Worlds of Fun: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Thanks to Worlds of Fun and KC Parent Magazine for sending us on an awesome family adventure!

Caleb, Abby, Elijah, and Ellie

We kind of have a thing for Peanuts at our house. Not the peanuts you eat (although give me a maple iced doughnut with peanuts on top, and I'll love you forever!), but the Peanuts Characters. We like to watch the Peanuts movies that coordinate with holidays, and we have stuffed Snoopy, Woodstock, and Charlie Brown characters in our toy bin. In fact, we even dressed up as the Peanuts Characters for Halloween when the kids were 3! (Check out our Peanuts Gang here!) There is something about those fun, timeless characters that just take me clear back to childhood.

And then I found out that Worlds of Fun does an annual Great Pumpkin Fest in their Planet Snoopy kid section....what now??? That quickly went to the top of our "must-visit" list during my favorite season of the year!

On the Carousal: Abby and Mommy, Elijah and Ellie, Caleb and Daddy

**The Scare Factor Side Note**

If you are a parent, you are probably wondering the same thing I was before we headed to the park in October: "How scary will Worlds of Fun be right now?" Yep, it's a fair question since no one wants their kids to have nightmares.

Worlds of Fun actually goes BIG on their Halloween theme throughout the entire park from mid-September through the end of October. I'm talking...multiple haunted houses, roaming zombies after dark, scare zones, and very scary decorations. Because of that, I was a little bit anxious getting the kids from the front gate through to Planet Snoopy without coming across anything too upsetting. I actually warned them in the parking lot that they needed to stick with us and that there might be a few not-so-nice decorations. Abby is spooked so easily, that she is a legit flight risk when it comes to anything even remotely iffy. This girl takes off running and never looks back, and....oh my stars...she is SO fast. I had to give her the head's up going in so that I would know she would be right by my side.

Happily, Worlds of Fun actually did a really good job of keeping it pretty tame on the route from the front gate through to the kids area. There was one mean looking pumpkin/spider statue at the front, and a creepy jack-in-the-box that was easily walked around. Other than those, it was a clean walk back. They save all scary roaming minions for after dark when they close down the kids' section and suggest only age 14 and over stay (smart!). All that to say, we were happy to not have any nightmares to deal with at our house! And if my kids could make through the park, pretty much any child can make it.  **End The Scare Factor Side Note**

Just like our visit this summer, the kids loved Planet Snoopy, this time enjoying it all decked out for The Great Pumpkin Fest! I'm so glad that we went!

Love all the Peanuts decor in Planet Snoopy!

Caleb, Snoopy, Ellie, Abby, Elijah, and Woodstock

In addition to all of the rides, The Great Pumpkin Fest includes a bunch of extra kids' activities that are all free with the cost of their general admission ticket. For this Mama on a budget, that's a super important thing! Activities for four kids can add up quickly!

We loved stopping by the Peanuts Theater to participate in Pig Pen's Creepy Crafts. The kids each made a spider webbed plate, complete with spider rings, and then jumped across the room to make puppets out of lunch sacks. All of the craft items were sitting out and just waiting for some little hands to get creative! Caleb has since named his puppet, Snoopy, of course!

Elijah, Abby, Ellie, Caleb, and Daddy

Linus' Great Pumpkin Patch was another winner! The park has a section set up for kids to explore and find the perfect mini pumpkin to take home with them. Take a backpack or stroller to store your pumpkins in while you enjoy the rest of your day. Head nod to Daddy for being our designated pack mule in the park!

Abby, Elijah, Caleb, and Ellie

Peppermint Patty's Hay Bale Maze was awesome because it wasn't complicated to get through. It was also low enough that we could let our kids run through the entire thing and still keep an eye on them the entire time. They begged to do this adventure multiple times!

I'll admit to not taking the kids' costumes with us because I don't like to give away our Halloween group theme too early in the year, but they also have Lucy's Costume Contest that kids can participate in. We saw a lot of kids with lightweight costumes running around Planet Snoopy. Anything to get a few more wears from those dress-up outfits! Even better, you can find several Peanuts Characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes too!

