fly to my window

teacher appreciation day

2011-05-04T16:41:00.010-04:00

Easiest Teacher Gift Ever!

Put a Starbucks gift card inside a Grande cup with lid.

Print a flower and add text to it that says

"Thanks a LATTE for teaching me!"

Tape to the green lid plug,

and insert for a cute gift that any teacher would love!

v-day 2011 Handmade Valentines/Cards

2011-03-06T20:16:00.010-05:00

Trader Joe's Strawberry Fruit Leather

Construction Paper Rectangles, Triangles, Flames, Double Stick Tape

Teacher's Gifts for Valentines Day:

Trader Joe's Truffle Filled Hearts (Delicious and Cheap)

with a Rocket taped to the box.

halloween school party snacks

2010-11-04T23:48:00.012-04:00

Halloween finger Jell-O

3 layers:

Black (3 grape + 1 lime), orange cream, orange transparent

Follow directions for Jell-O Jigglers,

Pour 1st layer into a 9 X 13 sprayed glass pan and refrigerate for 20 minutes,

tap with your finger and when "tacky" and firm carefully pour next layer,

*Orange Cream is made from mixing the orange jiggler recipe with 1/2 container of Cool Whip*

refrigerate for 20 more minutes, and then add the last layer.

Chill overnight covered with plastic wrap.

Halloween Bone bread sticks

Use Pillsbury refrigerator bread stick tubes.

Separate the bread stick dough and carefully stretch each piece into long strips.

Tie a knot at each end.

Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.

Bake as directed on tube.

tea wreath

2010-03-12T09:00:00.006-05:00

kojo designs made an easy & most lovely tea wreath!

how convenient to unclip a tea bag that is so easily visible.

this would make a fantastic teacher's gift next Christmas.

i can't wait to make one!

http://kojodesigns.blogspot.com/2010/03/kojotutorial-tea-tea-tea-kitchen-wreath.html

valentine buttons

2010-02-22T21:54:00.007-05:00

1. gather pretzel rings

2. place pretzels on a Silpat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet

3. enlist children to unwrap a bunch of Hershey Kiss Hugs

4. balance a Hershey's Kiss Hug on the center of each pretzel

5. bake @200 degrees for 10 minutes while child salivates

6. while still warm push a M&M into the center of each Kiss

just enough for it to spread out and fill the entire pretzel

7. Place the entire cookie sheet in the refrigerator for

10 minutes until chocolate is firm to the touch

8. Pop off the Silpat and enjoy!

pinch me

2009-12-26T23:06:00.011-05:00

I made two of these frog-like coin/candy holders.

My boys thought they were fantastic and had fun putting a few quarters inside.

Here's where I got the idea

http://sometimesshesleeps.blogspot.com/2009/11/kiss-holder-christmas-ornament.html

Cut 3- 10holes X 10holes

Hold the tail along the backside as you stitch diagonally.

Run 3 whip stitches through each corner square

You need 2 squares that have 2 edges finished and

one square with all 4 edges unfinished.

Line up and whip stitch two unfinished edges together.

Look at photo above to figure out which squares to use.

These two unfinished edges just need to get stitched together

and you're done.

Hot glue google eyes and pinch cheeks to reveal a hidden treasure inside!

december 1

2009-11-30T22:18:00.014-05:00

Let the countdown to Christmas begin! The kids are tucked in bed asleep and now is the time to get a few things out for the beginning of our Advent celebration. Here is a list of the activities that show up behind our Advent doors each morning. http://www.scribd.com/doc/23411321

I'm trying for consistency with many special things we do for the holidays. I want my boys to grow up with traditions, excitement & anticipation. Christmas is packed with things we'll repeat each year. Here's a new tradition we're starting with "Elf on our Shelf". I've seen this idea on numerous blogs but was originally inspired while reading http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/11/elf-on-shelf.html.

I didn't buy the story book this year

http://www.elfontheshelf.com/#/home

but did find this little Japanese cutie on EBay.

