tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52020285835394124162024-02-07T00:25:29.498-08:00Life-Loving MamaExperiencing motherhood — as fully and as simply as I can!jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-37508543244138850762014-01-09T12:19:00.000-08:002014-01-09T12:19:19.202-08:00Back Again?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though this blog is on my mind a lot, I haven't written in nearly a year - yikes! Where <i>does</i> the time go?! The kids always keep me on my toes, plus I've been busy with a few personal struggles that take most of my remaining energy (I intend to share at a later time, just not quite yet...). Although on one hand blogging feels like another item on my t-do list, I've always found that writing is a great outlet for ME. I thoroughly appreciate any comments that you make, as I know someone besides just me is reading it! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe blogging should be one of the things I strive to do more whole-heartedly in 2014. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the home-preschooling front -- </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">NEVEN is thriving! Reading signs everywhere we go, reading full (Level 2 -type) books, basic arithmetic is really starting to click with him, writing words by himself (still a hardcore capital-letters-user, but I get love letters nearly every day!), and imaginative play is in full gear. I know what I can do to help him thrive from here, but somehow it doesn't seem as "fun" as the home-preschooling activities we were doing when I started this blog... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlthlB3TP4pG-UUpuDwEFyicOLNgJ4mtQE_IyaO8xVZBudW0YhUQNFucTwL7Zal2ZaKsvpQo3irpQ7qu35Uhy6gwELTIyEUYU0pX5wntSx-LO2tGmqGKGiex-h_oLNuP9kQrxPlMSmuew/s1600/010814e_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlthlB3TP4pG-UUpuDwEFyicOLNgJ4mtQE_IyaO8xVZBudW0YhUQNFucTwL7Zal2ZaKsvpQo3irpQ7qu35Uhy6gwELTIyEUYU0pX5wntSx-LO2tGmqGKGiex-h_oLNuP9kQrxPlMSmuew/s1600/010814e_neven.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DARIA is showing interest in learning to write her letters, and so I'm trying to use that to my advantage. Hopefully, writing here will hold me accountable for planning some focused (academic) activities with her. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow, she starts a toddler gymnastics class!</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qH394dpwSMNzXAF2GZi0i-xSfv6IJfWjrEFqCxQ97gc4CJNQ4H8xCyMjXoilk0kqDBUMGsNlTTInIYfJRDjUyMCYgnW8zCnQZcLWj0xxBNGjUjfb9widKdYklpJ7Zg50fHw8Otwdm-UO/s1600/010814d_daria.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qH394dpwSMNzXAF2GZi0i-xSfv6IJfWjrEFqCxQ97gc4CJNQ4H8xCyMjXoilk0kqDBUMGsNlTTInIYfJRDjUyMCYgnW8zCnQZcLWj0xxBNGjUjfb9widKdYklpJ7Zg50fHw8Otwdm-UO/s1600/010814d_daria.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's Activity: BAKING</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was looking for something simple to make with the kids, and came across this recipe: </span><a href="http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/gluten-free-vegan-banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/">http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/gluten-free-vegan-banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookies/</a>. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They use pretty healthy ingredients (no butter, no sugar), and turned out amazing. They also happen to be gluten-free and vegan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since once of the main ingredients is banana, they turned out a bit soggy - Not sure how they'll keep/freeze, but I'm going to try. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8Q6wB9Vx5M45tx4_jT9VbeZUEeqe1BB5payV_qhob03oFlEkvBm6x5-3DNlNdtt8jxvySO7FcoFUIzEkqb88Drgz16m4AHHc8DvwbEbRIL8zU0zhQlGCxzkfoD6EeDtIrsy5GCFpH44Y/s1600/010814a_baking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8Q6wB9Vx5M45tx4_jT9VbeZUEeqe1BB5payV_qhob03oFlEkvBm6x5-3DNlNdtt8jxvySO7FcoFUIzEkqb88Drgz16m4AHHc8DvwbEbRIL8zU0zhQlGCxzkfoD6EeDtIrsy5GCFpH44Y/s1600/010814a_baking.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven was able to help with nearly every step.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNdmvQBkCleaUlpa93N2mD1eerAvxYI8Svv_59WIZ8l-Zt7LpBZqseGZs5dNWMxc0Ol3ZixCLdEeDwM3_wJ0MzQobCdLcgo4R6iHp44VWkL3O5JSkqySjjTcd7n_R1juEvIEphHbOJo1/s1600/010814c_baking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNdmvQBkCleaUlpa93N2mD1eerAvxYI8Svv_59WIZ8l-Zt7LpBZqseGZs5dNWMxc0Ol3ZixCLdEeDwM3_wJ0MzQobCdLcgo4R6iHp44VWkL3O5JSkqySjjTcd7n_R1juEvIEphHbOJo1/s1600/010814c_baking.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big hit with the kids!</span></td></tr>
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jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-1942066178440462802013-03-16T12:07:00.000-07:002013-03-16T12:07:27.954-07:00Planned Nothing-ness<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I should be in a Gardening Class right now (my sweet in-laws enrolled me in a one-day gardening 101 class specific to Santa Fe). But I just couldn't convince myself to actually GO. I don't feel stressed or overwhelmed, in fact I'm at a very happy place in life right now. But with work and kids in preschool and our busy social life ;) ... we don't have much time anymore with NOTHING planned. <b>There was just something in me that NEEDED a DO-NOTHING day, a day to just BE with my kids and in my HOME. </b>Fortunately, Matt went to the class in my place, and I'm sure the information that he comes home with will be a gift in itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This morning, we baked cookies. The kids helped patiently at every step - because I didn't have a timeline to meet, I could go at their speed. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEIrZPL_8oaacpqeP7wCFGUzB4CkgK271RN-C5B4Y9jv3iImPE044sKv6SB5oFkZPU6dR5BaCHS7pinjMU9P_AKVP3tVRnOnOMiGbE0a_vTrjSIG9i_nQVHDP97H6rN1Ln8mqly14Uc_/s1600/IMG_5893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPEIrZPL_8oaacpqeP7wCFGUzB4CkgK271RN-C5B4Y9jv3iImPE044sKv6SB5oFkZPU6dR5BaCHS7pinjMU9P_AKVP3tVRnOnOMiGbE0a_vTrjSIG9i_nQVHDP97H6rN1Ln8mqly14Uc_/s320/IMG_5893.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ate cookies (and chocolate). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8dbqEDopsPWfS6GgVqoy04UC0ATIO0dCzlKaT7TeJ2oTXByvNeVyKWHcxaL9Oi8Kg9SovzhrgK_rDd6Se5povfnttyDgNsmWK-BZQJSaw9_NJy51KdVSjkB9vLE_aVSheJ0yblHaa4Mr/s1600/IMG_5897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8dbqEDopsPWfS6GgVqoy04UC0ATIO0dCzlKaT7TeJ2oTXByvNeVyKWHcxaL9Oi8Kg9SovzhrgK_rDd6Se5povfnttyDgNsmWK-BZQJSaw9_NJy51KdVSjkB9vLE_aVSheJ0yblHaa4Mr/s320/IMG_5897.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was able to stay tuned in to Daria's potty training, which is full-speed ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We did an art project for Dad. I was able to say YES to markers and YES to glue and YES to glitter! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgYJXnWD3Nid22Tcts1M3vytGvNHW1tcjsmbBxhqKanWZcSmizLYr_RcizMtmGZsZMNl1EDW8GyUchpsq40g1cW1yTcGpEBl6JVSAL3XLi3KulCAVehZcPhRkuYap731JB7CwyXQbfzEm/s1600/IMG_5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgYJXnWD3Nid22Tcts1M3vytGvNHW1tcjsmbBxhqKanWZcSmizLYr_RcizMtmGZsZMNl1EDW8GyUchpsq40g1cW1yTcGpEBl6JVSAL3XLi3KulCAVehZcPhRkuYap731JB7CwyXQbfzEm/s320/IMG_5895.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We played with letter magnets on the frigde (Neven wanted to spell words like Saturn and Jupiter). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Daria danced to the ABC Song.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M4ChnNm1g75WlUNjfwb_Xo_HKRE5Dt75sUwTeqZfE08zHmDQA6NrfD5bdMqravNAFdqLvbLNJSB2ZsapFRcqljj5iQl6c6vMx7PNkVx7_xcbM-bWeU4mAY8B5XwFFeeZ1iOWq70KuB-z/s1600/IMG_5901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3M4ChnNm1g75WlUNjfwb_Xo_HKRE5Dt75sUwTeqZfE08zHmDQA6NrfD5bdMqravNAFdqLvbLNJSB2ZsapFRcqljj5iQl6c6vMx7PNkVx7_xcbM-bWeU4mAY8B5XwFFeeZ1iOWq70KuB-z/s320/IMG_5901.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found the kids' Easter baskets (packed away in a holiday decorations box), got those out, and found stickees to decorate the windows. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I opened the windows and let in the fresh air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We did another art project (at the kids' request) - magnets for family visiting tomorrow. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZl5hHcHmBagOPW0YQ8X21awJPe5zd1v4Jyd1B3qy0GEYL2md7zsSrmseHeH5-kIrhyRoHg4FyAoSt29KyCsgre5vcemx9pJZlVf232uSnIhr6Is7BRUnFphuJekz3SuJ0M6-QaUmXj-A/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZl5hHcHmBagOPW0YQ8X21awJPe5zd1v4Jyd1B3qy0GEYL2md7zsSrmseHeH5-kIrhyRoHg4FyAoSt29KyCsgre5vcemx9pJZlVf232uSnIhr6Is7BRUnFphuJekz3SuJ0M6-QaUmXj-A/s320/IMG_5898.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've gotten a few chores done around the house, but that wasn't my focus. There's been no yelling, no frustrated tone from me. In fact, no squabbles between the kids either... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We ate leftover mac-n-cheese for lunch, on the floor while we played with Daria's fairy house. Right now, we're watching a movie. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSb760hAEnV0pJUb7GwtCKnS2fFpxSgOwmLeaApK8y1S5cRc_5Dr2ovdFvrAmBUkMwm7S-Tl_A4v6FEH9EGcpOf-dA78f4aCsTZh2YZidFqxZUrDCIPvsYbkKdZpGVCEtjsJUA6Al6cKb/s1600/IMG_5904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSb760hAEnV0pJUb7GwtCKnS2fFpxSgOwmLeaApK8y1S5cRc_5Dr2ovdFvrAmBUkMwm7S-Tl_A4v6FEH9EGcpOf-dA78f4aCsTZh2YZidFqxZUrDCIPvsYbkKdZpGVCEtjsJUA6Al6cKb/s320/IMG_5904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u>I needed this.</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-35113504274634746502012-09-18T15:02:00.001-07:002012-09-18T15:02:28.434-07:00Geodesic Dome Playhouse<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A project I've been wanting to do for a while now with the kids, and I figured while we are living in someone else's (kid-free) home for a few weeks was a good time to do it: build a GEODESIC DOME out of newspapers. The original idea is from <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/geodesic-dome-709386/">Disney Family Fun</a> (I found that website through <a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2011/10/newspaper-play-structures.html">Inner Child Fun</a>'s blog). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Directions: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Gather newspaper - You'll need 100 full sheets. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Make 25 logs - Lay four sheets of newspaper flat, one on top of the other. Using something like a pencil as a general guide, start at one of the corners and roll the newspaper along the diagonal. Slip the pencil out and tape the log shut. After all of the logs are made, trim the ends so that they are all approximately the same length (should be approximately 30 inches). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlJ6cMBVIYHABvBnTgsMPfnIlpRgT-WqZxqrswFTrEK2FKb_yK57GSZ-Y8hEjrKXEFE0jRd8ZfvMzu2HppeUWgoS7HypBF0zQ3j5hHf7Dq7msBwV2MAdnZ_qwvZOODxr3J-3Q0ZFQ-LaG/s1600/091812b_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlJ6cMBVIYHABvBnTgsMPfnIlpRgT-WqZxqrswFTrEK2FKb_yK57GSZ-Y8hEjrKXEFE0jRd8ZfvMzu2HppeUWgoS7HypBF0zQ3j5hHf7Dq7msBwV2MAdnZ_qwvZOODxr3J-3Q0ZFQ-LaG/s320/091812b_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Clear a large area of floorspace to construct your dome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. Staple three logs together to make a triangle. Repeat, until you have five triangles. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bsCSRAXDN4v9Aa_Srh1a3RDW36J_fpUEHHK-ZXUAylyRdUeHScW3382ZjEg_s_QJCJ6KTJnqtVSvW-SOH9rk24kkfJE4VH-ebclQ3CJEdiMp7EDum8Cbd4VjZZEVv6RgOdd7_6y6AQcd/s1600/091812c_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bsCSRAXDN4v9Aa_Srh1a3RDW36J_fpUEHHK-ZXUAylyRdUeHScW3382ZjEg_s_QJCJ6KTJnqtVSvW-SOH9rk24kkfJE4VH-ebclQ3CJEdiMp7EDum8Cbd4VjZZEVv6RgOdd7_6y6AQcd/s320/091812c_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. Staple the triangles together at the corners. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtza9d1s0NquTzE2neKxIDGsZGh7BGWxYeQp4_EZDiN-G5menQern6Zh3B9p3FbDjm-MTnE29UBDfxFV2lP6QaySE2HXgBxH2104plpgCFrWfT6I9E_Zhi5ZIoC2rWXA35LnMj4oyffprH/s1600/091812d_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtza9d1s0NquTzE2neKxIDGsZGh7BGWxYeQp4_EZDiN-G5menQern6Zh3B9p3FbDjm-MTnE29UBDfxFV2lP6QaySE2HXgBxH2104plpgCFrWfT6I9E_Zhi5ZIoC2rWXA35LnMj4oyffprH/s320/091812d_geodesic.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. Add connecting logs across the tops of the triangles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7. Staple the five remaining logs together to create a star. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvd6E77iYjUtFwChzqgm8lPdbDAu6BoZifuvFJnDlw45SKZwpxOFgbc1eDpGvaPf7Or6CPfS_nCXbDP71RF7zEflCle7dC8h3fLUTMTzmMUEGlqv-Lt2LJZHfGGn1SOpn8BQI4poFOWjU/s1600/091812e_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvd6E77iYjUtFwChzqgm8lPdbDAu6BoZifuvFJnDlw45SKZwpxOFgbc1eDpGvaPf7Or6CPfS_nCXbDP71RF7zEflCle7dC8h3fLUTMTzmMUEGlqv-Lt2LJZHfGGn1SOpn8BQI4poFOWjU/s320/091812e_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8. This is where things got a little tricky, and I needed Neven to help me - Slowly raise the triangles structure, bring ends together to create a circular fence, and staple the ends together. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUhs0UawKw2KwkIP_CjXfQvJ-rs2DcR8nDvTM4BtuA9poiOH-gojtlPjcwHdOUzo4k2MSHu6mOl6ajqwudYF_d9aKSdu8gvk_wxR-MG1UdvV50PazEXy9hxg_2FMMG-EVwQY2JJoBU1w5/s1600/091812f_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUhs0UawKw2KwkIP_CjXfQvJ-rs2DcR8nDvTM4BtuA9poiOH-gojtlPjcwHdOUzo4k2MSHu6mOl6ajqwudYF_d9aKSdu8gvk_wxR-MG1UdvV50PazEXy9hxg_2FMMG-EVwQY2JJoBU1w5/s320/091812f_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. Staple the ends of the star to the tops of the triangles (to do this, I had Neven stand in the middle and hold the star center on his head). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYiGNfjd6fC_GV9oCc9lCI9LEQz_deP3tlDxEHpW_nLYV66r5bPTWyzoaqhYx4_bI0M7m_p8WP8D7EqjkIRiV21nFXhqkQMWo4hatmn_UwvLkJNNIchoRj-4JD_n74RdAi6fTiyZoZooy/s1600/091812g_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYiGNfjd6fC_GV9oCc9lCI9LEQz_deP3tlDxEHpW_nLYV66r5bPTWyzoaqhYx4_bI0M7m_p8WP8D7EqjkIRiV21nFXhqkQMWo4hatmn_UwvLkJNNIchoRj-4JD_n74RdAi6fTiyZoZooy/s320/091812g_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. Optional: Add a blanket roof/wall. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtreaq1ZlE60xU_7cuWuzatgWbTmarbna7h31aYKVq4lhTO6OXbSE8jI4Q27jvjXHVvDsahVi5C-ZT-qHl6vi9_sfNqsdSoeXX00x8mUBOQ75RnjJiyivVIsWwbtMFaW8-LokV4EZTQCSy/s1600/091812h_geodesic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtreaq1ZlE60xU_7cuWuzatgWbTmarbna7h31aYKVq4lhTO6OXbSE8jI4Q27jvjXHVvDsahVi5C-ZT-qHl6vi9_sfNqsdSoeXX00x8mUBOQ75RnjJiyivVIsWwbtMFaW8-LokV4EZTQCSy/s320/091812h_geodesic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After thoughts: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*I only used two sheets of newspaper per roll, and they were a bit flimsy - we'll definitely use four next time! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*The weakest part of the structure seemed to be where they were joined - perhaps some duct tape to reinforce? or roll the newspaper logs along the straight edge (rather then along the diagonal)? </span><br />
