My kids are a little under the weather today, so we decided to do a low-key project indoors and make bath crayons.

There are tons of tutorials online on how to do this, but I primarily used this one from Helium.

Here are the supplies you need: White ivory soap, cookie cutters, a cheese grater and some food coloring. I received the box of cookie cutters from my good friend Casey as a bridal shower gift - they are awesome. Not only are there endless cookie possibilities, but they are perfect for play doh and, well, bath crayons.

You shred the ivory soap with a cheese grater. We ended up using 3 bars of soap.

Then you take a cup of the soap and mix some warm water (about a 1/4 cup) with it. Stir in food coloring of your choice. You are supposed to stir until it is stiff. I can't say that these every got stiff. I also read you are supposed to stir until the soap dissolves, but my kids were a little too excited to wait that long.

Then press them into cookie cutter molds or ice cube trays. I set these on a piece of wax paper over a cookie sheet. We made about 12 crayons out of 3 bars of soap in 6 different colors.

We put them in the freezer for about 20 minutes, then popped them out of the cookie cutters. You are supposed to let them harden for a day or two before using them in the bath. I'll be interested to see if they really work - I've read that people have had varying degrees of success. Either way, the kids had a blast making them, and it was a very inexpensive project. Let us know if you try it, and if so, how it works!

If you haven't had a chance to make it to the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo, you still have one more opportunity Saturday, August 28th.

Dubbed Fiesta Foods Day at the fair, your little ones can enjoy a retriever dog competition in the morning, Super Science Company activities in the Kids' Zone from 10 am to 6 pm, Carnival rides throughout the day, Picasso's Place art at noon in the Kids' Zone, a Horse Heaven Round Up rodeo at 7 pm and plenty of exhibits and dance shows that will keep the family busy.

Parents with older children will benefit from an extra hour of fun on rides as the fair stays open until midnight. Be sure to get a stamp as you leave the fairgrounds if you plan to return and keep your parking stub as your purchase is good for the entire day. For more information on the fair, visitwww.bffairrodeo.com.

Whether you're getting ready to take one last trip this summer or hauling the family to sporting games this fall, the Boon spoon aptly named 'Squirt' is ideal for traveling with baby. Simply load the spoon with food before you head out the door, slip on the protective cover and when baby is ready to eat, you're one step ahead.

A light squeeze of the spoon dispenses food. It can hold up to three ounces of baby food and makes one-handed feeding simple.

Easy to use, easy to clean and a must have for the diaper bag when you're out and about. The Boon 'Squirt' can be found at retailers such as Target and costs anywhere from $5 to $8.

The smell of elephant ears and scones will soon fill the air, and that means the fair is here and the entertainment is plentiful! The Benton Franklin Fair boasts plenty of fun-filled activities for kids and teens of all ages, including livestock, rodeos, the demolition derby, concerts, carnival rides, exhibitor booths and of course the wonderful taste of fair food. (It's all fat free, right?) This year marks the fair's 62^nd birthday. The gates open on Tuesday, August 24^th and runs through August 28^th. Kids 5 and under get in for free, youth 6 to 12 get in for $5 and those older than 13 pay $12.

Wristbands for carnival rides are also available, and if you want to save $5 in parking, the transit will be offering additional routes to get you to and from the fairgrounds. The fair is open from 9 am until 11 pm until Saturday when the fair stays open until midnight.

Check out our promotion on KVEW!

http://www.kvewtv.com/video/?v=13085

A few reminders about the Trends & Friends event:

Event Date:  August 12 from 6 - 8 pm

Passport:  Pick up a passport from the Fistful of Coupons booth.  It will show the location of each participant, and all completed passports will be entered to win prizes like giftcards & gift baskets!

Goody Bag:  The MOM Magazine booth will distribute goody bags to the first 200 visitors.  Make sure you pick up your passport FIRST - this booth is on the list!

Take your time & stroll through the booths.  There are no extra prizes for finishing first - we want you and your friends to have time to enjoy all of the participants!

PF Changs will be sampling the Asian Pear Mojito & Green Apple Martini at Center Court.  $5 will get you a tasting of each, and the $5 benefits the local Habitat for Humanity!

As summer winds down, something more than school is beginning in Tri-Cities... a new children's singing and performing group called TaVaci School of Performing Arts opened this August and is now enrolling for Fall Semester classes! TaVaci (tuh-vah-see) uses the performing arts as a vehicle to teach life skills to children, ages four through twelve. The educational program teaches singing, drama, rhythm, choreography, and theory with an emphasis on proper vocal technique. Katee James, Tri-Cities' TaVaci director, will lead weekly classes at her home music studio, as well as directing biannual concerts. For more information about class days and times, call (509) 547-4745. To register for classes, simply email tavacitricities@gmail.com for a registration packet. Check out this great opportunity!

Current TaVaci classes:

Tuesday 4:00-5:00pm (ages 4-7, pre-k to 2nd grade)

Thursday 4:00-5:00pm (ages 8-12, 3rd to 6th grade)

As enrollment grows, more classes will be offered to ensure class sizes remain small for an optimal learning environment. All classes will be held at my home studio in West Pasco.

There are lots of sport options for elementary age kids, but for parents and guardians anxious to also get their 3 and 4 year olds into the swing of things, fall T-ball fits the bill! The YMCA fall T-ball season runs from August 16^th through October 1^st and has teams for ages 3-to-4, 5-to-7 and 8-to-10. The seven week season teaches kids fundamental skills like batting, throwing, catching and team work in a fun atmosphere to keep even the youngest rookies engaged. Games and practices are held in the evenings and teams typically have one practice and one game each week. Kids in the 5-to-7 and 8-to-10 year old team brackets gain a deeper understanding of how the game is played. To register, download your T-ball form from www.ymcatricities.org or call 374-1908. The season costs $26 for YMCA members and $38 for non members.

Back To School wouldn't be complete without MOM Magazine!

If your neighborhood is lacking a community pool, George Prout Pool in Richland may be the answer you need let the kids work off some energy. Located off of Swift Boulevard, this public pool boasts two separate areas to meet the needs of kids young and old.

For those vertically challenged and lacking the necessary swim skills, a kiddie pool that gradually deepens yet doesn't go over three feet lets toddlers have a blast while keeping their feet firmly planted on the pool floor. Around the corner is a larger and deeper pool with two diving boards for thrill seeking tweens and teens looking to show off. Parents don't even have to bake in the sun while waiting for the pool session to end as there is a bleacher section that's completely shaded.

Added bonus-lifeguards are on hand at both pools for extra sets of eyes! Public swim hours are Monday through Thursday from 1:15 to 2:45, 3:00 to 4:30 and 7:00 to 8:30 pm. On Fridays, the pool is open from 1:15 to 2:45 and 3:00 to 4:30. Saturday and Sunday both offer public swim from 1:00 to 2:30, 2:45 to 4:15, 4:30 to 6:00 with an extra session on Saturday from 6:15 to 7:45.  Richland residents 17 and under only pay 50 cents and $1.50 for 18 and above. Non-Richland residents pay just a 75 cents and $2.00 respectively. There is also a family rate for extra savings.