Abby, Snoopy, and Ellie

And then there was this....the trick or treating throughout Planet Snoopy! The kids totally did this twice, and would have gone back for a third round if we hadn't cut them off. There are little houses throughout the kids' area that are brightly colored and easy to find. When a child knocks on the door, a gloved hand pops out of the window and hands them a piece of candy or a small toy. (P.S. Parents, you can quietly ask the person in the house if they will hand you a bag for the candy too!) We found Sally's Doll House, Charlie Brown's House, The Elementary School, and Lucy's Doctor Stand. The kids adored this, and it actually out-ranked the rides in terms of their favorite part of the day...and I have to admit. It was a super fun, clever way of bringing yet another aspect of the Peanuts Characters world to life!

We love how Worlds of Fun goes out of it's way to create a family friendly experience during the summer, and then take it up a notch as the season goes on! Family memories, y'all....these kinds of play-all-day adventures are the best!

Clockwise from the bottom: Elijah, Mommy, Daddy, Abby, Ellie, and Caleb

Thanks to Worlds of Fun and KC Parent Magazine for sending us on this #IshumFamilyAdventure! This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Thanks to Worlds of Fun and KC Parent Magazine for sending us on an awesome family adventure!

Caleb, Abby, Elijah, and Ellie

We kind of have a thing for Peanuts at our house. Not the peanuts you eat (although give me a maple iced doughnut with peanuts on top, and I'll love you forever!), but the Peanuts Characters. We like to watch the Peanuts movies that coordinate with holidays, and we have stuffed Snoopy, Woodstock, and Charlie Brown characters in our toy bin. In fact, we even dressed up as the Peanuts Characters for Halloween when the kids were 3! (Check out our Peanuts Gang here!) There is something about those fun, timeless characters that just take me clear back to childhood.

And then I found out that Worlds of Fun does an annual Great Pumpkin Fest in their Planet Snoopy kid section....what now??? That quickly went to the top of our "must-visit" list during my favorite season of the year!

On the Carousal: Abby and Mommy, Elijah and Ellie, Caleb and Daddy

**The Scare Factor Side Note**

If you are a parent, you are probably wondering the same thing I was before we headed to the park in October: "How scary will Worlds of Fun be right now?" Yep, it's a fair question since no one wants their kids to have nightmares.

Worlds of Fun actually goes BIG on their Halloween theme throughout the entire park from mid-September through the end of October. I'm talking...multiple haunted houses, roaming zombies after dark, scare zones, and very scary decorations. Because of that, I was a little bit anxious getting the kids from the front gate through to Planet Snoopy without coming across anything too upsetting. I actually warned them in the parking lot that they needed to stick with us and that there might be a few not-so-nice decorations. Abby is spooked so easily, that she is a legit flight risk when it comes to anything even remotely iffy. This girl takes off running and never looks back, and....oh my stars...she is SO fast. I had to give her the head's up going in so that I would know she would be right by my side.

Happily, Worlds of Fun actually did a really good job of keeping it pretty tame on the route from the front gate through to the kids area. There was one mean looking pumpkin/spider statue at the front, and a creepy jack-in-the-box that was easily walked around. Other than those, it was a clean walk back. They save all scary roaming minions for after dark when they close down the kids' section and suggest only age 14 and over stay (smart!). All that to say, we were happy to not have any nightmares to deal with at our house! And if my kids could make through the park, pretty much any child can make it.  **End The Scare Factor Side Note**

Just like our visit this summer, the kids loved Planet Snoopy, this time enjoying it all decked out for The Great Pumpkin Fest! I'm so glad that we went!

Love all the Peanuts decor in Planet Snoopy!

Caleb, Snoopy, Ellie, Abby, Elijah, and Woodstock

In addition to all of the rides, The Great Pumpkin Fest includes a bunch of extra kids' activities that are all free with the cost of their general admission ticket. For this Mama on a budget, that's a super important thing! Activities for four kids can add up quickly!

We loved stopping by the Peanuts Theater to participate in Pig Pen's Creepy Crafts. The kids each made a spider webbed plate, complete with spider rings, and then jumped across the room to make puppets out of lunch sacks. All of the craft items were sitting out and just waiting for some little hands to get creative! Caleb has since named his puppet, Snoopy, of course!