<br />jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-91704109138664795172012-09-03T15:57:00.000-07:002012-09-03T16:02:42.786-07:00BIG Changes<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog post is a bit unlike any other. I've had BIG CHANGES happening in my life recently and wanted a place to get some of my thoughts out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last month: Preschool</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven started preschool. The first day couldn't have been more un-eventful for him or me (however, that afternoon/evening, filled with hyper-active excitement, was a very different story!). He goes three mornings a week. He loves it, is thriving just as we suspected he would, and is learning SO much about life. Still- a BIG change for me not to have him around 24/7... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEP-49DAXECV1dEQ-FX2svVRsFpItvxZ01Bz-EZEKr3XEb1Odly2mHyOLw-H3eeejpb7T9bh8wdeZN5odzVJKCgAFg2hUUG3bKgleE_2f5_7ZuHMlC46dhcjVuayybM8a6Nd6BQkqvHVo/s1600/082012a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEP-49DAXECV1dEQ-FX2svVRsFpItvxZ01Bz-EZEKr3XEb1Odly2mHyOLw-H3eeejpb7T9bh8wdeZN5odzVJKCgAFg2hUUG3bKgleE_2f5_7ZuHMlC46dhcjVuayybM8a6Nd6BQkqvHVo/s320/082012a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Name Change</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matt and I got married in June 2006. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSLrw7i_r_JpUwQcHLovMtUb5DV4WrcmIfkGottE5JKbZmKB7YbqiNYv0khyphenhyphenI-Dv4uSq17GNkcrQ_73mHQmVDlR-sz-nmVAUNEROP_FL5z9Lo6HYIz4r4GWoYWESf1r0Iv_kXWfShkVFY/s1600/III.B.02190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSLrw7i_r_JpUwQcHLovMtUb5DV4WrcmIfkGottE5JKbZmKB7YbqiNYv0khyphenhyphenI-Dv4uSq17GNkcrQ_73mHQmVDlR-sz-nmVAUNEROP_FL5z9Lo6HYIz4r4GWoYWESf1r0Iv_kXWfShkVFY/s320/III.B.02190.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16GvsNUauOZsL7yY8i6qh0aKDJvg0XfLx39VebK5EmfDiq0uXdXbk2PCmPQWRmq60361ldicJoN0woeyuziOPkN6jMZ1WD43iwXrKiFupNddOmpG_uWbI03UfTimC-64xMsDLsUEL5qXt/s1600/III.D.05270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16GvsNUauOZsL7yY8i6qh0aKDJvg0XfLx39VebK5EmfDiq0uXdXbk2PCmPQWRmq60361ldicJoN0woeyuziOPkN6jMZ1WD43iwXrKiFupNddOmpG_uWbI03UfTimC-64xMsDLsUEL5qXt/s320/III.D.05270.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't change my name then for a few different reasons: (1) We didn't </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">legally</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> get married at that time... it was more about the celebration and commitment to one another (we visited the courthouse later that year), (2) I was just starting in my career, and any accomplishments I had were connected to Jennifer SMITH, and (3) I was attached to SMITH - My grandma (dad's mom) had three kids: two girls and a boy. My dad had two girls. Which meant... I was the last SMITH in this immediate line (maybe the world isn't hurting for SMITHs?). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What changed? <u>KIDS</u>. I got to the point where I just wanted to have the same name as my kids. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, I finally got around to visiting the social security office to have my name legally changed to Jennifer LynnSmith Sherer, which set off a whole chain of other to-do's (change name with MVD, banks, credit cards... what else do I not yet know I have to change?). I'm not at all used to answering "Jennifer Sherer" when someone asks me my name </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(in fact, I started that "Jennifer Sm..." before I had to hit the backspace key!)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and I feel like I'm lying to them when I do! Will that feeling ever go away?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Wheeler Peak </b>(highest point in NM, elevation 13,161 ft)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What an AMAZING weekend this was! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matt and I hiked Wheeler in 2002 with a good friend. We hiked in October, and so our memories of the trail were windy (60 mph!), snow, COLD (I've never been so cold in my life!), and physically exhausting. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JtiaXuM36F28KA8KfJFF0DwDUfbwDoXJzrxO0apbSEEJzb6dZsZxrNvCCxZTXTMhkPQgvC9OccbqgRMB6WYPV3V17HjReFC_O9qV5KzAAzMCt6almp1CadRfKESlB6z1DRlKYH_P_g6Q/s1600/wheeler04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JtiaXuM36F28KA8KfJFF0DwDUfbwDoXJzrxO0apbSEEJzb6dZsZxrNvCCxZTXTMhkPQgvC9OccbqgRMB6WYPV3V17HjReFC_O9qV5KzAAzMCt6almp1CadRfKESlB6z1DRlKYH_P_g6Q/s320/wheeler04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we planned to hike again, I was unsure of what to expect - I haven't been in what I consider good aerobic shape since 2008 and we haven't been hiking for any significant length since 2007, and so I doubted myself being able to make it to the top without being completely exhausted. But hiking Wheeler had become SO important to me - for the first time since 2008 (notice the pattern?) I had the chance to do something for ME, to accomplish something for ME. And not because I haven't been able to, but because I haven't been ready to put ME first in a long while (I'm VERY ok with that decision, and wouldn't change it f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or the world!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We woke up at 5:00 am, silently got ready while the kids slept on, then traded places with our sweet friends Diane and Pete, who had made this hike possible for us. We drove to the trailhead, prepped our small packs, and put on jackets in the darkness. Then Matt read this passage to me: </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>"Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself. This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here's where things grow."</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #d0e0e3; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From <i>Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance</i>, by Robert M. Pirsig</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We started hiking before dawn. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hike was truly SPECTACULAR! With the above passage in mind, I tried my best to stay in the moment, both with MY being and hiking, and just BEING with Matt. We had a slow, steady pace for the entire 4-hour, 8-mile hike to the peak (stopping only once to sit down and rest). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The climb of switchbacks Matt and I both had </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">remembered</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> as so grueling the first time around was marked this time by the breathtaking </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">panoramic</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> views and fat, fearless marmots alongside the trail. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUr33i503-fHfAj94XUb4E__0f9Ip7izRHFtuc-xrANST2jIK7BZhu6AlvTPPuPjqKLthP0bLt2i-nKnzKQlzdSgdi6fN_ItsNMDH6Ynx8aevtq7sjnmB7Lw1n6raqiyKkKhd1xPK8KCJ/s1600/IMG_4839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUr33i503-fHfAj94XUb4E__0f9Ip7izRHFtuc-xrANST2jIK7BZhu6AlvTPPuPjqKLthP0bLt2i-nKnzKQlzdSgdi6fN_ItsNMDH6Ynx8aevtq7sjnmB7Lw1n6raqiyKkKhd1xPK8KCJ/s320/IMG_4839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stumbled upon a pack of a dozen or so longhorn sheep (including one tiny, fuzzy baby!), and were able to observe them without disturbing them for a good while before leaving them to continue their morning snack. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Literally way before I thought it was time, there it was - Wheeler! - only about half an hour away. And still, we hadn't seen another human soul since we left our room that morning. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7KBywxdnsSsbtO035HcIBjlnXUhI3OAFT7LlWYkUaIkEdkxefxXgTnjFq2Ik1PwKh7rY8praEjf-CJw3W6bOVViW2qqEfe6ZJUFmRLtqNfp0Zpxo2OrbsCmwDwOKfXmvZGu0DTmOh0bv/s1600/IMG_4859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7KBywxdnsSsbtO035HcIBjlnXUhI3OAFT7LlWYkUaIkEdkxefxXgTnjFq2Ik1PwKh7rY8praEjf-CJw3W6bOVViW2qqEfe6ZJUFmRLtqNfp0Zpxo2OrbsCmwDwOKfXmvZGu0DTmOh0bv/s320/IMG_4859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We made it to the top by 10:00 am. We spent about half an hour there, (me) in bliss, watching the storm clouds tumble in (there wasn't more than a single cloud in the sky when we first arrived), drinking water, and smiling at our accomplishment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Work</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starting in October, I'll no longer be a full-time stay-at-home mom: I got a job. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since quitting when Neven was just a few months old, I knew this day would come. But I couldn't help to wonder... Does "that part" (the scientific part) of my brain still work, or is my most valuable skill now growing and nurturing little people? Will anyone want to hire me after taking a three year leave? How will I manage to convey my skills in an interview, not having talked about hydrology in years? </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past few months, I've been putting a few feelers out there in case an ideal opportunity came along. And it did -- in the form of a friend who works remotely from his home office in Santa Fe, who also happens to be a hydrogeologist and dad of an 18-month-old. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is very bittersweet for me - I will MISS my one-on-one time with Daria (although this just started when Neven started preschool, and I will still have one morning with just her), </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the chunks of free time I've been able to find to be creative through crafting, and the freedom of no schedule (although that went away with Neven starting preschool). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am GRATEFUL (and this is the part I'm trying to focus on) to have had the past 3+ years as a FT SAHM, to have found something in my field, to have somewhat stumbled upon a great opportunity, and to have the luxury to start back part-time with the option to work remotely. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Next up: California</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon, we're headed to California to house-/dog-sit for close friends of ours while they galavant around Europe. I'm really looking forward to the ocean, beach, farmer's market produce, and more beach time. We'll be there for three weeks! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're driving, in our Impreza. Maijer is coming along (which pretty much means nothing besides the dog fits in the hatchback space, thank goodness for our roof rack!). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Driving in an Impreza with a dog, two kids, Matt's two work computers, clothes for four, toys... </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">means some planning ahead of time. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm on top of packing and prepping, there's even a spreadsheet (who's surprised?). But until I get those last-minute things (like the kids) into the car, I won't feel "ready." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay tuned... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-58149035935876216312012-08-16T08:04:00.001-07:002012-08-16T08:04:38.557-07:00DIY Bean Bags<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Truthfully, these bean bags were inspired by my indecisiveness - I didn't decide whether or not I was going to a birthday party until the last minute, then realized I wanted to take along a gift! I found an idea similar to this one online, and altered the pattern to fit my needs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part I: Decoration</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The decoration for on these bean bags could be anything - animals, trucks, different colors, printed fabric... </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here, I used letters to spell our friend's name. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Cut 3x3-inch pieces of fabric for the letters; you'll need one piece per bean bag. I used muslin, then tie-dyed letters using sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol (full how-to <a href="http://theartgirljackie-tutorials.blogspot.com/2011/10/tie-dye-t-shirts-with-sharpie-markers.html">here</a>). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Part II: Making the bean bags</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Cut 6x6-inch pieces of fabric for the bean bags (shown here, purple); you'll need two pieces for each bean bag. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Using a decorative zig-zag stitch, attach the decorative fabric to the center of a 6x6 square. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjNv7YvOuzjtpgXgI80XHKUAnDMVIA9M0r-ykb731WMFDw5pZb_xO_ui9tJ5LxCr2Zl5iJyrLifarJHBFzrEvxXBzNCLQxLuedRGTY3O7qyoalJ3IfkcqoQg72-89dPUOuT5Rrw1GXNhu/s1600/IMG_4710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjNv7YvOuzjtpgXgI80XHKUAnDMVIA9M0r-ykb731WMFDw5pZb_xO_ui9tJ5LxCr2Zl5iJyrLifarJHBFzrEvxXBzNCLQxLuedRGTY3O7qyoalJ3IfkcqoQg72-89dPUOuT5Rrw1GXNhu/s320/IMG_4710.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. With right sides together, sew one blank 6x6 square to one decorated 6x6 square, leaving a 2-inch opening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOuQEIyYli-HmiaphHyEUcDXu_VUHhBjB1yBj4Mo2qXiqtcdm5MvNNX2KTCRbUn2OsGa3OBEzDsdeIEhAtmbvQI9SlMZaxtJqFIVL4Ja_LuXcHzYAOBhxcPkEW1HqUJLJBfDEoMheZCvq/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOuQEIyYli-HmiaphHyEUcDXu_VUHhBjB1yBj4Mo2qXiqtcdm5MvNNX2KTCRbUn2OsGa3OBEzDsdeIEhAtmbvQI9SlMZaxtJqFIVL4Ja_LuXcHzYAOBhxcPkEW1HqUJLJBfDEoMheZCvq/s320/IMG_4712.JPG" width="240" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Flip right side out, and iron the edges flat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Eu30CTssDjaD5gPHxkXQ_4nN4EX__5wU34VfVuCKXJsM6LdEKGFMDidxe2tR5rVQDav443HqY2VkcFV8SHnRK6jFBMd_5WsM5qvJYJ_4X2gVblsCAIhCuxAdwbOIcYoW2a-fGARfe3h/s1600/IMG_4713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Eu30CTssDjaD5gPHxkXQ_4nN4EX__5wU34VfVuCKXJsM6LdEKGFMDidxe2tR5rVQDav443HqY2VkcFV8SHnRK6jFBMd_5WsM5qvJYJ_4X2gVblsCAIhCuxAdwbOIcYoW2a-fGARfe3h/s320/IMG_4713.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. Fill The bean bag. I used a combination of dry pinto, black, and garbanzo beans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6. Topstitch around the edge. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBpQkF-aKis_lx0i6lksD6NrZoePtQ0MgQpc291B4aWg8ybVYTD6wWR0wcRX289Pm7PiLDFWl4URrlZnwZValX7zdXWkQoy0-WifH7UM26u6KKUj4RDCj-hv7fwMGvwY-4f6CbDa6PXj0/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBpQkF-aKis_lx0i6lksD6NrZoePtQ0MgQpc291B4aWg8ybVYTD6wWR0wcRX289Pm7PiLDFWl4URrlZnwZValX7zdXWkQoy0-WifH7UM26u6KKUj4RDCj-hv7fwMGvwY-4f6CbDa6PXj0/s320/IMG_4714.JPG" width="320" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The finished bean bags! This one was for a sweet friend of ours in Taos, who was turning 2 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span id="goog_568040889"></span><span id="goog_568040890"></span><br /></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-68711941711322345112012-07-28T20:31:00.001-07:002012-07-28T20:31:52.912-07:00Kitchen Activities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here are some simple and fun ideas for involving kids in the kitchen... or just some yummy snack ideas! :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">1. Snail Snacks</b><span style="background-color: white;"> (from <a href="https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/N5/RGR/Google_15.jsp?cds_mag_code=RGR&cds_page_id=118062&cds_from_id=google&s_src=GoogleAdWords_Toggle&s_subsrc=TOG_KidsPubs_Brand_Search_YourBigBackyard_New_15plusBackpack&ssource=GoogleAdWords_Toggle&kw=TOG_KidsPubs_Brand_Search_YourBigBackyard_New_15plusBackpack_Ad-Subscribe_110711&gclid=CJ-8sdKjs7ECFQ9whwodcWgAmQ">Big Backyard Magazine</a>, which we love!): </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lay a tortilla flat. Layer cream cheese, turkey, lettuce, or anything else you can think of. Roll the tortilla, leaving a bit at the end un-rolled (this will be the snail's head). Add a small dollop of peanut butter for the snail's head, then add pretzel sticks for the antennae and/or raisins for the eyes. We also used a toothpick to keep our snails from unrolling... </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbMG_xjuwfIyp3qmgek8c0LGM29lEwyjfvF-xZcE0QvO15oFec6LSjP9I7o2CTqceAsyK7dMRV3KMTgUQwQ5fX4knlMfK68MHCkYnwChfu4x2TjDUSnicD55k7XVnqplN0iSQ0RGITL6x/s1600/072412e_snails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbMG_xjuwfIyp3qmgek8c0LGM29lEwyjfvF-xZcE0QvO15oFec6LSjP9I7o2CTqceAsyK7dMRV3KMTgUQwQ5fX4knlMfK68MHCkYnwChfu4x2TjDUSnicD55k7XVnqplN0iSQ0RGITL6x/s320/072412e_snails.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2. Honey Milk Balls</b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A quick, no-bake, relatively healthy snack? My MIL gave me this recipe, remembering that Matt used to love them (he still does!). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G6hOxFKjtPuV1AMpow2QybZIhnMrZBwQlPw3_BDVtdtpYidDi9w3xnwFWX80W24wEQognZ0BJZP_Ocqo0E4HsSF-ukfDUYZrOTCJhoJjrmqLsK_mDY-gV4yU9Pctf7BaXK4k5uHu3H8j/s1600/072312a_honeyballs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4G6hOxFKjtPuV1AMpow2QybZIhnMrZBwQlPw3_BDVtdtpYidDi9w3xnwFWX80W24wEQognZ0BJZP_Ocqo0E4HsSF-ukfDUYZrOTCJhoJjrmqLsK_mDY-gV4yU9Pctf7BaXK4k5uHu3H8j/s320/072312a_honeyballs.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. DIY <a href="http://innerchildfun.com/2011/05/diy-pretend-play-cooktop-from-recylcables.html">Play Stovetop</a> </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What I used: small cardboard box, decorative paper, 1 plastic yogurt lid, 2 milk lids, 2 screws, glue, and sharpie marker. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">No real method here... just tried to make it look like the original I saw. Even though I made it for Daria, she wasn't exactly sure what to do with it. Neven, on the other hand, was anxious to play! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2B125J1FWW01IOhJCtXrFAqfXOD1u_ohyufqD8zOLqEQtHK1xiN_nNTbeE5QBXlRIhPml8B7fXPe3oMTdejzunJ9bguuMA8u60RW3KE0A4x_3CJC_eZ5DK8W_g8UMZRmIfp4bSNr4NHa/s1600/072312c_stovetop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2B125J1FWW01IOhJCtXrFAqfXOD1u_ohyufqD8zOLqEQtHK1xiN_nNTbeE5QBXlRIhPml8B7fXPe3oMTdejzunJ9bguuMA8u60RW3KE0A4x_3CJC_eZ5DK8W_g8UMZRmIfp4bSNr4NHa/s320/072312c_stovetop.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Milk --> Yogurt --> Cheese! </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I go in and out of phases where I make our own yogurt. We haven't made it for a while, and I figured this was a good time to talk to Neven about how it happens. BINARY FISSION was used in conversation between Matt and Neven at the breakfast table this morning... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>To make yogurt in your crock-pot (original recipe <a href="http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-yogurt-in-your-crock-pot/">here</a>, but I've tweaked it a bit)</i>: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Turn crock-pot on low and pour in 1/2 to 1 gallon whole milk (supposedly you can use lowfat milk, but I haven't tried yet). <span style="background-color: white;">Heat on low for 2.5-3 hours, or until the temperature is 180 degF. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Turn the crock-pot off. Let the milk cool for 3-3.5 hrs, or until the temperature is 110 degF. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Remove 1-2 c of the warm milk and place in a bowl. To that, add 1/2 c of yogurt with live active cultures (I find Greek yogurt works best) and mix well. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Pour the yogurt-milk mixture back into the crock-pot and whisk </span><span style="background-color: white;">thoroughly</span><span style="background-color: white;">. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Place lid back on crock-pot, wrap entire crock in a few thick towels, and let stand overnight 10-12 hrs. </span><span style="background-color: white;">In the morning, spoon off any excess liquid pooled on the surface. Stir yogurt, then place in containers. </span><span style="background-color: white;">For best texture, refrigerate for 8 hrs before using. This recipe usually yields 2-3 quarts of yogurt, which can be stored in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1NVaa2W8edObiyeiDdaQe85_1lixWEXIT-Gmi3IfXZ-nGL8PY6IPtIDtCdkCcPVE7pFIynwSzsP3Ptlwj_ikr8fKJApSpy9X9euyv784caVRxrZ7hAm6SJAahiATzqT2uBuI8iAIn2tC/s1600/072312b_yogurt1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1NVaa2W8edObiyeiDdaQe85_1lixWEXIT-Gmi3IfXZ-nGL8PY6IPtIDtCdkCcPVE7pFIynwSzsP3Ptlwj_ikr8fKJApSpy9X9euyv784caVRxrZ7hAm6SJAahiATzqT2uBuI8iAIn2tC/s320/072312b_yogurt1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">To make thicker yogurt</i><span style="background-color: white;">: </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Follow the instructions below for cream cheese spread, but only drain for about 1 hour. </span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To make cream cheese spread</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Line a colander with 2 layers of paper towels (or paper coffee filters) and place over a large bowl. Add yogurt and cover. Let drain, refrigerated for 4-6 hrs. To collect the cream cheese, I used a wooden spoon to scoop most out from the middle, then the rest will peel away from the paper towel. Discard liquid. Store in a container with a lid in the refrigerator. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Add some honey and a dash of salt for a very yummy fruit dip! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgYu23CZMMKF6smfC9Y21bHEF1Z71Iq2S9nPMea_RdiKy9iLPhtKczJAV0ymo1L7SITNkWMaW5ko2WQPmyI34UnEvp4E6U2_IYAXwFOTWkECwSbK-IuwthH-iBTdxmCWqxbA-GLPiQSc3/s1600/072412a_yogurt2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgYu23CZMMKF6smfC9Y21bHEF1Z71Iq2S9nPMea_RdiKy9iLPhtKczJAV0ymo1L7SITNkWMaW5ko2WQPmyI34UnEvp4E6U2_IYAXwFOTWkECwSbK-IuwthH-iBTdxmCWqxbA-GLPiQSc3/s320/072412a_yogurt2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Watching the water drip out the bottom. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWSfYM-lMbbOazhbK5u_u8ookwT22ffBQKKtKgDDhduwrZjpPcXjN2n2apaBOMATWyH5Ndbl1MJYD_X7HWULEJEQK9iNfTjizovOiOizdh6ALL78zUvTB4YTXDdq2UJX8F4JYrddSjb5J/s1600/072412b_yogurt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWSfYM-lMbbOazhbK5u_u8ookwT22ffBQKKtKgDDhduwrZjpPcXjN2n2apaBOMATWyH5Ndbl1MJYD_X7HWULEJEQK9iNfTjizovOiOizdh6ALL78zUvTB4YTXDdq2UJX8F4JYrddSjb5J/s320/072412b_yogurt3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Does the yogurt on Daria's forehead count as her stamp of approval?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Rqd6ancSVN43AYPwHoA7iwu9vfz5x-PQk7x_Dpm3quWaJ3qMhFsNLx4ehOONp8EnYDsqBubGbOeoCZ4stX1V7cTEB_JR_HhVsOdg98ast5GY5GED-5TxN_B0f5A70eltPZJ8ruVIU4jp/s1600/072412c_yogurt3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Rqd6ancSVN43AYPwHoA7iwu9vfz5x-PQk7x_Dpm3quWaJ3qMhFsNLx4ehOONp8EnYDsqBubGbOeoCZ4stX1V7cTEB_JR_HhVsOdg98ast5GY5GED-5TxN_B0f5A70eltPZJ8ruVIU4jp/s320/072412c_yogurt3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Makes a great dip!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white;">5. <a href="http://www.parents-digital.com/parents/201005?pg=204#pg204">Blueberry Scones</a></b><span style="background-color: white;"> (from Parenting Magazine)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A recipe written to be kid- and dad-friendly, what could be simpler? This past weekend, not only did I get to sleep in until 8 am, I woke up to coffee brewing and fresh-baked scones! (For anyone interested... I bought the ingredients at the store, mentioned the idea of making scones to Matt, and left the recipe on the counter - still, they were YUMMY and VERY appreciated!!)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHJOHzuBMHxDYFriWDKq3sCd2t8sEdcwksYp7mU8IIifc3XKYqPz2X3_yZhrz-CriCWNAiDzl0QCERlEXKYXf6j5GVoyORPTTsQ5cevCnIWburH7I3m2o28EiqJvEzXbaZ5i8FT7sz1rf/s1600/072212f_scones.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaHJOHzuBMHxDYFriWDKq3sCd2t8sEdcwksYp7mU8IIifc3XKYqPz2X3_yZhrz-CriCWNAiDzl0QCERlEXKYXf6j5GVoyORPTTsQ5cevCnIWburH7I3m2o28EiqJvEzXbaZ5i8FT7sz1rf/s320/072212f_scones.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-21906361109928402502012-07-20T08:08:00.000-07:002012-07-28T20:39:09.882-07:00July Activities<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Feels good to finally be back into a routine where we are not only getting out and about and OUTSIDE a lot, but also DOING a lot at home. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are a lot of SIMPLE activity ideas here. My hope is that it's not overwhelming, but rather you can pick and choose to find something for your family! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Scrabble</b>: Neven picked out a video (or book, etc.) and then re-wrote the title using Scrabble letters. As he was doing this, we talked about what sounds the letters make. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Fingerpainting</b>: Always fun... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgHNuF4ms1fyHmaeNgsecnLpi_Q1yjvncgFWsvZVsOlJXxO3sRYc_qpLlMqA5HtRUl_B8aTqpZhLGVx9vG7PGRl5ig2TpdIoe8U8YMYHc2AoHDG5blmxNgBaEWW__Qh0II4WqQtJ_LGGg/s1600/IMG_4519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgHNuF4ms1fyHmaeNgsecnLpi_Q1yjvncgFWsvZVsOlJXxO3sRYc_qpLlMqA5HtRUl_B8aTqpZhLGVx9vG7PGRl5ig2TpdIoe8U8YMYHc2AoHDG5blmxNgBaEWW__Qh0II4WqQtJ_LGGg/s320/IMG_4519.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Make Penants</b> (idea from </span><a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/toddler-calendar12/toddler-calendar-jul2012.pdf" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Preschool Express</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">)<span style="background-color: white;">: G</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ive your child a penant-shaped piece of paper to decorate. Add a pole (I used a wooden kabob stick) and encourage them to wave it around. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Beading with Pipe Cleaners</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmmRCNQrrgTDPQOdwHMUKDQd02CWY1Mgc7OcAhap8W5PDRiLP7OQglirLAEm_Nvc_F45GtCUSj8mp4rOfQtN1HbNGTBgoivS3ReTVVd-2Nr62pnvxR4lHhn48GJzIZFsnOmIsw1MLCKXA/s1600/070512b_beading.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmmRCNQrrgTDPQOdwHMUKDQd02CWY1Mgc7OcAhap8W5PDRiLP7OQglirLAEm_Nvc_F45GtCUSj8mp4rOfQtN1HbNGTBgoivS3ReTVVd-2Nr62pnvxR4lHhn48GJzIZFsnOmIsw1MLCKXA/s320/070512b_beading.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Baking Soda and Vinegar Volcano</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (idea from </span><a href="http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments/vinegarvolcano.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Science Kids</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">): Place a spoonful of baking soda on top of an upside-down container or glass. Slowly add a few drops of vinegar and watch the reaction! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEJQkEFgGdZmXLMtYgX_F2QyHO71x49sThYDpN8ch0Zim_We2GeGvdLAEWETHOLiHZoJbAfp3ZzzWGMA1dB5zFwkDkamqf1Em3yUKHrdm04eyKT2CPX3TqUzmKuNA7px6UcLnkRbUKtNC/s1600/070412h_volcano.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEJQkEFgGdZmXLMtYgX_F2QyHO71x49sThYDpN8ch0Zim_We2GeGvdLAEWETHOLiHZoJbAfp3ZzzWGMA1dB5zFwkDkamqf1Em3yUKHrdm04eyKT2CPX3TqUzmKuNA7px6UcLnkRbUKtNC/s320/070412h_volcano.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Draw a Cartoon Truck</b> (how-to from <a href="http://www.toondraw.com/2010/05/how-to-draw-easy-cartoon-truck.html">ToonDraw</a>): After we finished the picture, we wrote the word TRUCK. We also labeled other things in the picture like BOY, GIRL, SUN...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvEYNI8fs2bVlYmcS1MOlYTfM69N2y1M6-8GZNUaeZGaBg5Dhk1uAPb7-bGWmVjwQbqu-oENGisfIZywmMaStJfHvvcMKBKycj7jMvdJXVFBD_GaBV0yZ43qditscjyOV3tNGaoP6V0E0/s1600/070612b_truck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvEYNI8fs2bVlYmcS1MOlYTfM69N2y1M6-8GZNUaeZGaBg5Dhk1uAPb7-bGWmVjwQbqu-oENGisfIZywmMaStJfHvvcMKBKycj7jMvdJXVFBD_GaBV0yZ43qditscjyOV3tNGaoP6V0E0/s320/070612b_truck.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Music on YouTube</b>: Alice the Camel, I'm a Little Teapot, London Bridge (did you know... one theory on the origin of this song is that the bridge would fall down if children weren't buried in the bridge foundation as a human sacrifice?!)... One thing led to another and we also used YouTube to watch some birth videos - an elephant, a giraffe, and a chimpanzee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Spoon Sounds</b>: Tie a spoon to in the middle of a piece of thick string, about 3 feet long. Wrap each end of the string around your index finger 2-3 times, then put your fingers in your ears. Gently swing the spoon into an object and listen - s</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ounds like a churchbell! The lesson: observing how sound waves move through solid objects. Experiment with how the noise changes when the spoon hits different surfaces (table, fridge, dishwasher, counter-top...). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">An added bonus: works on fine motor skills. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGFCJqDarY37B7ugW5kCm-FFpoixG6rS0SXLX1AHU8dF4ZsCCFsJmyt7CL9VN7XSH8sAE5oA_2wys87OcgedEm582ryiADn6uW_RnImoUw2bIXLK72bCaDASBys07If21HSSoSUWUEI9C/s1600/070612c_spoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGFCJqDarY37B7ugW5kCm-FFpoixG6rS0SXLX1AHU8dF4ZsCCFsJmyt7CL9VN7XSH8sAE5oA_2wys87OcgedEm582ryiADn6uW_RnImoUw2bIXLK72bCaDASBys07If21HSSoSUWUEI9C/s320/070612c_spoon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Puzzles</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: In our house, these are toys that are usually out of reach (constantly picking up the pieces drives me insane!). So yes, this IS a specific and targeted activity. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbL4uc2VL9b2aampc7bkmDa5u0GA4SfWpgFEQ7cGwy1JDkkFweP8I9rZxszJfOU2uTwBTcES0ng9H7p60-HI94q7DddMXtOYEZ-aw9r4anyuoPCR8vH-7OtfhM0VhyphenhyphenTOTvNuIeYUXc8bO/s1600/070912a_puzzles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbL4uc2VL9b2aampc7bkmDa5u0GA4SfWpgFEQ7cGwy1JDkkFweP8I9rZxszJfOU2uTwBTcES0ng9H7p60-HI94q7DddMXtOYEZ-aw9r4anyuoPCR8vH-7OtfhM0VhyphenhyphenTOTvNuIeYUXc8bO/s320/070912a_puzzles.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Blow-up Balloon</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (idea from </span><a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/discovery-station09/balloon-science-09.shtml" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Preschool Express</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">): </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You will need baking soda, vinegar, a balloon, and a glass soft drink bottle (we used plastic, which worked fine). </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Set out the bottle and pour approximately ¼ cup of vinegar into it. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Next take a balloon and dump approximately 1 tsp baking soda into it. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Now carefully, attach the balloon onto the top rim of the bottle. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gradually the baking soda will fall into the vinegar (we helped ours!), creating a gas, which in turn will inflate the balloon. Reminder: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do not let children play with balloons, especially pieces of popped balloons, because they are a choking hazard.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF0Mo3MVjnLDnifQ042P23gh8-NNLjDs3QCXhUj8KjNAw3vna2DcfAh1bVIaR-d7RNL3InU1knDaLzLIef7jNv4BWFd3VkeyjGkvYzTw83t3f6rLeQJS0ISJdRp1BEL7rOgpmSRK6747j/s1600/071112a_science.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCF0Mo3MVjnLDnifQ042P23gh8-NNLjDs3QCXhUj8KjNAw3vna2DcfAh1bVIaR-d7RNL3InU1knDaLzLIef7jNv4BWFd3VkeyjGkvYzTw83t3f6rLeQJS0ISJdRp1BEL7rOgpmSRK6747j/s320/071112a_science.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Pipe Cleaner Figures</b> (idea from <a href="http://www.craftjr.com/easy-alien-pipe-cleaner-crafts/">CraftJr.com</a>): A few pompoms, google-y eyes, pipe cleaners, hot glue gun, a little imagination... and voila! </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRVKKYS0zIqW3Kb5IU5En5E8SPCjk6SbqBLsD7iIZcTTeLXpfDgNCAS7qZw64k3nVCJcOcagpwUIGd9pjLZSN5Liz7PJDp9WM0jwpm8yxOD-dO9WYfvKYSo2ZTscqK6PDG9Su3JF1A4PG/s1600/071112c_figures.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRVKKYS0zIqW3Kb5IU5En5E8SPCjk6SbqBLsD7iIZcTTeLXpfDgNCAS7qZw64k3nVCJcOcagpwUIGd9pjLZSN5Liz7PJDp9WM0jwpm8yxOD-dO9WYfvKYSo2ZTscqK6PDG9Su3JF1A4PG/s320/071112c_figures.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Clothespin Poke </b>(from <u><i>The Toddler's Busy Book</i></u>): You'll need a handful of clothespins and an empty egg carton. Turn the egg carton upside-down and punch small holes (just big enough to fir the clothespin) in the bottom of each section. Poke the clothespins in the holes and let your toddler have fun taking them out and putting them back in again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another idea to add to the activity is a basket of clothespins that they can clip on and off the side (an idea from Montessori). </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVEe-PJQN79xX-GokBHb94ZoSWmmcWEBeqqukjCN4TH9L-Ej6Dv4aPzp_RBICABP8phyd4pMG8154rHeb-1Iaph_rs960BpGq_MvXbvGH2bHLJdkKYuAKAdoyLJ7PvOMtz1SEd2AnWv-B/s1600/071712a_clothespins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVEe-PJQN79xX-GokBHb94ZoSWmmcWEBeqqukjCN4TH9L-Ej6Dv4aPzp_RBICABP8phyd4pMG8154rHeb-1Iaph_rs960BpGq_MvXbvGH2bHLJdkKYuAKAdoyLJ7PvOMtz1SEd2AnWv-B/s320/071712a_clothespins.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Spelling with Magnets</b>: I've already posted this idea (<a href="http://jennifersherer.blogspot.com/2012/04/learning-letters.html">Learning Letters</a>). Neven lost interest for a while, but was really into it again today! Hope this lasts... </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">>>> What will YOU try? </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-68462764254156219112012-07-12T15:31:00.000-07:002012-07-28T20:39:24.306-07:00Typical Wednesday<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Not too long ago, I recently read a fantastic little poem by </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beth Brubaker or </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Kathy Fictorie </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(different sites claim different authors)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">: <i>If you Give a Mom a Muffin... </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>If you give a mom a muffin, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll pour herself some. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll wipe it up. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Wiping the floor, she’ll find dirty socks. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll remember she has to do laundry. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>When she puts the laundry in the washer, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She will get out a pound of hamburger. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll look for her cookbook (“101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger”). </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She will look for her checkbook. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll smell something funny. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll change the two year old’s diaper. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Her five-year-old will answer and hang up. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>She’ll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>And chances are… </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>If she has a cup of coffee, </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i>The poem was a refreshing reminder of how much I DO every day, even though it doesn't often FEEL that way. <span style="background-color: white;">I'm sure many of you can relate! </span><span style="background-color: white;">M</span><span style="background-color: white;">y goal for writing this post was actually selfish - I wanted to feel a sense of accomplishment. (In case you're wondering, it worked.) I highly recommend YOU doing the same. Comment with your story here, or send it to me to read. :) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Anyway, here's my version:</span><i style="background-color: white;"> Typical Wednesday Morning </i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I get woken up at 6:30 by Daria (crawling over me). We spend a few minutes in bed cuddling, the head<span style="background-color: white;"> toward the kitchen so I can start the coffee. I notice that the window is open in the bedroom </span><span style="background-color: white;">(we close them very early in the morning to keep the cool air in and the warm air out) so I head that way to quietly close it, because Neven and Matt appear to be sleeping. Then I realize they are only <i>pretending</i> to sleep and hear them whispering about how Neven is going to "surprise" me. I head toward the bed. Neven jumps up "Boo!" (along with a huge smile of accomplishment). I give and get my good morning hugs. Daria hears us (more specifically, she hears <i>Neven</i>) from the other room, I hear her squeal with excitement then hear the pitter-patter of her feet towards us. We're soon ALL in the bed. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Daria pats her diaper (her way of saying "I want it off"), so I take her diaper off. We cuddle for a few minutes, kids climb over us and under the covers, then Daria is ready to get going. She climbs down from the bed, fearless as usual. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then "Pee!" as she heads out of the room. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I jump up to follow her to her potty, used overnight diaper and PJs in hand. She sits down to pee on her potty in the kitchen, leaving me with one free hand to grab the potty (before she has a chance to "help" by carrying it to the bathroom herself). </span><span style="background-color: white;">On my way</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to dump it in the toilet</span><span style="background-color: white;">, I toss the diaper in the garbage. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The kids follow me to the kitchen, and have their morning beverage requests in before I can turn the coffee pot on. Milk for Daria, but Neven wants tea (with honey and three ice cubes) this morning instead of milk. While the water boils in the kettle, I finally start the coffee. Maijer (our 14-yr-old dog) is pacing, so I take him outside. Olive (our outside cat) is sitting on her bed meowing at me, and so I give her a scoop of food and a bit of attention. </span><span style="background-color: white;">On the way back in, I see that the fan is still on and turn it off. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Oh right - I have to pee. Daria joins me, seeing me pee she thinks it's a good idea, and so she squats in front of me and pees. Luckily, Neven is also in the bathroom with us and so I ask him to run and get me a cloth diaper to use to wipe the pee off the floor. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I pour Neven his tea, and me my coffee. Neven and I s</span><span style="background-color: white;">it down at the breakfast counter to do a few pages from his kindergarten workbook while Daria is occupied reading boooks with Matt. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Time for a science experiment! This is when I get to sit down for a minute </span><span style="background-color: white;">(except for the 30 seconds when I had to get magnets to distract Daria from helping pour the vinegar) </span><span style="background-color: white;">while I watch Matt prep the experiment, and Neven watch with wide-eyes. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I get the kids started on breakfast then jump in the shower. When I'm in the shower is when my clearest thinking of the day happens, which usually results in a mental to-do list: email a friend that's been on my mind this week and another I haven't talked to in a while, blog ideas, activities for the kids, today's schedule, my once-upon-a-time career... </span><span style="background-color: white;">I hurry out of the shower. </span><span style="background-color: white;">While I'm getting dressed, I remember that I need to pack long-sleeve shirts for after swimming today. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I </span><span style="background-color: white;">(try to) sneak past the kids in the kitchen, grab shirts for the pool (closing up windows while I'm in their room anyway), picking up toys and dropping them in strategically-placed toyboxes (in every room!) along the way. I toss the shirts and some snacks in our pool bag, then </span><span style="background-color: white;">attempt to take care of a few to-do's in the time I have left before Matt heads to work (which happens minutes later). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I head back to the kitchen, where the kids are eating breakfast. I remember I need to cook turkey bacon and prep tonight's picnic dinner. <span style="background-color: white;">I need the food scissors (which I love to over-use!), which are still in the dishwasher from last night. I empty the dishwasher while cooking bacon and finally drinking my cup of (reheated) coffee. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I see my vitamins, and chug those down along with some water after filling up my water glass. I think about getting breakfast for myself, but instead run to grab </span><span style="background-color: white;">my computer (so that I can write this blog before forgetting too much). Maijer is sitting at the door whining. I take him outside (again). </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The phone rings - while I'm talking, I'll use the time to <span style="background-color: white;">get kids dressed for swim lessons. </span>I look at the clock, and it's 8:28 am.<span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">:) </span></span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-51252173065011151542012-07-03T13:33:00.002-07:002012-08-07T18:37:15.625-07:00Our Battle with Food Dye<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven tends to be a pretty mellow kid. As a road tripper, he'll look out the window for all of a two-hour car trip. When he first gave up his naps (at 2.5 yrs), he'd opt for sitting in his closet reading books for literally hours instead of falling asleep. Along the same lines, it takes a LOT to get this child excited (amusement parks? eh, not really). Mellow and even-tempered, just like his Dad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Neven eats anything with food dye (by this, I mean artificial food coloring), there's a DRASTIC shift in his personality. He throws full-blown screaming tantrums* over the simplest things (like he wanted to close the fridge door but instead I did). He talks back and screams at me. He pushes physical limits with Daria. He doesn't listen to rules/boundaries that are always in place and he otherwise has no problems with. He's an emotional roller coaster - giggling one minute, and screaming hysterically the next. During his meltdowns, he gets this crazy, empty look in his eyes and it's impossible to reason with him at all. These days are filled with a treadmill of arguments, tantrums, tears, frustration - not much quality time happening. These feelings even spill over onto Daria. We refer to this outfall as The Crazies - it usually starts the day after food coloring, and usually lasts for a few days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*I understand kids this age will get irrationally upset about things... but this is <i>different</i>. Neven still has the occasional meltdown even when he's not under the influence of food dye - but I can explain what's going on to him, offer an alternative, and he's usually at least remotely open to the idea. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At first, I was skeptical. I thought I was just being paranoid, trying to find an excuse for Neven's 3-yr-old-like behavior. I spent months <i>suspicious</i> that food coloring was the culprit, yet still not sure enough that I didn't take the final step to eliminate <i>all</i> food dye from his diet. I got to the point where I was able to convince Matt that there's a correlation (if you know Matt, or have a husband like Matt, you'll understand why this means so much!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, Neven had a bad case of The Crazies that resulted from iced tea mix and/or the powdered 'cheese' on Pringles. This incident was the final straw for me. I realized that we've already lost too many days to The Crazies, and I don't want to lose any more. I searched through our cupboards, determined to rid our home of food dye. There wasn't much, but it felt good to get it out - marshmallows, Easter candy, Halloween candy (ha!), granola bars, instant oatmeal, licorice, beef broth, iced tea mix, (kids'!) toothpaste, Tylenol, lotion, aloe vera... <On a side rant here: Really, Red40 in Children's Tylenol? Because kids care that cherry flavored must be red?! Not to mention... why does it need to taste like cherry or bubble gum?!> This purging made me realize that even though Neven hadn't been getting much food dye his diet, I think there may have been a slow trickle I wasn't aware of, resulting in essentially a continuous fallout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've now been dye-free for nearly three weeks. I definitely notice a difference. He still has his occasional meltdowns, but they are few and far between and not so intense that they make ME want to cry. He has started asking me "Does this have food coloring in it?" to which I try to explain to him that's for me to worry about, not you. Whether Neven's reaction to food dyes is "real" or not is to be determined, but I'm definitely not the only one out there whose child turns a bit nutty after consuming them. And if there's a logical change I can make that happens to correlate to a more balanced, happier child... I'll do it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my online researching, I found a helpful website (<a href="http://www.diefooddye.com/">Die, food dye!</a>) which not only has lots of information, but also many others with stories very similar to ours. I've also discovered that Trader Joe's brand food contains <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/about/product-faq.asp">no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives</a>. The <a href="http://www.naturalcandystore.com/">Natural Candy Store</a> carries everything from gummy bears to candy-coated chocolate candies, all without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. I splurged and bought Neven a few sweets - perhaps out of guilt? ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thoughts? Anyone else out there with a similar experience? I'm still looking for all the support and validation I can get! </span><br />
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<br />jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-26987413123217406312012-04-13T08:27:00.002-07:002012-07-28T20:38:08.757-07:00Learning Letters<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A quick idea for a Friday -- <b>Learning Letters!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've been working on letters with Neven forever - Just casually, but we've been at a plateau for a while now. He recognizes them all and knows what most of them sound like, but how to make the jump to writing them (somehow, writing the letter "A" 10 times in a row in his preschool book wasn't keeping his attention!) and making the jump to know that letters in a row make words? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's what we've been doing, with great success: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. Pick a magnet. We have a container of 60 basic magnet shapes things like a cat, dog, goat, tree... We make a game of it, but having Neven close his eyes and reach into the container. Not exactly sure why, but this makes it WAY more fun for him! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. Use the magnet to hang sheet of white paper on the fridge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. Spell the word using magnetic letters. While I'm searching for the letters, Neven and I talk about what letters/sounds are in the word - sometimes we skip the vowels, since those are confusing (for example, the OA in "goat"), </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and just try to figure out the first and last letters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Next up - We pick a marker and write the letters to make the word.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Will you try this?</b> Let me know -- I've been missing feedback in the past few posts!! </span><br />
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<br />jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-67172305094627142222012-03-09T21:15:00.001-08:002012-07-28T20:38:45.498-07:00LET IT BE ...at least until after bedtime<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stuff. EVERYWHERE! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are days (in fact, </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">most</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> days) when I feel like all I'm doing is picking up toys - play kitchen dishes, cars, Legos!, random plastic containers, magnets... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I don't actually see my kids dump any single container, but its like a slow trickle that results in stuff, EVERYWHERE! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I really don't understand how they are so fast. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWEwRlCpe1Z4FLR0siSAccGx9MqIKGcK33xzPiSOXnAvpoOgej-xETKBA8tP3KxlSAD0YK0UdgY0F76jTmXTYxEUPLeU1aEO9ymGPSLDSbAB9d0vtrnw7EtvBK1sLnn54eD3M0Vis6q_Z/s1600/030912a_stuff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWEwRlCpe1Z4FLR0siSAccGx9MqIKGcK33xzPiSOXnAvpoOgej-xETKBA8tP3KxlSAD0YK0UdgY0F76jTmXTYxEUPLeU1aEO9ymGPSLDSbAB9d0vtrnw7EtvBK1sLnn54eD3M0Vis6q_Z/s320/030912a_stuff.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know it shouldn't matter - <u>we have kids</u>. No one is going to mind if they walk into my home and there are toys scattered around. But m</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">y OCD takes over, and I can't help but to take a few minutes to put a few things back where they belong. Oftentimes, I just grab something on my way past and drop it where it should go. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It only takes me five minutes to clean up (each time), but it's an endless task. I once read a quote along the lines of "Cleaning up after a toddler is like trying to sweep in a windstorm." No kidding. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And the truth is-- my kids are relatively neat kids, <i>especially </i>considering they are 1 and 3 years old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here's my plan: LET IT BE... at least until after bedtime. I'm going to try to nix the frequent five minute cleanups during the day, and save it for one 15 minute cleanup job at the end of the day. I can only imagine how much time with my kids this simple change could gain for me!