L is for learning

Asher is excited for his last day (well actually it's only a half of a day) of school on Monday.  We are all looking forward to Summer.  Ezra and I started learning activities this last week.  I made Ezra a dry erase binder, so we can go through the alphabet in order of writing skills.  This last Monday and Tuesday we focused on Ll, and on Wednesday and Thursday we focused on Tt.  We are starting with these letters because they use straight lines.

I just wanted to share some of our activities, because Ezra really enjoyed them.  Throughout the week we do a variety of activities involving reading books, cooking, science content and experiments, math concepts, and arts and crafts.  We are working on small motor skills with cutting, stickers, drawing, writing, etc.  Also, we are doing fun large motor games and more physical activities now that the weather is getting nice.

bubble wrap lizard craft

We read books about lizards and did a craft (left). We made our own lollipops, talking about how we needed to heat/melt the candy melts to a liquid to pour into the molds and then to cool/solidify the lollipops.  Then we did another craft with the lollipop sticks and concentric circles, gluing circles on the paper from large to small to make paper lollipops.  We went on a nature walk and did solar leaf images (below).  We read books about light and watched Bill Nye the Science Guy: Light and Color.  Then we experimented with light using flashlights, mirrors, a prism, and different colored light viewers. 

For each letter, we are making a book with pictures and simple sentences.  The cover of the book is the letter featured in the book, which Ezra decorates with items starting with the letter sound.  Ezra loves that they are his books and that he is featured in some of the pictures.

L is for leaf and a tape T

Also, I wanted to share about some of the new recipes we tried, because they are so simple and delicious.

Lemon Clouds

The Lemon Clouds (treat pictured in his book, above) were especially easy with only three ingredients.  I had picked up some fresh strawberries for Al and I to eat with some homemade Angel Food Cake, but we can never eat the whole cake.  I thought it would be nice to just take 1/2 the cake that would be left over and cut this recipe (left) in 1/2 too.  All I had to do was cut the cake in cubes and toss in one (3 ounce) package of lemon-flavor Jell-O, beat 1 1/4 cups heavy cream until soft peaks form, and layer the cream and cake in cups.  After covering the cups, we put them in the refrigerator overnight.  You could make more topping and add the lemon zest to top it off the next day, but I didn't bother.


We also made lemonade with 3 cups cold water, 1 cup lemon juice (about 4 lemons), and 1/2 cup sugar.





Also, I made lemon scones.  I love scones but never had tried baking them.  I found it to be much easier than expected.  It's really just a matter of following the directions and not handling the dough too much after the wet and dry ingredients are combined.  I made the scones last Sunday to get the kids excited about the coming week.  Ezra was not a big fan, but I made them again today (at Asher's request) for the third time this week.

Glazed Lemon Scones

Some topics for T included:  trees; trucks, trains, and transportation; triangles; turtles.  One cute idea I found in a magazine was to have the kids turtle race.  The kids transform into turtles by crawling with laundry baskets on their backs as shells.  Ezra, of course, did not need any incentive to play with his trains and track.  He also informed me that we needed to be sure to play Transformers too.

Here are a few more pictures from Ezra's T book:

trains

ten triangles

Ezra has been going through this odd phase of not wanting to get his hands messy, so he's boycotting paint and is very careful with glue.  He did really enjoy the triangle tent activity though.  I was just happy to get some cute pictures of my boys :)  At the end of this post, I will put a picture of both the boys together.  They were wrestling and I was able to get a cute picture where they were both actually looking and with their true, beautiful smiles.  (Also, you can see my new short haircut in the picture below.  I didn't like it at first, but I think it looks okay when it's wavy.)

terrific tent and two boys

Next week: H and I.  Guess I'd better figure out what themes we will focus on this coming week.  Happy Summer everyone!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Well, we've finished unpacking and organizing the house and have moved on to cleaning out the garage.  The last owners left some stuff that we needed to go through.  I was excited to find some of the old kitchen counter.  It's a swirled bright navy and light blue with the old-school metal edge.  It will be perfectly repurposed (with the addition of some short legs) into a play table for Asher's wood castle and all his Playmobil people.  The previous owners left some trash too.  Thankfully, we can recycle some of what was left behind, like the old glass that seems to be in demand again.  It got me thinking about how some people really cherish the history and character of what some people see as trash.

It's always nice when others can use items you no longer need.  I was thankful to get rid of a lot of the younger-aged toys before we moved.  Al was thankful that I sold some of our larger furniture.  We've already gone to both the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores here to donate clothes and miscellaneous household items.  Yes, our boys are still growing up too fast ;)  We took some clothes and a smaller bike to Holly's nephew when they were in Prairie, and I was happy to see how excited Sammy was to have a bike there (just like all the big kids).

