Rain Stick

Well the weekly themes have been a little off track, but it is looking like things will be better in the coming weeks.  This week the focus is on "weather" and I'll have to post the plans tomorrow!

But, we started today off with a homemade rain stick (even though we have a real one downstairs).  It was a pretty difficult project, so I don't think we will be trying that one again.

Imitating me.  I used the roll to announce it was time to paint!  

First I had Braden paint a paper towel roll.

Did not really need anymore paint on the brush...

Busy painting

Deciding which color to use

The hard part came after it was dry.  I used one of my sewing needles to poke holes in the paper towel roll and then push 40-50 toothpicks through (not fun).

Braden found other ways to entertain himself, while I worked on that fun project!

Started off by coloring (was not happy about putting the paints away)

Now knows how to open this cupboard

So he decided to stack some of the cupboard items in front of the fridge?!

Mike helped by clipping off all of the toothpick ends.  Then I hot glued them, so that they were not sharp edges, and they would stay in place.  It wasn't pretty, but it did the trick.  Finally, I topped on end off with card stock & tape, added 2-3 tablespoons of rice and then enclosed the other end.

Then I gave it to Braden, so he could have a little fun shaking it before bed time!