Elijah, Abby, Ellie, Caleb, and Daddy

Linus' Great Pumpkin Patch was another winner! The park has a section set up for kids to explore and find the perfect mini pumpkin to take home with them. Take a backpack or stroller to store your pumpkins in while you enjoy the rest of your day. Head nod to Daddy for being our designated pack mule in the park!

Abby, Elijah, Caleb, and Ellie

Peppermint Patty's Hay Bale Maze was awesome because it wasn't complicated to get through. It was also low enough that we could let our kids run through the entire thing and still keep an eye on them the entire time. They begged to do this adventure multiple times!

I'll admit to not taking the kids' costumes with us because I don't like to give away our Halloween group theme too early in the year, but they also have Lucy's Costume Contest that kids can participate in. We saw a lot of kids with lightweight costumes running around Planet Snoopy. Anything to get a few more wears from those dress-up outfits! Even better, you can find several Peanuts Characters dressed up in their Halloween costumes too!

Abby, Snoopy, and Ellie

And then there was this....the trick or treating throughout Planet Snoopy! The kids totally did this twice, and would have gone back for a third round if we hadn't cut them off. There are little houses throughout the kids' area that are brightly colored and easy to find. When a child knocks on the door, a gloved hand pops out of the window and hands them a piece of candy or a small toy. (P.S. Parents, you can quietly ask the person in the house if they will hand you a bag for the candy too!) We found Sally's Doll House, Charlie Brown's House, The Elementary School, and Lucy's Doctor Stand. The kids adored this, and it actually out-ranked the rides in terms of their favorite part of the day...and I have to admit. It was a super fun, clever way of bringing yet another aspect of the Peanuts Characters world to life!

We love how Worlds of Fun goes out of it's way to create a family friendly experience during the summer, and then take it up a notch as the season goes on! Family memories, y'all....these kinds of play-all-day adventures are the best!

Clockwise from the bottom: Elijah, Mommy, Daddy, Abby, Ellie, and Caleb

Thanks to Worlds of Fun and KC Parent Magazine for sending us on this #IshumFamilyAdventure! This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Fall Photo Shoot for Christmas Cards! (Updated Photos of the Kids!)

I decided that this year, I wanted to spring for professional photos taken outside in the peak of fall foliage for our Christmas cards. So in true, plan-ahead fashion, I waited until we actually reached fall to call a photographer friend and try to get a photo slot.

Apparently, it doesn't work that way. Ha!

So, my grand plan of professional photos did not work this year since it seems fall is the favorite time of year for family photos to be taken. I made a mental note to book a time slot by July if I want an October photo date next year. ;)

Then I asked one of my brothers to help me out by taking a few family snapshots for us. We set a day in late October....and then our kids brought home a nasty virus from school. So we canceled that.

THEN, the Royals won the World Series! Why is that worth mentioning? Because a couple of days later, Kansas City pretty much shut down for the Royals World Series Victory Parade (or whatever it's official title is). Even the kids' school district closed for the day so that everyone could head downtown and enjoy the parade.

Now, I don't know about y'all, but taking four 4-year-olds downtown to see a parade with 800,000 other people (literally, that many people) by myself seemed like the worst possible idea on the planet. Instead, I told the kids to get their shoes on because we were going to the park for pictures. Then I grabbed a bag of Skittles to bribe them into cooperating, Yes, I am the mom who keeps Skittles on hand for bribes when absolutely necessary. Photos for the Christmas card qualified as necessary.

330 photos later (thank goodness for an SD card that holds a bunch of images!), this is what we came up with:

Caleb, Abby, Elijah, and Ellie

"Looking at leaves" - Abby and Ellie

"Finding their pockets" - Elijah and Caleb

Best Brothers - Caleb and Elijah

"On the Old Red Bridge" - Ellie, Caleb, Elijah, and Abby

Caleb

Abby

Elijah

Ellie

Ellie, Elijah, Abby, and Caleb

I was so torn over which photo to use for our Christmas cards. I was trying to narrow it down between the photo on the Red Bridge, the photo above of them all holding hands while walking away, and the photo below. We finally settled on the one below because they are facing the camera and smiling. :)

And ended up with this:

Considering I'm *not* a photographer and only had Skittles as my assistant, I think it turned out pretty cute this year! I'm still hoping for a true professional shoot next year though. I'd like to get a nice updated photo of our whole family.

