Winter Tree

I have the day off today and tomorrow.  (This is so strange.. the economy has finally hit Henle House.)  This might affect my future blog postings, too.  Unless something of note happens today.  We woke up to more freshly fallen snow this morning!  It is so beautiful- but I couldn't find my paper in the snow covered driveway.  I am a victim of routine.  How will I find the strength to go on?  I feel so out of the loop.. LOL
ANYWAY- we have been learning about winter. We created a winter tree.

The idea was to tear small tissue paper pieces and then fill in the tree shape.  This one takes attention to detail.  Usually we are working on coloring in the lines, this time we were working on tearing the pieces small enough to glue inside the lines. 

The finished product!  I liked this project because it took some time.  Now that we have snow on the ground, we may have to go back to our winter tree and add some cotton on top of the branches. ♥

Look at all of that snow!  *.`:*

Song for today was posted on Facebook yesterday by my niece.  Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face. ♥  Happy Monday- and if you are in Western Washington, please drive safe!

Snow Day

We are tucked into our house this morning.  The minute we woke up, our faces were practically pressed to the windows just to see if the snow had continued overnight.  We don't usually get a lot of snow in Snohomish, so when we do, we understand that this may be it for the year.

It started yesterday.  Ethan had to taste it.

There is something so peaceful about falling snow. Everything seems to quiet down.

The sky was beautiful!  The trees were beautiful.

The boys waited until we had some accumulation and then rushed out to play.  Stephanie is tucked away in Mazama at winter camp, so we are sure she's enjoying snow as well!

They spent their snow time rolling balls, then throwing them at each other.  (Boys.) Big smile...

This one, however, was too large to throw.

It was getting dark, although it was lighter than usual because of the snow.

I stepped out into the front yard.  I heard NOTHING.  So quiet.  It is as if time stands still when it snows.  Everyone safe and sound, tucked into their homes.  Us included.

Cold weather makes me want to bake for the family.  I guess that is the built in domestic part of being a mom.  Poised in the kitchen, spatula in hand, ready to whip up some hot breakfast for the cold children..  Hot chocolate.. fighting hunger in my own way.. mini muffins.

I don't like to be cold and wet, so I will just stay in the kitchen and watch it all from the window.   Happy Sunday! ♥♥♥

 Song for today is Gravity, performed live by Shawn Macdonald.

Names, Shapes & Guinea Pigs

I like to spray water on the watercolors for the kids rather than giving them a cup of water to drench their papers in.  It allows them just the amount that is needed.  Kids love to dip their paintbrush in water.  Usually that results in a paper that is torn to shreds by a constant water drenching.  Spray bottle=problem solved.

We have been reviewing our names, colors and shapes.  This was a good all in one art project.  She was pointing out and spelling her name over and over, recognizing the shapes and colors.  When she finished coloring in all of those spaces, she painted over the whole thing, creating another crayon resist.

Look who is looking at me as though I am holding him prisoner!  Lenny needed his nails clipped.  We love these guinea pigs, they are so cute.  If we don't keep up on his nails, they end up too long and curl up underneath the paws, causing discomfort for the pigs.  Stephanie usually holds him and I do the clipping.

He didn't fight us... Look at him just taking a break!  Lenny. ♥

This is our piggie cage.  Every time the pigs see me they associate me with treats for them.  Twister always climbs up the plexi glass and waits for whatever I have for him.  Usually a carrot or apple slice.  These pigs are great for the kids to see and pet.  They go outside on the grass in the summer, and occasionally join us for group time.

Guinea pigs are wonderful.  Kudos for our daughter Stephanie for purchasing the first one while I was out of town.  Otherwise I would've said, "NO."  We loved our Twister so much, we couldn't wait to purchase another one.  They require a cage cleaning once per week, fresh food and water every day, Timothy hay, occasional fruits and veggies, and attention.  They love to be pet!

Song for today is The Guinea Pig Song from Youtube.  All of the kids love to watch this and laugh.  Happy Friday!♥♥♥

9 Purple Grapes

I do like the convenience of a preschool worksheet, but it is so much more intriguing to get out the construction paper and create what we are learning.  We glued 9 Purple grapes.  The girls cut out their own leaves and stem.  It's great to allow the kids to do that themselves when they can.  Soon I think I will have them start tracing their cut outs as well.  They are very proud of a project that they have completed from start to finish- no 'teacher art' allowed!  (Age appropriate.)

We have very small numbers right now, but are still plugging along in our preschool schedule.  If you know anyone who is looking for preschool childcare, I have a full time spot available!

 Last night it was Fashion Disaster night at AWANA.  We look forward to this night all year!  Here is what we wore.

Here is what we wore last year.  Wow- I have lost weight.  We were exceptionally disastrous, weren't we?

Our Chloe is missing.  For real this time.. I think an eagle may have gotten her.  Eagles don't usually go after cats and dogs, and being that they have a lake to catch fish in, the eagle theory is not likely.  She was a good kitty, always letting the kids pet her.. playing the "Where's Chloe" game with us..  we are still hoping she will return, but it has been five days now and the temperatures have been freezing.  ♥

Someone else we know has been exceptionally lovey and attention seeking lately.. We think he misses Chloe, too.  Funny how he just HAS to beg me to open the door even though there is a perfectly good cat door directly to his right.. what a spoiled baby.  We love it. ♥♥♥

Song for today- Heavy Storm by First Aid Kit.  Happy Thursday!♥♥♥

Find The Jaguar

Look at the sunrise this morning!  Brrr, it is very cold and everything is frosted over.  That usually means we have a clear sky and the sun will come out.  YES.  I will be standing in it soon.

 We have been learning the letter Jj and the color purple.  We decided to create a Find The Jaguar game.  We used paper towel tubes.  One tube per child, cut the tube in half and staple the halves together to make a set of binoculars.

 The girls used purple tissue paper squares and purple glue from the gluesticks to cover the binoculars.  They fished out a purple marker to write their names on the binoculars upon completion.

 The gluing of squares took a while.  It was nice.  They paid attention to detail.

 I went online and printed out a couple of copies of a jaguar photo.  Jaguar starts with Jj.

I wrote out the game instructions on the back of the photo so the kids could take their games home and play with siblings or parents.  Then I covered the photos front and back with packing tape to protect them from damage.  Contact paper works well to laminate papers, too.

 I hid the jaguar, and she went off in search of it.  It is a little more difficult to find something when you are only looking through the binoculars, so it was fun!

Meanwhile, Aiden has been stuffing his feet jammies with stuffed animals and blankets so he can throw himself onto the floor and slide.  Inventive!

The song of the day is Barton Hollow, by The Civil Wars.  Happy Wednesday!! Tonight is Fashion Disaster Night at AWANA. ♥♥♥

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...