He'll show up tomorrow morning on a shelf in our house, will watch over the boys for 24 days and report back to Santa Christmas Eve night. Moving around the house when no one is looking will help him keep a keen eye on who's been naughty or nice.

Another tradition we're beginning is that I'll be wrapping 24 Christmas themed books (off our bookshelf) tonight and placing them under the tree for tomorrow. I read about this idea on http://theidearoom.blogspot.com/2009/11/christmas-books.html and fell in love with it!

Each evening before bed the boys will take turns opening that night's book and will enjoy a beloved Christmas tale.

The same 24 books will be wrapped and opened each year. I think this will be a great way to make our Christmas books special and memorable.

We will also be making a paper chain tomorrow with 24 links. Each morning the boys will rip off a link and have a visual to the remaining days until Christmas.

{I'm feeling quite prepared this year}

All Christmas gifts bought (Check!)

Outdoor Lights Hung (Check!)

Christmas decorations inside setup (Check!)

Christmas Tree up (Check!)

Christmas Cards bought and ready to be sent (Check!)

Preschool Parties @ school planned (Check!)

December Birthday boy's party planned and prepped (Check!)

What's gotten into me?

I'm the queen of procrastination!

50 free 4x8 photo cards

2009-11-16T20:57:00.007-05:00

It's the real deal. I just ordered 50 free 5x7 photo cards.

{including shipping}

from

www.seehere.com

My subtotal came to $40.50 and when I entered this coupon code

freebies4mom-1109

my total came to $0.00

Here's an idea for those that already ordered Christmas cards and don't need 50 photo cards... Just insert a photo into a blank photo card and get 50 5X7 prints for free! That's what I did! The site ran very slow during the day but was a breeze later in the evening.

Hurry...Offer valid until Nov. 30Th.

NOTE:

I JUST READ THAT THEY ARE ONLY OFFERING THIS FOR 4x8 PHOTO CARDS NOW, DUE TO A HIGH VOLUME OF PARTICIPANTS. YOU CAN GO TO THIS SITE FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://freebies4mom.blogspot.com/2009/11/50-free-photo-cards-faq.html

batty

2009-10-24T22:11:00.017-04:00

I'm making 25 silly bats for the boys' halloween parties

look like fun? here's how:

visit

http://creationsbypatti.blogspot.com/2009/10/batty-for-you.html

for a great tutorial and pattern to print

Visit

http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=116802

to purchase the "sweet treat cups".

cut a pattern

trace & cut on black card stock

add google eyes & use a white opaque marker to add details

fill the "sweet treat cups" with 5 candy corns & apply to bat's belly

fold wings in

spaghetti dogs

2009-08-19T23:27:00.011-04:00

Isn't this the weirdest thing?

It took me a few minutes of staring to figure out

how the flexible spaghetti got into the firm hotdog

before reading these steps. It's like lunch and crafting rolled into one!

http://myplumpudding.blogspot.com/2009/05/spaghetti-dogs.html

Lunch was LOVED today.

We used nitrate-free hot dogs and thin spaghetti.

Next time I'd use thicker-whole grain spaghetti for a healthier lunch.

Step 1: cut hot dogs into 1" pieces & break spaghetti in 1/2.

Step 2: Carefully thread the spaghetti into and through the hot dog.

Step 3: place in a pot of boiling water and cook according to your specific pasta cook time.

cutest little plate

2009-07-30T00:03:00.003-04:00

I bought this plate from Catching Fireflies http://catchingfireflies.typepad.com/catching_fireflies/2009/06/gifting-gumshoe-feature.html

My boys are having so much fun creating silly faces with their peas and potatoes! Vegetables taste so much better when they can be played with! I served my little one's birthday breakfast on his new plate and they had a lot of laughs!

my favorite craigslist finds

2009-07-29T23:34:00.007-04:00

I love finding deals on Craigslist!

Here are a few fantastic things I've found...

Retails for $180.00 and I paid $75.00!

Retails for $70.00 and I paid $5.00!!!

Retails for $500.00 and I paid $125.00!

Furnished-German Playhouse retails for 200.00+ I paid $25.00!!!

