Dot and Mae found a little toad friend and they wanted you to see him - isn’t he soooo cute? He’s just Dot and Mae’s size! They invited him into the jar so they could take some photos to show you.

The toad was outside after it rained quite a bit. He was hoping around in the damp grass near the back porch steps.

Dot and Mae were quite amazed at the little toad’s ability to climb up the glass jar sides. The glass jar was too slippery for Dot and Mae to climb up.

First, he did a little dance with his back legs, trying to get some traction on the slippery glass.

next, he asked Mae to give him a boost . . .

Then he used his little suction feet to grip onto the glass - pretty amazing, isn’t it?

Well, it was fun visiting with the little toad, but he couldn’t stay too long - he had a lot of bugs to catch and friends to meet up with so Dot and Mae told him good bye and let him go back outside into the damp grass. Who knows, maybe he’ll come back for another visit sometime!

Here are some photos that were taken while Dot and Mae helped Big Girl Gabriella bake bread. It was a lot of work, but the results are soooo delicious! It was definitely worth all the trouble!

To make bread you have to measure out flour and other dry ingredients into a great big bowl

After you mix up all the ingredients you have to mix in milk and eggs and yeast and then use your hands to knead it all together. (It gets quite messy which is a lot of fun!)

Dot and Mae are having a grand time jumping on the dough!

When the dough is all kneaded properly, you make it into little round mounds, place it back into the bowl and set it in a warm place. The dough begins to grow - it becomes twice the size it started out! When it is done rising, you have to punch the dough and then knead it again.

Next, you put shape the dough into little loaves and put them into bread pans to bake.

After sometime in the oven, the bread is finally baked! YAY! It really smells good!

Don’t get too close to that pan Dot and Mae! It’s really HOT!

Spread butter on top of the loaf to make the crust all crunchy and golden.

Then you take the loaves out of the pans and let them cool down - then slice some up and eat it with your favorite jelly or jam!

Water Balloon Toss

Supplies Needed: balloons filled with water
Divide group into teams of two players and give each team a water balloon. Line the teams up an equal distance apart. Players toss the balloon to their partner; and, then, everyone takes one step back. Keep tossing the water balloon and taking a step back, until one team is left with an intact water balloon.

Blind Snakes

Set up a number of sprinklers in between a starting line and a finish line. Have the kids try to run from one end to the other without getting sprayed. Have one of the kids control the faucet, turning it on and off at random. Make sure everyone gets a turn at controlling the faucet. Play until everyone is tired of running!

Water Balloon Volley
Each team will need a bed sheet and good supply of filled water balloons. Everyone on the team holds a corner or side of the sheet. Place a water balloon on the sheet. Using lots of teamwork, bounce the balloon on the sheet until you can flip it over the net. The other team must catch it in their sheet and flip it back. For smaller groups or children, use a smaller sheet or a tablecloth. You can also use a ping-pong ball.

Water Bucket Relay
For this race you can use Rubbermaid containers (the kind that fits neatly into your sink) or plastic buckets. Mark the inside of the container with a marker and fill with water to that marked spot. Contestants should have a point across the yard to race to (point B), turn around and come back to where they started (point A). Each contestant runs solo. Time each person separately, taking turns.

In this race however, the first person back may not be the winner! Using a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand, time each contestant and record their water measurement when they have completed their “lap”. The person with the best time combined with the most water left in their tub wins!

Here are some rhymes you can use while jumping rope:

Miss Mary Mack

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack

All dressed in black, black, black

With silver buttons, buttons, buttons

All down her back, back, back

She asked her mother, mother, mother

For fifty cents, cents, cents

To see the elephant, elephant, elephant

Jump the fence, fence fence

They jumped so high, high, high

They touched the sky, sky, sky

And didn’t come back, back, back

Till the fourth of July, July, July

Cinderella

Cinderella, dressed in yellow

went upstairs to kiss a ‘fella

made a mistake

and kissed a snake

how many doctors

did it take?

[count until someone messes up]

All In Together Girls

All in together girls
its fine weather girls
when is your birthday
please jump in
(now really fast)
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September,
October, November, December

All out together girls
its fine weather girls
when is your birthday
please jump out
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, etc., etc., etc.

A my name is Alice

A my name is ALICE, my husband’s name is AL, we live in ALABAMA and we bring back APPLES.

B my name is BETTY, my husband’s name is BEN, we live in BERMUDA and we bring back BUGS.

