We had so much fun at the Discovery Cube this winter! I made these fun FREE winter coloring sheets in honor of the Science of Gingerbread exhibit and the Winter Wonderfest exhibit.
Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Download these free coloring sheets here, here and here! Or click on the pictures above.
We love Christmas break!
Last week we go to go to the Winter Wonderfest at the Discovery Cube!
If you can go… GO!
Winter Wonderfest has REAL snow. For Southern Californian kids that is like a fairy tale come to life. I told the girls to get on snow clothes and this is what they decided was appropriate…
Tess chose “pants,” and I love that Cora Jane was so proud of her 3/4 sleeved cardigan!
I started hyping up Winter Wonderfest at the Discovery Cube during the car ride, and I secretly hoped it would live up to the high expectations I had set.
Winter Wonderfest is in in the parking lot area behind the Cube and it DID live up to they hype!
Our favorite part was the giant tubbing. (Is that spelled correctly?? Is it tubing or tubeing? You know what I mean, right? Sitting in a giant inflated tube and flying down the hills!)
In case you are wondering if my kids had fun “sledding”:
And of course, the snow! (snow Snow SNOW!) REAL SNOW!
We took a break from the snow to visit the Mighty Ducks hockey exhibit inside the cube.
Because cold-snow-hockey.
Makes sense, right?
We had never made the custom uniform area before. You can pick any colors and add your face to a life sized hockey player! It was so fun.
Then we went back out to Winter Wonderfest for 2 more hours.
Yes, I said hours!
The kids loved it!
Every time we go to the Cube my kids ask to go to the top of the HUGE staircase on the Cube expansion.
I always say no.
Today I said yes… maybe the snow really is magical!
Spoiler Alert: There is nothing but a locked door at the top of the stairs. Wouldn’t it be cool if they had a little sign at the top with a fun science fact on it!?!? Maybe it could change every day (or week) and if you tell the fact to the cashier in the gift shop you’ll get 20% off. You can have that idea for free, friends at The Cube!
Try to get to Winter Wonderfest at the Discovery Cube soon because the last day for snow is January 3rd!
We hosted Thanksgiving.
It was fun and relaxing and we had a blast!
I was only in charge a few dishes. (Just the way I like it!)
Ham (easy… thanks Costco), cranberry sauce (homemade, obviously), and green bean casserole (I did the fresh version from this book
Yummers.
This was our Thanksgiving feast:
It was lovely and hard because I miss my mom.
But it was mostly lovely.
Then it was time for Christmas!
Last month came across this book:
It’s called Christmas Prayers for Bedtime
(It’s only $6 and on Amazon Prime. Link above, order now!!)
That’s a wrap Thanksgiving!
It’s all about Gingerbread this week at our house!
Last night we made gingerbread houses! (I’m trying so hard to be intentional about the holiday merriment this year. Is it just me or is it a little too easy to just have business as usual and not to all the “extra” stuff? Overwhelmed. Plus I really want our lives to be simple.) We got this Gingerbread Mini Village Kit
Then they asked me if they could have their gingerbread houses for breakfast. I laughed, and said, “Yeah right!” Then I thought, “Why the hay not?” I mean, the alternative is for the crumbly houses to be sitting on the counter for a week while the gingerbread gets stale and the children are sneaking candy behind my back.
Everyday they would begging for a piece of candy and everyday I would say no. I would probably end up resenting the little things (gingerbread houses, not kids) and sneaking them into the outside trash cans late at night (still gingerbread houses, not kids).
So I said, “YES! You can eat those gingerbread houses for breakfast tomorrow morning… After you have your morning water and some fruit.” (I can’t be all fun and games.) The children were stoked. Like super stoked.
It is so much fun to say yes to your kids. And I’d like to think they will remember these small moments forever.
After our breakfast gingerbread gorge fest we went to the Discovery Science Center’s new exhibit Science of Gingerbread. (Because, the truth is, I really do like to be all fun and games!)
The Science of Gingerbread exhibit is great… and just the right size for us to experience everything in one afternoon. I like to go around lunch. All the morning moms leave before afternoon naps and we have the whole place to ourselves.