Anyone else have a great find from Craigslist?

homemade laundry soap

2009-07-15T00:00:00.008-04:00

I've been wanting to do this for a while and have been recently inspired by someone on FB that mentioned she makes her own laundry soap. Making it is actually very easy! With a few products you can make your own soap batch after batch. Tide is so expensive and this method will save you a bundle! I've done 3 loads so far and everything looks clean!

Ingredients

1/2 C. Borax

1/2 C. Super Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)

1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap (Grated)

Heat 6 cups of water in large sauce pan.

Grate Fels Naptha soap.

Add to the hot water. Stir until dissolved.

Add Borax and Washing Soda.

Stir until dissolved.

Add 4 cups of cold water to a large bucket. Stir in soap mix, add another gallon of water plus 6 more cups of water. Let sit for 24 hours then stir again. It will look a little like egg drop soup. Gelatinous and watery. Use 1/2 C. for each load. (1 C. for large loads) The soap does not create suds but I've read that's okay. They say suds don't clean, the ingredients you use are the cleaning agent.

fun summer giveaway

2009-07-07T20:59:00.004-04:00

Where have I been???

I'm not quite sure, but this giveaway gave me inspirations to start blogging again.

Check out Catching Fireflies summer giveaway. Wouldn't you {LOVE} to win all of these goodies? I've been eyeing the gurgle-fish pitcher for months now! If you don't live in Michigan you can even shop Catching Fireflies online!!! Best gift shop ever.

http://catchingfireflies.typepad.com/catching_fireflies/2009/07/steamy-summer-day-giveaway.html

colored {chinese tea eggs}

2009-04-05T22:41:00.010-04:00

Step 1: Pour a tad bit of salt into each of 12 or so cups.

Step 2: add a smear of Wilton- Food Color Gel into each cup. Fill with boiling water.
Step 3: Gently 'roll to crack' 12 hard-boiled eggs. Leave shells attached to egg.
Step 4: Drop one egg into each of the 12 colors. Make sure the hot water covers the egg completely. (Tip: I placed all my cups into a deep baking pan lined with paper towel. The paper towel helped catch splatters and spills, and the baking dish kept it all contained). Leave in colored water for 5-7 hours. I checked one after a few hours, and the color was not bright enough.
Step 5: Gently peel back the shells and enjoy the unique designs. The inside of the shells are just as beautiful as the eggs!
Step 6: Okay so we had 12 peeled- hard boiled eggs stinking up our refrigerator overnight, so it was time to make deviled eggs!

Pretty and delicious. Happy Easter!

prayer rock

2009-03-28T23:12:00.010-04:00

My son came home from church last week with this craft. He has already misplaced the polished rock decorated with cross stickers, so we've been busy making more painted prayer rocks at home. I found sealing with Modge Podge worked well to make an ordinary outdoor rock smooth and polished. We'll place them in a little wooden prayer-rock box on top of his dresser. If you decide to make a one at home with your child, remember to use a Sharpie to write their name and the date on the bottom.

(what a great childhood treasure to keep forever!)

PRAYER ROCK

(Author Unknown)
I'm your little prayer rock and this is what I'll do.

Just put me on your pillow 'til the day is through.
Then turn back the covers and climb into your bed,and, whack!

your little prayer rock will bump you on the head.
Then you will remember as the day is through,

to kneel and say your prayers as you intended to.
Then when you are finished dump me on the floor.

I'll stay there through the night time to give you help once more.
When you get up next morning,clunk!

I stub your toe,

so that you will remember your prayers before you go.
Put me back upon your pillow when your bed is made,

and your clever little prayer rock will continue in your aid.
Because your Heavenly Father

cares and loves you so,

He wants you to remember

to talk to Him, you know.

healthy placemats

2009-03-28T22:50:00.005-04:00

Here's a fun idea to get your kids thinking about healthy choices. I gave my boys a few old cooking magazines to flip through and pick out all the healthy foods they love. With Nana's help N. was able to find fabulous foods for each family member that made his mouth water. We also flipped through to find appropriate words to match the theme. We glued them on large construction paper and made name labels for everyone. Laminating at Kinkos wasn't cheap, but the final result should last through many dinners to come! Now everyone has an inspiring place to put their plate!

