Bubblegum and Duct Tape: home made album

If your toddler is now running to the phone when it rings, you are probably going to relate to this story I'm going to share with you today, if you have older children, I'm sure it will bring back memories.

When my older one was five years old, he loved running to the phone and in the cutest little voice say "hello". One day, that cute little voice led the way to a very naughty little boy who in the olden days would have had his cute little lips washed with bubblegum scented soap.

You see, that one day, at five years old, he ran to the phone as usual. Through the speaker I could hear it was my dear brother on the other line. I could hear him say "tu madre" in Spanish, meaning "your mama". I think he shortened his request, of asking for me to get the phone, thinking that my son was not experienced in answering the phone and might accidentally hang up on him. So, instead of saying, "I'd like to speak with your momma, please ask her to get the phone", he just simply said, "your momma".

My son did in fact hang up but it was not accidental. As soon as he heard my brother say "tu madre", my son said, in a very direct and stern little voice, "tu madre, tu madre tu madre" and hung up!! You see, tu madre can also be interpreted as "yo mamma" in a bad sense.

Try having an experience like this and keeping a serious face long enough to tell your child that his uncle did not mean it in a bad way.

He had just learned a few days before that saying "yo mamma" was a bad thing, as I was faced with having to explain it to him after watching a movie trailer on TV. It was very clear in the movie that they used it as an insult. In the movie trailer, one teenage boy said, "tu madre" to another teen boy and they started fist fighting. You can see why this would spark his curiosity.

After I gave him the little lecture, I ran to the bathroom. I think I ruptured a vein in my eye from laughing so hard, which I did, with the shower and sink faucet full blast so he wouldn't hear me laughing (don't want to confuse the child any more than he already is).

Have you posted funny stories about your kids? I'd love to read them, leave me a link below in the comments and I'll come visit.

Today's craft is a tutorial on making these cute little flip flop albums. I saw a friend of mine, Pauline, make these from a kit she purchased at a local scrapbook supply store. I thought they were too cute and had to share with you.

Here's what you'll need: a hole punch, double sided tape, scissors

scrapbook paper: one sheet multi colored, two sheets plain white:

Various colors of foam sheets and ribbon:

you will also need some kind of glue that will work well with foam:

sandals or shoes that are the size of album you'd like to make:

First, trace your sandal on the foam sheet and cut out:

Use the cutout as a template to cut your scrapbook paper:

Glue on foam:

cut out three holes to make the sandal, use your sandal as a guide for correct positioning:

Fold the ribbon in half and push through the hole, then do the sides:

glue ribbon on the back:
cut out another piece of foam sheet and glue on top of the last one to cover the ribbon:

I made mine three layers:

next, make the bottom with foam sheet using your sandal as a template, I made mine black:

Then use your back to make a new template on the white scrapbook paper, like this:
Notice they touch each other slightly towards the top part.

cut out with scissors, but leave them touching on the top, this will keep them all together and allow you to accordion fold them together for the album. Cut two sheets for a total of 6 sandals like this:

These will be the pages of your album that you can decorate with scrap paper and pictures. Use your double sided tape to tape the tow in the center together: