Story Exploring Thursday

 Here is the story we used yesterday for Story Exploring Thursday. :)  It is a story about being responsible.  The pigs show up and make a huge mess.   They are asked to leave.  They don't want to, so in order to stay they must clean up the mess.

We created our own pet pigs. 

Underneath each childs' pet pig, these questions were pasted.  I asked them each individually to tell me the story of their pet pig.  

They did a great job thinking about this!  It helps to not have the other kids around.  This allows each child to think for himself.

I love things that the kids say.  You would be amazed at the tidbits of information I receive from these kids. 

Meanwhile, the saga continues on the back patio.  Here is Chippy- I could just hug and squeeze him I love him so much! He looks very brown today.  He actually came inside for his peanuts this morning.  I know he has been very busy, the kids know this too.  We have been discussing the animals and how fall is for storing up food for the winter. 

Chippy saw the blue jays picking at HIS corn and abandoned all peanuts to go get some for himself.  See Smudge?  He was looking at Chippy as if to say," Hey, don't blow my cover."  Smudge wants the blue jay very badly.  I think he has a better chance hunched down right there.  I'd rather feed our squirrel than the bossy blue jays.  Funny because my grandma always feeds the jays and shoos the squirrels away.  

Happy glorious Friday!  ♥♥♥

While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles.♫

Tracing

We have been working on learning to control the writing tools.  The kids worked with markers yesterday.  That they even stayed near the dotted lines is a success!  I'm very proud of them.  We have quite an age span here.  Ages 1, 2, 3 and 4.  The 2 year olds did a very good job with this task!  I think sometimes I forget that some of these 2 year olds are only 2.  I think they are all advanced. 

My camera died during our morning work time.  I grabbed this little guy and asked him later in the day if he would model his bracelet for me.  He was happy to oblige.  We created fall foam bead bracelets.  These foam beads are very tricky because they are hard to string.  I was going to have the kids use plastic knitting needles and elastic string, but even the needles had a hard time being pushed all of the way through.  So we resorted to using pipe cleaners.  They are skinny and pokey enough to bead those stubborn foam beads. 

I love foam beads because they are easy to write names on!  Happy Thursday!♥♥♥

'Praise His Name' by Ashmont Hill. ♫

2 Pumpkins

Squirrel, bird, cat... (Click the photo to get a better view..)

Bird, squirrel, cat... clearly, the squirrel put up a good fight for the corn.  Three blue jays have been devouring it in no time at all lately.  This went on for a while yesterday, Smudge was stealthy but didn't attack.  I couldn't help but go out and give him pets while telling him he is so sneaky. 

Inside, we worked on creating a pumpkin patch!  We glued green tissue paper squares onto the paper.

We then added some shiny confetti leaves.  Because our discussions lately revolve around the leaves falling down.  "Who made the leaves, anyway?"  I asked.  "God did!"  YES!  They have been listening. 

This is easy even for the little ones.  With some glue application help from us, she can stick anything in her grasp to the paper.  

The kids chose one of their palms to be painted, and then they stamped two pumpkins into the pumpkin patch!  I encouraged them to draw their own green vines.  

2 Pumpkins! 

We then went out to play.  We are so grateful that the rain has held off for so long.  It is so nice to be able to go outside and not get wet.  Please pray for the kiddos!  There has been a nasty cold attacking them all that we would like to be GONE.  Thanks! Happy Wednesday.♥♥♥

Happy Autumn!

We had worksheets to complete yesterday and when I took a look at them in the morning I wondered what on earth I was thinking.  BORING.  It is finally Fall! 

We celebrated with pumpkin cookies and warm apple cider.  Yum yum yum.  Fall even tastes good. ;)

Cookies vs. crackers-- I think cookies win!

We took off for another short walk down to see the giant tree.  

These foggy mornings are so beautiful!

"There it is!"  A couple of the boys remembered.  We stopped and looked up to note any changes. Just a few leaves are starting to turn!  How exciting!