toddler house painting

2009-03-17T23:23:00.004-04:00

My little guy loves to paint, so I thought of a great mess-free way for him to artisticly express. He loved getting a bowl of water on a warm sunny day to "paint" the brick walls of the house.

clover cupcakes

2009-03-17T23:08:00.007-04:00

Here's a quick idea for St. Patrick's Day cupcakes. Use kitchen shears to cut slices of a gumdrop candy into 3 circles. Use the remainder of the gumdrop to cut a stem.
Add rainbow sprinkles to the edge.

roy-g-biv (-i) Jello

2009-03-17T22:10:00.019-04:00

Here is a fun St Patrick’s Day treat that will be made tradition in our house. Yes, once a year is plenty to be making this Jello. You’ll be in the kitchen at least 3 hours for this one, but the end result is so worth the time.

Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking pan with baking spray. I don't like using this stuff, but I think it's necessary to have Jello that separates from the pan in the end.

Place the rainbow flavors of Jello in 6 separate bowls. Use 2 small boxes of Jello per bowl. Work with one flavor at a time. Don't try to make all the flavors at once as the Jello will solidify as you work. (personal experience) Mix 1.5 cups boiling water into the first bowl. Stir 2 minutes until dissolved. Pour 1/2 the red mixture into the prepared baking pan (it'll be a very thin layer but should cover the bottom) and refrigerate for 15 minutes. I found setting my oven timer for 15 minutes helped me keep track of all the 15-minute intervals. While the first layer is chilling in the refrigerator add a heaping Tablespoon of Cool Whip to the remaining red Jello. You don't want too much Cool Whip as your layer will be too pale, but you do want enough to make the layer opaque. I found the heaping Tablespoon to be sufficient. (note: you can also use lowfat vanilla yogurt or sour cream instead of Cool Whip to make your layer opaque)
The more room temperature your Cool whip the smoother the layer will look. This Cool Whip started out frozen so I whisked it for a few minutes to make it look less chunky. (I rarely plan ahead enough to let things thaw before baking with them) As I worked on each layer the Cool Whip thawed and became easier to work with.
When the first layer is chilled enough to be firm but still tacky, pour the red Cool Whip layer to the top. 2 notes: 1)Don't leave the layers in longer than 15 minutes. This will cause the layers to be so firm that they won't stick to each other and will cause the layers to slide off each other in the end. 2)Pour the mixture onto a spoon to elimintate the stream from breaking the surface tension of the privious layer. This will eliminate a hole being created into a layer.

When the opaque layer is added to a color and put in to chill for another 15 minutes this is the time to mix the Jello for the next color. This gives the Jello time to cool down before adding it to the next layer. If the Jello is too hot when pouring it will melt the previous layer.
After you repeat these steps for each layer (12 total...see I told you you'd be in the kitchen all day) put the final product in the refrigerator to chill at least 2 hours. I left mine in overnight covered with plastic wrap.

This is what it looks like when you cut into it.
This it the end result.

pure mischief

2009-03-17T21:22:00.006-04:00

The boys created their first Leprechaun trap last week. They were very into the story That's What Leprechauns Do, by Eve Bunting and wanted to catch one of those mischievous tiny men.
We set up our trap the night before St. Patrick's Day and N found a toy ladder to help the Wee One out.

We did attract one to our trap that night, and he did cause some havoc! Chairs toppled over, beaded chains hanging around, golden coins strewn over the house, he even painted the toenails of the boys scarlet red while they slept! The toilet was colored a shade of blue which magically turned green as N pottied on it! (cute lesson on color mixing)

"Wee Freckles" as we came to know his name even left a note for the boys upon waking. The magical wonder was almost as good as Santa Claus for the boys. They bought the whole shebang! I'm having so much fun being Mommy, and think it's so important to foster little ones' imaginations.

microwave puffy paint

2009-03-02T23:34:00.006-05:00

Easy peasy microwave puffy painting

How to:

1 T. self rising flour

1 T. salt

a dash of food color

Use small cups to make a variety of colors. I used snack sized-applesauce containers. Add enough H2O to make a smooth paste. Use card stock (I used the backside of paper plates) to paint on with a Q-tip. Pop in the microwave for 20-30 seconds

(watch to see when the "puff" begins)

Voila!