So with that being said....

Merry Christmas from The Ishum Family!

I decided that this year, I wanted to spring for professional photos taken outside in the peak of fall foliage for our Christmas cards. So in true, plan-ahead fashion, I waited until we actually reached fall to call a photographer friend and try to get a photo slot.

Apparently, it doesn't work that way. Ha!

So, my grand plan of professional photos did not work this year since it seems fall is the favorite time of year for family photos to be taken. I made a mental note to book a time slot by July if I want an October photo date next year. ;)

Then I asked one of my brothers to help me out by taking a few family snapshots for us. We set a day in late October....and then our kids brought home a nasty virus from school. So we canceled that.

THEN, the Royals won the World Series! Why is that worth mentioning? Because a couple of days later, Kansas City pretty much shut down for the Royals World Series Victory Parade (or whatever it's official title is). Even the kids' school district closed for the day so that everyone could head downtown and enjoy the parade.

Now, I don't know about y'all, but taking four 4-year-olds downtown to see a parade with 800,000 other people (literally, that many people) by myself seemed like the worst possible idea on the planet. Instead, I told the kids to get their shoes on because we were going to the park for pictures. Then I grabbed a bag of Skittles to bribe them into cooperating, Yes, I am the mom who keeps Skittles on hand for bribes when absolutely necessary. Photos for the Christmas card qualified as necessary.

330 photos later (thank goodness for an SD card that holds a bunch of images!), this is what we came up with:

Caleb, Abby, Elijah, and Ellie

"Looking at leaves" - Abby and Ellie

"Finding their pockets" - Elijah and Caleb

Best Brothers - Caleb and Elijah

"On the Old Red Bridge" - Ellie, Caleb, Elijah, and Abby

Caleb

Abby

Elijah

Ellie

Ellie, Elijah, Abby, and Caleb

I was so torn over which photo to use for our Christmas cards. I was trying to narrow it down between the photo on the Red Bridge, the photo above of them all holding hands while walking away, and the photo below. We finally settled on the one below because they are facing the camera and smiling. :)

And ended up with this:

Considering I'm *not* a photographer and only had Skittles as my assistant, I think it turned out pretty cute this year! I'm still hoping for a true professional shoot next year though. I'd like to get a nice updated photo of our whole family.

So with that being said....

Merry Christmas from The Ishum Family!

The 10 Best, EASY Fall Activities and Crafts for Preschoolers + $2000 Giveaway!

Sometimes, you just need a quick and easy craft to keep your kids occupied. I know I do! I love having a list of activities and crafts that we can do with minimal set-up and minimal clean-up. The kind where you can start the project while you are cooking dinner, and be finished with it by the time dinner is on the table.

Today, I have a list of 10 of the best, easy fall activities and crafts for preschoolers. Get ready, because these are all posts that you are going to want to pin so that you don't have to hunt around for them in the future


1. Thanksgiving Turkey Craft
The photo may say it's for toddlers, but this is a great craft for preschoolers too! All you need is a paper plate, a toilet paper tube, and some glue. I like to let my kids color their creations as we go, so you can grab crayons as well. We had fun hanging these on the front door as our fall decorations!

2. Leaf Identification Cards + Free Printable!
I love this idea to go on a hunt outside for all of the different leaves that your kids can find. Then you bring them back home, and match the real leaves to the leaves pictured on the printable cards. What a great way to get outside and learn at the same time. Plus, this blogger has a set of 30 printable leaf cards to use during the activity...and they are free!










3. Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial
I love the way this pumpkin looks and that there is no need to break out the glue to create it! Paper, scissors, a ruler, and a stapler. That's all you need. It's a quick project that little ones can help with, and then proudly display to welcome the fall weather.







