Am I Brave Enough?

Interesting title, I know.  We hadn't yet done the letter "G" for our ABC Banners this week, and I was trying to think of something cool and garden themed.

Then I decided that, if I were feeling brave enough, then on Friday, we would decoupage flower colours onto their wooden letters.

Oh dear.  A LOT of mess.  Sticky, glue based mess.  Could I do it?

I did.  And this is what happened:

I finally got my free bulletin board up.   I put the "treasure" maps up on it, and Little Dude decided this was way more fun to play with.

Here is the decoupage kit I got ready ahead of time.

They each had tissue paper, glue, a paint brush and their letter waiting for them at the end of nap time.

And here is Sweetie's letter drying.

And the finished product.  YAY!

Pillow Case Car Seat Covers

So, we recently bought a new truck.  And new car seats.  And new car seat protectors for under the car seat.  I really didn't want to have to buy the little toy organizers that go underneath.

Then I had one of those light bulb moments while doing laundry one day.

Why don't I find some old pillow cases, and make my own?  They are completely washable, and I can find some at my second hand store, so it will be much cheaper than buying them.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a professional sewer, so if you are, please, please, please do not look at my pictures!  I have these bright ideas and dive right in.  There were no patterns harmed during the making of these organizers.

And here we go:

My pretty pillow case.  No, it isn't ironed.  I don't do that.

On top is the grippy fridge liner I bought last week.  I am planning to use this to hold the organizer in place on the leather seats.

I folded up one end of the pillow case (the non-opening end), and then sewed three pockets.

I sewed each line 3 times to make sure that they don't wear out.

Then, once I started to sew my grippy stuff, I discovered it worked so well, it stuck to the sewing machine.  Both ways.  So, I looked around and saw paper.  It worked!

And it's pretty easy to tear off after too!

See?

Top side.

Bottom side.  Little Dude's is done.

And so is Sweetie's.

Dirt and Worms!

Okay, I totally stole this idea from another Mom doing God's Little Explorer's.  She posted it on Facebook yesterday, so we had "dirt and worms" for our afternoon snack.

I made chocolate Zucchini cake last night, so at least our dirt had some veggies hidden in it!

Our version of dirt and worms.  I added dried fruit as our seeds (and to make myself feel better about the meal choice.) :)

Our book choice for the afternoon.  A pretty good story about feelings.

Working on colouring his "g's".

Trying to figure out how to hold the crayon properly.

We never did quite get it.  If you have any tips or tricks for this, please let me know!

Improv Is NOT My Strong Suit

So, I actually read ahead for their school plan today and planned.

Now, I am usually a planner, so I do that part rather well. 

Today was re-read the Creation story in Sweetie's bible, then make fruit shaped snacks.  Easy enough.

Right up until your kids decide that since they both have colds, they don't want anything to eat.

Now, as a planner, I do not do a particularly great job of just rolling with things.  Especially when I have already made plans. 

This is where having enough "busy bag" activities to last forever comes in handy.

Out came the play dough to make our own "fruit".  Or something like that.  It was more strings and worms, but it works.

The important part is that they are learning to read (or listen to) the bible each day, and they are working on their imagination and hand-eye coordination.

Or at least this is how I make myself feel better when my plans go awry!

It's Tomato-tastic!

I decided today, that rather than get ready to plant seeds for the kids, I would show them the other end of the spectrum - the garden. 

The kids both love to come out and "help".  Sweetie usually ends up getting distracted and letting me do the work, while Little Dude usually "helps" a little too much with the harvesting. 

But, alas, at least I can get them involved.  As soon as we got outside and I told Sweetie we were going out to the garden to pick tomatoes, she said, "This is tomato-tastic!".  I don't know where she got that from, but it sure is cute.

And today's interpretation of Week 2 Day 2 went a little like this:

We started out all in the garden picking the orange tomatoes.  Or at least that was the plan!

I actually ended up with quite a few tomatoes this year considering our weather this summer.

And off she goes, "letting" me pick the rest.

And Little Dude helps pick the green ones.

She decided she needed a megaphone to give proper directions to us.

Then she found a dandelion seed head. 

And blew her little heart out.

This is our sad brussel sprout plant.  I have never grown them before, but I don't think we are going to actually get any.

And we have a pumpkin hiding.

And we may even get some more zucchini!

And I found a pumpkin that was even better at hiding.  I must have passed by this one about 5 times before I saw it!

Peek-a-boo!

My little helper looking for more treasures.

This was our surprise sunflower.  I think the birds planted this one.

My mom used to call these "indian berries" I think.  They make a beautiful pink colour when you smoosh them.  I didn't let the kids play with it though!

And a surprise strawberry even!  I had to eat this one since it was the only one! ;)

Week 2 Has Started!

Well, actually, due to an argument between my contacts and my eyeballs this morning, we really didn't do that much school today.

When I tried to put my contacts in this morning, my eyes started to sting, then they swelled shut.  So, after I wrestled them back out again, I decided to wear glasses for the day. ;)

This resulted in little desire to organize anything.  So, we read the story from the bible about how God made the world, water, land, animals and people.  Then we made "gardens". 

Tomorrow will be better I hope.  If for nothing else than I won't let my eyeballs and contacts get into another fight.  They are officially in time out until Wednesday.

 

Little Dude decided cars are way more fun than flowers!

 

Sweetie LOVED the sparkly flowers!

 

Cheese!  Little Dude's finished garden.

 

Little Dude's art display.

 

Sweetie's finished artwork.

 

On her art display.

Temper Taming Bottles

A friend of mine posted a link to these on Facebook this winter, and I can't believe how easy they are. 

I took an old salad dressing bottle and an old BBQ sauce bottle, filled with sequins, glitter glue, more glitter, and water.  After I glued them shut, I glued ribbon around the top of the bottles to discourage them from picking at the glue.

The premise for these it to give them to smaller children who need a time out.  Since they aren't able to tell time, telling them to go sit down for 5 or so minutes just won't work.

They shake the bottle when they sit down, then they sit and watch the glitter until it all falls to the bottom. 

This is supposed to accomplish two things:

First, they sit still for their time out without you having to stand there and make sure they obey.

Second, by the time the glitter has all sank to the bottom, they have probably calmed down, distracted by all the sparkles!

 

Before they are shaken.

 

After about 10 seconds.

 

20 seconds.

 

30 seconds.

 

ALL bottles have been glued shut using hot glue.  This is a VERY important step since inquiring little minds will want to know what is inside, and probably want to know what it tastes like.  If you choose to make these, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure they are adequately sealed.