I can’t stress enough how much my kids love this place. (Get the yearly membership! It’s $99 for one year or $125 for two years. If you go once a month for two years that is only $5 a visit! Essentially we only paid $1 each to get in today. And I don’t feel bad about hitting the road after a short 2 hour visit.)
We got to do the Gingerbread Derby Competition (11am, 1pm, & 3pm).
The kids got to build their own race car out of gingerbread house supplies then test their creations on the race track.
Cora Jane won.
One part of the exhibit was building a freestanding arch and my kids loved this!! And since we are studying ancient history we were able to talk about the Roman arch and keystones. (Wouldn’t this arch kit
In typical Discovery Cube fashion, there are interactive parts of the exhibit too!
We had so much fun! If you go, let me know how you like it!
Here is a quick run down of all the areas:
Gingerbread Derby Competition – SO MUCH FUN! (11am, 1pm, & 3pm)
Kitchen Chemistry Learning Station – learning gingerbread recipe and the chemical reactions that happen when you bake.
Gingerbread Spices Learning Station – smelling and feeling Gingerbread ingredients.
Build a House Learning Station – giant blocks, Roman arch, matching shapes and a playhouse.
3D Printing of a gingerbread house – you get to watch a 3D printer print stuff. It’s really neat!!!!
There is also Cookie Decorating in the Healthy Kitchen and Santa Meet & Greet but only on select days and times so check the schedule here before you tell the kids you’ll be meeting Mr. Claus!
I really love living in California. From top to bottom, the whole state is filled with beauty. But I’m always a little surprised when I discover some of the most beautiful places are right here in Orange County!
This happened on our last visit to the Discovery Cube when we went on the Helicopter Tour. In this exhibit, you soar over Orange County in a virtual helicopter and fly from the mountains to the sea, over the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks. The whole tour, I was thinking how I wanted to visit and hike the featured locations. And what do you know, there is a whole page on Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ site which shows the “flight path” and dates when you can visit the locations!
We went on a hike in Round Canyon which is an OC Parks proper and part of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks – on the flight path, it’s between Orchard Hills and Limestone Canyon. It’s a state and national natural landmark!
We chose a sunset family friendly hike. I can’t even begin to tell you how many amazing programs the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer for the community. There is literally something everyday! You can see the full schedule on Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Let’s Go Outside site. (Click here.)
You can search by date or area and each activity has all the information you need to plan your day. I recommend clicking the “Family Friendly” box in the search as well. And always check the minimum age for the hike (sometimes it’s 12 y/o and it would stink to get there with your 7 y/o and have to leave). The example below is for a Wilderness Access Day on December 5th. I’ve pointed out the important bits for the family thing.
This hike was completely led by Irvine Ranch Conservancy volunteer naturalists.
Volunteers people!!
And they were amazing!
We started our Round Canyon hike with a little safety lesson and our guide handed out a fun scavenger hunt so the kids could look for plants and animals along the way.
(Print your own here!)
We found 36 stink bugs…
And there was so much beauty…
Especially watching the sunset and walking in the twilight. It felt like we were miles away from a city.
I can’t even begin to tell you how many amazing programs the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks offer for the community. Check their full schedule here. I think a great New Year’s resolution would be to take a hike every month! Small Things make the biggest difference in our families.
My kids still talk about all the fun they had on this hike. Taking time out of our busy schedules isn’t always easy, but it’s so worth it!
(Blurry photo… don’t care.)
Don’t forget to print out the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks’ Scavenger hunt for your next hike!
I have so much to be thankful for…
When my mom died she left this note on her kitchen chalkboard:
“Dear God,
Thank you for this beautiful life, and forgive me if I don’t love it enough.”
Sometimes gratitude seems to slip between our fingertips.
But today I’m giving thanks.
Always.
And for everything.
{Download and print the PDF here.}
I hope this “Giving Thanks Always Printable” fills you up like it fills me up.
You guys!
