Friday, March 25, 2011
Not Enough
Eating "Y" shaped pancakes with Cool Whip and blueberries, wearing BYU gear, doing a BYU craft, and singing the Cougar fight song throughout the day wasn't enough to help them win last night. I'm not crying about it, but there may be some others in this house that are...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Green/St. Patrick's Day Activities
I thought that since tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day, I'd share some of the projects/crafts we've been doing.
1. We painted a big rainbow to put up in our kitchen. I drew and cut each section then had the boys paint them...they love to paint. The next day, I had Damon cut out gold circles from scrapbook paper...he did a pretty fabulous job. I cut out the pot of gold. Then another day Damon used a shaving cream/glue mixture and played and spread it all over a blue piece of construction paper to make our cloud. It sure does brighten up our kitchen!
2. I found this wonderful blog that provides free "Mommy School" unit plans every so often. I mostly like the songs, but find a few activities and ideas to use with the boys. I went with her "G is for Green" and looked on No Time for Flashcards for "G" ideas. Tommy was hilarious, he would not color his "G" green. Instead, he turned the paper over and covered it with green markers...so I drew the "G" afterwards:) Then they glued green Easter grass on it. The other day Damon colored another "G" green and used glitter glue to decorate it. It has been nice to have some direction of things to do with the boys. I am so grateful for the internet and the generous people that post ideas online...it doesn't take long to find a quick activity for the boys!
3. Math game. I was desperate one day and remembered a game my Grandma and Grandpa made for all the cousins...a piece of wood covered in holes. You roll the dice and move your nail the correct number of holes. I think the cousins named it Jumangi! I decided to try it with the boys. I got some green scraps of paper and drew a bunch of dots in rows. We took turns rolling dice and covering the dots with tiny St. Patrick's Day stickers. Damon loved it (we've played it many times since). Tommy just wanted to play with the dice! I have since found similar games on lots of different blogs...go me!
4. Marshmallow rainbows. I found this idea on No Time For Flahcards too. I poured colored marshmallows into a bowl and the boys had to sort them into smaller bowls by color. They really enjoyed this, plus they could eat a few. Tommy kept saying, "I eat dem?!" I cut a paper plate in half and glued an arch and one color at a time, they glued their marshmallows on. Tommy did surprisingly well (his looked more perfect than his brother's). They were supposed to glue 5 then eat one...but by the end I didn't care. They wanted to eat the left over marshmallows, so we called it a "rainbow" and put in some Cheerios (gold) and raisins (pot)...Damon thought it was the best snack ever!
5. Sensory tub (another No Time for Flashcards idea). I poured dried split peas (green) into two buckets (one for each boy) then put 10 pieces of "gold". I wrote numbers 1-10 on a piece of paper then let them hunt for their gold with measuring cups and spoons. They had to put the gold on the numbers. They loved it, then just played for awhile. Some little peas escaped, but they just swept up.
6. We used Lucky Charms cereal and graphed the marshmallows. I had a difficult time finding a graph to print off...I ended up google-ing it and finally found one. It was really fun to pick out marshmallows and put them in the right box...Tommy didn't do too bad either. Then we ate our cereal!
7. We went to Story Time at the library and made a fun craft. Take a bell pepper and cut it so you can see the whole diameter...it looks like a shamrock or 4-leaf clover! We dipped them in paint and stamped them on paper. Other kids' shamrocks looked beautiful, my boys were a little messy and covered 5 pieces of paper! We hung them up for a clover field underneath our rainbow.
8. Sunday evening we made green shamrock cookies with our cookie press. Last year I tried a recipe with lime jello...it was too much for me, so this year we just put green food coloring in and used green sprinkles. For some reason I love those little cookies...no frosting on them, just plain...and you can just pop them in your mouth. Pretty tasty.
9. Of course we had to change our calendar. I found some St. Patrick's day napkins in my closet, so I cut the shamrocks out and laminated them...31 of them! We cut construction paper for the border and the boys covered it in stickers.
