Over & Under

At the little red table this morning are some fall themed foam beads and pipe cleaners.  These foam beads are hard to string onto anything without a firm pointy end, so pipe cleaners work really well.   

The kids have been enjoying the yard sale Tinker Toys, too!  It was a really great purchase for only $.50.  These are the classic wooden ones, too.  

Last week we skipped this concept worksheet, and yesterday was the perfect day to complete it.  I'm glad I set it aside.  The idea is for the kids to look at the item and glue it either over or under the tree.  

I love to see a table full of busy hands.

They each just worked through all of the pieces.

While they worked, I gave other examples.  I threw a ball of yarn over their heads and then rolled it under the table.  It is easier for some kids to learn when they see something physical. 

They colored the tree and the items.

The English language is so funny.  Over and under, to the kids, also meant above and below, on top & on bottom, up and down, they kept using different phrases to answer me when I asked them whether the item belongs over or under.   Either way, I think they grasped the concept!

♥♥♥Happy Friday!♥♥♥

Brain Freeze

It happened again.  A day where my mind just wasn't functioning.  All of my creativity was gone.  We... just... completed....     worksheets.   That's right folks--my brain was dead.  No ideas came from it.  I didn't even take many photos.  It is days like this that I really appreciate the curriculum being planned out in advance.  There is always something for me to do with the kids no matter what.  Sometimes I just don't feel like doing anything and we have a free day.  That is the joy of running Henle House.  It's all up in the air.

We reviewed the number three and the square shape.  I suppose it is nice for the kids to just practice tracing and coloring. 

The fog has been beautiful in the mornings.  I love the chill in the air.

This is what I set out on the sensory table this morning.  The kids played with it until it was time to go to the bus stop.  

♥♥♥Happy Thursday!♥♥♥

Craven Farm

We huddled together for one last question. "Who do you stay with at all times?"  They know the answer pretty well.  We were ready for a fun morning, all geared up in rubber boots.  Prepare yourselves for a photo overload!  I took 87 and tried to choose the best ones to share. There are so many great shots.  

"Can we go yet?"  Of course we can.  I love Craven Farm in Snohomish.  No entry fee, no crazy crowds of screaming tired children fighting to see everything.  No strollers blocking the way at every turn, no nonsense. No drama.  Just serenity.

I love this shot.

I did not ask them to walk in a line.  They just did.

This farm is an anti social persons dream.  That is why I love it so much! We stopped to pose. 

Every year they build small scenes for the kids to look at.  They loved the corn stalk horse.

Into the small animal barn we went to see who was inside.  This is the first time we have seen a pony here. 

There were two goats who kept butting each other. 

They each had a turn in the space shuttle!  This is a cool little space! (No pun intended.)

I love that Craven Farm has a wall dedicated to the unusual pumpkins and seasonal squash.  I brought one of them home. 

Cheeese!

To be a scarecrow, you must be serious. LOL

We don't have a mid-day bus to retrieve anyone from this year, so we had ample time to explore the farm!  We made sure to stop at every attraction. 

The Three Little Pumpkin Pigs. 

Inside of  this thing that usually houses baby calves.  (What is it called? Anyone?)

We spent a lot of time here.  Kids love this sort of thing!

I love the teepee and canoe.  I think it's my favorite play area. 

I love that kids get to play with real equipment at Craven Farm.  

Everyone got to drive the truck!

The speed boat, too!

Ahoy, matey! Pirate crossing!

I think this one was their favorite.

There was a pole inside. 

I was very happy to see a row of these nearby.  It doesn't matter how diligent I am about having everyone take a potty break before we leave.  Someone always needs to go when we are out and about.  These were close and accessible.  I didn't have to worry about hauling a group into a bathroom.  

The weather was beautiful.  Foggy!

We explored a space that we hadn't seen in the past years!

I love this arbor! 

Off into an open area we went to run around and burn some energy.

The walls of corn kept the kids contained.

We played "scarecrow".  It's an easy game, all you have to do is freeze.

It was time to go to the pumpkin patch!

Everyone took time to decide which pumpkin was the right one for them. 

They were trying to remember whose was whose.

The corn was beautiful.

I loved the apple trees that lined the fence.  This screams "Fall".

The colors of Autumn were peeking through the fog.

I couldn't resist sneaking up to see these turkeys. 

We had enough money left over for each child to buy a cookie for good behavior.  They were all wonderful!

I brought a roll of tape and a marker to label everyone's pumpkin before loading them into the van.  I also brought grocery bags with me to bag everyone's boots before they got in.  This is how I kept mud out of the van.  They thought it was funny riding in the van without shoes.  

It was another "Best Day Ever".  I seem to be having a lot of those lately, and I thank God for that!

♥♥♥Happy Wednesday!♥♥♥