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-59687064437310895192012-02-02T11:56:00.000-08:002012-02-03T08:59:02.170-08:00Groundhog Day<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a stay-at-home-mom, I feel like some <i>weeks </i>are filled with <i>five </i>Groundhog Days: wake up (more specifically, <i>get woken up</i> earlier than I wish), drink coffee, put dishes away, take the dog out, fix breakfast, shower, more coffee, spend a few minutes with Matt and the kids, Matt heads to work, play time, Daria's am nap, focused time with Neven, morning activity (this IS usually different every day, but still feels the same in that its our "out-and-about" time), play time, lunch, play time, Daria's pm nap, juggle time with Neven while starting dinner, cook dinner, eat dinner, wash dishes, bathtime, PJs, story time, nurse Daria to sleep, {this is where I get 1-2 hours of "Me-Time"!... although more often than not I spend it hanging or folding laundry, or washing and folding diapers}, take the dog out, get ready for bed, go to sleep... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The hardest part for me: </span><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, I'm right back where I started that morning</u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, and sometimes wonder, what exactly </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">did </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I accomplish today? Some days I find myself waiting for time to pass or for the end of the day, and at the same time wondering what exactly is it I'm waiting for? I do my best to slow down and just </span><u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">enjoy the present</u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, but some days are harder than others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The highlight of this year's Groundhog Day is that it also happens to be Daria's first birthday. We figure the fact that she waited 12 days past when we were expecting her and for Groundhog Day to be born must prove that Matt and I still have some Pennsylvania left in us. (For those of you who don't know, Groundhog Day in Pennsylvania is a HUGE deal...) We have a pretty low-key day planned for her: a few gifts from us wrapped by Neven in newspaper, a playdate at a friend's house, and "cake" (blueberry-zucchini bread, <i>maybe </i>with some icing...). </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unwrapping.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbw4cWZnFsBz7CLJ_b9lrxhyF9eK61sr9ePdf2LLwjVy_ePY7UY-0VqBBEXSXPhRcy8j84LTvmBcSzP-6-3ciIGSwQBMM0DgzErLBCEIse544xoLeRgqvuXaHYY-_qMGS8m7uj0z8wM40/s1600/IMG_3681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbw4cWZnFsBz7CLJ_b9lrxhyF9eK61sr9ePdf2LLwjVy_ePY7UY-0VqBBEXSXPhRcy8j84LTvmBcSzP-6-3ciIGSwQBMM0DgzErLBCEIse544xoLeRgqvuXaHYY-_qMGS8m7uj0z8wM40/s320/IMG_3681.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">She likes to "smile" for the camera now...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daria's cake (blueberry-zucchini bread) and Neven's decorated valentines (see how-to below!).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On another note, some activities: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>SALT DOUGH VALENTINES</b> (found the idea <a href="http://networkedblogs.com/t6UO9">here</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Supplied Needed: 1/2 c flour, 1/4 c salt, 1/4 c water, optional: food coloring; decorating supplies such as acrylic paint, markers, glitter... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mix flour, salt, water, and food coloring together in a bowl (you'll have to use your hands!). Roll out on a flat surface using a rolling pin, and use a cookie cutter or bowl/glass to cut out shapes. If you want to be able to hang the finished valentines, use a straw to make a small hole. Bake at 250 degrees for about 2 hours, or until thoroughly dry. Cool, then decorate! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJGwrbHNWCYi8zDmAz8xSh7s4Vu9jOPKNKJnZgrE5o7KFdmhoJvvKvTI5mk9LO1rmqE6vUiH9U0xvl0HJdBGdcUuVuchI9x6AthSd-v5sqPJp_h9OUJOhHkApaJj8mF_0LjaBg5SZkv1g/s1600/IMG_3668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJGwrbHNWCYi8zDmAz8xSh7s4Vu9jOPKNKJnZgrE5o7KFdmhoJvvKvTI5mk9LO1rmqE6vUiH9U0xvl0HJdBGdcUuVuchI9x6AthSd-v5sqPJp_h9OUJOhHkApaJj8mF_0LjaBg5SZkv1g/s320/IMG_3668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4Dl7rzBha_Bmd9jyPjPifOD7SjD9xhSrJu9DnStpHdUcHJd3teLNKoWUGR36-sQjPhq8u8xKAUmct_jCKeDibloPA_sGIL9Rfu0LFfVc8gqNp-6gYLp1DB-l1w2UCFxuXeuj1nFXaBUk/s1600/IMG_3692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4Dl7rzBha_Bmd9jyPjPifOD7SjD9xhSrJu9DnStpHdUcHJd3teLNKoWUGR36-sQjPhq8u8xKAUmct_jCKeDibloPA_sGIL9Rfu0LFfVc8gqNp-6gYLp1DB-l1w2UCFxuXeuj1nFXaBUk/s320/IMG_3692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We used the leftover dough to make an ornament to hang in Neven's room - we added a drop of food coloring, then he stuck a few beads and buttons in it for decorations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>ACTIVITY CALENDARS</b> (from <a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/">Preschool Express</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These ideas are great, particularly because they tend to only take a few minutes of time, and virtually no setup! Some examples: go outside and look for shadows, learn how to say "I love you" in another language, look for the number 9 in grocery store ads. I'm thinking of giving myself a personal challenge - seeing how many activities can I accomplish in February. Anyone with me? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-62113052479142560082012-01-10T09:53:00.000-08:002012-01-10T09:58:57.887-08:00Just Ideas<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday week, and that 2012 is starting off well for you! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We spent most of the week after the holidays at home - I took advantage of this time to not rush the kids (to "get ready so we can go!"), to slow down and spend one-on-one time with them in child-led play, and to get back into thinking of games/activities that stimulate. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I truly enjoyed and appreciated the time to regroup and get back into a bit of a routine. Neven, on the other hand, kept asking me "Whose house are we going to today?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Did you find something to entertain you and/or your kiddos today? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>1. QUICK ACTIVITIES, from Preschool Express's <a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/calendar12/preschool-calendar-jan2012.pdf">January Preschool Calendar</a></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Glue confetti on paper to make a colorful paper collage (Art)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Have your child make up a story by looking at a picture from an old calendar (Language)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Turn out the light and write on a wall with a flashlight (Beginning Writing)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Make hot chocolate with your child (Cooking)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Wash your hands (we <i>brushed our teeth</i>) while singing the ABC's (Health, Music, Letters)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> Pick up cotton balls with tweezers or kitchen tongs (Fine Motor Skills)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">>Ask your child to sing his favorite song (<i>Neven sang Hickory Dickory Dock</i>) (Music, Making Choices)</span><br />
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<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. BLOCK PLAY (more <a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/learning-station12/learning-with-blocks.shtml">ideas</a> from Preschool Express!)</i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> PATTERNS: Use blocks to make a simple pattern, such as; one red block, one blue block, one red blocks, etc. Ask your child to tell you what color of block would go next in your pattern. Then encourage your child to make a matching set of blocks under your set. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> SORTING: Set out a pile of assorted blocks. Have your child sort them by color, shape, and/or size. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> BLOCK MATCH-UPS: Increase your child’s observation skills with this simple matching game. Choose four or five blocks with different shapes. Trace around the shape of the blocks onto a heavy piece of paper. Remove the blocks from the paper and give the paper and the blocks to your child. Have your child match up the drawn shapes with the blocks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">> LOOK AND SEE: Place three blocks of different colors on a table between you and your child. Have her touch each block and name each blocks color (help if necessary). Next, have your child close her eyes while you remove one of the blocks. When you say, “Look and See”, have your child open her eyes and tell you which block is now missing. Continue with the game, increasing the number of blocks as your child’s skill increases. Take turns with your child. You close your eyes, while she removes a colored block.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>3. <a href="http://www.momtastic.com/home-and-living/home/168293-diy-kaleidoscope-rice">KALIEDOSCOPE RICE</a> </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Materials: white rice, vinegar, food coloring, ziploc baggies</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">How to: Mix 1/2 cup rice with 1 T. vinegar and food coloring (more or less depending on how bold you want the color to be); we put this in a ziploc baggie and squeezed to mix (which was very fun for Neven to help with!). Pour each color of rice onto a sheet of wax paper, and let dry. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ideas for Play: Fill baby food jars in different-colored layers. Use a spoon to transfer rice back and forth between containers. Mix different colors together. Run a car through the rice. Glue onto a piece of paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>4. Preschool PHOTOGRAPHY</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven has recently started taking pictures with the digital camera. So today, we played a new game. I'd suggest a mission for him - "Can you take a picture of... a castle (a Christmas tree, something green, a foot, an elephant, a computer, a Santa, yellow boots, a fish, a frog)?" Some things I suggested were in the room, others weren't. I really enjoy seeing things from his perspective, a welcome change sometimes. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/09/toy-camera.html">TOY CAMERA</a></span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">You can easily make a play camera using an empty soap box, some fun colored paper, a few milk lids, and a sharpie. This was definitely a hit with Neven! He very carefully pushed every button necessary to take a picture -- power on, took the picture, then reviewed his taken pictures to see how it came out. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photo from: <a href="http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/09/toy-camera.html">www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/09/toy-camera.html</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>6. ORIGAMI</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For Neven's birthday party, Matt and I made a few dozen <a href="http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-dragon.html">origami dragons</a> and hung them from the ceiling. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Although these are probably more a project for the parents, there are a lot of kid-level origami projects on the site, too. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A lot of work, but so worth it in the end! We all had a great day. As Matt and I were putting Neven to bed that night, he said "Thanks for the party. It was so, so fun!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-55675451236028641602011-12-18T20:51:00.000-08:002011-12-18T20:51:07.270-08:00Neven's 3rd Birthday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">December 18 -- Neven's Birthday. The anniversary of my first BIRTH day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So many thoughts in my head I'd love to reflect on, but I don't have the focus to completely do so. Why not? Well... life gets in the way again. ;) We had a fabulous birthday party for Neven today, complete with friends, family, a dragon cupcake cake, balloons, <a href="http://www.nwf.org/Get-Outside/Be-Out-There/Activities/Cook-and-Craft/Make-a-Fruity-Ladybug-Snack.aspx">ladybug fruity snacks</a>, yummy soup and food! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At the front of my mind I'm remembering and feeling grateful for my amazing midwives (I almost feel guilty calling them "amazing" because in my mind, they are SO much more than that!): </span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Bobbie, her reassuring and comfortable presence</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> Marva, beside me every step of the way, chatting, comforting (both physically and emotionally!)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> Nicole, encouraging, patting my forehead with a cool washcloth between contractions</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> Kiersten, sitting quietly on a stool toward the sidelines, knitting, making me feel like no one in the world was waiting for me</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> Dorothy, sitting in the corner with her clipboard to keep track of my/Mango's stats during labor</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i> Joan's reassuring face appearing in the last few minutes of pushing before Neven's birth</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><b>NEVEN'S BIRTH STORY, </b></i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">December 18, 2008</span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">10:00 pm</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> (Dec 17) – We went to bed at our normal time. I couldn't fall asleep, and around 11:00 I started having contractions about 12 minutes apart. These contractions were different than the BH contractions I had been having – these were much more uncomfortable. I couldn't sleep through them, and lying down was pretty uncomfortable. Around 12:00, I woke Matt up and he started a fire so we could hang out in the living room. We dozed on the couch throughout the night. Whenever I'd have a contraction, I'd mumble to Matt "Another one..." and he'd half wake up and mark down the time. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hcYxQp_awaVX9SN_TZm4epmih88l-zfcYUkdB3NKnII8J4Pb33b9uLfZjjxurxU01ymXwE2yKzxnktuLIVjkSt2VLry1N3063GKJMCtB3F4w-IAh_Xux660hJvIxGpUMCyFMwwdUBqpQ/s1600/labor01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hcYxQp_awaVX9SN_TZm4epmih88l-zfcYUkdB3NKnII8J4Pb33b9uLfZjjxurxU01ymXwE2yKzxnktuLIVjkSt2VLry1N3063GKJMCtB3F4w-IAh_Xux660hJvIxGpUMCyFMwwdUBqpQ/s320/labor01.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Me, in early labor.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6:00 am</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> – We called the midwife on call, and let her know that my contractions were five minutes apart. We finished getting our things together (no doubt in my mind, getting ready and being so mobile at this point in labor helped things progress significantly!) and drove the 15-minute drive to the birth center. On the way, I remember being stopped at a red light. As if that wasn't bad enough, we had some guy trying to sell us a paper or something, very forcefully. In hindsight... ha! </span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7:00 am</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> – Arrived at the birth center. Bobbie and Marva were there. They checked me, and I was 7 cm dilated! I later heard that Bobbie had expected to send us home, as she wasn't convinced I was far enough along because of my calmness through contractions when we arrived. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I spent some time in the bathtub, chatting casually with Marva, making it through the contractions by closing my eyes and turning inward, and breathing through them with a low hum when they hurt. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdhXo9Gbxa2nGMuVCQzHrfZ-6RziQjMpKoF60GBfUp6rfMJiDAISxxb21on03fu7xNsbgQaJiG7POK7SilSH6XAxBCgUTwtVn8j0__sIcs6pbxWUiWKAitFPKuRJ3QwORXkm5QHAjYa0P/s1600/labor02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdhXo9Gbxa2nGMuVCQzHrfZ-6RziQjMpKoF60GBfUp6rfMJiDAISxxb21on03fu7xNsbgQaJiG7POK7SilSH6XAxBCgUTwtVn8j0__sIcs6pbxWUiWKAitFPKuRJ3QwORXkm5QHAjYa0P/s320/labor02.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Marva rubbing my back during a contraction. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At Marva's suggestion, we took a short walk outside. Snow was falling, and the coldness felt amazing! I remember these contractions being the first that I didn't feel in control of. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After some time (no clue how much time passed), I wanted to go back inside. I remember walking through the room of midwives and apprentices, wishing I was invisible. I wanted to retreat into a private space. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Back inside and on the birthing ball, I began having involuntary contractions of my stomach. During these few contractions I had the "I don't know if I can do this!" thought, as I couldn't find any way to relax through the contractions like I had been able to so far. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure this was transition for me. </span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9:30 am</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> – 9 cm dilated! Bobbie told me that I could start pushing whenever I was ready. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had this grand idea that the birthing stool would work wonders for me, so that's where I started. No luck. On to squatting, with Matt supporting me from behind </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(in between squats, I'd stand up and roll my pelvis, which kept the contractions coming on and helped baby move down). By this point, we could see the tip-top of Mango's head and his dark hair, but he still wasn't moving down. Then came pushing on the bed, both on my side then on my hands and knees. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(Pushing for me lasted 2.5 hours, during which I became </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">thoroughly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> exhausted but lost ALL sense of time!) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">At one point after a long pushing contraction, I remember the words "I can't!" slipping out of my mouth. They were greeted with a chorus of "Yes you can, you're doing great!" and loving support from the room of loving midwives, a moment that I will never forget! After 2.5 hours of pushing, Mango's heart rate was just beginning to drop ever so slightly, and there became an urgency to get him out. After a few long, hard pushes, the midwives had be lunge on the side of the bed. I think it was two pushes later that Mango's entire body slid out and into the world. </span><br />