10. Tomorrow we plan on eating green jello and Pistachio Pudding Dessert. Damon really wants a fruit rainbow too.
1. We painted a big rainbow to put up in our kitchen. I drew and cut each section then had the boys paint them...they love to paint. The next day, I had Damon cut out gold circles from scrapbook paper...he did a pretty fabulous job. I cut out the pot of gold. Then another day Damon used a shaving cream/glue mixture and played and spread it all over a blue piece of construction paper to make our cloud. It sure does brighten up our kitchen!
2. I found this wonderful blog that provides free "Mommy School" unit plans every so often. I mostly like the songs, but find a few activities and ideas to use with the boys. I went with her "G is for Green" and looked on No Time for Flashcards for "G" ideas. Tommy was hilarious, he would not color his "G" green. Instead, he turned the paper over and covered it with green markers...so I drew the "G" afterwards:) Then they glued green Easter grass on it. The other day Damon colored another "G" green and used glitter glue to decorate it. It has been nice to have some direction of things to do with the boys. I am so grateful for the internet and the generous people that post ideas online...it doesn't take long to find a quick activity for the boys!
3. Math game. I was desperate one day and remembered a game my Grandma and Grandpa made for all the cousins...a piece of wood covered in holes. You roll the dice and move your nail the correct number of holes. I think the cousins named it Jumangi! I decided to try it with the boys. I got some green scraps of paper and drew a bunch of dots in rows. We took turns rolling dice and covering the dots with tiny St. Patrick's Day stickers. Damon loved it (we've played it many times since). Tommy just wanted to play with the dice! I have since found similar games on lots of different blogs...go me!
4. Marshmallow rainbows. I found this idea on No Time For Flahcards too. I poured colored marshmallows into a bowl and the boys had to sort them into smaller bowls by color. They really enjoyed this, plus they could eat a few. Tommy kept saying, "I eat dem?!" I cut a paper plate in half and glued an arch and one color at a time, they glued their marshmallows on. Tommy did surprisingly well (his looked more perfect than his brother's). They were supposed to glue 5 then eat one...but by the end I didn't care. They wanted to eat the left over marshmallows, so we called it a "rainbow" and put in some Cheerios (gold) and raisins (pot)...Damon thought it was the best snack ever!
5. Sensory tub (another No Time for Flashcards idea). I poured dried split peas (green) into two buckets (one for each boy) then put 10 pieces of "gold". I wrote numbers 1-10 on a piece of paper then let them hunt for their gold with measuring cups and spoons. They had to put the gold on the numbers. They loved it, then just played for awhile. Some little peas escaped, but they just swept up.
6. We used Lucky Charms cereal and graphed the marshmallows. I had a difficult time finding a graph to print off...I ended up google-ing it and finally found one. It was really fun to pick out marshmallows and put them in the right box...Tommy didn't do too bad either. Then we ate our cereal!
7. We went to Story Time at the library and made a fun craft. Take a bell pepper and cut it so you can see the whole diameter...it looks like a shamrock or 4-leaf clover! We dipped them in paint and stamped them on paper. Other kids' shamrocks looked beautiful, my boys were a little messy and covered 5 pieces of paper! We hung them up for a clover field underneath our rainbow.
8. Sunday evening we made green shamrock cookies with our cookie press. Last year I tried a recipe with lime jello...it was too much for me, so this year we just put green food coloring in and used green sprinkles. For some reason I love those little cookies...no frosting on them, just plain...and you can just pop them in your mouth. Pretty tasty.
9. Of course we had to change our calendar. I found some St. Patrick's day napkins in my closet, so I cut the shamrocks out and laminated them...31 of them! We cut construction paper for the border and the boys covered it in stickers.