Art!

We hung the paper plates in succession on the refrigerator.

sky jello

2009-03-02T23:14:00.005-05:00

Our sky Jello did not turn out quite as pretty as

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/BChsMamaof3/557464

but none the less they were fun to make and even more fun to eat!

shadows

2009-03-01T16:38:00.007-05:00

Back in the day for one of my early childhood classes we created an elaborate shadow-puppet theater and preformed for young children in the Pontiac schools. I remembered the mesmerizing effect it had on the kids and how enjoyable it was for them to watch the shadow play. A few months ago I saw a shadow puppet demonstration on Martha Stewart and thought that it'd be fun to do that with the boys. Well...when I saw the Styrofoam packaging that was going in the trash from the new computer, I thought it was the perfect form to create a TV-like craft. N and I taped some waxed paper to the back and made theater curtains with a Sharpie...and that is how our shadow theater was born. We haven't made puppets yet...(will do someday...or just buy from http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19511293 ) but had fun collecting small objects around the house which we used to stump the viewer...daddy.

mealtime fun

2009-02-24T21:33:00.006-05:00

Here are 2 dinner games that will keep your children... if they are anything like mine, hysterically amused from beginning to end!

The "what's for dinner?" game

I found these satin-sleep masks on sale at Walgreens for $1.75 today. They are adult masks but have an adjustable strap fitting my boys perfectly. We talked about the smells and tastes of food, as I blindfolded them and placed the plates on the dinner table. I fed each food from their plate as they described its smell and taste. They then had to tell me what they thought the food was using their sensory processes. What a great way to build excitement during an ordinary meal.

Don't Eat Pete!

We played this game as a dessert game.

I placed a chunk of apple on the game board I slid into a plastic sleeve. Don't Eat Pete is commonly used as an M&M game, but I found this cute-hand drawn version at

http://candacetodd.blogspot.com/2008/12/dont-eat-pete-free-download.html

I had one boy put on a blindfold, and the other brother had to choose a character on the board to be "Pete". Then the player had to eat one apple chunk at a time until eating the one on "Pete". As soon as they picked up the apple on "Pete" we yelled "Don't eat Pete!" They thought this was intensely hilarious! It was very funny to watch them play! Oh and my oldest somehow forgot that he didn't like apples as he gobbled them up one by one! Brilliant!

duct tape to the rescue

2009-02-24T20:25:00.007-05:00

Do your child's mittens ever fall off while playing in the snow...leading to cries of mommy my hands are FREEZING? Here's a great tip I got from a brilliant mother of 4 (thanks Kate!).
S-I-M-P-L-E fix...duct tape them on!!! It worked perfectly on our trip to Northern Michigan this weekend. Try it...you'll be hooked on duct tape for winter play.

jell-O oranges

2009-02-17T23:23:00.018-05:00

Here's a cool snack idea I found at

http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/02/things-for-thursdays-jello-slices.html

It's easy to make, and my boys LOVED them. I think this will become a tradition in our house. Just scoop out the inside of a halved orange.

(I used a grapefruit spoon to scrape cleanly)

Pour in prepared Jell-O. First place halved oranges in a muffin tin to prevent tipping!

Chill for 4 hours, and slice just like an orange!

Yum Fun!

be mine

2009-02-17T22:30:00.005-05:00

To help add festive "love" to our decor the boys and I spent a morning making 3-D hearts. We attached them to white yarn, which I tied to the light fixture above our eating table. I was quite surprised that this display stayed up for a week before L decided to climb the table and rip it down string by string. I wasn't upset because it was time to take them down anyway. It was a little claustrophobic in my tiny house to have so many hearts hanging around...just helping mommy out.

