What Do You Do When It's 110 Degrees Outside

and you have twelve hours to fill with an energetic, creative little girl? In AZ, it can become a bit of a problem, because you simply can't play outside unless there is water involved and children do get tired of swimming everyday. Luckily, in our home, creativity runs wild. So, often all I have to do is make some suggestions, gather some supplies and try to reign in the control freak that lives inside me. Here are some of  AC's most treasured creations of this summer.

If you can't actually adopt 100 dogs and your parents refuse to buy you a hamster and/or any type of reptile, the next best thing is to pretend that you do, indeed, own all types of animals. One way AC created to accomplish a "feel" for having these animals was to create an album entitled, "My Pet Pixs". She spent hours looking for different pet pictures, printing her favorites, naming each animal, pasting their pictures on paper and combining them all in a notebook.

The cover of the completed "photo" album

Photos before they were compiled in the notebook

She also began collecting Mighty Beans this summer. One of the cool things we found that we could do with these silly little toys was to create obstacle courses for them and race to see whose could make it down the track the quickest. It was interesting watching what household objects she would choose to add to our little tracks.

This creation includes some books, a tool box, a Sprite bottle cut in half and a paper towel roll all held together with masking tape.

Another project that lasted for several days was the house she created for the little Chick-fil-A cow figures that she had collected and saved from her kid's meals. I helped with cutting two of the doors and applying the "wallpaper" in some rooms, but the inspiration was entirely hers. I gathered the supplies and hopped in the shower. When I came out, this is what I saw...

She is attaching the bathroom that contained a shower.

Almost complete - one cow is taking a nap while the other two are watching TV.

While our summer is officially over, I'm happy that the creativity is not. She is currently creating a field journal on various owl species. I look forward to seeing the final product.