I’m obsessed with the Outlets at San Clemente! Seriously. We went to a family blogger event at the Tommy Hilfiger store last weekend and the whole store was 40% off.
THE WHOLE STORE!
So you look at the tag… $40 for a girls dress… turns into $24!
It’s H&M prices for Tommy Hilfiger quality.
I got the CUTEST Christmas dresses for the girls. See…
Brad and I got new jeans.
It was time.
It’s official, we are past the Hurley stage.
In the middle of the big courtyard is a giant christmas tree. Perfect for your Midnight Madness shopping photo ops… or in our case… a visit with Santa.
We were so impressed with the Outlets that we came back that evening and got Brad a BUNCH of new work clothes at Van Heusen ($12 long sleeved dress shirts!!) and $7 dressed for the girls at H&M.
And we know what to get Tess for Christmas…
I love that the Outlets at San Clemente Moonlight Madness starts on Thursday night. You can enjoy the feed-fest with your family then walk off the pumpkin pie at the Outlets and finish all your Christmas shopping.
Visit their site for all the details but here are the Cliff’s Notes and prizes:
OPEN 8 PM ON THANKSGIVING DAY FOR 26 HOURS
Thursday, Nov 26, 8 pm – Friday, Nov 27, 10 pm
See you there!
Black Friday, November 27, 1 AM – 8 AM
Moonlight Madness Prizes (see the full list here)Visit the Center Court Stage at select times to receive special gifts for your Moonlight Madness purchases. (Receipts must be from 11/26/15 – 11/27/15 and can only be used once. Some restrictions apply. While supplies last. Quantities are limited.)
1 AM – Celebrate Columbia Sportswear Company’s 100th store with a Columbia Cinch Bag to the first 100 people. No purchase necessary.
2 AM – $25 2XU Gift Card to the first 100 people with more than $150 in receipts.
3 AM – $15 New Balance Gift Card to the first 50 people with more than $100 in receipts.
4 AM – Take some time just “four” you! Spend $150 or more and receive $20 toward a spa treatment at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa.
5 AM – Get ready for a morning run with Under Armour Performance Headbands to the first 100 people with more than $100 in receipts.
6:32 AM – Enjoy the sunrise with Sun Diego Boardshops Trucker Hats to the first 100 people with more than $150 in receipts.
7 AM – Wake up to the sweet sound of music with a pair of Nike Earbuds for the first 100 people with more than $150 in receipts.
8 AM – Pack your bags with a Tommy Hilfiger Duffle Bag to the first 30 people with more than $300 in receipts.
Who Knew Science Could be Such a Blast!
Discovery Cube’s Pumpkin Launch
Guest post by Sharron Jackson
Perfect temperatures, music pumping, and giant pumpkins falling from the clear, blue sky. Now THAT’S what my family calls a perfect fall day! This was the scene today at Cal State Fullerton where the Discovery Cube’s Annual Pumpkin Launch took place.
Arriving early with our camping chairs and lunch cooler, we weren’t sure what to expect. We just moved to So Cal this summer, and this was our first time attending what has become quite the popular (and FREE!) family event. We set our chairs up along the ropes to reserve a front-row view for the main event—the Pumpkin Launch—and set out to discover what the Discovery Cube and its partners had cooked up.
The grassy field before us was a STEM wonderland! So much to blast and catapult, slide down and build! From building their own craft-stick catapults and launching mini-marshmallows to creating reaction rockets and watching their film can caps burst high into the air, my kids had a blast (literally)!
We returned to our camp chairs just in time to watch a live science stage show as we ate lunch. My kids watched wide-eyed as a gentleman from the Discovery Cube treated the audience to all kinds of liquid nitrogen hijinks (the “don’t try this at home” type of fun).
At last the main event began, and like the rest of the day, it did not disappoint. 15 teams participated, from college engineering clubs to a middle school tech team and a local family. Each had built trebuchets and used them to catapult pumpkins towards various targets spread out in a large field. There is nothing like watching an orange gourd soar through the air and crash to the ground, smashing dramatically. Several teams successfully hit targets, and each time the crowd went wild, including my little family! Too fun!