4. Mr. Apple Head
Sometimes, just slightly changing up a toy can make it brand new! Mr. Potato Head toys are so popular, but what if you used an apple as the body? It's an easy way to keep little ones occupied while you are doing meal prep, and then of course at the end, you can slice up the apple for a side dish. No waste!







5. Scrunched Tissue Paper Autumn Leaf
I can't be the only parent whose kids like to crumble paper or tissue or anything else they can find. This is a great redirect for those scrunchy days. A quick leaf, a stack of tissue paper, and a bottle of glue, and kids are ready to scrunch away and make their own colorful autumn leaf!

6. Easy Fall Leaf Garland
Bring the outside...inside! This is a great activity that you can do after you find leaves to match on the Leaf Identification Cards. Instead of throwing the leaves back outside, put them on a string and decorate a window.

7. Palm Print Pumpkins
Okay, so this one is a little more messy because it involves paint, but the set-up and the clean-up are really quick! Jump over to this tutorial for how to make a pumpkin patch under a harvest moon!

8. 10 Fall Playdough Mats + Free Printables!
Kids and playdough just go together. I love these mats that prompt kids to finish the picture with playdough or get creative with how they decorate them. And the fall theme is perfect for this time of year!

9. 5 Little Turkeys Craft
Have you read the 5 Little Turkeys book? This is the perfect companion craft for it! I love the simplicity of this craft and the focus on gluing and placing turkey eyes and beaks where they need to go. I think these little turkeys are just adorable!

10. Free Fall Printables
Sometimes you just need a quick coloring or word tracing page. Head over to this blogger for a nice set of printables that you can keep on hand for emergency use! :)

















Have a happy fall! And don't forget to enter the giveaway below for one of four $500 cash prizes!

Win one of three $500 cash prizes directly in your paypal account! This giveaway is open internationally. You must be 18+ years old to enter. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please see detailed terms and conditions below the giveaway for more info.

a Rafflecopter giveaway For extra inspiration, check below for fun fall crafts and activities to keep your little ones busy this season!



This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Sometimes, you just need a quick and easy craft to keep your kids occupied. I know I do! I love having a list of activities and crafts that we can do with minimal set-up and minimal clean-up. The kind where you can start the project while you are cooking dinner, and be finished with it by the time dinner is on the table.

Today, I have a list of 10 of the best, easy fall activities and crafts for preschoolers. Get ready, because these are all posts that you are going to want to pin so that you don't have to hunt around for them in the future


1. Thanksgiving Turkey Craft
The photo may say it's for toddlers, but this is a great craft for preschoolers too! All you need is a paper plate, a toilet paper tube, and some glue. I like to let my kids color their creations as we go, so you can grab crayons as well. We had fun hanging these on the front door as our fall decorations!

2. Leaf Identification Cards + Free Printable!
I love this idea to go on a hunt outside for all of the different leaves that your kids can find. Then you bring them back home, and match the real leaves to the leaves pictured on the printable cards. What a great way to get outside and learn at the same time. Plus, this blogger has a set of 30 printable leaf cards to use during the activity...and they are free!










3. Paper Pumpkin Craft Tutorial
I love the way this pumpkin looks and that there is no need to break out the glue to create it! Paper, scissors, a ruler, and a stapler. That's all you need. It's a quick project that little ones can help with, and then proudly display to welcome the fall weather.







4. Mr. Apple Head
Sometimes, just slightly changing up a toy can make it brand new! Mr. Potato Head toys are so popular, but what if you used an apple as the body? It's an easy way to keep little ones occupied while you are doing meal prep, and then of course at the end, you can slice up the apple for a side dish. No waste!







5. Scrunched Tissue Paper Autumn Leaf
I can't be the only parent whose kids like to crumble paper or tissue or anything else they can find. This is a great redirect for those scrunchy days. A quick leaf, a stack of tissue paper, and a bottle of glue, and kids are ready to scrunch away and make their own colorful autumn leaf!

6. Easy Fall Leaf Garland
Bring the outside...inside! This is a great activity that you can do after you find leaves to match on the Leaf Identification Cards. Instead of throwing the leaves back outside, put them on a string and decorate a window.