<i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12:06 pm</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> – Mango was born! 9 pounds, 21.5 inches. </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKCdZMxFFQ-l3Tak9UVFRtbkErNxzUywRhFBHuQVHNcSMu0OR63egHBq3dsWMCpBsLadpGOX2Jak0q5H7VTF5xEC4Ov90PKUbay2nG9UtejNz-jLUVH2Eh6kQSA44USLbneK_HcUxdn0j/s1600/neven003_121708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKCdZMxFFQ-l3Tak9UVFRtbkErNxzUywRhFBHuQVHNcSMu0OR63egHBq3dsWMCpBsLadpGOX2Jak0q5H7VTF5xEC4Ov90PKUbay2nG9UtejNz-jLUVH2Eh6kQSA44USLbneK_HcUxdn0j/s320/neven003_121708.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Minutes after birth!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKQWjQYlPHiZi-_dmpJMJBuNa0C1Kcyk3inXTmiM2k2UQ7l0FNZV6WqcyU5tazyLBJkPUkoIRLWnffxfZC4o0p43inGJck9hkeGpQ41RonNYPPI3WofoJnNs2EePIeXJTgZzfc0Cdi538/s1600/neven006_121708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKQWjQYlPHiZi-_dmpJMJBuNa0C1Kcyk3inXTmiM2k2UQ7l0FNZV6WqcyU5tazyLBJkPUkoIRLWnffxfZC4o0p43inGJck9hkeGpQ41RonNYPPI3WofoJnNs2EePIeXJTgZzfc0Cdi538/s320/neven006_121708.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What a proud dad!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6OvYm35jCCN5pk9FUhQ1NE9xDH3dGKI2iexZjFz_myMrl5KJ5zrK9z0OWvWAbsxoGZFv_tI5AbeDOkHBfKfbJlJFZG-MeVJurKXc4OiYK65dqhJg7mYT0oRQi1VPwS4c86IHmWRYUI4O/s1600/neven018_121808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6OvYm35jCCN5pk9FUhQ1NE9xDH3dGKI2iexZjFz_myMrl5KJ5zrK9z0OWvWAbsxoGZFv_tI5AbeDOkHBfKfbJlJFZG-MeVJurKXc4OiYK65dqhJg7mYT0oRQi1VPwS4c86IHmWRYUI4O/s320/neven018_121808.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dressed and ready to go home, just 6 hours after birth. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...and I've been falling in love ever since! </span><br />
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</span></div></div>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-43565406334728005942011-11-28T19:53:00.000-08:002011-11-28T19:53:52.459-08:00Schedule? What schedule?!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I know a few posts ago, I promised a school schedule that was working out for us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ideally...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7:00 - Kids wake up, at the same time</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7:30 - Neven works on his preschool workbook with Dad</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">8:00 - Breakfast, then get dressed for the day</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">9:30 - Daria takes a morning nap, and Neven and I do some sort of focused activity or art project</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">11:00 - Free play together, or maybe time for a quick walk</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">12:00 - Lunchtime</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1:00 - Maybe an afternoon outing, like a trip to the library</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3:00 - Daria takes an afternoon nap, and Neven and I head outside to play and explore</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5:00 - Dinner, complimented by learning a few signs (sign language) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5:30 - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven works on a lesson from ABCmouse.com while I clean up from dinner and Daria plays happily by herself</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">6:30 - Bathtime and b</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ooks</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">7:15 - Bedtime</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But LIFE HAPPENS. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven and Daria take turns waking up at 5:30, and so one is inevitably woken up by the other (before they are ready to wake up). Daria has been taking 20 minute naps, and waking up tired (fussy!). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The past few weeks, we've been on </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">countless playdates, nurturing new relationships, to meetings, on walks, and visiting with family. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, and then our 13.5 year old dog escaped last weekend (for the first time ever in the 7+ years we've had him), and was gone for 3 days and 3 nights (with lows in the 20s!). Talk about life grinding to a halt for everything except searching for our lost dog! We ended up finding him, thanks to an amazing community and a tip from a neighbor who saw him. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And because LIFE is more important than sticking to a schedule (something I need to remind myself sometimes!), we haven't been doing much home-preschooling lately... but we're HAPPY. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">>> Here are some of the activities we have fit in the past few weeks. As always, I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! <<</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>WATER BALLOON in the BATHTUB</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do they sink or float? Use cold water to fill up the balloons, and another sensory dimension is added - which is colder, the balloon or the bathwater? If you're feeling brave (I wasn't!), add a few drop of food coloring and let them cut or pop them open into the bathwater. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven decided there was a baby fish in his balloon, and insisted on rocking it to sleep before he could get out of the tub. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another idea from Play-at-Home-Mom... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>FILLED BALLOONS</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Simple idea: Fill balloons with different materials - I filled one with (dry) beans, another with flour, and a third with sugar. I don't have a funnel, so I cut the top of a milk jog off and used that! Neven had fun talking about how the balloons felt (he compared the flour-filled balloon to a cloud) and guessing what exactly was inside. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoVrdL1361Aee4Bg5Ukgp_JHx2qT05BRkyxzsItLkXcdTU64zvA0O_vQVcRNv8KGRV0KDZCtJzunSWOCV572H-4it7uEjfSK9DruxaAnzCJcz8T0qHcRvMabv2IFt3r-kOOYb8K5rc2C/s1600/110711d_balloons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIoVrdL1361Aee4Bg5Ukgp_JHx2qT05BRkyxzsItLkXcdTU64zvA0O_vQVcRNv8KGRV0KDZCtJzunSWOCV572H-4it7uEjfSK9DruxaAnzCJcz8T0qHcRvMabv2IFt3r-kOOYb8K5rc2C/s320/110711d_balloons.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnYeuCINXGgckDK-8WdPzSYltzLc-XE8AI7znjraSOoqgQfoZffmCX1kXAomWBxqYKT_otAIu1LEQzjnlPqcNTLLissvyE-zxBGqHHieJxl4jc3y0byuFG6GvzG8LHJvWZbGTcJa0460k/s1600/111311b_balloons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvnYeuCINXGgckDK-8WdPzSYltzLc-XE8AI7znjraSOoqgQfoZffmCX1kXAomWBxqYKT_otAIu1LEQzjnlPqcNTLLissvyE-zxBGqHHieJxl4jc3y0byuFG6GvzG8LHJvWZbGTcJa0460k/s320/111311b_balloons.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>PAINTING with MARBLES</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What we did: Taped a large sheet of paper onto a wooden serving tray (or cookie sheet). We added a few drops of fingerpaint, then rolled a glass marble around trying to roll it through the paint. Next a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">plastic monkey walked through the paint and left behind him footprints, and then we </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">used a car to drive through paint and make tire-tracks.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ShZ18u74XxvprZJuYkk1L0o1yw-jvrx-j3DIcSYLqEJS8DZYAmcVm__RUKGq-H0B78EuqMQ1s4CW8wPN236sAnn6AJAMmaJ0pIr_zD1GEx1y1pvDxzSkrXUHXs4KvYptc8o0G2eRkN7a/s1600/110711a_painting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ShZ18u74XxvprZJuYkk1L0o1yw-jvrx-j3DIcSYLqEJS8DZYAmcVm__RUKGq-H0B78EuqMQ1s4CW8wPN236sAnn6AJAMmaJ0pIr_zD1GEx1y1pvDxzSkrXUHXs4KvYptc8o0G2eRkN7a/s320/110711a_painting.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht09uC7BuWboJff2ncpP0AdHgEOAlwPW-hvwsZZrdUqe8E4zR8lRgtBLsz9WL6FsYfznNiZJ6zL17DTtrhoE2-gE_2IU4FqMTELaI9ER1HQwVwUbbNfS_lLy0nQRu3OAW7CNxnE9qyRqn2/s1600/110711b_painting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht09uC7BuWboJff2ncpP0AdHgEOAlwPW-hvwsZZrdUqe8E4zR8lRgtBLsz9WL6FsYfznNiZJ6zL17DTtrhoE2-gE_2IU4FqMTELaI9ER1HQwVwUbbNfS_lLy0nQRu3OAW7CNxnE9qyRqn2/s320/110711b_painting.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9CVowK6pJqW1QZb0nUXpUP4nKwcHD2Shc5vLrKhRZaVPwWSdQXsvaAn92UyvXP7ZD-yq2Sj0rvr5kD4qCCmvJkPbh5wMOmvEIwKilcYZig68MMunHy8obO0WeFNiZS5L9XqAWZMBqpa2/s1600/110711c_painting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9CVowK6pJqW1QZb0nUXpUP4nKwcHD2Shc5vLrKhRZaVPwWSdQXsvaAn92UyvXP7ZD-yq2Sj0rvr5kD4qCCmvJkPbh5wMOmvEIwKilcYZig68MMunHy8obO0WeFNiZS5L9XqAWZMBqpa2/s320/110711c_painting.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</i></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-40818033216160550122011-11-16T20:07:00.000-08:002011-11-16T20:07:03.644-08:00Our YES Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">*** PLEASE comment!! I need support on this one... ***</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven had a rough day yesterday - he was easily upset by the small things, being rough with Daria, testing limits. I often think these days area result of me being distracted, in this case a non-napping Daria. I actually ended up on the floor of the kitchen in tears for a few minutes, frustrated with myself that I couldn't summon an endless supply of patience for my kids in need of just that. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I decided a "YES" day was in order. I heard about this idea </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">about a year or so ago when a blog I was following (maybe</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://www.drmomma.org/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Peaceful Parenting</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">?) suggested seeing how many requests of your child's you can answer "yes" to (of course, dangerous requests don't count!). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I expanded this idea to include me not saying "no" any more than I absolutely had to. In other words, if they aren't doing something that really needs not be done, let them be! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hopefully it will break Neven out of whatever phase he's in (or at least, was in yesterday) and remind me about priorities in life. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Our Day</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Neven started out his day with a snack of Goldfish crackers, while watching <i>Finding Nemo</i>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then he requested a bagel with mustard for breakfast. Of course, h</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">e stayed in his PJ's all day. We built forts out of a cardboard box and the couch cushions, jumped from pillow to pillow on the floor, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">made handprint turkeys with fingerpaint, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">baked cupcakes (a test run for his 3rd birthday party) and licked the bowl. We ate lunch in a tent in the middle of the living room, and had a cupcake for an appetizer. After lunch, Neven wore his snowsuit to get the mail. While Daria napped, he and I read books and played at ABCmouse.com. The afternoon was filled with a bit of bed-jumping, kid-led independent play (which gave me some time to write this post!), some whining about me not letting him sit on Daria to "play", and some time curled up on the couch under a blanket watching some more TV (oy...). Neven ate dinner on the couch, then chose to do bathtime and bedtime normally. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After the kids were asleep, I spent some time cleaning up, since I didn't enforce putting toys away all day. It wasn't nearly as bad as it sounds, and really only took me a few minutes. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>What did I learn from this? </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. SURRENDER. To the idea that I AM a mom, and this is what I do. Unfortunate as it may be, my interests and to-do list needs to be on the backburner now - I'll get to it eventually (in 3 years?). I need to surrender not because I have to, but because <i>that is the kind of mom I want to be</i>. I want to take advantage of these years, soak up as much of my kids' childhood as I can, so I don't have any regrets! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. He'll eat, eventually. Neven will usually sit at the table for literally an hour and hasn't yet finished his meal. No complaints to get down or that he doesn't like the food, he's just that SLOW. Today, I left his mostly-eaten bagel on the table after breakfast. A few hours later and after taking a few licks of the cupcake bowl, he decided to sit down and finish his bagel. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3. As a friend of mine once said: CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES. Wise words, indeed. I need to learn to let the little stuff go. </span><br />