C my name is CAROL, my husband’s name is CARL, we live in COLORADO and we bring back CRABS.

It just goes on like that through the alphabet.

Mabel, Mabel

Mabel, Mabel, set the table

Do it as fast as you are able,

Don’t forget the SALT, PEPPER, VINEGAR, MUSTARD,

keep repeating salt, pepper, vinegar, mustard while turning the rope.

If the jumper “misses” on “pepper”, then the turners begin turning fast or doing “hot peppers”.

Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, go upstairs-

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say your prayers-

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn out the lights-

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, say good-night!

The children jump rope while they sing this rhyme, they act out the

actions as the words come up in the rhyme. An example: when they say go

upstairs, the child pretends to climb the stairs.

Dot and Mae got tired of having tickle fights (as you can see them doing in the photo!) So they went to their neighbor in the china cupboard and asked The cat family if they would like to play some games.  Of course the kittens were up for some fun, and Ms. Miyako came along to watch and referee! Here are the games that they like to play:

Duck, Duck, Goose

The players all sit on the ground in a circle. The player who is It, walks around the perimeter of the circle behind the players. As he passes each he pats each head and says “duck.” He says duck as he pats each child until he has touched several or all the heads several times. Finally, he pats a head and say “goose” instead. The player called goose must jump up and chase the first child around the circle. “It” must make it all the way around the circle and sit in the chaser’s place before he is tagged. If he loses and gets tagged, he must “duck, duck, duck, goose “again and run again until he makes it to the vacated spot in the circle.

Red Rover

The children divide into two teams. They stand in lines facing each other with a wide space between the lines. The players must hold ands or wrists and then the players on one team call out: ” Red Rover - red rover - let “Suzie” come over. Then the child who was called must run toward the opposing line and try to break the handhold between two of the children. If she fails she joins the strong side. If she breaks the ranks ,she can take one of the players captive back to her original line. The team that gets the most players wins.

Mother May I?

All the children line up side by side except the player who is the caller. The caller stands at a distance from the lined up players. He calls on each player in turn to take a number of steps toward him. The steps allowed are these baby steps, giant steps, and scissor steps( like forward jumping jacks.) The player answers “Mother, may I?” The mother answers “Yes, you may.” The player takes the prescribed number of steps toward the caller. If the player forgets to ask permission after he gets his his directions and takes steps toward the caller he gets sent back to the starting line. The first player to reach the caller is the winner and new caller.

Kick the Can

Place an empty coffee can in a large open area to be home base. Choose someone to be “It.” “It” counts to 50 while the other kids hide. When “It” SEES a child, he calls her name. They both race to the can, and try to kick it first. If “It” kicks the can, the hider is caught and placed in “prison” (some specified area). If the hider kicks the can, she and all players in prison are free, and “It” must count again.

Amoeba Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
“It” chases players until someone is tagged.

Once tagged, that player joins hands with “It”. They run together and chase people. The person that they catch links hands with the chain.

Once 4 people are caught, they can either stay together or split into two groups. As more people are caught, they can stay together or split apart in even numbers at will.

Play until all are caught.

Ankle Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Players avoid being tagged only by grabbing the ankle of another player.

Only one player can touch the ankle of another player at a time.

Once tagged, that player becomes the new “It”.

Backwards Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Everyone chooses someone to be “It”.

It gets a five-second head start, then everyone that is NOT “It” chases after “It”. Once “It” is tagged, the person that tagged him becomes the new “It” and everyone chases after him.

Blob Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Players must stay in a designated area.

“It” chases players until someone is tagged. Once tagged, that player grabs the hand of “It”. They become a blob.

The blob runs together after another player until that player gets tagged. Once tagged, that player grabs the hand of the second person and the blob grows.

Play continues until everyone has become part of the blob.

Clothespin Tag

Equipment Needed:
5 clothespins for each player.

How to Play:
Players hook 5 clothes pins to the back of their shirts.

The object of the game is pull off as many clothes pins from other people without losing your own. You can only pull off the clothes pins, without pulling clothes or pushing. (Violators forfeit a clothes pin to the victim).

Once a player loses all of their pins, they are out of the game.

Play continues until only one player remains.

Dragon Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Players stand in a line.

Players put their hands on the hips of the player in front of them forming one long dragon. The player in the front is the head of the dragon, the player at the back is its tail. The head tries to catch the tail and the tail end tries not to be caught.

