Name Recognition

We have been working on recognizing and writing our names correctly.

After we successfully completed our name writing pages, (and one wrote her name for the FIRST time without tracing the dotted lines!!) we beaded some bracelets with our names as well.

Somebody blessed me with a box of art supplies.. I honestly cannot be sure just who that somebody is.  One day it appeared in our garage, transported by my handsome hubby, with no explanation..  sigh.. (eye roll.)  Anyway, this box full of assorted beads was included.

Some of these beads are quite a bit smaller than what we are used to beading with, so we had some good small motor skills practice.

I just love those alphabet beads!  Happy Tuesday!  I have the day off today-- so crazy-- and am driving to pick up a walker for a new little one for next week. ♥

Song of the day- Gold On The Ceiling by The Black Keys. ♥♥♥

Rocket Ship

One of my favorite activities to do with the kids is use a story as part of our inspiration for the day.  We read Sheep Blast Off by Nancy Shaw.

We love this authors sheep books.  There are quite a few, now.  This one was fun because the sheep find a rocket ship and accidentally blast off to an alien sheep world.  Then the alien sheep have to blast off again to help get the sheep home.

We decided to create our own rocket ships.  These kids are getting talented with the scissors.  They can all cut out their own shapes now.

We used star stickers to create the starry sky.  Tinfoil windows gave our rocket ships a spacey effect.

"3.....2.......1........                     BLAST OFF!"

Song for today-  Rain Dance by Adiemus.  Happy Monday! ♥♥♥
PS. Please say a prayer for Chloe, our kitty.  She has been missing since yesterday and the kids are concerned.  I don't think she is playing the "Where's Chloe" game this time...

"I'm Bored."

It's hard to be bored.  I find it a challenge when someone confesses with despair those two words.  "I'm bored."  When my own kids tell me that, they are assigned a chore.  I can't just go and assign a chore to the kids under my care, now, can I?  To counteract any child who declares boredom, I keep certain toys and activities put away.  Usually up high or tucked into a cabinet that they don't have access too.  Like the giant floor puzzles.  They are great at creating a boredom diversion.

Sometimes just offering a suggestion for a different way to use a familiar toy is helpful!  The kids created mega block body outlines.  Each child anxiously waited for their turn to lay down.

It is very helpful if the items that are stored away as boredom busters are actually fun.  A couple of years ago, I purchased this tube of wooden Tinkertoys at a yard sale for fifty cents..  They are so good at keeping kids happy and for the price I paid I consider them to be my best purchase ever.

If you have construction paper on hand, or newspaper, or paper towels, wrapping paper, toilet paper tubes, ANYTHING.. let a child create something from their own imaginations.  We call that "free art".  Yes, it will cause mess, but the boredom will be busted.  That is a success!

Song for today is my favorite version of "Let The Sun Shine" from the musical 'Hair'.   I love how that guy smiles when he realizes he is surrounded by music.  Happy Friday!♥♥♥

Egg Free Spiced Pancakes

The griddle has renewed my enthusiasm for pancakes.  We tried a new recipe that I was excited about because it is egg free!  Not excited because of health reasons, but because sometimes we run out of eggs.  (No chickens in our back yard.. pout..) Also because pumpkin pie spice was on sale around Thanksgiving and I purchased a larger tin than normal. 

Here is the recipe!  I signed up for email delivery from Taste Of Home, and they send me a recipe for the day.  That is how we came to try this one.  Easy squeezy, and just the right amount of spice.  I made one and a half batches, it made 13 pancakes.  With my small numbers right now, that fed all of the kids breakfast for two days.  2 pancakes each.  This recipe earned a spot in the recipe tin!  Do you write notes on your recipes?  I do, it is so helpful later on. 

Song of the day today- Toni Basil "Mickey".  Happy Thursday!  ♥♥♥

A Good Morning Swing

Oh my goodness, it was dark this morning at the bus stop!  Suddenly, just like yesterday, a beautiful sunrise began.  My iphone camera doesn't do the sunrise justice.  Strangely enough, it was gone almost as soon as it began.  The clouds rolled in.

I have been enjoying the morning walk to the bus stop.  I guess I am now a morning person.  These guys are usually happy during our walk, too.

 It was 50 degrees this morning at 8am!  We decided to sneak over for a morning swing.

 It was invigorating!  What a great way to start the day! There were fisherman out on the lake, so we tried to keep our voices down. 

 So peaceful, the slides were dry, too. 

We highly recommend a good morning swing.  Wheee!  I enjoyed my turn, too.  Happy Wednesday. ♥♥♥

Song of the day is Jack Johnson- To The Sea.

Cut And Paste

 Does anyone remember the smell of paste?  It comes in a giant tub, and if I remember correctly, it would dry and crack, leaving little hard bits of paste everywhere the project was carried.  When I was a kid I loved the smell of paste.  Does anyone even use it anymore?  All of the worksheets still say "paste".  Funny..

 ANYWAY- we used a worksheet to brush up on some color recognition, coloring in the lines, cutting with scissors and gluing.

It can be hard to teach a little on how to use scissors.. Visions of bloody fingers always keep me on edge the first couple of times.  These kids did a great job!  No bandaids needed.  Phew!  It is January now, and we will be diving full force back into preschool now that all of the Christmas to-dos are out of the way.  Back to the grind- just the way I like it. Meanwhile, I think I will start posting a song of the day on this blog.  Here is one for today.  Sandy Thom- Punk Rocker.

Happy Tuesday!♥♥♥

Happy New Year

 Another year, another earful of people promising to do this or that.  Not me.  One day at a time- short term goals are my kind of thing.  I am happy to say goodbye to 2011- it was a year of great memories, and even greater reminders that we are not in control and should never get too comfortable.  I learned that I shouldn't cry over spilled milk, especially when it looks like an anteater with a dolphin tail.  Snap a photo and have a laugh instead..

I am going to continue to give my every day to God, praising Him for all of the blessing we have been given.  I'm going to thank Him each day that I can work hard, no matter how full or empty my home is.  ♥♥♥