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</span></div>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-58743656306299619392011-11-13T18:58:00.000-08:002011-11-13T18:58:09.315-08:00There's a Baby in the House?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just in the past week or so, Neven has really taken to one of his baby dolls - the same one we got before he was born to introduce our dogs to the idea that a baby was going to be joining our family. Neven's "Baby" gets to go for most car rides with us, sleeps with Neven every night, and is with him first thing in the morning. She takes multiple naps a day (Neven has to nurse her to put her to sleep), she gets hot and cold (sleeper off, sleeper off...), and she likes to have books read to her. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's like Neven just realized there's a baby in the house, and is copying all that I do with Daria. I'm loving seeing this sweet side of him! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It just so happened the same week, a good friend of mine asked me to make a baby carrier for her 2.5 year old daughter. Lucky for Neven, I got the design wrong on the first try, and so he ended up getting one for Baby. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRifGOOUJNLDppZR4XS4Jl9dP8ow_Ny7qfZN6J8B2EsewdJ1BBRCs1PyZ77J1xAxANfMCiTEPo4OjvMq9yt8DwggDliVYGYerVwC3hjAm01k_jEnjsYosKiDU8xbpy25Fhhw2mYQeAQjU/s1600/110911a_kidcarrier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCRifGOOUJNLDppZR4XS4Jl9dP8ow_Ny7qfZN6J8B2EsewdJ1BBRCs1PyZ77J1xAxANfMCiTEPo4OjvMq9yt8DwggDliVYGYerVwC3hjAm01k_jEnjsYosKiDU8xbpy25Fhhw2mYQeAQjU/s320/110911a_kidcarrier.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do-It-Yourself Baby (doll) Carrier</span></i></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For those of you that might be interested, here's how I made the carrier. REALLY simple to do! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you're not a sewer or a do-it-yourselfer, but know someone who might like a baby doll carrier for the holidays, let me know! ;) </span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cut fabric</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. You'll need two pieces that are 13x19 inches that will make the body of the carrier, and four pieces that are 3x36 inches (the length is pretty approximate!) that will be the waist and shoulder straps. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2. With wrong side facing up, fold in the fabric about 1/2-inch on all sides and iron. Do this for both body pieces. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj644iCLK_fRvSQuPiGs_qyjSZUzm_6vkO6pZe37Kc_ECT89KSApALLPISxn0XaI_XEibVrDui-YaMol4u8ojbY9vh4gojmoekJvtKjKOBZbbwYutWPBQosX06fBns7mJyIjpQEEIYd9Cgz/s1600/carrier20_kid_howto1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj644iCLK_fRvSQuPiGs_qyjSZUzm_6vkO6pZe37Kc_ECT89KSApALLPISxn0XaI_XEibVrDui-YaMol4u8ojbY9vh4gojmoekJvtKjKOBZbbwYutWPBQosX06fBns7mJyIjpQEEIYd9Cgz/s320/carrier20_kid_howto1.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> 3. Place one body piece with wrong side facing up. Position the two waist straps at the bottom corners and the two shoulder straps on the sides about 1/3 of the way down </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as shown and pin in place. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm67IzEVJo_N-agxOUbJW-j7aShdUaxtlxBKv6Z34JB-WK-yq16o1xphjx8J0U5d4hwEE_xeYot789dfgStEnRMLiJ_zOO3QIn6Z25qi-cLcf3ZGhBDHS26jliBI4GaYtDg9ewXTG0SXSo/s1600/carrier20_kid_howto2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm67IzEVJo_N-agxOUbJW-j7aShdUaxtlxBKv6Z34JB-WK-yq16o1xphjx8J0U5d4hwEE_xeYot789dfgStEnRMLiJ_zOO3QIn6Z25qi-cLcf3ZGhBDHS26jliBI4GaYtDg9ewXTG0SXSo/s320/carrier20_kid_howto2.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">4. Place the second body piece on top of the first, wrong sides together. Pin into place. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p3oOLYrreDZ15StgI8ukiBx6lOosg4AQKycwSNi6q3YlEZYVrIR7BwY4s4Ad0ejg90r07BQmxvON06bIeGOIPFXV77UfZKqCj9mc_8VqXHIKqe7x28ZQlw-qzvSbJ8WrDD1Os3OtEp7k/s1600/carrier20_kid_howto3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9p3oOLYrreDZ15StgI8ukiBx6lOosg4AQKycwSNi6q3YlEZYVrIR7BwY4s4Ad0ejg90r07BQmxvON06bIeGOIPFXV77UfZKqCj9mc_8VqXHIKqe7x28ZQlw-qzvSbJ8WrDD1Os3OtEp7k/s320/carrier20_kid_howto3.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">5. Sew around the edge, about 1/8-inch from the edge. For this carrier, my sewing machine was broken and so I did the sewing by hand. Although it took a lot longer, I prefer the look of the result! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM5Kfmniidy8uG6EoU8o1dRLL3hjNbdGfej9ERHU33udmzVlhnIbOuj6wr69GU6F7o5zMHn46EHLs-kHm-BXdNclVS4Jh6c331_9KQKvcNbSWvrRwLGQowk2lqIKXY7xWMY30GjSaHQQ9/s1600/carrier20_kid_howto4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM5Kfmniidy8uG6EoU8o1dRLL3hjNbdGfej9ERHU33udmzVlhnIbOuj6wr69GU6F7o5zMHn46EHLs-kHm-BXdNclVS4Jh6c331_9KQKvcNbSWvrRwLGQowk2lqIKXY7xWMY30GjSaHQQ9/s320/carrier20_kid_howto4.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Finished! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt_8TQ3ItgSd9nUiie35CAtKQN5PpgX3ZQuaasc1uGY8SKk2Wm6jiApTTm2qK6ezRUmh9_fzTscuiAoL3wr1EWo0PTmkV5bxUBJivQ5leCJQcXl5AObIXFGMMqTNEhCAndki4W-efEX6B/s1600/carrier20_kid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFt_8TQ3ItgSd9nUiie35CAtKQN5PpgX3ZQuaasc1uGY8SKk2Wm6jiApTTm2qK6ezRUmh9_fzTscuiAoL3wr1EWo0PTmkV5bxUBJivQ5leCJQcXl5AObIXFGMMqTNEhCAndki4W-efEX6B/s320/carrier20_kid.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-1584595959141116972011-11-05T19:53:00.000-07:002011-11-05T19:53:27.503-07:00Dragon Wings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Turns out, we did get a visit from the Pumpkin Fairy. She ate all of Neven's candy, except for a box of raisins and two lollipops that she left for him. </span><br />
<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVA3yyhcDgiIhIQhdHgFsZfDLwL1SSWW5Lsm_G4xUn8qRo_O94ckehjta9eJ1YFFEsKUbi7C3fIVOGn6DSeWeUGmc3LRuIv5CGfeqSVpeTzX1hAoTb6buAzU0EiEpnshR2zsLBcNEU8xJ/s1600/IMG_3135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVA3yyhcDgiIhIQhdHgFsZfDLwL1SSWW5Lsm_G4xUn8qRo_O94ckehjta9eJ1YFFEsKUbi7C3fIVOGn6DSeWeUGmc3LRuIv5CGfeqSVpeTzX1hAoTb6buAzU0EiEpnshR2zsLBcNEU8xJ/s320/IMG_3135.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As a thank-you for all the great candy Neven shared with her, she left him some fancy dragon wings that she had made (<a href="http://feelincrafty.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/dragon-wings-tutorial/">here</a> is the website she used). Neven hasn't mentioned his missing candy once, and has been happily running around the house with his dragon wings on, trying to take off! </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD2_KR_A60YYi0yXOBfunqGAs9WSUljhKhHZtWuDnol8StoZelxx_6V7Sj_8IiozUBUZaQwsg7eGReTf91N2VdEKxBVWYz4t1xHUO3HNrPOURQ3IF4dLCJRLa6nPuFs3ovUKHOa-YJ6jZ/s1600/IMG_3137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjD2_KR_A60YYi0yXOBfunqGAs9WSUljhKhHZtWuDnol8StoZelxx_6V7Sj_8IiozUBUZaQwsg7eGReTf91N2VdEKxBVWYz4t1xHUO3HNrPOURQ3IF4dLCJRLa6nPuFs3ovUKHOa-YJ6jZ/s320/IMG_3137.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>FISH</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We've had fish before. The tank was in Neven's room, and he seemed to not notice it at all. Just another thing I had to take care of, and it became frustrating for me. A few weeks ago, I moved the tank to the dining room. And there-- it's a HUGE hit! Both Neven and Daria love it, and spend lots of time watching the fish (three guppies and two catfish) swimming around. Plus, Neven helps feed them every day. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsVy6Hn3BRBHOuYaQnndREAM6Pk8rpv1ZY8DKTmtf8wfpnfKYSCxkK6ubVChU_9H24d_0R4BJa3GUCJOInJV00DeNmlpo3PVYoLBSiALZ0pJYurPubGPnI1RCeEe9W2Nk2gzmTBtXf_Md/s1600/IMG_3131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsVy6Hn3BRBHOuYaQnndREAM6Pk8rpv1ZY8DKTmtf8wfpnfKYSCxkK6ubVChU_9H24d_0R4BJa3GUCJOInJV00DeNmlpo3PVYoLBSiALZ0pJYurPubGPnI1RCeEe9W2Nk2gzmTBtXf_Md/s320/IMG_3131.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>TURKEY PLACEMAT</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What we used: cartoon printout of a turkey, <a href="http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/label/turkey/index.shtml">parts of a turkey printout</a>, crayons, scissors, construction paper, glue, contact paper</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We colored a "Happy Thanksgiving" picture of a turkey, then cut it out and pasted it to a piece of green construction paper. On the flipside, we did the same with a diagram of the part of a turkey. Then we covered it with contact paper. Simple and festive placemat... MADE! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYGveFsOHKnYXcsxx9Wo7ZZdSXqxRnWxY7LzPIoJCNrMRvSRVg6mPJiNiycm54woU8aCH15c9EyUdDAgmMVVtnV0JLMn_kMBE5LoOi3ln-d5bFL3qhZjnjohR16vpNtrd5EnAAyhCqM5p/s1600/110211a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYGveFsOHKnYXcsxx9Wo7ZZdSXqxRnWxY7LzPIoJCNrMRvSRVg6mPJiNiycm54woU8aCH15c9EyUdDAgmMVVtnV0JLMn_kMBE5LoOi3ln-d5bFL3qhZjnjohR16vpNtrd5EnAAyhCqM5p/s320/110211a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>NINJA</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'm making a blanket for a friend of mine, using her son's baby shirts and blankets (more on that in some future post). I used some of the leftover material to make an entertaining pull-box using an empty baby wipes box (similar to <a href="http://ateacheratheart.blogspot.com/2010/12/baby-wipe-boxes.html">this</a> idea, but using scraps of fabric instead of ribbon). Neven found an intermediate use for the fabric strips - he wanted me to tie them on him. The result looked something like a receiving-blanket-wearing ninja! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpvUsTMZ0rIMDoGPHYJ0d_XFj6R-FUL7Tw3gDHNz86XUT1y3fFULJwGaKojVDSFaxQuXN6RYATWBe4uUwo3bWM7DBeoaEcl5lcpqIDd_M6TxlZCfFkIHUtWVzAu81nbcTCof4sidsS3vh/s1600/100011e_neven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpvUsTMZ0rIMDoGPHYJ0d_XFj6R-FUL7Tw3gDHNz86XUT1y3fFULJwGaKojVDSFaxQuXN6RYATWBe4uUwo3bWM7DBeoaEcl5lcpqIDd_M6TxlZCfFkIHUtWVzAu81nbcTCof4sidsS3vh/s320/100011e_neven.jpg" width="213" /></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>Now something about ME... </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>RETURN TO YOGA! </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I did yoga today for the first time in months. If you don't count prenatal yoga, I think it may be closer to a year. I didn't even have to leave the house. I signed on to <a href="http://www.yogatoday.com/">YogaToday</a> and watched their free class of the week. Not quite as engaging as a class at a studio, but definitely better than nothing. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I could literally feel blood flowing to parts of my body, rejuvenating my mind and well-being. It was FANTASTIC!!</span><br />
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</i></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-88538145602940903132011-10-29T20:32:00.000-07:002011-10-29T20:32:32.477-07:00Halloween and the Pumpkin Fairy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A summary of some of the projects we've been working on in October -- </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>DROP BOX</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What kid doesn't like to put things into other things? That's why I loved <a href="http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/search/label/Drop%20Box">this idea</a> from Play at Home Mom. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Only downside is that it requires a bit of setup, but nothing much (and can be made with things you already have around the house). In addition to the activity of the box itself, I also used it as a chance to be completely </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">child-led exploring and learning - letting him play with it as he saw fit. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHI9m5N8eUkkHRhSArEZHygX4O3YKqmKZM6BWl5JeWS-iydZ1Ir4_UBLayXIvibI0T8CKblYn2xNqPPRHVP8XAd0hZKLIvniF4rFDAkaZXJYrKmGvu-mbyjStZpKfjM10cuQvH1qHEiLy/s1600/102011a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigHI9m5N8eUkkHRhSArEZHygX4O3YKqmKZM6BWl5JeWS-iydZ1Ir4_UBLayXIvibI0T8CKblYn2xNqPPRHVP8XAd0hZKLIvniF4rFDAkaZXJYrKmGvu-mbyjStZpKfjM10cuQvH1qHEiLy/s320/102011a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>BODY TRACING</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We ended up with a big piece of blank, white paper. What to do with it? I had Neven lay down, and I traced his body (which was fun in itself, since he kept thinking I was tickling him!). Then we added shoes, gloves, shorts, a shirt, and some hair. We hung the finished piece on the wall! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0rskmah5yBFlTi5W1QGkpJVlquhPVeGkPXEEn7n4Ctnvuvi2JtpYlAbvaxCxhh8DuaTzjKgLKVFs7p7mHxWm5VieRRSxxIbiyXmnAOw7Y5uZJ5K8ynpOvr2jxWgqVslxCx_TqUnoHvRk/s1600/102111a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip0rskmah5yBFlTi5W1QGkpJVlquhPVeGkPXEEn7n4Ctnvuvi2JtpYlAbvaxCxhh8DuaTzjKgLKVFs7p7mHxWm5VieRRSxxIbiyXmnAOw7Y5uZJ5K8ynpOvr2jxWgqVslxCx_TqUnoHvRk/s320/102111a_neven.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>HALLOWEEN STORY</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A simple <a href="http://simplekids.net/orange-house-2/">story</a> to share, along with props that turn into a pumpkin mask! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGbY5puNBCkCRis2p9J2hn5FufWtdCjYygG1IeXJ86jwBicXABEr5guwBL39SzERSWmXnqgorR8LXR4n1p0dnGAAXTGWwYa7xe95MEHEy2-5uKgFrgxSF79nNSD3pK6pxYvS0p_YOHsTB/s1600/102111b_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGbY5puNBCkCRis2p9J2hn5FufWtdCjYygG1IeXJ86jwBicXABEr5guwBL39SzERSWmXnqgorR8LXR4n1p0dnGAAXTGWwYa7xe95MEHEy2-5uKgFrgxSF79nNSD3pK6pxYvS0p_YOHsTB/s320/102111b_neven.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>GAMES</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Today I had one of those Aha! days... Neven can play GAMES now! We played Memory (a kids version, and we only used a handful of cards at a time), then we moved on to Go Fish! (not too successful following the rules, but we did have lots of giving practice and also used the game to introduce the concept of PATTERNS). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>CARDBOARD BOX</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thought the thrill of a non-toy cardboard box would last a day or two -- I think we've had this one for three weeks now! Neven's "room" now has a couch, snacks, TV, bookshelf (with titles decided by Neven on the spines, like dragons, ghosts, bats, rhymes, ducks...), a porch and yard, and dragons flying around outside. The box has been torn multiple times now, and yet, it's still </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">usually the first thing both kids go to in the morning... The lesson I learned: Never underestimate the power of SIMPLE. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTqa68yXtUtpOJeqtX3CMMv6K9NU68uiZggaytThoDubKl4pwq6BHhAF6juOJsWZGo7h3ZVzk_AylQhO-nt8kuc0yr94QepnUx6Tgw_pil_C2dtMEz16XoGe2Lg3xszzHQUaWlgC1CC2d/s1600/101911a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTqa68yXtUtpOJeqtX3CMMv6K9NU68uiZggaytThoDubKl4pwq6BHhAF6juOJsWZGo7h3ZVzk_AylQhO-nt8kuc0yr94QepnUx6Tgw_pil_C2dtMEz16XoGe2Lg3xszzHQUaWlgC1CC2d/s320/101911a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>PUMPKIN CARVING</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This activity was simple - pumpkin carving. I had these grand ideas that the activity would be great for "sensory exploration" and generally fun because it was an excuse to get messy. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Surely Neven would be interested in digging out the pumpkin guts and playing with them, maybe tossing them around (we were carving outside), right? Not exactly. I cut off the top of a pumpkin for him, and he'd reach in and get ONE seed at a time. Then it pretty much took him until I cleaned out two pumpkins entirely until he was sticking his hands into the slimy bowl o' seeds like</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> the picture below. Some days, his lack of enthusiasm (SO like his dad in many ways!) frustrates me. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I'd love to see just a bit more emotion from him, or know that something I do as a "treat" to him is something he truly enjoys. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But then there's the flipside - on the days when he's content people-watching while other kids run around like crazy (like kids do), I'm grateful for his wallflower personality. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyone else have a kid like this? </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGI5xNpROJiQDOtxOnECE2-yzmkYFq0RnNgJlMqnDLmB5lhXX2crxWkwZIMC2JxbECQxu3_uX8VQjTYlVQDtPKQlrgvxq0KwJu2qTSHPHcdOcgdK_5-zwVbJ1VtLqHrKebX5A7hhVFS5_/s1600/102211d_pumpkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGI5xNpROJiQDOtxOnECE2-yzmkYFq0RnNgJlMqnDLmB5lhXX2crxWkwZIMC2JxbECQxu3_uX8VQjTYlVQDtPKQlrgvxq0KwJu2qTSHPHcdOcgdK_5-zwVbJ1VtLqHrKebX5A7hhVFS5_/s320/102211d_pumpkins.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Daria on the other hand, is in the stage where she's willing and determined to explore anything and everything!... so we distracted her with a pile of drying leaves. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ozx-g5GORyJczxD4EaKYMmjY3EUlUtcjz8Fhkw8CRKonW_V8821gs7Mhc1S9-WGA3SO1EZPP37CVPTXbF2nq2OKUvpkdUOtUx4vp0tFHeNLOd-VPbfvf8uBTZdSNI3k0JzlV0wKFGorR/s1600/102211e_pumpkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ozx-g5GORyJczxD4EaKYMmjY3EUlUtcjz8Fhkw8CRKonW_V8821gs7Mhc1S9-WGA3SO1EZPP37CVPTXbF2nq2OKUvpkdUOtUx4vp0tFHeNLOd-VPbfvf8uBTZdSNI3k0JzlV0wKFGorR/s320/102211e_pumpkins.