Brett's Spring Picture

I'm a bad Mom - I'm scanning it to show you & then I'm sending them back to school. The picture is OK but we decided not to buy them this time around.

"Beach Slippers"

This morning Brett tried on his "beach slippers" and they still fit! We can't wait to wear sandals again!

Moss Topiary

I loved this idea I found here & decided to make one. It took only about 20 minutes & I love the result. Now it just needs a home. I haven't quite decided where it will go yet.

A bird in the house

The kids have been talking about my birdhouse on the shelf in the kitchen, saying they think there should be a bird in there. Last night while I was out, I found this cute one. It looks very at home! Of course the kids were thinking a real one...

It must be almost Friday

• I woke up feeling like I'm getting another cold. Sore throat. Drainage. Icky & tired feeling. My neck & shoulder is still sore. I'm tired of not feeling good!
• Dck walks in with a sucker. At 8 a.m.
• I'm tired of snapping every kids' jeans snap. 5 times a day.
• 2 dcg's don't show up until 11 a.m. 1 leaves in less than 1 hr (or 70 minutes depending on who's picking up). Makes me feel so valued. Hurry up & serve my kid lunch so she can go to preschool.
• That's my next gripe- 4K. Our school district doesn't offer it yet but the other one is -we're between the two - this is the 1st year. I don't like it. For many reasons. 1. being that 4K (basically preschool) is offered already. Our community has many great programs but right, it's not free. If it's not affordable for parents, there are programs that provide assistance. Even quality licensed family day cares, such as mine, accept it. But parents want 4k because it lowers their child care bill - possibly. I know one center charges $5/hr for before/after care so that's already more expensive than a lot of day cares but fewer hours of care may be needed making it cheaper. Then there's the parents who are happy with where their kids are but think their kid better go too because they don't their child to be "behind". 2. Why should the government (taxpayers) pay for preschool for everyone? Is it really necessary? No, I don't think so. Especially when effective programs (even though there's fees for it) are already in place. I never knew child care & education is so political. I don't like it. This isn't just about how it affects my business. It is affecting me for the first time this year & I don't feel like what I do is valued. Some who are barely 4-are going a full day with no naps. Kids don't get enough sleep as it is. Pushed & growing up faster than they need to IMO.
• Dcparent of the 2 referenced above says things to his child like "go to school & learn something". Uh, what do you think your kid has been doing here for 5 years? The 3 yr old could learn something too if she was here before 11 a.m.
• We just got to spend big $$ fixing the Alero! Yay. But we're good to go for a while again now. I guess it was time since we've hardly put any money into it.
• I'm sure there's more but I'll save it for another day! LOL

Looking forward to FRIDAY!

The Wind Blows

Today we're learning about the wind. We went outside and tied this plastic lid covered with vaseline in the tree. We'll check it the next few days to see what it collects from the wind. (Idea from Mailbox Magazine Feb/March 2009)

We also read our Clifford Magazine about the wind. I like this "Move & Learn" that was included:

Make a Rainstorm

Here's the wind. (Rub your palms together.)

The rain is starting to fall (Clap your fingers to your palm.)

It's raining harder. (Pat your knees.)

It's pouring! (Pat your knees and stamp your feet.)

The storm is ending. (Rub your palms together again.)

It's quiet now. Shhh!

We read this book: The Wind Blew Pat Hutchins

For art we made wind paintings. Dilute paints with a little water & stir. Pour small spot of paint on cardstock. Using a straw, the kids blow the paint around their paper.

We are working on a group book about what the wind blows/can not blow away.

Raindrop Watercolor Paintings

Yesterday we used droppers to drop watercolor paints on heavy watercolor paper. Then we went out in the rain & got them wet! They turned out so neat!

Brett's 6 yr pictures

Sarah at Studio One Eleven sent Brett's 6 yr pictures that I can use here & on Facebook. I wish I could get copies of them all! She also has new blogs. Check them out: http://www.studioone11.blogspot.com/ http://www.sokidsphotography.blogspot.com/

Worms

The text says: When Brett got home from school it was raining and there were lots of worms on the driveway. He came in to drop off his backpack and he went back out to play with the worms. He started collecting them in his hand and soon needed a container, there were so many! Then he let them all go and came in to get warm and dry. Brett loves worms!