The boys' Valentine gifts. (lots and lots of chocolate)

This was the surprise upon wakening Valentines Day morning for the boys. They were thrilled with a giant chocolate trout, a giant Reeses peanut butter heart for N, M&M's for L and some weird bouncing faces with fuzzy hair I picked up at Walgreens for both. My gift was a new digital-baby camcorder that E gave me a few days before Valentine's Day. It's so small and cute compared to my industrial sized camcorder from the 90's that I've been lugging around and collecting years of mini video tapes. (What am I going to to with those?)

The boys' LOVE breakfast.

Ham and pita anyone? (L's dairy/egg free breakfast...notice the leftover pasta from the night before? The slice of ham and flat bread wasn't his favorite breakfast.)

Scrambled Love eggs for N.

traditions

2009-02-12T20:41:00.009-05:00

The sense of smell can be extraordinarily evocative, bringing back pictures as sharp as photographs of scenes that had left the conscious mind.

~Thalassa Cruso, To Everything There is a Season, 1973

I'd like my boys to associated certain smells with their childhood. What better way to foster this memory maker than the smell of baking banana bread? It's beginning to become a tradition here. As soon as our bananas turn soft and brown... off we are baking again, and I never have a lack of baking assistants!

The Best Banana Bread

3/4 C butter softened

1.5 C sugar

3 bananas, blackened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

2 C flour

3/4 tsp salt

1.5 C buttermilk

(if you don't have buttermilk you can use 1 tsp vinegar in a 1/2 cup measuring cup

and fill to the top with milk. Let this mixture set for 5 minutes before adding to the recipe)

1.5 C mini-chocolate chips (optional of course)

Cream butter and sugar (by hand or with a mixer). Mash bananas and add by hand to creamed mixture. By hand add eggs, vanilla, baking soda, flour and salt. Gently stir in buttermilk and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 1.25 hours or until it tests done with a toothpick. Coarsely mashing bananas is best, and make sure they are over ripe for best flavor. If you do the majority of mixing by hand it makes for a better texture in the end. You can make one large loaf with this recipe or 2-3 smaller loafs. I find making 2 smaller loafs cuts down the baking time considerably. Adjust baking time accordingly. Let rest before slicing.

when elmo grows up

2009-02-12T20:27:00.006-05:00

A 12 ft. big bird in real life!...the wonder...the awe... the mesmerization of Sesame Street Live!

thank you very much

2009-02-12T19:57:00.008-05:00

Thank you cards are pretty high on my importance list. If kindness is extended without the opportunity of face-to face thank yous, the least one can do is take a few moments to show appreciation for such thoughtfulness via a a phone call, a visit, a hand written note...So I've begun to make sure my boys are aware of this concept and am helping them "learn" gratitude. I spend a lot of time teaching them to think of others. Here's a simple way I had N create a thank you card. I typed the majority and had him write basic parts to make it his own. The card is his traced hand holding a heart. So go ahead and remember to have your children show appreciativeness and generosity!

love day

2009-02-09T17:07:00.008-05:00

Last year's preschool recommended that ONLY "healthy" foods be brought for all classroom parties, so we made these using Whole Food's Market's strawberry-fruit strips. This year N's at a new preschool which doesn't put a lot of pressure to only send "healthy" foods for parties...so by popular vote...we went hog-wild and made his Valentines with full-sized Hershey bars! Yum!...N and I hot glued all the parts together. I also hot glued a drinking straw along the back for additional support of the head and Antennae. I think I enjoyed making them as much as happy-little N! He was involved in all steps and even "stamped" his whole name 22 times! (we made extra for cousins!)

A Valentine's Day mailbox N and I made for his Valentine card collection at preschool.

writer's workshop

2009-02-09T16:34:00.010-05:00

I don't need to teach anything to children: it is they who, placed in a favorable environment, teach me.

