Going to the Chicago Museums...for free or cheaper...

These could change at any point, so please check the museum's website to make sure their policy is still the same.

Bank of America Free Days

Have a Bank of America card? Then on the first full weekend of each month present your card and get a free admission to The Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Chicago History Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Shedd Aquarium. One per cardholder, so it won't be free for the entire family (unless each of your children have a B of A credit card), but a free adult admission is nothing to sneeze at.
Check out Bank of America website.

Adler Planetarium

January 2013: 8-9, 14-17, 28-31
February 2013: 5-6, 11-14, 19-20, 25-28

1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago (312) 922-STAR (7827)
See all exhibits and special events at the Adler Planetarium

Art Institute of Chicago

Free for all Illinois residents weekdays from Jan. 7-Feb. 13, 2013. Also free first and second Wednesday of the month for Illinois residents.

159 E. Monroe Chicago (312) 443-3600
See all exhibits and special events at the Art Institute of Chicago

 

 

Chicago Children's Museum

Always free: 5-8 p.m. every Thursday and the first Sunday of every month for kids 15 and under. Always free to children under 1.
Print a coupon for $1.00 off admissions

700 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier Chicago (312) 527-1000
See all exhibits and special events at the Chicago Children's Museum

 

 

Chicago History Museum

Free: Jan. 21, Feb. 4-28.

1601 North Clark St. Chicago (312) 642-4600
See all exhibits and special events at the Chicago History Museum

 

 

Field Museum

January 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 28, 30

1400 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago (312) 922-9410
See all exhibits and special events at the Field Museum

 

 

Museum of Contemporary Art

Always free: Tuesdays 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; children 12 and under are free every day.

220 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago (312) 280-2660
See all exhibits and special events at the Museum of Contemporary Art

 

 

Museum of Science and Industry

January 2013: Beginning Jan. 7, weekdays are free.
February 2013: 6, 13, 20, 27
March 2013: 4
April 2013: 22
May 2013:6
June 2013: 3-7, 10
September 2013 9-13; 16-20; 23-27, 30
October 2013 1-2
November 2013: 4
December 2013: 9.

5700 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago (773) 684-1414
See all exhibits and special events at the Museum of Science and Industry

 

John G. Shedd Aquarium

2013 free days

January: 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29
February: 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26
March: 4, 5,11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
June: 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18
September: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
October: 7, 14, 21, 28
November: 4, 11, 18, 25
December: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Always free: The first full weekend of every month (Bank of America weekend, see below)

Bank of America Weekend:
On the first full weekend of the month, present your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch ATM, credit or debit card, along with photo ID, and receive one free mini-pass admission, valid for the cardholder only. This offer is not valid during special events or for admission to the 4-D theater. Upgrade your ticket to include the Abbott Oceanrium for an additional $6.95.

1200 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago (312) 939-2438
See all exhibits and special events at the John G. Shedd Aquarium

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Thursdays are free for Illinois residents. Children under 3 are free every day.

2430 N. Cannon Drive Chicago (773) 755-5100
See all exhibits and special events at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

 

 

 

Free Days at Brookfield Zoo

Children's Zoo is free through Dec. 31, 2012. Free general zoo admission is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays through the end of February 2013. Beginning in January and through the end of February, admission is also free on Sundays and Saturdays.

8400 31st St. Brookfield (708) 688-8000

Easy Pajama Pants

To prepare for winter this year, I made the kids new jammie pants! A lot of the pajamas you buy are like compression-suits... skin tight, not so comfy, and made out of gross fire-retardant fabric.
So, I followed this lady's instructions and made the kids some new jammie pants.
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Sew-Your-Own-Pajama-Pants/?ALLSTEPS

They were really simple to make and they love them! Austin was thrilled to have "raffy pants" that match his giraffe lovey. :)

Three Little Pigs Day

Three Little Pigs Day

On Monday, we had a "Three Little Pigs" day. We started by reading the "Three Little Pigs" story. Then we took an old cereal box, cut out a long rectangle for the walls and a smaller rectangle for the roof. We folded and glued to make little cardboard houses. The kids then glued cut up yellow yarn to make "straw houses". I drew a pig, they colored it pink, and we cut it out and glued it onto the house. -Voila - the first little pig in his straw house.

We then made "stick houses" out of lincoln logs.

Using another old cereal box, I made a larger house which Caroline colored red. I helped her draw the "bricks" with permanent marker.

 

To make this house, you are basically cutting out the below shape (all in one piece. The lines are for measuring and folding). You will want to use a ruler to make sure your front and back are the same dimensions, as well as your 2 sides. ) Then fold and glue or tape together. You can then add on more pieces to make the house more "fancy" if you desire. 

 

We capped off our three little pigs day with piggy pancakes for lunch...( a larger pancake, a small pancake for the nose, 2 quarters of a small pancake for the ears, and chocolae chips for the snout holes and eyes. )

New Aprons!

I made Caroline a new apron to wear when we're out to dinner and she's wearing a nice dress. (Eating and keeping her clothes clean is not a skill she's mastered yet....although truthfully, I don't know that I have mastered it either!)
I decided to follow a cute pattern instead of just winging it like I have in the past.
I made the top a bit too big, but really like how it turned out.

This is the pattern I used (with a slightly modified back).

http://www.youcanmakethis.com/products/author/MTAzOTQ1ODA0OA==/nana-retro-pinafore-sizes-6mths-8yrs.htm

This purple apron I made for my sister-in-law's niece. It was pretty easy and quick and would recommend this for a good everyday apron. It's basically a chef's apron that I added a gathered skirt to to make it a bit more girly.

How to Make it...

Modified Chef’s Apron with gathered skirt.

Cut 4 4 inch X 22 inch strips for the top straps and side straps.

For each strap, Fold it in half, right sides together. Stitch along the long end. Pull right side out. Press. Fold in one end of the strap and sew to finish it off.  Do this with all four strips.

Cut out 2 “top half” pieces of the chef’s apron, with about 2 inches below the part where you attach the side straps (instead of the full length you see below).  It’s best to cut it out of newspaper first, put it up to your child, adjust, and then cut.

You can see an example of the chef's pattern shape here -

When you cut the pattern out of fabric, allow about ½ inch for your seam allowance.

 

With the right side of one of the unfolded apron pieces facing up, lay the apron strings in the appropriate places, facing IN, raw edges matching and strings toward the center. Pin them in place as shown below in the picture above. Lay the other apron piece on top, right sides facing. Stitch along both sides and the top leaving the bottom open.

 

Cut a large rectangle for the skirt.  Fold over the sides twice and sew. Add a different color at the botton if you wish (about a 4 inch piece and the folded over.)

Gather the skirt. Fold the bottom part of the top under. Adjust gathers of the skirt and insert into the top with folds going over the gathers. Sew along bottom folded edge of the top to attach the skirt to the top of the apron. .

Olympics Party

We were invited to an Olympics party this past week.
The host made cute paper olympic torches with colored tissue paper stuffed inside white paper.
I made Olympic ring headbands for the girls (foam circles hot glued to eachother and then onto a headband) and olympic visors for the boys.

You can decorate with paper fan olympic rings.

I made an olympic fruit platter with watermelon stars (courtesy of my star cookie cutter), pineapple rings, and blueberries.

Making apple slices that don't brown!

Making apple slices that don't brown!

For Clayton's preschool class last week, I was assigned the task of providing a fruit snack for the class. Clayton requested apple slices with caramel dip. And thus my dilemna - how do I prepare apple slices for 22 kids, two hours ahead of time without them turning brown (and without having to buy a dozen lemons).

The answer? Seven-Up! Pour some Seven-Up in a large bowl or tupperware. As you slice the apples, toss them in the bowl of Seven-up. Keep the apples submerged in Seven-Up until you are ready to serve them. Drain the Seven-Up and rinse the apples with water and you have freshly cut apples that aren't brown!

Letter Signs

I've been wanting to hang something on the wall above the beds in the boys' room, but have yet to find anything that's I like that's not really expensive.
I saw this sign on Pinterest and it inspired me to make similar ones for the boys.

I picked up a cheap frame, some burlap, some red paint, and wooden letters from Hobby Lobby.

I took the glass and cardboard out of the frame and painted it. (I used a small bottle of FolkArt paint).  I painted the wooden letter (resting it on wax paper so it didn't stick like it would to newspaper).

While the paint was drying, I cut the burlap a few inches larger than the frame and ironed it so it didn't have any wrinkles.  I turned the frame over, backside up, and rested the burlap over the frame. I pushed the cardboard into the frame and gently pulled the burlap so it was flat in the front.

 I then folded the burlap over the cardboard and hot-glued it down. I pushed down the frame tabs (the little things that keep the cardboard in the frame.

 Next, I hotglued the letter to the burlap, and voila! - artwork for above the boys' beds!

Yeah! Their room is finally starting to look decorated!