Watering our garden

As the kids took turns watering our newly planted plants, I got a chance to take some pictures. The kids spend what seemed to me a very long time discussing who will get to water what. Good grief! Finally, they just took turns. It's interesting how something so simple could be such a big deal to them. I was the one who fill the BIG watering can for them. I'm hoping to get their own real watering can with tiny holes for a better spray. They have also requested their own gardening glove, esp. Prime.


When they are not watering, they are walking on structure and using them as balance beams.

In- line skating seen through J's lenses

Today, Prime tried in-line skating. Even though it was his first time, he did great. It was probably due to the fact he has taken a session or two of ice-skating. I might consider signing him up for in-line skating lesson or maybe father and son can do it together since daddy have the shoes (I think) and knows how to. First, let's see it through my lens.

Sweet love. J holds Prime's hand while I get a chance to take a picture. :)

Hi, buddy, are you doing a dance? :)

Now, we will see it through J's lens. See how different they are? She is more interested in capturing a story it seems. :)


Our fallen rose petals smell so good, esp. the bright pink variety. Ahhh.... if I can only preserve the smell somehow. I don't have enough rose petal to make rose water.

creative play (J's menu and Prime's drawings)

Today, besides the planting, we also did some cleaning and organizing and re-arranging in the afternoon. After their room was cleaned and toys organized (esp. the play kitchen), the kids dive into play.

J created her own menu and was cooking up a storm. Looking from behind her, I can totally envision her as a little cook in the the future. She was totally in her element and always asking me what I would like to eat and drink. When I was feeling tired and lying in bed, she said pretend I was sick and she is giving her earned money to me. Naturaly, I asked her how she is going to earn the money. She replies that she will sell tomatoes, make strawberry, raspberry, blueberry jam/jelly. She got that idea from a book we read today. :) She did make me real coffee and for that I am very appreciative.

Here is a look at J's menu: (click on picture to enlarge)


When daddy saw the menu, he requested to have all the free items on the menu and says, wow, the lavender lemonade is really expensive. :)

While J was cooking, Prime was busy cutting and making pretend money. He made a lot and the first time he spelled "dollar", he spelled it "dolr". Then he spelled it "dola" and finally he spelled it "dollar" after I told him it has 2 ls in the word. But it was interesting how he creatively spells.

Prime is also turning out to be quite the artist. He is always drawing, using whatever paper, plain or colored, different textured paper and drawing all different kinds of things. He is intensely focused on what he is drawing and focus for a long time. I'm amazed at his focus and attention at such an age.

J also had a few spelling mistakes in her menu so that turned out a good way to learn some correct spelling of words.

They also played other things among Prime's favorite was the lite brite flat screen. Time went by really fast. It was definitely a great creative kind of day. :)

Planting

We finally planted our veggies, and flowers. I was busy working and getting my hands dirty I didn't get a chance to take any photos. The kids also did some planting of seeds and they both dug holes for plants that were in pots.

J was amazed some of the seeds are so tiny like the sweet basil seeds. Here is hoping our plants will grow nice, big, healthy and strong. :)

Building the Right way (Matthew 7)

This morning, we read the story Jesus told about building on a solid foundation. There were 2 men, one build his house on solid ground while the other built his house on dried-up bed of a stream because it looked pretty. When winter came, the 2nd house collapsed because of the roaring torrent while the 1st house stayed intact because the rock that lay beneath held it form.

Jesus tells his disciples, "Be wise. Build your lives on the teaching I have given you. If you obey what I have said you will be like the wise builder who build on rock foundation. Nothing that can can happen will shake you. You will stand firm."

"But if you take no notice of what I say and live your lives your own way doing as you think best, you will be like teh stupid builder. He did not other to find a sage foundation and his fine house fell in ruins. Your life will go to pieces when trouble and difficulties come, if it has no solid foundation. Build your lives wisely by obeying my teaching and doing as I say." (This is copied from The Children's Bible in 365 stories)

After we read that story, J wanted to act it out and see if it is true. So Prime and her did just that.

J dug a ditch in the sand, signifying the house that is build in the dried up bed of stream and with no solid foundation.

J building her house in the sand.

I had Prime build his house on a brick to signify a "solid foundation".

After J was done, I poured water over J's house. Indeed, it fell apart.

I did the same thing with Prime's house. Indeed, it stood intact. :)

Making lemonade

J is really liking to cook. Yesterday she made eggs, and today she says she wants to cook again. So for today, she made lemonade from scratch.

Here, she is stirring the sugar and water mixture to make syrup. She also learned a new word that is best learned in action, "dissolve".

Squeezing lemons to get fresh lemon juice.

The lemon is all juiced.

Add syrup, lemon juice, and water (plus ice cubes if prefer) and viola, you have yourself a glass of fresh lemonade. Prime drank his so fast I didn't even get a chance to snap a picture. :)

1st week of vacation (theme: play)

Let the fun begin! Today, we kick off our first week of vacation. J says the theme for this week is "play".

The day started with "science"... talking about how the balloon is loosing its air, and is coming down and down, and finally, it just lands on the floor right before our eyes. J drew the face on the pink balloon days ago.

Then we explored fractions using cuisinaire rods since we read a bible story related to tithing 10%. Later, I showed them the Geo boards I brought in Florida and that was a big hit with the kids.

For lunch, J made scrambled egg all by herself. She cracked the eggs, whip the eggs, poured into the frying pan, turned on the fire, put in oil, stir-fried the egg and even scooped the egg out into a bowl all by herself.

The kids also had a play date with their friends in the afternoon. We even shared a dinner together. It was a very full and fun day.

Having fun with the descending balloon.

J is working on the Geo Boards

Prime ties the rubber bands around his finger

J's pattern on the Geo board

Having fun with friends.