I realized how much of our wardrobe and toys are from garage sale finds.  The boys have quite a nice wardrobe, I must say, and most of it is not new.  I always tell the kids "They are new to you."  Since the Denver garage sales, Asher has been enjoying a forensics discovery kit and an acoustic guitar.  Ezra was thrilled that I found his new favorite book "The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!"

I feel so blessed not just to have our needs met but to have more than we need.  I pray that I can teach my kids (and myself) about need versus want and about gratitude.  I also pray that, while we keep ourselves well fed and entertained, we don't lose sight of our responsibility to serve and care for others.

So, after reflecting on our culture of consumption and admitting how much I like a new "project," here are a few pictures of how we've been repurposing around the house.

Cute, functional, and versatile storage has been a focus lately.  Al and I recently were able to get a bigger dresser from IKEA for our bedroom and moved our old dresser into the basement.  Believe it or not, our kids' dress up clothes and accessories filled it right up.  I never thought that the dresser Al's dad used to store his tools in would be used in our bedroom, the nursery, our bedroom again, and now the family room. 

Here are a couple pictures of our bedroom.  Thanks to my sister for the beautiful headboard she gave us when they got a bigger bed.  You can also see one of my favorite projects from last Fall.  The nightstand I had been looking for a long time to find.  I got this solid wood piece for under $20, cleaned it up, sanded it and painted it a beautiful teal blue I'd been wanting to put somewhere in the house.

I have been thinking about how to make the spare room a nice bedroom for guests but also a functional office, but I didn't want to spend lots of money on a place for the printer and other office supplies.  Then, I saw this gem in the basement...

Okay, maybe you don't see the potential yet, but I'm thankful that the last owners left it behind and excited to restore this solid and beautiful old dresser.  The bottom (which still needs doors) is the perfect sized space to hide our printer and store all the paper and supplies.  My dad is going to help me finish the top drawer fronts.  I'm debating whether to paint it all white or actually refinish it and stain the wood.






The closet in the spare room has been a great place for Al to hang all his work clothes, and I'm a "closet scrapbooker" again.  One of the IKEA storage shelves with bins (that I used to need for the daycare) has been a great place for my craft and office supplies.  Of course, I had to get some cute labels online :)
 

When Al and I got married and bought a new queen mattress, I kept my full mattress and all the bedding.  Here is a picture of the bed (and curtains) in the spare room.

I thought a headboard would be nice, but again didn't want to spend lots of money.  I found this basic headboard (in a shiny gold) at an estate sale for only $6 and painted it black.

The basement family room may or may not be done.  I'm debating whether to paint the paneling.  Al thinks the vintage look suits the space well, but I think a light yellow would be fun and bright.  What do you think?  Also, I think that we will do something different on the wall behind the bar.

Garage saling here in town, I was thrilled to find four original vintage Eames Era Mid Century molded fiberglass plastic bar stools in teal.

We used furniture we already had to fill the space.  Not having a formal dining room anymore, we moved the kitchen banquet downstairs.  It's the perfect place for arts and crafts projects.  The kids love having a "library" in the corner and a space to play music.  

Here are a couple pictures of the boys with their current musical instrument of choice...

 

Memorial Day Weekend

Love what my sister posted on Facebook about the weekend... "What a great weekend mother nature was not on our side but she seriously underestimated my ability to have fun."  Yes!

It was so wonderful to have my sister's family and my parents come for a visit at our house.  I just love it when we can sit and chat, and the kids are busy all over the house playing.  So thankful for the breaks in the weather too.  We may not have been able to get on the river, but I sure enjoyed watching the kids run and ride bikes, seeing the kids explore and build a pirate ship with branches, and being able to grill and have S'mores.  Thanks sis for having us over at your "summer place."

Katelyn 7 1/2, Asher 6 1/2, Chase 5 1/2, Ezra 4

Holly snapped a great picture of the kids on Asher's new bed.


It's very rare to get them all looking and smiling!











Here are some other pictures from the weekend: 

The moment they heard the cousins were coming, the boys ran off to get in character.

Cuddles... Then silly faces with Grandpa.

Playing with technology... Youngest of the kids schooling Grandma and Grandpa ;)

Off on Pirate adventures in Prairie!

It was cool but the kids didn't care.  They were busy riding and racing.

Movie time on the bunk beds... Later, more fort fun inside.