Fun Friday exhibit. I have toured the battleships before when I was a kid but this was the first time for Chris and the kids. It was extremely hot on the battleships. The reflection of sun light on the the deck made it feel like you were walking on the sun. I thought my face was melting! Then we went below deck and it was like any amount of air was sucked out of the room. This is why we only toured one ship. But the ship we did tour was a lot of fun. We got to see many of old military memorabilia and how these WWII ships where like. It really made you think.

My husband said he was surprised at home much they actually let you go through in the ship. It was the larger ship so there was plenty of hallways and rooms to go through. Just as you think you have seen it all you come across another hatch door and a ladder going down yet another level. You could climb into the guns on the main deck area. Chris and Morrigan went into the large gun in this picture. It was too hard to climb up with Freya so I stayed with her.

The front half of the ship had the captain's chair which Morrigan had to climb up on to sit.  Many of the displays were not that unique for Chris and I but for Morrigan, it was very different than it is today. Phones with cords on them? What's a type writer? There was so much for Morrigan to learn  about the technology let alone the experience of the battleship and its workings.

Morrigan was able to climb onto a gun on the side of the main deck. It was great that Chris explained to her how the gun would shoot off multiple rounds and how it moved to target things like plains flying over. Chris showed her how to a solider would target the planes and fire multiple rounds. I was surprised Morrigan was tall enough to actually fit. Some areas were a tight squeeze which made you wonder how grown men where able to navigate the ship. Can't imagine what it would be like if they were being fired upon and having to scramble to their stations inside some of these guns. It was kind of funny watching my tall, mildly out of shape, husband crawling into these areas with Morrigan. I didn't even dare try. I'd break my back! I used the baby as an excuse to get out of the more difficult areas to get into. Shhh.... Do tell my husband. *wink,wink*

Even Freya got to experience how it would be to sleep on a battle ship. I wore miss Freya most of thetime, It would have been impossible to take a stroller through most of the ship since the way you got from one level to the next is all ladders. She slept most of the time in the wrap. She woke up when we stopped at the cafeteria on the USS Massachusetts. The crowd of people sitting in the only public air conditioned room was crazy. But that sweet cool air was great! We cooled off and drank some water before taking off for the front of the ship.I highly recommend this exhibit. It was a great chance to explore something that otherwise, a person might never get a chance to in their lives. It was a great time, an educational experience, and it was something that brought a sense of pride and respect for those that sacrificed so much for us. At the gift shop Morrigan picked out a Air Force teddy bear since we have had many members of the Air Force in our family. 

After we left the Battleships we took a walk through of The Marine Museum. There were so many amazing models  of different ships on display. They did a great job offering crafts and games for the kids. As we left they handed out ceramic models of the Titanic.

If you are interested in taking a tour at Battleship Cove or the Marine Museum, click on the links provided for information. And don't forget to check out the list of the Highland Foundation's Free Fun Fridays for more free events going all around Massachusetts. To see what it coming up, click on the link to view my previous post about Free Fun Fridays.

New England Historic Genealogical Society Free Fun Friday!

As genealogy is one of my hobbies it was expected that we would just HAVE to go to the New England Historical Genealogical Society on Free Fun Friday. As I mentioned in a previous post (Free Fun Fridays Are A Must This Summer) Free Fun Fridays are free events around Massachusetts during the summer every Friday. This Friday was the New England Historic Genealogical Society on Newbury street in Boston.

We didn't know what to expect and at first the placed seemed overwhelming. It is 7 stories of books, databases, microtext, and lectures on various sources of records. I was impressed and anxious all at the same time. But the staff was amazing. They approached us, explained the organization of the building and how we can find things. Also, they had genealogist on staff to help us. We made an appointment, which was only a 20 minute wait, and we were able to sit down with Dr. Meaghan Siekman who helped us. She explained how their database worked, tips on how to search, and offered information about how the memberships worked. 

The collection of books are amazing. I can't even begin to describe it. But the value of the membership is found in the databases. The membership gives you access 400+ millions records on AmericanAncestors.org which can be accessed at home. This includes services such as Ancestory.com which is $149 for 6 months. A membership on AmericanAncestors.org is $89.95 for the year (For a family membership $119.95 for the year) and they have far more on their database than Ancestry. Plus, this will give you access to their library and microtext. I'm impressed, we are buying the family membership!

Morrigan enjoyed the trip. She colored a family tree sheet and made her own family crest. Then there was a scavenger hunt and a prize at the end. I was surprised when she said she just enjoyed being at the New England Historic Genealogical Society because she felt like it was just a beautiful place. It certainly was. Painting lined the walls and there was busts of famous historical figures. Leather covered arm chairs were tucked into ever corner and behind every large wooden desks. The computer were a huge contrast to the old world appearance to the building.It was worth the walk through by itself. Wish Miss Freya felt the same as her big sis. She got frustrated with all the sitting so we left.

We walked around Newbury street and Bolyston street. We strolled through the common taking in the sights and sounds of the city. Standing on the foot bridge we watched the swan boats pass by. It was scenic.

Then we had lunch at Fire and Ice. If you live in the area and have never been to Fire and Ice, you are truly missing out. You pick your own dish from an array of fresh food, pick one of the many sauces available, and bring it to a large donut shaped grill where your food is cooked right in front of your eyes. There is a salads bar and a ice cream bar. Best part, its all you can eat! Morrigan loves it! She can eat her two favorite dishes in one restaurant, stir-fry with white rice, chicken, broccoli, carrots, and sweet peas then a plate of bow-tie pasta, broccoli and alfredo sauce. Chris loves making his own stir-fry with sea food.We had a great time!

