Chalkboard Paper

We are not sure how long we will be living in Jakarta exactly so I have been trying very hard not to accumulate alot of things.  We came over with a few suitcases and that is how we plan on leaving.  The kids used to have a big chalkboard easel that they liked to play with.  A while ago, I saw an image online of a child's room that had been decorated with cut out images from chalkboard paper.  The images were in the shape of flowers and kids could then color on the chalkboard paper with chalk.  Back then I thought it was a great idea, but I never did follow up on the idea.

 I recently decided to read up on chalkboard paper and found that you can use black contact paper the same way.  I meant to put in an order for black contact paper before we left to go back to Texas so that I could pick it up while we were there.  I forgot to order the paper.  Luckily, my sister-in-law, who happens to be an elementary education major, had a large roll of black contact paper.  She had affixed a large piece to their refigerator for her kids to draw or color on.   She offered to let me have as much black contact paper as I wanted.  I cut out a piece that I thought would be a good size for my younger daughter's room.  Both my girls love it!  The chalk adheres really well to the contact paper.  The paper can always be removed without damaging the walls.  I've left contact paper on for years and it doesn't damage the walls.  However, on flat paint, it does seem to leave a little bit of a sticky residue.  It's not really noticeable though. 

A large roll of black contact paper costs around $6 to $7.  Another one of my sister-in-laws said that you can order contact paper through office supply stores like STAPLES so that you don't have to incur shipping costs.  I really like the black contact paper chalkboard.  You can also adhere the black contact paper to a magnetic board to make a magnetic chalkboard.  I might move the contact paper to the refrigerator so that it can be a combination chalkboard/magnetic board and it would also be a good message board. 

If you are interested in using contact paper to make wall decals, check out my post on contact paper wall art.  

Seedlings

Yay!  The chilli pepper seeds the kids and I planted the other day have sprouted!  The kids were so excited to see the seedlings.  I wish we had a nice big yard to plant a garden, but the little plastic buckets seem to be doing the job thus far.  We have lots of room on our balcony.   I think we might consider planting a couple more things.  I got the seeds at Grand Lucky (market in Senayan city area) and I also bought some potting soil there.  The potting soil was very inexpensive.  I got a medium-sized bag for 12,000 Rupiah.  I hope the seedlings keep growing and maybe soon we'll have our own little garden.  It's fun for kids to get their hands dirty.  Having a little garden is also a good way to teach responsibility.  Both of my daughters love to water the plants every day.  I think it is rewarding for the kids to see the plants grow.  I hope that they will survive to maturity so that the kids will get to harvest the fruits of their labor.  I guess only time will tell!

Plastic Buckets

When you eat at KFC or go to the movies and buy popcorn, the food comes in these little plastic buckets.  A friend of mine had accumulated quite a few from going to the movies and had asked me if I wanted them.  I have found them to be quite useful around the house, and the kids like them too.  My daughters carry little toys and stuffed animals around the house in their buckets.  For Easter, we decorated one of the buckets with paper and clip art to make an Easter basket.  I use them to hold crayons, markers, and craft supplies. We also use them as planters.  I punched some holes in the bottom of the buckets and the kids helped me plant some chilli pepper seeds the other day.  We also transplanted some green onions that were left over from a school project.  Who would have thought these little buckets could be so handy?

Relocation

One evening as we were heading back to the ranch house, we saw a baby armadillo in the yard.  DH's mom didn't want the armadillo so close to her house so there was a plan hatched to capture and relocate the little fellow.  The capture and relocation were the highlight of the day.  The kids were so tickled to see the armadillo up close. 

The armadillo was spotted in the yard.

The plan:  Granny will flush the armadillo out with a hoe so DH can capture it with the bucket.

The armadillo was successfully captured and relocated to another area of the ranch.  In case you were wondering, the kids have their hands over the grate because armadillos jump :)

Ranch

DH's family has a ranch in central Texas.  The ranch has been in his family since the early 1800's.  His parents built a home and moved out there a few years ago. DH grew up going to the ranch.  He spent lots of time working at the ranch and also enjoying the outdoors. When we were dating, I got to go and help build a fence.  There's always work to be done on a  ranch.  We want our kids to learn to enjoy the outdoors.  When they are old enough, we also hope that Granny and Grandpa will put them to work so that they can learn the importance of diligent labor.