If the head catches the tail, the head links onto the tail and the next person in line becomes the new head of the dragon.

Play continues until all players have had a chance to be the head and the tail.

Elbow Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Players group themselves into groups of three leaving one player out as “It”.

Players link arms at the elbow. “It” touches one group of three to begin play. Those three players must now break apart as “It” tries to tag one of them.

In order to be safe, a player must run to another group of three players and link arms to one of the sides. The person on the opposite side of the group must unlink and run. They in turn must attempt to link with another group of three before they are tagged.

If “It” successfully tags a player, they become the new “It”.

Flashlight Tag

Equipment Needed:
Flashlight.

How to Play:
This game is played at night.

“It” is chosen. “It” will count to 50 while the other players run and hide.

“It” uses a flashlight to find other players.

A player that can sneak past “It” and get to base will be safe.

Play continues until all players are found or are safe. The first player caught with the flashlight is the new it.

Freeze Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
“It” chases the players. Once tagged, a player must remain motionless until another player can touch them in order to “unfreeze” them. Play continues until all players are frozen.

Lemonade Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Divide into two groups.

One group decides on a mutual occupation, such as being, ostrich farmers, or tight-rope walkers. Then they walk toward the other group. As they move toward the other group they begin a banter with the opposite group by saying,

” Here we come.”

The other group answers, “Where from?”

“(Name of a city) ____ City.”

“What’s your trade?”

“Lemonade”

” If you’re not afraid, show me…”

The first group acts out the profession.

As soon as the group guesses the profession, the first team turns and sprints back toward base. The other group races after to tag them. If someone is caught, they join the guessing team to choose the next profession.

Shadow Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
This is best played late in the afternoon or early evening, when the shadows are long.

“It” tags players by stepping on their shadows. If a player gets tagged, they become the new “It”.

Sting Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
“It” is the wasp. Players run around and try to avoid being stung.

Wherever “It” tags you, that part of your body goes numb. For example, if you are touched on the leg, you can’t use your leg.

Play continues until players can’t move. The first player that can’t move becomes the new “It”.

T. Rex Dinosaur Tag

Equipment Needed:
None.

How to Play:
Designate one area, called “home” that is “safe” for the plant-eating dinosaurs to run to in order to avoid being eaten by Tyrannesaurus Rex.

“It” is T. Rex. He closes his eyes and counts to 15 while the other players run and hide. T. Rex wanders around and tries to find the plant-eating dinosaurs (the other players).

If T. Rex sees a player, then he can chase after him.

If the plant-eater “freezes” (doesn’t move), then the T. Rex can’t catch him (because T. Rex is drawn by movement).

If the plant-eating dinosaur does move, however, then the T. Rex can try and catch him. The player is only safe if he outruns the T. Rex or gets to “home”. If the T. Rex catches the plant-eater, then the caught player becomes the new T. Rex.

NOW GO HAVE SOME FUN!

Name-It Ball

Need: Rubber Ball and some concrete space.

Play: Have players form a circle. Give one player a rubber ball. That player selects a category, such as “candy bars.” He or she then bounces the ball to another player in the circle, who must catch the ball, state an item from the category, such as “Snickers,” and keep the ball moving to the next player. If the player can’t name an item, holds the ball too long, or repeats an item, he or she is out.

Four-Square

Need: Heavy-duty rubber playground ball, driveway or concrete space for a 10-ft. square, chalk

Play: Draw off a 10-ft. square with the chalk, then divide into 4 even squares. Number them 1-4, going clockwise. Draw a diagonal line in 1’s box, to be the serving spot. 1 serves by bouncing the ball into any of the three boxes, trying to prevent that player from bouncing it back in his box. If the player returns the ball, he stays, and the 1 player is out. If not, that player is out. The next player moves into the 4 box, and the players move up. The object of the game is to move up to the 1 box, and stay there.

Kick Ball

Need: Heavy duty rubber playground ball, basesPlay: Kickball is played in two teams and the game play is the same as baseball or softball. The pitcher rolls the ball to the kicker, who kicks it strategically. Field players may tag the runner while carrying the ball or throwing it at the runner and making contact.

Pickle (or Hot Box)
Need: Two bases, a softball and two softball gloves (if you don’t have the gloves just use a ball that’s not “hard.”