7. Palm Print Pumpkins
Okay, so this one is a little more messy because it involves paint, but the set-up and the clean-up are really quick! Jump over to this tutorial for how to make a pumpkin patch under a harvest moon!

8. 10 Fall Playdough Mats + Free Printables!
Kids and playdough just go together. I love these mats that prompt kids to finish the picture with playdough or get creative with how they decorate them. And the fall theme is perfect for this time of year!

9. 5 Little Turkeys Craft
Have you read the 5 Little Turkeys book? This is the perfect companion craft for it! I love the simplicity of this craft and the focus on gluing and placing turkey eyes and beaks where they need to go. I think these little turkeys are just adorable!

10. Free Fall Printables
Sometimes you just need a quick coloring or word tracing page. Head over to this blogger for a nice set of printables that you can keep on hand for emergency use! :)

















Have a happy fall! And don't forget to enter the giveaway below for one of four $500 cash prizes!

Win one of three $500 cash prizes directly in your paypal account! This giveaway is open internationally. You must be 18+ years old to enter. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please see detailed terms and conditions below the giveaway for more info.

a Rafflecopter giveaway For extra inspiration, check below for fun fall crafts and activities to keep your little ones busy this season!



This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Autumn Sensory Bin Activity

I've seen these sensory bin ideas floating around Pinterest, and I remember my younger brothers having a bin like this when they were little, but I kept putting off letting my kids play with one. It was a combination of not wanting a gigantic mess (more than what I already deal with) and being worried about finding beans up their noses, but I finally went for it.

And they loved it! And *I* loved it! Who would have thought that a big bin of dried beans and random kitchen implements would prove to be so much fun?

With quadruplets, I kind of have to plan ahead for this type of project, so here is how I set up for it:

• I bought two large bins for the beans. That way, two kids could play in each, and we could keep issues down to a minimum.
• Then I went to the Dollar Store and looked for some fun seasonal items to add to the bins. I wanted Autumn themed bins, but didn't want to spend a ton. The Dollar Store was perfect!
• I also picked up some kitchen implements from the Dollar Store. I needed duplicates of some of the items, and didn't want to look through all of my drawers and cabinets every time we pulled the bins out. So the kids now have their own kitchen items that are just for their bins.
• And then for good measure, I swung through the Dollar Spot at the Target down the road. I found some more fun and cheap items that will work for other bin themes as well.
• The beans came from our local Aldis. Basically, I just bought the cheapest dried pinto beans that I could find. I'm pretty sure that I ended up putting about 14 pounds of beans in each box. For a singleton, you can probably get away with quite a bit less. :)
• And finally, I waited until a friend could come over and help me watch for beans going up the nose. The first time doing an activity is always iffy. We also had their cousin over that day, so our ratio was two adults to five 2-year-olds.

The kids were happily entertained for over half an hour which is phenomenal for two-year-olds! I also love that this is a non-consumable activity, meaning that my initial investment can be used over and over again. That's something this mama likes!

(Side note: It was Tutu Skirt Day at our house when we did this activity, hence the reason why the girls are all dressed up in these photos!)

Caleb and Elijah were the most interesting kids to watch during this activity. My normally rambunctious boys were completely enamored with the different items in the bins. When I put the bins together, I made sure that there were different textures and shapes: bumpy gourds, straw scarecrow, plastic cup, paper box, etc. There is so much learning that can happen when kids get a chance to freely explore an activity!

While the boys were investigating my autumn themed choices, Ellie, Abby, and Cousin Aly spent their time scooping, dumping, pouring, and filling. I saw each of them using the measuring spoons, funnels, scoopers, pails, and containers. Ellie was very specific about keeping the beans contained while Abby was more interested in watching them pour through her fingers. Cousin Aly was all over the place!

Honestly, I thought that this would be a much bigger mess than what it ended up being. I laid out a sheet for the kids to play on, and it made the clean up super easy. (Way easier than THIS sensory activity!) It was so easy that I think this will make an excellent activity through the winter months when snow covers the ground.

