I know I should slow down and enjoy the summer. But I must keep these little (and not so little) people engaged or I might lock myself in the closet.

Here’s five fun things we’ve done this week:

This was serious fun! The children had a great time painting, writing their names, and having a “grand finale”. That’s code for everyone paint your feet then splash the rest of the paint everywhere!

Go here for the paint recipe.

#2 Sticky Sculptures

Good friends of ours invited us over to create sculpture with toothpicks, marshmallows, and gumdrops. The boys used their imagination to make animals, buildings, and, of course, weapons. See the pointy death star? Tootsie made a lunch of her building materials.

#3 Father’s Day Fun

Of course, we had to make Honey a present for Father’s Day. This was an easy one. The boys helped by drawing the trunk of the trees then we simply used painted hand prints for the leaves.

#4 Making Daddy’s Favorite Dessert

Honey has childhood memories of eating his aunt’s Chocolate Eclair. Thank goodness it’s easy to make.

Chocolate Eclair Dessert

5-Minute Homemade Chocolate Sauce *make this first*

Two packages of instant vanilla pudding

4 cups of cold milk

One container of Cool Whip

Combine milk and pudding mix (follow directions on box). Chill until set. Gently add container of cool whip to pudding. Layer graham crackers in the bottom of a large Pyrex dish. Add a layer of pudding mixture. Cover the top with chocolate sauce. Save the rest of the sauce for ice cream or chocolate milk!

Why is Little Boy always half dressed? Note to self – make that boy put a shirt on!

The chocolate sauce recipe is from Southern Food on About.com. It is amazing! I will never by bottled chocolate syrup again. Ever.

5-Minute Homemade Chocolate Sauce

2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

Combine first 4 ingredients. Add milk. Heat until boiling then simmer five minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Cool completely before use.

Doesn’t everything look better in a Mason jar?

#5 Working at the Car Wash!

Okay. Okay. This may have not been only for the children’s enjoyment. Mama needed her big truck washed. Everyone loves getting wet and wild while doing manual labor right?