Play: Set up the two bases about 20 feet apart.
Two kids are selected to be “it”, one at each base.
The other kids divide and go to the bases.
The game starts by the two kids who were “it” tossing the ball to each other.
The object of the game is to time running from one base to the other without being tagged by the ball.
If you were tagged then you were “it” and the game continues, usually until all the kids are too tired to run anymore.
The fun of the game is getting the person who is “it” to throw a wide pitch or “steal” the base.

If you think this sounds like fun, here are few ideas from Dot and Mae.

First you will need a campsite - maybe your family owns a tent or you can borrow one from someone you know, but if you don’t have a tent, don’t despair - there are several alternatives to pitching a tent. First, you could just roll your sleeping bags or blankets out on the grass and gaze up at the stars while you sleep. If you think you’d like a little shelter you can pitch a homemade tent. There are several kinds of homemade tents but Dot and Mae like to make a “Clothesline Tent” when they camp out. You can also use a clothesline tent for a clubhouse or fort when you are playing outside - just make sure you don’t use your mom’s good blankets and you should be fine!

Here is a drawing of a simple clothesline tent. Just drape blankets or sheets across the wires and clip them securely with clothespins. A parent or tall sibling might have to help you if you have trouble reaching the clothesline! You can make your tent into any shape or design that you like. Here is a style that has an open roof for stargazing:

What other items will you need at your campsite? You might want to have a few good flashlights (helpful when you need to make a run back to the house to use the bathroom or get more snacks). You will probably need some insect repellent, a canteen (or thermos) of water and some snacks. Luckily if you think of anything else you need it’s not too far to go and get it.

If you plan to BBQ dinner in the backyard — use the coals to roast marshmallows. Adults can roast the marshmallows for very young children, but you must explain safe conduct around the fire and hot BBQ, and constant supervision is required. If you don’t want to go to all that trouble, just make smores in the microwave and bring them outside! For smores toast marshmallows over a fire until brown outside and soft and warm inside (or heat them for a few seconds in the microwave). Lay a Hershey bar on top of one graham cracker. Top with a hot marshmallow and place another graham cracker on top. Squish down slightly. The chocolate will melt a little bit and the whole concoction is a dream.

Another easy snack is popcorn or trailmix. For trailmix you just take a baggie, and fill it with a mixture of peanuts, raisins, dried cranberries, M&Ms, chopped dried fruit like pineapple, apricots or dates, dried banana chips, Skittles, chocolate or carob chips, pretzels, and whatever else sounds good. It’s easy to make and fun to eat!

When you get settled with your snacks it’s time to have some fun! Camping out is always a good time to have some singalongs! (If you live close to neighbors, you’ll probably want to use your best judgement about how loud you want to sing!)

Here are a few popular campfire songs that you probably know the tune to. If not, ask your parents - they probably know plenty of songs from their childhood that they’d love to share with you.

Boom, Boom Ain’t It Great To Be Crazy?

Way down south where bananas grow
A flea stepped on a elephant’s toe
The elephant cried with tears in his eyes
“Why don’t you pick on someone your own size?”

Chorus (sing after every verse)
Boom, Boom, ain’t it great to be Crazy?
Boom, Boom, ain’t it great to be Crazy?
Giddy and Foolish all day long
Boom, Boom, ain’t it great to be Crazy!

Way up north where there’s ice and snow
There was a penguin and his name was Joe
He got tired of black and white
So he wore pink slacks to the dance last night!

A horse and a flea and three blind mice
Sat on the curbstone shooting dice
The horse, he slipped and fell on the flea
Woops! Said the flea, there’s a horse on me!

I bought a suit of combination underwear
Guaranteed not to rip or tear
I wore them six months and to my consternation
I couldn’t get the darned thing off, I’d lost the combination!

I love myself. I think I’m grand.
When I go to movies, I hold my hand.
I put my arm around my waist,
And when I get fresh, I slap my face.

I call myself on the telephone
Just to hear my musical tone.
I ask myself for a heavy date,
And I pick myself up at half past eight.

Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear,
And Fuzzy Wuzzy cut his hair.
So, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t fuzzy.
No, by Jove, he wasn’t, was he?

Early one morning in the middle of the night
Two dead boys went out to fight
Back to back they faced each other
Drew their swords and shot each other!

I take a swim in my swimming pool.
I jump from the board ’cause that’s the rule.
I hit my head on cement and mortar.
Forgot to look - there was no water.

That one-eared cat who used to sit
Watching Grandma rock and knit
Swallowed a ball of bright red yarn,
And out came kittens with red sweaters on.

Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends

Be kind to your web-footed friends,
For a duck may be somebody’s mother,
They live in a swamp all alone,
Where the weather is always damp.
You may think that this is the end,
It is, but to prove I’m a liar,
We’re going to sing it again,
Only this time a little bit high-er
(Repeat)

The Bear Went over the Mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
The bear went over the mountain
To see what he could see.
And all that he could see
And all that he could see
Was the other side of the mountain,
The other side of the mountain
The other side of the mountain
Was all that he could see.

Ants go Marching
The ants go marching one-by-one Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one-by-one Hurrah! Hurrah!
The ants go marching one-by-one
The little one stopped to suck his thumb
And they all went marching
Down, to the ground
The ants go marching two-by-two…

Continue the verses with these changes:
Two-by-two: tie his shoe
Three-by-three: climb a tree
Four-by-four: close the door
Five-by-five: Do a jive
Six-by-six: pick up sticks
Seven-by-seven: go to Heaven
Eight-by-eight: close the gate
Nine-by-nine: check the time
Ten-by-ten: start again

PLAY SOME GAMES!

Flashlight Tag

This is a fun game to play if you live in an area with few streetlights or city lights. Every player gets a flashlight and everyone runs around the yard, hiding from the flashlight beams while trying to spot other players with flashlights.

Ghost in the Graveyard

Choose one person to be the ghost. He hides, while all the other players go to “base” and count, “One o’clock, 2 o’clock, 3 o’clock . .” all the way to “11 o’clock, midnight!” At “midnight” players go searching for the ghost. When he’s found, the finder yells, “Ghost in the Graveyard” and all players try to make it safely back to base before the ghost tags them. Whoever is tagged is the ghost for the next round.

When everyone is tired and ready to wind down it a perfect time to lie back and do some stargazing. Try to find a constellation or spot a shooting star! Here is a website that can give you some information about stargazing!

Lastly, if it suddenly starts to rain - grab your gear and make a mad dash for the house!

It’s called Sketch Swap. You draw a little picture and then push the “submit” button and a drawing that someone else did will draw itself for you! It’s fun, easy and slightly addictive! Try it out and see what cool drawings pop up for you! Sketch Swap

This is from the site:

“We appreciate you sketching sketches! We approve every single sketch submitted before it can be received by others. You can draw anything except: if it’s only a writing with no sketch, or writing only your URL, or anything a child wouldn’t wanna see, anything completely garbled, just a dot, just a line, just a stick man etc. If you want to write something, you also need to sketch a bit… also, please only write in English so we can understand & approve it.”

Try it out - it’s fun!

Dot and Mae had a very nice time, but they are sad to say that they were so busy trying to be good little hostesses they forgot to take photos of their party! They are very disapointed because they wanted to share the fun with you. Hopefully, you had your own fun and they promise that they will try to do better next time.

They did have all their friends come over. They cooked hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill. They cut a big watermelon so that it looked like a basket, which they then filled with cut up watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew and grapes - it turned out lovely and delicious! Carving the watermelon was easier than they expected it to be, but if you are used to carving pumpkins, you will find that watermelon rinds cut easier and tend to split if you aren’t careful! Dot and Mae do recommend trying it - they got their pattern from this wonderful watermelon website . There are lots of other creative ways to carve a watermelon - we’re sure you’ll find something you like!

After everyone ate, there was some swimming in an inflatable pool to cool off and then when it got dark Big Girl Gabriella helped to light off fireworks. Dot and Mae really love the smoke bombs most of all - they aren’t loud but they sure are colorful! And then it was time for everyone to go home! It’s always nice to spend time with friends isn’t it? Dot and Mae are glad you stop by here to say hello - they think you can never have too many friends and they are glad to be YOURS!

OH and the last thing Dot and Mae wanted to show you were these centerpieces they made for the party. They used empty containers that frozen juice comes in (they washed them out of course! ) and then covered them with colored paper. They printed off paper from here, but you could use whatever paper you want to! They just used tape to secure the paper, then put a little bit of sand in the bottom of the can to make it sturdy, then arranged some silk flowers and greenery in the can. To make it even more interesting, they used these templates that were supposed to be for drink umbrellas and instead just made them into “paper lollipops” and stuck them into the flower arrangement. They used bamboo skewers for the sticks and just taped the paper circles onto that. These were so simple and easy to make. You could use different colors of paper and circles and different flowers and make some for a birthday party, or for any holiday - or even just for dinner one night!