Caleb thought this was fascinating to look at his fingers through orange plastic. I didn't pick the cup up with that in mind, so he discovered that his fingers look different on his own. I'd say that this activity was a success in promoting exploration and discovery!

I'm also very happy to report that no beans were snorted in the process of doing this activity! :)

I've seen these sensory bin ideas floating around Pinterest, and I remember my younger brothers having a bin like this when they were little, but I kept putting off letting my kids play with one. It was a combination of not wanting a gigantic mess (more than what I already deal with) and being worried about finding beans up their noses, but I finally went for it.

And they loved it! And *I* loved it! Who would have thought that a big bin of dried beans and random kitchen implements would prove to be so much fun?

With quadruplets, I kind of have to plan ahead for this type of project, so here is how I set up for it:

• I bought two large bins for the beans. That way, two kids could play in each, and we could keep issues down to a minimum.
• Then I went to the Dollar Store and looked for some fun seasonal items to add to the bins. I wanted Autumn themed bins, but didn't want to spend a ton. The Dollar Store was perfect!
• I also picked up some kitchen implements from the Dollar Store. I needed duplicates of some of the items, and didn't want to look through all of my drawers and cabinets every time we pulled the bins out. So the kids now have their own kitchen items that are just for their bins.
• And then for good measure, I swung through the Dollar Spot at the Target down the road. I found some more fun and cheap items that will work for other bin themes as well.
• The beans came from our local Aldis. Basically, I just bought the cheapest dried pinto beans that I could find. I'm pretty sure that I ended up putting about 14 pounds of beans in each box. For a singleton, you can probably get away with quite a bit less. :)
• And finally, I waited until a friend could come over and help me watch for beans going up the nose. The first time doing an activity is always iffy. We also had their cousin over that day, so our ratio was two adults to five 2-year-olds.

The kids were happily entertained for over half an hour which is phenomenal for two-year-olds! I also love that this is a non-consumable activity, meaning that my initial investment can be used over and over again. That's something this mama likes!

(Side note: It was Tutu Skirt Day at our house when we did this activity, hence the reason why the girls are all dressed up in these photos!)

Caleb and Elijah were the most interesting kids to watch during this activity. My normally rambunctious boys were completely enamored with the different items in the bins. When I put the bins together, I made sure that there were different textures and shapes: bumpy gourds, straw scarecrow, plastic cup, paper box, etc. There is so much learning that can happen when kids get a chance to freely explore an activity!

While the boys were investigating my autumn themed choices, Ellie, Abby, and Cousin Aly spent their time scooping, dumping, pouring, and filling. I saw each of them using the measuring spoons, funnels, scoopers, pails, and containers. Ellie was very specific about keeping the beans contained while Abby was more interested in watching them pour through her fingers. Cousin Aly was all over the place!

Honestly, I thought that this would be a much bigger mess than what it ended up being. I laid out a sheet for the kids to play on, and it made the clean up super easy. (Way easier than THIS sensory activity!) It was so easy that I think this will make an excellent activity through the winter months when snow covers the ground.

Caleb thought this was fascinating to look at his fingers through orange plastic. I didn't pick the cup up with that in mind, so he discovered that his fingers look different on his own. I'd say that this activity was a success in promoting exploration and discovery!

I'm also very happy to report that no beans were snorted in the process of doing this activity! :)

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch (Fall 2013)

Is it even fall without a visit to the pumpkin patch?

Heading out to find pumpkins was one of my favorite things last year, and it was definitely a highlight this year as well!

This year, we headed south to visit Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. It was only about 25 minutes from our house, and a pretty drive out into the country. There are tons of pumpkin patches in the Kansas City metro area, but Shuck's ended up being just the right one for our family, There was plenty for our four two-year-olds to do, but not so much that we were overwhelmed. It was also pleasantly busy without being crowded. With the weather being perfect, it was really a wonderful day to go.

The only things that would have made it better would have been if we weren't sick, and if one of the other patrons hadn't had a heart attack. Sean wrangled the kids while I headed over to help with that. Side note: You never know when you will need to do CPR. I'm glad I got my certification renewed a few months ago. If you don't know how to do CPR, I encourage you to learn how to...soon!