They played for a little while.

We spent some time collecting leaves for a project.  We weren't sure what we were going to create yet.

I found a couple of gourds hanging in the front garden- I really have neglected to notice all of the changes going on in it.  What a nice surprise!

We laid the leaves out on the table.  What to make?  Think think think...

Hmmm.. still not sure...

Aha! Here is a crayon, see if you can draw some arms and legs for this leaf. 

Leaf men!  I love them. 

I tucked the extra leaves around the house.  Fall colors are so beautiful. ♥

Happy Autumn!♥♥♥

Now playing at Henle House- Sinkin' Soon by Norah Jones.♫

B Is For..

B is for bumblebee and baking.

 We created bumblebees out of our letter B's.  First, I drew lines on the b's.  The kids then colored in every other stripe.

We glued on stingers, added eyes, and drew on wings.

Hooray! Bb is for bumblebees!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I have been telling the kids that fall officially begins this year on the 22nd, and on that day the weather was foggy and wonderful, right on cue.  I found this pumpkin pie mix in the cabinet and thought I should do some baking damage.  It's important to remember that this variety of pumpkin pie mix includes spices.  I like to bake with it on purpose, and still add the spices into the recipe.  Pumpkin can be a bit bland. I used one can, and completed two recipes.

Thank you internet, I printed off a quick pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe.  Click on the photo  so you can get a better look at the ingredients if you need to make these.  Just plop all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix- bake for 10 minutes on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees.  These are great! I doubled the recipe because there was enough pumpkin leftover and I couldn't imagine throwing it away.

Yum yum yum!!

Next up- pumkin bars.  I got out my trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook and tried this for the first time.

Easy squeezy, and it was topped with cream cheese frosting.  We took it to church and then LEFT IT THERE.... No pumpkin bar breakfast for me this morning. ;)

I just lounged and ate and smelled the burning candles.  Isn't that what fall is for?  Soon I will need to go clean out the gardens.  There will be much work to be done.

Here's what Smudge did all weekend.  What a spoiled baby.  He has been in the bad habit of bringing in live mice for us lately... Um.. thank you, I think.

Meanwhile, I always spring for the October issue of Martha Stewart Magazine.   Don't those apples look sweet with a branch sticking out of them?  Happy Monday!♥♥♥ Happy Fall!♥♥♥

Do Nothing Day

Look at the beautiful fog!  Hands down, this is my favorite time of year.  I LOVE THIS.  God is an artist.  I love the morning routine of stepping outside to go get the morning paper right around 6:15.  Smudge usually comes along.  We take a moment to look at the flower garden, look at the sky and smell the air.  Fog is so beautiful.  It has been lingering until almost noon around here for several days now.

  I feel so lucky to be graced with such beauty! 

The air feels as though things have slowed down.  It makes me want to burn spicy candles and bake something yummy, snuggle up in a blanket on the couch and do NOTHING. 

We completed group time yesterday and then decided we needed to pop some popcorn and relax a bit.  It was time for some good old Tom & Jerry!  Sometimes kids need to just do nothing.  As busy parents, we are taking our kids along with us most of the time and it can be tiring for them just as much as it is for us.  So the fog- the successful preschool week- the low key calm that was taking over just led to cartoons.  

I stand by that decision 100%.

Fuzzy photo.  See that blanket?  My mother made that when I was little.  It's great- she gave it to me when I was 17 and moving out.  I use it for everything! There is nothing fuzzy about it, so dirt and sand just falls right off of it.  The kids know that when they see this blanket on the living room floor, popcorn is in their near future!  The kids have to be sitting on the blanket if they want to get any.  It makes clean up a snap- I just grab the corners and haul the blanket outside and flip the popcorn over the fence, where the birds eat it up. 

What do you do on your 'Do Nothing' days?

Happy Friday!♥♥♥

 'Let The Meter Run' by Charlie Mars.♫ Sweet little song.