The Pumpkin Launch fun has only just begun for our homeschooling family. We brought home the craft-stick trebuchets the kids made today and plan on using them to test which objects catapult the farthest and how mass impacts the flight distance (think jelly beans, craft pom-poms, marshmallows, Lego pieces, etc.). If you didn’t make it to the Pumpkin Launch this year, check out the Nov. 4 post “How to Make a Catapult with Craft Sticks – Homeschool Science!” to make catapults using items you probably already have laying around.
After today, I have a feeling the Discovery Cube’s Annual Pumpkin Launch is going to become an annual tradition for our family!
{A big THANK YOU to Sharron for doing this guest post for the Discovery Cube’s Pumpkin Launch! This is a tradition we have been trying to do in our family for the last three years, but it always feels like something comes up. (This year we were serving at a deaf school in Mexico… and that was pretty epic. I’ll be sharing about that here soon!) If you want to read more from Sharron here is her blog: Such as These. ~KN}
The next event at The Discovery Science Cube is the Science of Gingerbread! Which I have been to before! It runs from November 27th thru January 3rd.
This exhibit is all about science at work in the kitchen. The Cube has hands-on activities that will bring your family together. AND you’ll get to see their award winning Gingerbread Competition entries displayed through out the Cube! That is so much fun!
What to expect at the Science of Gingerbread: Santa (hello, awesome!!), decorate and eat, holiday cookies (hello, sugar!!), build and race your own candy car (hello, activities!!), then you can go home with worn out kids (hello, naps!!!).
I can’t wait. Meet me there!
~KN
This is a sponsored post! I was given a tour of the Outlets at San Clemente (which you can get too!) and compensation for writing about their fun upcoming events. But all the opinions are my own. I have never recommended any product or place my family doesn’t use or go to. Ever!
39 days people!
Gift giving stresses me out a bit. I love and prefer the whole homemade thing but 39 days!?!? I should have started making things 2 months ago! For the gifts I can’t “hand-make with love” I’m going to get a steal on at Outlets of San Clemente!
I got to visit the #OutletsSC last week and they are beautiful! They feel homey and the views of the ocean are beautiful. AND because they are outlets, prices are 30%-70% off regular prices.
Yes please.
{Don’t miss the $500 giveaway at the end of this post!}
The Outlets at San Clemente also have some great family-friendly events throughout the holiday season.
We were super bummed to miss the tree lighting on November 14th. (Concert with American Authors, Nick Fradiani & John Lindahl. Plus a fresh-cut Christmas tree from Mt. Shasta decorated with 3,000 twinkling lights and SANTA!)
The next big community event is Moonlight Madness on Thanksgiving. It runs from 8pm November 26th till 10pm on November 27th!
I love the idea of shopping with friends and family right after my Thanksgiving meal rather than sleeping for a few hours then getting up at 3 am in the cold to fight the crowds. The Outlets at San Clemente will host family friendly entertainment will be in the outdoor courtyard.
The Outlets will have nearly 70 stores! I’m most looking forward to H&M, Tilly’s, Nike, Converse and Levi’s! And to keep up the energy I’ll be popping over to Starbucks or to Ruby’s for one of their yummy shakes! New stores will be opening through 2016.
(I have no clue what is happening in this picture! Cora Jane has a bag of cheeze-its and Tess is in all her socks-with-ballet-flats-red-lipstick-sunglasses glory!)
Their Charity Christmas event is the ‘Shopping Extravaganza’ on December 5th.
The $35 ticket includes private catered lunch, wine and craft beer tasting, entertainment and a $25 donation to your choice of one of 18 deserving non-profit organizations. (See flyer for details and buy tickets here.)
This is right up my alley but we have my husband’s company Christmas party that night. Boo.
I might try to figure out something and go that morning!
Keep updated with the Outlets at San Clemente on twitter (@outletsSC), Facebook (OutletsAtSanClemente) and Instagram (@OutletsSC). When you post or visit, remember to use the hashtag: #OutletsSC
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