10. Tomorrow we plan on eating green jello and Pistachio Pudding Dessert. Damon really wants a fruit rainbow too.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Baltimore Aquarium
A friend told me that through March, the Baltimore Aquarium has discounted tickets Friday after Five. We decided to try it out. Barrett got off work a few hours early and we headed down to Baltimore. I've lived on the east coast for 6+ years and have never been to Baltimore. It was kind of exciting! Barrett and I were drooling at all the fun restaurants surrounding the aquarium...we wish we would have planned on eating at one!
One of my seminary students told me about the Barnes and Noble store with the big guitar on it. Damon HAD to have his picture taken with it.
The boys liked the aquarium and seeing all the fish. Tommy didn't last very long before he kept saying, "Let's get out of this place." It was fun but I am so glad we went on the discounted day. I told Barrett we would never pay full price...we'll just wait for the winter months and this discount.
Some of the things the boys said while looking at fish:
Damon: Look! The fish are whistling! (he noticed their mouths pucker)
Tommy: There's a mommy...there's a daddy (when looking and pointing at fish)
Tommy: That fish is angry!
Damon kept asking me to take pictures of things...it was too dark so I didn't take very many pictures. He really wanted a picture of the shark...so we attempted it. It was a little scary!
Tommy started doing his dance fighting moves. It was hilarious!
One of my seminary students told me about the Barnes and Noble store with the big guitar on it. Damon HAD to have his picture taken with it.
The boys liked the aquarium and seeing all the fish. Tommy didn't last very long before he kept saying, "Let's get out of this place." It was fun but I am so glad we went on the discounted day. I told Barrett we would never pay full price...we'll just wait for the winter months and this discount.
Some of the things the boys said while looking at fish:
Damon: Look! The fish are whistling! (he noticed their mouths pucker)
Tommy: There's a mommy...there's a daddy (when looking and pointing at fish)
Tommy: That fish is angry!
Damon kept asking me to take pictures of things...it was too dark so I didn't take very many pictures. He really wanted a picture of the shark...so we attempted it. It was a little scary!
Tommy started doing his dance fighting moves. It was hilarious!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Winnie-a-pooh
A few weeks ago we got the old Classics of Winnie the Pooh. Tommy fell in love and we ended up keeping the DVD for an entire week. Tommy loves singing the song and we've been wanting to get it on film. This night he was spinning circles for a really long time! He was singing his favorite song too.
He has even taken up antics from the movie. The part where Pooh spits out the bees from his mouth...Tommy does that when you wipe his face...pah pah pah.
Make sure you pause the playlist on the right of the screen before watching the video...you may need to turn up the volume too.
He has even taken up antics from the movie. The part where Pooh spits out the bees from his mouth...Tommy does that when you wipe his face...pah pah pah.
Make sure you pause the playlist on the right of the screen before watching the video...you may need to turn up the volume too.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Dr. Seuss and more
March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' birthday so the elementary schools celebrate with fun Dr. Seuss stuff and Read Across America. I found a fun Cat in the Hat hat to make from No Time for Flashcards. The boys loved painting and making their hats. We were bummed they didn't fit their heads very well...I should have cut the paper plate bigger. We read a few of our Dr. Seuss books too. Yesterday at the library story time, they listened to more Dr. Seuss books and ate green eggs. I have to admit that there are some Dr. Seuss books that I just think are really weird and/or annoying, but kids really love the rhymes and rhythm and some are really good. Yay for Dr. Seuss (which isn't really his name, nor is he a doctor of anything...but oh well)!
More funnies:
1. The other day we pulled into the driveway and Damon says: Mom, when I'm bigger I'm going to have grownup glasses, a cool car, and a shirt with a skateboard and skulls.
This was totally out of the blue:) By the way, is anyone else super annoyed that skulls are on clothing for children?!! We saw a really cool shirt...a skateboarder, but he had a skull on his shirt! 4 year olds and younger don't need to be wearing skulls...not cute.
2. I was drawing with Damon the other day and he tells me I need to draw this really complicated weapon in a super hero book. I told him it was too hard to draw. His reply: Well sometimes I do hard things. It's ok you can draw it.
