Past Two Weeks Thrown Off

Ending the third week, I'm looking back over the past two weeks. I feel like we didn't accomplish as much as we should have. Last week Drew's sisters visited, which was nice and I was able to do things with Emma for learning, but it wasn't our routine, so it felt off. This week, we were driving home from my parents house on Monday and I had my wisdom teeth out on Tuesday. Drew was able to stay home Tuesday and Wednesday, thankfully, and work with the kids, but again not our routine. 

Some learning time included, painting, going to the zoo, Bible time, social skills, reading, writing, math and riding bikes. It sounds like we did a lot but not as much as I would have liked. Thankfully, we did get ahead of schedule in the first week which helped to be more relaxed these past 2 weeks. 

Playing a math game.

Looking for rocks and shells at Presque Isle.

Bonus Picture. I just love it!

Socializing with a friend at the park.

Riding her "new" bike at Grandma and Grandpa's.
They bought it for only $3.54.
We took the pedals off so that she could ride it like a balance bike.
So far so good. She's getting the hang of balancing.

Emma's only spill. She got back up and tried again right away. 

Success! Once she gets used to the balance we'll put the pedals back on for her to learn how to pedal as well. 

Riding bikes at home. Now they each have their own. Hannah's bike is not pictured. Benjamin has 2 bikes now.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for sending the bikes home with us. They are very happy!

Names, Pizza and Zoo

The kids and their friend Cooper coloring the letters in their names. Then I had them lay out their letters to spell their names. Emma learned how to spell our last name that day.

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Making pizza for dinner. The kids were learning how to stretch and press the dough.

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Socializing in front of the tiger's cage. There was a daycare group there also and the kids were being loud. For the first time we heard and saw a tiger in action. It was roaring and pouncing on the window. I have to say, it was awesome hearing the powerful roar of the tiger, but at the same time, we didn't want to stick around to allow the kids to be frightened by it.

Little buddies. In nursery, these two are usually sitting together.

Friday was my first venture taking the kids to the zoo to meet friends without Drew. Much to our surprise, it worked out very well. All of our kids were well behaved and we all had a great time! We will definitely be doing that again!

Early Father's Day

Friday, the kids and I worked on getting gifts ready for Father's Day. Little did I know that Father's Day is next Sunday instead of today. So, since the kids can't keep secrets yet, we celebrated Father's Day early. As soon as Drew came home Friday from work the kids spilled the beans. There was no waiting. Within minutes Drew was on the couch being showered with gifts.

Emma painted an American Kestrel (her favorite bird)

Benjamin painted an Eastern Bluebird

Hannah just painted

Emma's finished project. Framed and ready to be hung on Drew's wall at work.

Benjamin's Bluebird completed.

Hannah's abstract bird completed.


Squeeze hugs!!!


Daddy Pile!!!

Week of May 28th Through June 4th's Random Activities

Firefighter teaching the kids about the color coordination for the hoses and the levers at the Big Equipment day at the Zoo.

Benjamin on a big piece of equipment (I don't know what it was called)

Emma's turn on the same thing.

Benjamin's first trip to the Library! He got his own card and took out a few books and DVDs.

Practicing her writing!!!

Making our official LIBRARY bag

Side One- Finished!

Recycled T-Shirt Bags

Walking out of the library yesterday, I quickly realized that a bag for our library items was greatly needed. So, when we got home I looked online for a no sew tote bag. One of the main ones I found was a recycled T-shirt bag at http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org. The bag that we created is shown here.

We used one of Emma's shirts that had sentimental value. This Nemo shirt was bought when her Mom Mom took her to Nemo On Ice.

Another bag I found was a recycled T-shirt bag at www.leethal.net. This one had the same idea for the handles but the bottom is different.

This shirt is a shirt Drew's Grandmom bought for Emma from Washington Crossing.

Ideally I would have wanted to sew bags for them but not having a sewing machine really limits the sewing activites we can do.

"Technology is Marvelous, Nature is Miraculous."

Step 1: Hands On Craft

Benjamin learned how to do the basic acts of pushing and pulling a needle through cloth. I learned that plastic sewing needles still hurt when they pierce the skin.

Step 2: Drive 1.25 hours to a museum

The "Lloyd Wright" room at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute bears a striking resemblance to my imaginary study...

Step 3: Drive to a Living Museum

At the Jamestown Audubon Society Nature Center, Emma found something that has yet to be cataloged by science, and can only be reconciled by faith in God.

Step 4: Conduct Summative Assessment

Proof of Success.

Birds of a Feather

...written by Drew

An American Kestrel and a Barred Owl. I'm letting you know that up front to avoid the inevitable awkward pause between your initial glance and the time it takes for you to realize that you don't know what was painted. I'm not critiquing the painting skills of my 28/5/3 year old artists in residence. I'm simply preemptively educating. That's my line, and I'm sticking to it.

Tonight Benjamin and I went to Walmart for the explicit purpose of getting cheese and getting out. While neither of us typically enjoy time spent perusing the shelves of a store, this time was different because it was just the guys going out and we could be our manly selves without apology. We did our best to spend an inordinate amount of time in the tools and DIY aisles. Our initial thought was to "build something." Unfortunately, due to economic conditions being what they are, I wasn't willing to commit the financial resources necessary to constructing a masterpiece of ingenuity. We did however find light switch covers for 47cents.

Unfortunately, the Joycian stream that brought us from light switch covers to painting birds, was not recorded for posterity.

Emma chose the American Kestrel. Benjamin chose the Barred Owl. I chose the Canon T1i - paint isn't my best medium. Upon reflection, I am wondering if there is some psychological profiling that can be done to investigate why my children both chose birds of prey. Early exposure to Star Trek perhaps?

Would you call this an "art project?" I somehow think that Roger Tory Peterson would cringe at such a suggestion. It is nature, art, science, creativity, exploration, and enjoyment. When does it stop being a tool of learning?