Anyhow, the patch was great fun, and the kids had a great time running off some energy.

·       

The girls were enamored with the specialty pumpkins!

They had a Barrel Train Ride that was pulled by a tractor. The barrels had been cut away with seats installed in them. The kids took a couple of rides in them around the patch.

Okay, this was just really cool! They had a giant sandbox that was filled with dried corn kernels rather than sand.  And it was relatively deep too! I saw older kids burying themselves from the waist down, but our kids were content to just sit and play. If we had more time, it would have been a great place to do some sensory activities. It was just like a big sensory box!

A giant mountain of hay, aptly named The Hay Mountain, made for a fun climbing area. Abby knows no fear of heights, so she went straight to the top. Ellie has decided that she is okay with heights too, so she followed her sister up (and then fell upside down, but thankfully, didn't get hurt). We grabbed a family photo while we had the chance!

Elijah, Mommy, Ellie, Abby, Daddy, and Caleb

Daddy, Elijah, Abby (on top), Ellie, and Caleb (lower)

I have a serious love of Kettle Corn, so I was delighted to see a truck there! I think the kids like it too! We snagged a bag of the original, and then decided to try the cinnamon flavor as well. I may or may not have eaten the majority of it. Hehe!

Ellie and Daddy

And this year, we decided to give the corn maze a try! It was actually my first time in a corn maze too. This patch had a great, shorter maze for little ones, so we went with that one. It was still a really good length, and the kids enjoyed running through it!

Abby and Elijah

Caleb and Daddy

I love this photo! I think it's because this represents exactly what memories are made of!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.

Is it even fall without a visit to the pumpkin patch?

Heading out to find pumpkins was one of my favorite things last year, and it was definitely a highlight this year as well!

This year, we headed south to visit Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. It was only about 25 minutes from our house, and a pretty drive out into the country. There are tons of pumpkin patches in the Kansas City metro area, but Shuck's ended up being just the right one for our family, There was plenty for our four two-year-olds to do, but not so much that we were overwhelmed. It was also pleasantly busy without being crowded. With the weather being perfect, it was really a wonderful day to go.

The only things that would have made it better would have been if we weren't sick, and if one of the other patrons hadn't had a heart attack. Sean wrangled the kids while I headed over to help with that. Side note: You never know when you will need to do CPR. I'm glad I got my certification renewed a few months ago. If you don't know how to do CPR, I encourage you to learn how to...soon!

Anyhow, the patch was great fun, and the kids had a great time running off some energy.

·       

The girls were enamored with the specialty pumpkins!

They had a Barrel Train Ride that was pulled by a tractor. The barrels had been cut away with seats installed in them. The kids took a couple of rides in them around the patch.

Okay, this was just really cool! They had a giant sandbox that was filled with dried corn kernels rather than sand.  And it was relatively deep too! I saw older kids burying themselves from the waist down, but our kids were content to just sit and play. If we had more time, it would have been a great place to do some sensory activities. It was just like a big sensory box!

A giant mountain of hay, aptly named The Hay Mountain, made for a fun climbing area. Abby knows no fear of heights, so she went straight to the top. Ellie has decided that she is okay with heights too, so she followed her sister up (and then fell upside down, but thankfully, didn't get hurt). We grabbed a family photo while we had the chance!

Elijah, Mommy, Ellie, Abby, Daddy, and Caleb

Daddy, Elijah, Abby (on top), Ellie, and Caleb (lower)

I have a serious love of Kettle Corn, so I was delighted to see a truck there! I think the kids like it too! We snagged a bag of the original, and then decided to try the cinnamon flavor as well. I may or may not have eaten the majority of it. Hehe!

Ellie and Daddy

And this year, we decided to give the corn maze a try! It was actually my first time in a corn maze too. This patch had a great, shorter maze for little ones, so we went with that one. It was still a really good length, and the kids enjoyed running through it!

Abby and Elijah

Caleb and Daddy

I love this photo! I think it's because this represents exactly what memories are made of!

This post may contain affiliate links. For more info, please see my disclaimer page.