Solar Summer S'mores!

A few weeks ago, we had pizza for dinner and just as I was going to recycle the pizza box, Isabel said, "Wait! We can make a solar oven out of this!" So, that is exactly what we did! I got the idea here. Our box was a little smaller than the average pizza box, so I didn't use as much as the materials as they have listed. I also used my scrapbooking adhesive to "glue" the foil on the box. It worked like a charm! Just line the inside of the box with foil, cut a square on the top of the box leaving the top side uncut so it can be the hinge. Cover that square with foil. Line the underside of the lid with plastic wrap. Make sure it is tightly covered and sealed well. I used my adhesive and regular scotch tape for this and it was fine. Just in case you don't have masking tape. :) Then tape a piece of string to the back of the square. Place a black piece of construction paper inside the box, your plate with food on it, and put it in the sun! Angle the square so most of the suns rays reflect right onto your food and soon enough, you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor! (I taped the string down so it would stay at the angle I wanted.)



We decided to make s'mores because I had those particular ingredients on hand at the moment! Oh, so easy, peasy! Place the marshmellows directly on the graham cracker then top with your chocolate pieces and place in the sun for about 5-1o minutes. (The time all depends on how soft and melted you want your marshmellows to be and how much sun there is that day.) A word to the wise, if you use large marshmellows, cut them in half before putting them in the oven. They get done much quicker that way! We found this out the second time around.



Once they have been melted, top with another graham cracker and enjoy! Delish! Perfect for a summer treat!


Zaquel decided to eat his without the graham crackers...Briel...ate only the cracker. FYI...this is post-nap hair on Briel. She always looks better before hitting the pillow! Now you know why the kids are always telling her to "Move her big-wig" when she is in front of the TV!

So next time you have pizza, save the box and have some fun with science! You could make two or three at a time and have a solar party! Oh, how fun!

Original T-shirts

I just love my kids' art work! I am sure I am not the only one who does...so if you love your kids' art, you might want to put it on a t-shirt for them! I got the idea here. She suggests you use templates, but I changed it to be my own kids' art so it becomes more memorable and original. Just have your kids draw directly on the non-shiny side of the freezer paper with a sharprie. It is fairly easy as long as the art isn't too detailed. Isabel's was a bit detailed and it took a long time to cut it out. It turned out really cute however! Here are the highlights...

Isabel's picture before I cut it out. If you can't tell, it is our little family! Briel is the one on the far right with the "afro" silly kids!

Isabel's shirt all complete! So cute! I think it is now her favorite one! See what I mean? More memorable and original. No one in her class will have a shirt like this! :)

Here is Zaquel's shirt. He kept his art pretty simple, him, a keyboard, and a flower. I wish I had taken a picture of his art before I cut it. :( He wouldn't hold still, thus, the blurry picture.

Briel even did one! I just let her doodle on the freezer paper! She absolutely loved it!




Here's to the happy artists!