sewing safari puppets

The kids really wanted to do some hand crafts today. After fews hours of playing with clay and beeswax in the morning, and a few more hours at the playground, later in the afternoon, they wanted to make hand puppets. So we took our kit out (from Jo-Ann Fabrics).

The kids had so much fun making them they each went on to make another one. Now they are off to play with their own creations. Whenever the tacky glue didn't stick, J said they are doing "surgery" for the animals and fixing them up.

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey

We were just reading "Circus Stories in basic vocabulary" by E and M. Dolch and about the Ringling Brothers when the the circus came to our side of the town. Imagine the excitement! The kids saw a circus 2 years ago in the "Big Top" (outdoor) and love it! This time the circus is indoor and drew even more people. Overall, it was pretty good though there were too much lights and high tech stuff in my opinion. Next time, we'll stick with the show inside the "Big Top".

Share some of the pictures from the pre-show.

elephant painting :)

Father Daughter Dance photo

Prime's take on homeschooling

I was talking with my little boy yesterday and I said, half jokingly and half just wanting to see if he really wants to be homeschooled, ( ok, and a little seriousness sprinkled in there since it would be so much easier just to send them to school.)

Me: Can I send you (back) to school?

Prime: No! (emphatically)

(said something else after that, but my cold is having an effect on my brain and I just can't think of it)

Me: You know not everyone homeschools?

Prime: Just because not everyone homeschools, doesn't mean I can't be homeschooled. (wow, that sure is a mouthful.)

Thanks for the reminder, my little boy!

fun with putty

The kids made their own puddy at CC today with 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup elmer glue and 1/4 cup borax solution (I believe they are in the laundry aisle) and few drops of food color and mix until the consistency of putty.

Oh, how the kids loved their putty. Rolling, Smashing, squishing, squeezing, ripping and start all over again... it is a delightful experience. After some experimentation, J figured out how to pick up newspaper ink with lots of pressing, and karate chops. Now lifting it off the newspaper without stretching it too much was another story. But its so fun it can be done time and time again. Of course, making letters out of putty is also pretty fun. The possibilities are many.

making corn bracelet

I got this idea from the book "Earthway" by Carol Petrash. Great for fine motor skills, patience, and concentration. Suggested for 4 years and up.

1. remove the kernels off Indian corn. (this has seem to become our tradition for fall)

2. soak the kernels over night (even a few days was fine; I hoped soaking them longer would soften them more but I don't think it made a difference after the overnight soak)

3. give the child a needle threaded with doubled thread. Choose the length(necklace, bracelet) appropriate for what you are making . Be careful of little fingers. I found it helpful when you feel the needle went through the kernels, turn them over and push them down the needle.



4b. and slide the kernels down to the knot. (I found depending on the hardness of the kernels, kids may need help in this step)

5. When they are done, center the corn kernels if they are not full string and tie the open ends together.

Viola! This is Prime's. J has been making them for her friends.

fun at gymnastic open house

The kids had a great time at the gymnastic open house. They were there for 2 whole hours and still wanted to play more.