While we were in Texas, we went and stayed out at the ranch for a few days.  The kids had all sorts of fun in the few days we spent at the ranch.  There is just something about being outdoors that is just rejuvenating for the body and the soul.  Although it is very hot in Texas in July, we still really enjoyed our visit and spent lots of time in the great outdoors.

The squirrels like to come and sprawl out on the concrete under the covered porch to cool off.

Walking over to the shed where the hay and tractors are housed.

Don't the hay bales look tempting to climb on?

Needed a little help from Daddy, but she made it onto the bales of hay.

 

Tractors...they look innocent enough, but there are warning labels all over them depicting the numerous ways you can be injured, maimed, or otherwise killed. I should have taken some pictures of the labels. They'll give you nightmares!

Budding entomologist (she has a serious grasshopper fetish)

The kids love to go fishing!

Hanging out on the dock.

Heading back to the house.

Just having fun being outside.

  

Snack time!

It's just a little bit hot in Texas in July!

Sunset..someone is tired after a long day :)

Independence Day

Happy 4th of July!  I guess in the U.S.  the day is just getting started.  We had a really great day.  I explained to the kids that today was America's birthday.  The kids started singing "Happy Birthday" to America.  It was cute.  I printed out some crafts for the kids to do. I wanted today to be special.  We always spend the 4th of July with family but of course this year, it was just us.

We made toilet paper roll Bald Eagles. I collect toilet paper rolls because they are very useful for all sorts of crafts. I printed the templates out from here.  For all printable crafts, I try to use the backside of a sheet of paper that has already been used...like an old worksheet from school.  The kids cut out their eagles with a little bit of help.  They really enjoyed using the glue stick and putting their eagles together. 

The kids also enjoyed making their own firecrackers from toilet paper rolls.  They got to paint their toilet paper rolls.  After the paint dried,  we put paper over one end of the roll and put some pasta shells inside.  Then we covered up the other end with paper (just taped on).  I helped the kids fringe some colored paper that we taped to the top.  The kids enjoyed shaking their homemade firecrackers.

We printed and folded paper airplanes that were red, white, and blue. The kids enjoyed flying the planes.  I printed the planes from this site.

I did an online search and found a free printable picture of the American flag that the kids enjoyed coloring.

My son was the only one who completed his picture.  We hung it up on the door as a decoration.

We ended this great day with a barbeque.  We had barbecued chicken, corn on the cob, deviled eggs, and mashed potatoes and gravy.  I wish I had some apple pie, but that's okay, I think we had plenty of food.

After dinner we played 4th of July Bingo.  At this site you can customize your own bingo cards.  I picked the 4x4 Bingo card with the 4th of July theme.  We kept playing Bingo til it was time to get ready for bed.  The kids didn't want to stop playing. 

The kids and I had a blast today.  DH had fun with us too after he got home. It was different not celebrating the 4th of July in the U.S., but it was still a great day. What do you do to celebrate the 4th of July when living outside the U.S.?

Cinnamon Rolls

The kids have been asking if they could have cinnamon rolls or muffins.  I found a recipe called Ninety Minute Cinnamon Rolls.  This recipe got really good reviews.  I went ahead and made a glaze/frosting for the top since many of the reviewers said they topped the cinnamon rolls with some frosting.  The cinnamon rolls were delicious!  This really was a good recipe. DH loved the cinnamon rolls too. The rolls were moist and airy...definitely not dense like some other recipes I've tried before.  I wish I had not put the frosting on top though because it was just too sweet for my tastes.  The kids really loved the cinnamon rolls and the frosting.  My youngest especially has a sweet tooth.


So here's the recipe:

Ingredients


3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 egg
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions

1.Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

2.In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.

3.Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, softened margarine.

4.Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/sugar mixture. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in 12 lightly greased muffin cups. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

5.Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned. Remove from muffin cups to cool. Serve warm

I used unsalted butter instead of margarine.  I also made 7 gigantic cinnamon rolls instead of the recommended 12.  I think I will cut the roll into 12 pieces as suggested next time. I had to cook the cinnamon rolls for alot longer and they were um....enormous! I also baked the rolls in a round glass dish instead of in muffin cups. I think the cinnamon rolls would have been just great without the frosting.  If you want to add some frosting, here's a basic recipe.
 
 
Cinnamon Roll Frosting
 
Ingredients
 
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbs. butter melted
2 to 4 tbs. milk