Don't forget to check out the list from the Highland Foundation for more Free Fun Fridays events available on my previous post, Free Fun Fridays Are A Must This Summer and keep checking back here, Surviving Staying At Home, for new post on the events that I attend with my family.

Free Fun Fridays Are A Must This Summer

For years now the Highland Street Foundation has been offering fun exhibits in Massachusetts for free every Friday all summer long. Every year the list of exhibits grow. Last summer we didn't go to any of the free fun Fridays because we were having multiple guests from out of state at multiple different times in the summer. I also have other obligations as I was pregnant with Freya and I agreed to watch my friends' kids while they were at work. This year I have a few places in mind that I really want to go to and I am determined to go this year.

Here is this years list...

In the past we have done the Plimoth Plantation and the Buttonwood Park Zoo. The Plimouth Plantation is on my list to go to this year. I also want to go to Battleship Cove, I haven't been there since I was a child. The Peasbody Essex Museum is on my list so is the House of the Seven Gables. I also want to take the tour on the USS Constitution. 

Let me share with you my experiences at the Free Fun Friday events. First, there was our visit to the Plimouth Plantation. Morrigan and I went with friends. It was pouring rain when we got there but we were determined to go so we waited out the rain until it was only sprinkling. Luckily they sell rain ponchos for this very reason. The trails were muddy and bless her heart, my friend was very pregnant with twins no less and she walked all the way through the muddy trails and everything. 

I've gone to the Plantation as a kid but as an adult it takes on a whole new reality about human endurance and how this land once looked. We first saw the Natives who were farming and making a new hut. We got to go inside the huts and ask questions about their food and clothes. It was amazing to see how well they lived with the land. It was great to show Morrigan an example of how her ancestors lived. I explained to her of course the Cherokee used different techniques, ate different things, and had a different language but there is so little positive Native American images in society that any chance I can get to show her something that will give her a better understanding of Native life I will take it.

The rain stopped by the time we got to the English section of the exhibit. We were able to talk to a few women farming about society in the 17th century. We were able to go into the houses and the people talked about their travels over here and how they had to leave loved ones behind in England. History really came to life and it made much of what was learned more than just a memory but a realization for Morrigan and the adults. There were demonstrations on how guns were used. A man explained to a bunch of children the way a gun was loaded and was fired in the 17th Century. The wonderful thing was how people were in character but explained things so that we, the modern people, could understand. It was a wonderful trip that really makes you feel like you traveled back in time witnessing the past first hand.

Our visit to the Buttonwood Park Zoo was with my family. Both my sister-in-law and I were pregnant so we were very happy to see there was a cafe that sold drinks and food there. The food wasn't too bad actually, its no Chili's or Olive Garden but it had decent food for a cafe in a zoo. My parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece, Morrigan, Chris, and I walked through the exhibit first and then the two dads took the little girls for a train ride around the zoo. We also put the kids on the carousel which was so fun to see my niece ride on one of her favorite animals, the zebra. The Buttonwood Park Zoo has animals that can be found in the wild in America like deer, canes, fish, toads, owls, and buffalo. There are farm animals like the pigs, goats, cows, bulls, and horses. Also a few exotic animals like the elephants. We really enjoyed the bird of prey, its been a thing since red tailed hawks and broad wing hawks nest in the woods behind my parents house. We could see rather close up a few bald eagles. It was my first time see one so close. Also, Morrigan made a friend out of the black bear. He came right up to the glass like he wanted to talk to Morrigan. She spent some time in front of his enclosure and when she had to leave so did he which disappointed the people that came up behind her. There were a few animals that would just walk around like the cranes and the ducks. The cranes were following my niece and Morrigan through the windows in the cafe. They also made the strangest noise that could be heard through the zoo. It was great fun and definitely worth another visit. I have a pass from the Museum of Science that gets me and a guest in to the Buttonwood Park Zoo anyhow so I will probably do a different Free Fun Friday exhibit on that day but I recommended it for anyone else. I'm considering the Franklin Park Zoo for that day.

Fun Cake to Make With Kids

This really would have been a better post for around Easter but really, it can be done anytime. I'm always trying to come up with fun things to do in the kitchen with Morrigan. I want her to feel comfortable measuring out ingredients and using kitchen items while having fun. Here is a great idea Morrigan just loved and its tasty!

Its actually a lot easier than you think. A multicolored cake seems like a big mess. Its a bit more than your average easy box mix because of the extra bowls and dying the batter. But its so worth it.

Just make a white cake mix as directed on the box. Then separate the batter into equal amounts in how ever many bowls as you have colors. I did three, pink, yellow and green. Then put one color into a greased and floured cake pan. My advice is to get the colors as level as you can. Lay the bottom color down and level it as much as you can. Then add the next color and then the next. I suggest putting the second layer down in spoon fulls all around instead of pouring it into the middle so you can spread the color out so there is minimal mixing of the two colors. Do the same for each layer you have.

You could tie-dye the colors by taking a tooth pick and swirling the colors or you can drop the colors in randomly and get a camo look. I will try each of these looks another time. Subscribe to my blog so you can get the update on how each of these fun multicolored cakes come out.

So have fun with it, do crazy color combos. The kids will love it. Think of holidays like red white and blue for the 4th of July.