3 Bears

The book this week was Goldilocks and the 3 bears – spellbinding and a tad on the scary side (when read with great drama) but a great starting point for all kinds of fun!

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Monday was a little crazy so all we managed was eating “porridge” (cream of wheat) for breakfast. Both of the kids thought it was great!

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Tuesday was a spur of the moment visit to our friend’s house where we shared our craft idea and their space. We made a “texture bear”, putting eggshells and coffee grounds on a bear shape. Why these two items? Because that’s what we had lying around.

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Ivy LOVED squeezing out the glue. I forgot to read the story this day but Grammy saved the day with the bear story on CD that they listened to on the way home.

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Wednesday was another craft – character masks. We practiced talking with the different voices.IMG_5854

Flora played Goldilocks.

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Thursday we explored temperatures, chairs and beds – just like Goldilocks. Here we have water that is hot, cold and “just right”.IMG_5862 

Lance tried papa bear’s water before I could stop him and discovered that it was “too hot.” Ivy wouldn’t touch it after that. A sip of mama bear’s ice water helped and then they both drank baby bear’s water all up.

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This bed was supposed to be “too lumpy” but it seems it was “too bouncy” instead. This was right before naptime and I tried to convince them that their beds were “just right” but I guess they weren’t as tired as Goldilocks because they didn’t fall fast asleep until I had read a lot of books.

Today was another take on the bear theme. We went on a “bear hunt.” This is another book from the library that we have been reading. Brian does such a good job that Ivy is half scared of finding the bear but both kids adore having it read.

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We went down steps, climbed over a wall…

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waded through the water, ran across a grassy “field”….

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and found a bear in a dark cave!

It has been so much fun doing these little projects with the kids and they love it! I enjoy watching their little brains make new connections and have something to tell daddy when he gets home. Thanks to all who submitted ideas, time, items or encouragement.

5 in a row

Years ago I did a little curriculum with my younger brothers called “5 in a row.” The concept was simple – you read the same book five days in a row and do a project each day that was related to the book. With some encouragement and ideas from my mom, I decided to try it out with my own kids and whatever books I found at the library. So far I’ve done 1 week with some success.

Book: Down by the Station    by Jennifer Vetter

This book explored different types of transportation with fun, colorful pictures and parody on the original verse of the song.

Day 1: Trip to the fire station (actually a spur of the moment trip because the library wasn’t open yet and the station was next door).

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Afterwards we colored in the books they gave us

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The next day we drove to a highway construction site to watch the bulldozers work. God provided a great place to pull off where there was a lot of action. Lance was sure disappointed when we had to leave.

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Close up of the trucks – we watched an excavator, dump trucks, bulldozers, a sprayer and some flatbed semi trucks.

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Third day was boats. We had some friends over, folded paper sailboats and launched them in a nearby pond. The wind was nil so they mostly floated next to the shore. Lance was very intrigued.

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Last day was the rocket (I know, this was only four days but I started late due to the library being closed on Monday). Lance was very excited about this project though I’m not sure he knew what would happen.

Rocket launches need video so here goes.
Disclaimers: No kids or animals were harmed in the making of this movie. Pardon the outfit, we had just been jogging. Pardon Lance’s outfit (or lack). Life happens, and so do accidents.

 

Coming later this week: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears

Music Class

A friend gave me some materials for a music class so I took the plunge and started it up this week.

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There were four moms (including me) and 8 kids (with baby Flora).

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We did songs about chores around the house and learned about high and low sounds. Here we are “dusting” with our rags.

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At the end we rocked our animals to sleep.

 

And because this post is on music, here is a video of Ivy singing “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Listen very carefully and if you know the song you can make out the words.

Easter

Hunting eggs at my parents house – the kids loved it! They had so much fun we hid eggs 5-6 times!

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Reaching way up high!

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Telling the cat he found it first

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See my eggs?

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Hooray!

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Flora liked the basket….

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…cousin Jenny enjoyed the eggs.

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At the end Ivy wound up on the trampoline and discovered a new game with the eggs.

The highlights of the egg hunts. Hope you can understand what they say – it’s pretty cute!

Bluebonnets

Lance:

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Near Daddy’s work – such a handsome fellow!

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I want you!

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My little man.

Ivy:

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Nature girl

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Sisters

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She lights up my life!

Flora:

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Sleeping beauty

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Adorable baby

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Such a joyful smile!

The “twins”

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May I have this dance?

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A friend loves at all times…

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Always there for each other.

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Behold (see this and know!) children ARE a blessing from the Lord!

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