kids + summer: wizard for a day (3 activities to keep the kids from killing each other!)

well, hello! all you mommas out there.

are you having a great summer?

mine was pretty low-key until last week, when swimming lessons, diving lessons, band camp, tennis lessons, a family reunion, family in town, and a funeral for a much-loved guinea pig all coincided. it was busy week, but i am looking forward to a few relaxing weeks with my kiddos before they head back to school. 

as a mother of three, I appreciate ANY engaging and quality project that my kids and I can do together.

last summer, my family visited orlando, where we spent a day at islands of adventure, home to the wizarding world of harry potter. (or, as i like to call it, the w$zard$ng w$rld of h$rry p$tter)

 despite the heat, the long lines, and the crowds, it really was a magical place to be.

all three of my kids love harry potter, and i thought it would be fun to make a summer day filled with activities inspired by his world of magic. 

*this is a great day to plan when you know that the weather that is not conducive to the kids playing outside, as all activities can be done indoors!

activity #1:

wizard t-shirts.

get any plain t-shirt.  Black gives the best effect for the stenciling, but a lighter shirt works best for images.

for the "muggle" t-shirt:
simply print the page and lay wax paper on top of it. 

trace the words with an exacto knife. If you are careful, you can staple several sheets of wax paper together to create multiple stencils. (i did three at a time.)

 once you have completed your stencil, lightly iron on, wax side down onto your t-shirt. 

paint your t-shirt, and remove the wax paper.

another way to create a t-shirt is to print a picture onto "print and press" transfer paper.

trim the edges from your picture, and iron on.

you can download the "Harry P" font here, and customize your t-shirts, or you can click here for the "muggle", harry potter, severus snape or sorting hat picture pdf files seen above.

activity #2:

making butterbeer:

there are literally hundreds of recipes for butterbeer on the internet, but i tinkered around until i came up with one that is fast and easy, and doesnt' require any time at the stove, which is great because kids love to help make it!

Magically Easy Butterbeer Recipe:

Butterbeer:

2 liter cream soda

2 tablespoons Butter extract

2 teaspoons rum extract

*drop the extracts into the 2 liter bottle, put on cap and slowly rotate until combined.

Cream topping:

1 7oz container of marshmallow creme

1 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon rum extract

*add all items together in an electric mixer and combine until smooth.

pour the butterbeer into a glass,  

drizzle with the cream topping,

and enjoy!

activity #3:

movie time.

get some popcorn, grab your butterbeer, and beat the heat (or rain) by watching one of the movies!

hope your summer is filled with magic and fun!

(*this is a post that i originally wrote when i was a contributor at design dazzle. 
i modified it slightly for the repost here.)