3. Tommy was getting dressed the other day and his foot got stuck in his pants. He said, "Where my leg go?"
4. Tommy was asking dad to fly his remote control helicopter, but the word 'helicopter' kept sounding like 'hot tub'. We couldn't figure out what he wanted to do!
5. Last night Damon was listing off his favorite super heros. Cosmo (BYU Cougar mascot) was included.
Then...
Damon: Mom, who's your favorite super hero?
Mom: uh, Dad.
Damon: Dad's not a superhero.
Mom: Then, Damon!
Damon: well, I'm not a super hero, I just look like one.
So funny!
6. Tommy put Damon's guitar on the other day and this is what he was doing. Isn't that face so cute?!
More funnies:
1. The other day we pulled into the driveway and Damon says: Mom, when I'm bigger I'm going to have grownup glasses, a cool car, and a shirt with a skateboard and skulls.
This was totally out of the blue:) By the way, is anyone else super annoyed that skulls are on clothing for children?!! We saw a really cool shirt...a skateboarder, but he had a skull on his shirt! 4 year olds and younger don't need to be wearing skulls...not cute.
2. I was drawing with Damon the other day and he tells me I need to draw this really complicated weapon in a super hero book. I told him it was too hard to draw. His reply: Well sometimes I do hard things. It's ok you can draw it.
3. Tommy was getting dressed the other day and his foot got stuck in his pants. He said, "Where my leg go?"
4. Tommy was asking dad to fly his remote control helicopter, but the word 'helicopter' kept sounding like 'hot tub'. We couldn't figure out what he wanted to do!
5. Last night Damon was listing off his favorite super heros. Cosmo (BYU Cougar mascot) was included.
Then...
Damon: Mom, who's your favorite super hero?
Mom: uh, Dad.
Damon: Dad's not a superhero.
Mom: Then, Damon!
Damon: well, I'm not a super hero, I just look like one.
So funny!
6. Tommy put Damon's guitar on the other day and this is what he was doing. Isn't that face so cute?!
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Damon's funny
We were playing Guess the Animal (a car ride favorite) the other day. It was Damon's turn and here were his clues: it flies in the dark and it holds a flashlight.
A lightening bug (or firefly...depends on where you grew up)!! Pretty cute!
We were reading the scripture John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Barrett was asking Damon some questions afterwards.
Barrett: How can you show Jesus you love him?
Damon: I can make him a card.
Barrett: What does he tell us his commandments are?
Damon: I don't know, I can't hear him!
This week for Family Home Evening, Damon was responsible for planning the activity and treats. He wouldn't tell us what the activity was for the 1 1/2 days before but would get really excited and say it was a good one! When it was time for him to tell us so we could do the activity, he lets us know that we would be taking turns drawing Superman's villains straight from a book we got at the library. Barrett and I tried to nix the idea, but Damon reminded us it was his choice and that's what he wanted to do. Bummer, he was right...why did we think a 4 year old could plan an awesome activity?!! He was really excited as he bossed us around telling us who, what, and where to draw and color. He was in heaven...and it was kinda fun:)
A lightening bug (or firefly...depends on where you grew up)!! Pretty cute!
We were reading the scripture John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Barrett was asking Damon some questions afterwards.
Barrett: How can you show Jesus you love him?
Damon: I can make him a card.
Barrett: What does he tell us his commandments are?
Damon: I don't know, I can't hear him!
This week for Family Home Evening, Damon was responsible for planning the activity and treats. He wouldn't tell us what the activity was for the 1 1/2 days before but would get really excited and say it was a good one! When it was time for him to tell us so we could do the activity, he lets us know that we would be taking turns drawing Superman's villains straight from a book we got at the library. Barrett and I tried to nix the idea, but Damon reminded us it was his choice and that's what he wanted to do. Bummer, he was right...why did we think a 4 year old could plan an awesome activity?!! He was really excited as he bossed us around telling us who, what, and where to draw and color. He was in heaven...and it was kinda fun:)
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