New scrub & a giveaway!

See my other blog, All Sugared Up , to sign up for my giveaway! There's also a new sugar scrub, Almond Sugar, available in my Etsy shop.

Sheep

This is another one of our Sounds of Spring themed projects. The materials/idea came from the Mother Goose Time kit but it's easy enough to recreate without a kit. Just clip two clothespin on a wide Popsicle stick. Paint it all white. Glue on cotton balls & a googly eye. Cute!

One of the best things

I've done in a long time - I bought this framed bulletin board at Hobby Lobby (50% off of course) and attached it to the side of my fridge with double stick foam tape. I wasn't sure it would hold but it's been 3 days now so I think it's good! Now I don't mind looking at the side of my fridge & hanging things there doesn't look so junky.

1st Day of Spring

I found these little topiaries at Michael's last night - 40% off! I changed this shelf up after getting the topiaries. The three vases of flowers (also from Michael's) were orginally on the other shelf but they look better here.

Finally!

I found a frame & put Brett's 6 yr old picture up. Taken by Sarah Orlando / Studio One Eleven Thanks Sarah! I love it!

123 Book

I found this cute little 123 book

and couldn't wait to make it! I just printed it out on photo paper, cut out the pages & put them in the badge holders. The kids can use dry erase markers on the pages to practice writing numbers. Instead of having the kids draw pictures, I added stickers so they could also just look at the book & count the stickers. Next I'm going to do the ABC book. I have a few of the Shabby Shoppe albums I've been wanting to make as well. Quick & easy and so cute!

Just Because

I felt like it! Not bad-roses for $6.99 at the grocery store! The purple & green filler added a bit more but it was worth it.

Frogs

These are rather funny - hamburger box frogs. They came in the Mother Goose March kit. The kids painted them & then I hot glued the eyes on so they would stay & attached the legs for them. Afterwards the kids "fed" their frogs all sorts of things. It was part of our Sounds of Spring theme. Can you tell this kiddo was my big helper today? She actually is a big helper.

Leaving Winter Behind

I'll help the other 4 finish theirs up on Friday or Monday. This idea is from a Mailbox Magazine.

Oatmeal, Banana, Applesauce bars

30 min 15 min prep SERVES 10-12

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1/2 cup whole wheat)

1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled 1 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup applesauce 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups old fashioned oats 2-3 bananas, smashed

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Spray 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
3. Combine: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon in bowl set aside.
4. Combine: sugars, and butter and beat with mixer till well blended.
5. Add applesauce, eggs, and vanilla beat with mixer till smooth.
6. Add bananas with mix and mash by hand or with mixer.
7. Stir in flour mixture till just combined.
8. Stir in oats.
9. Pour into greased pan.
10. Bake till golden brown, about 20-30 minutes depending on oven.
11. Cool and cut into bars.

I made these for snack this morning & they went over great with the kids. I liked it too. More like a cake than bars. From recipezaar.

Where I Am

This is my workspace, where I am when I'm blogging, working or emailing.

Finishing up St. Pat's crafts & activities

Fruit Loop cereal rainbows (template from Kidssoup.com)
Necklaces - beads, straws, shamrocks, glitter Shamrock bingo. Roll the dice & mark your number!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I really could care less about this holiday-getting pinched for not wearing green? Come on. Green food? Yuck. Mysterious leprechauns running about? I just don't like it. (Or the idea of telling kids stuff that's not true & getting them all hyped up over it.) but this idea is cute: beards & ears *Looks like I need to add more yarn to mine. This is the closest orange yarn I had on hand. I made the ears out of green craft foam. I thought it would be fun for the kids to have beards & leprechaun ears. I put them on while Brett was eating breakfast (I was slicing bread) & he was NOT impressed. He said "Mom." "That is not cool." I did get him to try it on & get some pictures so I was happy! : )

Polaroid Tuesday

After seeing Polaroid Tuesday posted on mycakies I "polaroided" my ferris wheel pics. Whoops, I got one of Brett & Damon on the ferris wheel in there too but I like that picture so I kept it. http://www.poladroid.net/

Wax Paper Rainbow Paintings

Saw these at Karina's on Friday so that's what we made today. I had to make one too!