Dr. Maria Montessori

One thing on my list of "to buy someday" has been a child's sized desk for the boys. N is fascinated with writing and receiving letters lately, and I wanted to jump on that enthusiasm and support his pre-writing exploration. After searching online for the perfect desk I realized money didn't need to be spent, because I had 2 child's Ikea tables floating around the house the perfect size. I found the perfect little corner next to my china cabinet to set up as a special place just for the boys. A number line was taped to the wall, and a file folder labeled with each boy's name was placed on top. Inside I neatly printed the D'Nealian alphabet for reference. I also made sure to print their names and taped it to a shallow pencil-like tray. While rummaging through the basement I found packs of unused baby-thank you cards that were no longer needed. I started with each boy getting one pack of cards/envelopes to practice letter writing. I also found 2 pencil organizers in the basement and brought them up to fill with pencils, crayons, a ruler, scissors and a hole punch. Oh and did I mention that I did this all at midnight last night? Who needs sleep when you can set up a writing station for your kids? It was my light-bulb moment of "got to do this now!" The boys woke up and loved their new space. N has been there all day writing "letters" to neighbors and his Nana & Papa, and cutting away at various scraps of paper. We even squeezed in a valentine craft at the station! I'm thinking it'll be the perfect little creative corner in our house. L is another story. He quickly found the pair of scissors I put at his desk, snuck them from me and was walking around the house cutting various things that should not of been cut! Ummm....like plugged in electrical cords!!! Okay so the scissors are up high now and will be given upon supervised request. Bad idea for a 2 year old, Mommy!

routines

2009-02-02T23:24:00.014-05:00

This has been a long week. After 5 weeks of strep throat reoccurring in our house we finally put the whole family on antibiotics and am thankful for what seems to be wellness! Needless to say my boys have been watching WAY too many cartoons this winter. Being a former teacher I asked myself why I din't have more structure built into our days with predictable routines??? Why was I letting our days fall to the "mommy I'm bored...mommy what can I do"...demise? I snapped out of my laziness and finally created a routine chart for the little guys. I always said I'd do that when they got older and recently realised they ARE older! Where has time gone? With this management system there is no reason to be bored or wonder what's coming next. We used it for the first time today, and let me say that they LOVED it! Especially my 4 year old N. He craves structure and the ability to be in control of his day. He took the routine chart in his hands with full force and was so engaged and pleasant all day. With his reward stickers in hand he literally walked around telling me what he just accomplished and what he was going to do next. Here's the chart I created for our mornings.

and one for the afternoon. (Two stickers denote that Little L also did the routine along with his big brother)I slid these back-to-back in a 3-ring binder plastic sleeve. The chart is attached to the refridgerator with a magnet. The stickers will be peeled off at the end of each week and ready to begin a new week. I wonder if N's enthusiasm will diminish? Will he be just as excited next week as he was this week? Little L was just his happy- go- lucky self, pleased as pie to be doing whatever his big brother thought was so much fun! I also found out at the end of the day that while I was busy helping N with his routines Little L had a blast sticking reward stickers all over my kitchen chairs! Email me if you'd like the charts for your own personalization. I'm still new to this and am trying to figure out how .pdf links are done on Blogger??? Anyone, anyone??? :-)

the first of many

2009-01-30T13:26:00.014-05:00

So here's my first blog entry. My little space created to reflect on the memories of the day-to-day fantastical fun I have with my 2 wonderful boys. Winter in Michigan has been considerably long and cold this year. I know it's not unusual for Michigan, but I'm SO ready for spring to return. We've been dealing with cabin fever for weeks now and anxiously awaiting the return of warmth. To break up a hum-drum week, I took my boys to a local wild bird store and decided to buy a little Lucite bird feeder with suction cups for the outside of our window. We hung it, have it properly filled to the top with bird seed, and the boys are so excited at the thought of a bird flying so close to their viewing. We've been waiting each day and nothing...for weeks...nothing. Little did I know that birds have to be strategically attracted and coaxed to a feeder. The bluebird has always been one of my favorites...we keep waiting for a bluebird or any bird for that matter to fly to our window despite the frigid Michigan weather. We've yet to have a visitor but when it happens we'll all break out in the chant we've been practicing..."little bird, little bird....fly to our window"...our days are filled with sweet little moments of wonder and fun. So...here's the beginning of my mommy-blogging journey.