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">HALLOWEEN and t</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>he PUMPKIN FAIRY</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Before Halloween (week) started this year, I read about <a href="http://themagiconions.blogspot.com/2010/10/ledgend-of-pumpkin-fairy.html">The Pumpkin Fairy</a> and hoped she would consider a stop at our house. The legend goes something like this: The Pumpkin Fairy visits houses after Halloween, and eats any candy that may be left out for her (except for a few choice pieces set aside). She's known to leave a token of her appreciation in exchange, typically some small gift. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Halloween #1 for us came in the mail on Tuesday from Salt Lake - a handful of candy from Meme and Papa. Neven </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ate a pack. Then we made pumpkin cookies </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for trick-or-treaters </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(pumpkin-shaped and frosted, with candy corn eyes, not<i> </i>pumpkin <i>flavored</i>), and he ate one of those. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwRZ_dnf_RIt0gRppU-Iq56_E_SmQsuzxYAA0dt82yDNZeYgEWT2tFGfNc-X08nmeRbz9iSz20ifZ6wBVxF-XtfUGjQQgT3u4FfQYgFf3BUVulWlX-1q9l5w8B154jOmdoE2K5cheFD-P/s1600/102611b_halloween.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZwRZ_dnf_RIt0gRppU-Iq56_E_SmQsuzxYAA0dt82yDNZeYgEWT2tFGfNc-X08nmeRbz9iSz20ifZ6wBVxF-XtfUGjQQgT3u4FfQYgFf3BUVulWlX-1q9l5w8B154jOmdoE2K5cheFD-P/s320/102611b_halloween.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Halloween #2 was on Thursday night, in the form of trunk-or-treating with the Santa Fe Mommy Meetup Group. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The treats were great - a fair mix of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">small prizes, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">gummy candies, lollipops (I think he managed to eat TWO the night of), cookies, and some chocolate. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I was excited when we got home, and the one thing Neven wanted out of his bucket was the skeleton notepad. Maybe we won't have to feed our kid a white lie after all? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquU-1xRtKk2ylfEUsCDGu0e7RMpBkYuxr0NGn6bCKsMRvgqN4mXaeDJqlexTn3drSltSxdDJd7dk-GTbGsK742n6goB-sQ0cCVEMxiOX5LCy8KUQwEyJQFDWZKSqhYYbf_7rbU8A6nq3M/s1600/102711a_halloween.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquU-1xRtKk2ylfEUsCDGu0e7RMpBkYuxr0NGn6bCKsMRvgqN4mXaeDJqlexTn3drSltSxdDJd7dk-GTbGsK742n6goB-sQ0cCVEMxiOX5LCy8KUQwEyJQFDWZKSqhYYbf_7rbU8A6nq3M/s320/102711a_halloween.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But then the next morning came. He asked about candy within minutes of getting out of bed. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And so we started off the day by going back and forth, and back and forth (5 thousand times!) - Neven asking if he could please have a piece of candy now, and me calmly explaining we'd have it for a snack after we ate breakfast. As t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he the roller coaster of our day went on, Neven had more meltdowns than he's had in weeks. I'm talking about lip-out, wailing about trivial things upset. Not listening, pushing limits, telling me NO to anything I said. In between fits, he'd be laughing and having a great time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's not about having to deal with a hyper child for a few hours. It's about how I imagine he must feel a little out of control. <i>I hate seeing him like this! </i>I actually suspect it might be the coloring dyes, NOT the sugar. Since we've moved to Santa Fe, we changed our eating habits and tend to have no artificial coloring of any sorts in the food in our cupboards. Maybe he developed a sensitivity to it? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyone have experience/thoughts about this theory?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think this afternoon's activity will be writing a letter to The Pumpkin Fairy.</span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-13674414220721576962011-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:002011-10-22T20:27:30.262-07:00"Nevermind, do whatever you want..."<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been trying to let go a little, and to not care so much about the things (rules) that don't really matter. Some examples of what I'm talking about:</span><br />
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<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven was painting with watercolors. He started mixing them all together. My OCD personality makes my whole body start to twitch a bit and I reactively start to tell him "no, no, no... don't mix all the colors together!" But then I catch myself - "Nevermind, do whatever you want!" Really, who cares (besides ME)? I bought the paints for HIM (probably just a few dollars at the store), and he's having fun experimenting. Turns out, he only mixes for a few seconds, then is done anyway! Happy kid... happy mama... and paints that can still be used. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daria was sitting outside on the front porch with Neven and me, half-chewed biscotti in hand. All is good until she starts tapping it on the ground. I grab for the biscotti, and so she gets mad and screams. I look at the biscotti in my hand - "Nevermind, do whatever you want!" A little dirt never hurt anyone, right? I had a friend once make the comment to me that sometimes, she'd rather her child eat a little dirt than chew on plastics. Interesting way to put things into perspective. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven was playing in his cardboard box house pretty roughly. Instead of saying "stop, you're going to ruin it!" I told him "If you are too rough, you might tear the sides. But, do whatever you want!" If his idea of fun is tearing apart his box house, what's it matter? We'll get him a new one! </span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Your turn - What can your child do today that you can answer "Nevermind, do whatever you want!" to? I'd love to hear your stories!!</span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-28340833340809478822011-10-17T20:13:00.000-07:002011-10-17T20:13:17.684-07:00Back to it...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whew, what a busy few weeks...! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Deb and her girls left, a friend from grad school visited for a quick overnight trip. He lives in NC now, but visits NM every fall to re-supply his green chile. On top of that, my cousin Dawn and her family were visiting from Hawaii (I haven't seen her since I was pregnant and we were on our last hurrah vacation in Hawaii in 2008). We were able to spend a lot of time with them, which was fantastic. We really, really enjoyed our time with them, especially Neven who proclaimed "cousins are cool" after we had seen them one day. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're trying to get back into a routine after our busy weeks (during which we did no structured learning). To make things easier for all of us, I s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">et aside an area in our family room with Neven's desk, kid-themed wall hanging, and a place to hang </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">recently-colored pages and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a <a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/calendar11/prescool-calendar-oct2011.pdf">monthly activities calendar</a>. Hopefully this will help set the stage for a more focused environment. Another improvement: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've e</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">nlisted some online help from <a href="http://www.abcmouse.com/">ABCmouse</a> and <a href="http://www.preschoolexpress.com/">Preschool Express</a>. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been easy for me to find suggested activities, but hard for me to come up with what I felt was a balanced plan of attack. Hoping these sites will help! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'ll post an update </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in a few weeks </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in the form of a typical day as thing settle into a relaxed and fun pattern that works for all of us. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are some of the things activities Neven has been up to the past few weeks: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>BUILDING MATCHING TOWERS</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not sure where I got this idea, but it turned out to be a really fun activity. Using just a set of blocks, the idea is to build matching structures. To get started, I'd place one block at a time and have Neven follow. Next, I had Neven close his eyes (which added to the excitement!) while I built a tower, then he copied it. Finally, I closed my eyes and Neven built. Of course, getting to knock it down at the end was the best part. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzzNtYVBKYNsmMZ5eP3Va4HqK9a60G0IWsqrEevDnw0F89WCcN1UgX_l1oGRbsUjt5ailjJY3_QMG94vXA1_0RWSOM-T06tNlanS1yuawZ-ML5oHtOureL9y2V1ApdLOOwTvr3V7slJan/s1600/IMG_3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZzzNtYVBKYNsmMZ5eP3Va4HqK9a60G0IWsqrEevDnw0F89WCcN1UgX_l1oGRbsUjt5ailjJY3_QMG94vXA1_0RWSOM-T06tNlanS1yuawZ-ML5oHtOureL9y2V1ApdLOOwTvr3V7slJan/s320/IMG_3049.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SEARCH FOR ORANGE</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...in the produce section of your local grocery store. Oranges, clementines, grapefruit, carrots, pumpkins. What did we miss? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>SORTING SHAPES</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Setup: Cut out shapes (squares, rectangles, and triangles) of various colors and sizes out of construction paper. Put out three containers to use as bins. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To start, I asked Neven to find me a red triangle, a red square, then a red rectangle and we talked about the differences. Then we moved on to finding two orange squares, etc. By the end, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven was picking out a shape of his choice and telling me the color and shape, then sorting it into the correct bin. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXhyNrn71EpnnKrmJ5-A2f-YHtoDqe2sAQ7CYtheSTCK7MvlE85v30IpEKlqgdSt0-kaHKvEei7mZ-LHK44Gf_Buw4ujfFATCZVCZrCbAQAXYVT-Crunv1oO0qWv3tjGHHrcV2A7rScTs/s1600/IMG_3050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXhyNrn71EpnnKrmJ5-A2f-YHtoDqe2sAQ7CYtheSTCK7MvlE85v30IpEKlqgdSt0-kaHKvEei7mZ-LHK44Gf_Buw4ujfFATCZVCZrCbAQAXYVT-Crunv1oO0qWv3tjGHHrcV2A7rScTs/s320/IMG_3050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>WINDOW ART</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This idea came from <a href="http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com/search?q=leaves">Play at Home Mom</a>. I LOVE the ideas on this website, but one problem I have is using so many materials. Unfortunately, a lot of Neven's crafts will end up in the trash, especially if we're doing something new every day. I love using things that are trash-bound anyway (like oatmeal containers, coffee cans, blueberry containers). PAHM uses a picture frame and gems for this activity; we used the plastic lid from a package of spinach and leaves. The day before, we wandered through the yard, collected leaves, and left them in a heavy book overnight to flatten and dry a bit. Today, we covered the plastic spinach lid with craft glue, used fingers to spread it around, then stuck leaves all over it. We propped up the end result in a window (another perk of using plastic instead of glass, non-breakable if it falls!). It adds some great fall color to our living room. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp6CgEAhmaZRxAoYtv4-rEVcJzEZ3_3ToUn_08cqwyYH4f7xs6IrFnofNMe3PZbJ2i7jv4Kj6kDzt0XsQMFBNUzYMTMYWE-7ZY7gKd-gzBWsKymIK3N1aHYs0QaKt9HAvVGGtYVYH4kpy/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbp6CgEAhmaZRxAoYtv4-rEVcJzEZ3_3ToUn_08cqwyYH4f7xs6IrFnofNMe3PZbJ2i7jv4Kj6kDzt0XsQMFBNUzYMTMYWE-7ZY7gKd-gzBWsKymIK3N1aHYs0QaKt9HAvVGGtYVYH4kpy/s320/IMG_3054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>PUMPKIN PATCH</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We recently visited <a href="http://www.wagnersfarmlandexperience.com/">Wagner's Pumpkin Patch</a> in Corrales, NM on a perfect fall day. We wandered through the corn maze, picked out pumpkins (Neven picked a "baby" one and a yellow one), went on a hayride, braved a scary pipe-slide, and got up and close with llamas, mini-horses, and chickens. Lots of plans for the pumpkins we got at the patch - painting, carving, sensory exploration of pumpkin guts, roasting and counting seeds... Any other ideas?</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_efXzMVRSVl_45nyy8vIZBsGrXCJj8ZP4Sg_56-UE-2n4QwTvEACuGFTCUTWxJ-rIrnYNvjCucSmKD0UvItD8vh4C5lchg7CWt3T4aCkbu7cQoyhS4JJtxOozKc8CxL8pM09dhN3YN8_/s1600/293634_10150422462366257_711671256_10545785_1452455164_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_efXzMVRSVl_45nyy8vIZBsGrXCJj8ZP4Sg_56-UE-2n4QwTvEACuGFTCUTWxJ-rIrnYNvjCucSmKD0UvItD8vh4C5lchg7CWt3T4aCkbu7cQoyhS4JJtxOozKc8CxL8pM09dhN3YN8_/s320/293634_10150422462366257_711671256_10545785_1452455164_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>LESSONS from the PARK</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, we went to a new park in Santa Fe. After a while of playing by themselves, the kids there (4 yr old boy, 4 yr old girl, Neven, and two 2 yr old boys) started playing together. Their activity of choice? Picking up handfuls of woodchips and throwing them, all of them laughing and having a blast. Situations like this often leave me feeling a bit torn as to what I should do - Should I correct Neven for throwing, even though the other kids are doing it? Should I let him go until someone is unhappy? Should I pretend like I don't see what's going on? (Obviously the last option isn't a good idea, but yet SO tempting...!) One of the other moms* calmly reminded her boys that it is ok to throw, but suggested they throw the woodchips in the opposite direction at the (unoccupied) play equipment. It was a great reminder to me that throwing needn't always be labeled as "bad" and that sometimes it IS ok to do. Where my responsibility lies is in making sure Neven directs it properly. I need to remember that he has a LOT of energy and isn't exactly sure what to do with it, and that he is exploring what his body is capable of doing. I need to help him grow and learn this way, too! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*Yes, SA - I'm talking about you... and THANKS! :) </span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-22255728202240290622011-10-06T19:18:00.000-07:002011-10-06T19:18:30.728-07:00Refreshing Inspiration<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very dear friend of mine and college roommate (for all 4 years), Deb, visited this past week with her two girls. As luck would have it, her older daughter is one week older than Neven, and her younger daughter is three weeks older than Daria. What are the chances?! We had a FANTASTIC visit together, truly stress-free! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On top of just having a generally good time, I also received some REFRESHING INSPIRATION from her. As a mom, she's unbelievably patient and compassionate with her (all!) kids, and very PRESENT with them. She seems to have a limitless amount of energy to keep up with engaging an infant <i>and </i>a preschooler - singing, rocking, nursing, hiding, playing make-believe, teaching, showing, drinking "tea"... Her kids are such happy little girls, no doubt a side-effect of her parenting style. I hope to be able to carry over some of her attitude and approach to parenting -- To remember that my children are only this age for such a short time, and to <b>ENJOY them, each and every moment I possibly can!</b> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Us THEN</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX7GYX3FQnqARAkdWSzFyyZN8QyzkwDEYeP_YpukqinI2C2Q7mvtjaDbxjf5Q1Od-lAenVETakCUB46IJYrcK7W-qkutrZl-hb6tea31iEbC3m02NgrTKPuE74vdwNzGRETOIVsqpWNZ4/s1600/deb1_fall1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX7GYX3FQnqARAkdWSzFyyZN8QyzkwDEYeP_YpukqinI2C2Q7mvtjaDbxjf5Q1Od-lAenVETakCUB46IJYrcK7W-qkutrZl-hb6tea31iEbC3m02NgrTKPuE74vdwNzGRETOIVsqpWNZ4/s320/deb1_fall1997.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Just a few months after meeting as roommates! - Fall 1997</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVQSP93IWkkSlMxV9tHR2e4uUYjbhIenhVDFLhRCIS3aHuAoHZ34WRo4stlU-ZkAutSl0y3zbxP3-Dmn6p3xSQ6oLfd6Re1iKuoJSErQJ7Y0Bn5q-EQVxGf-mXofokxOGujCwwdEkB4BB/s1600/deb2_spring1998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVQSP93IWkkSlMxV9tHR2e4uUYjbhIenhVDFLhRCIS3aHuAoHZ34WRo4stlU-ZkAutSl0y3zbxP3-Dmn6p3xSQ6oLfd6Re1iKuoJSErQJ7Y0Bn5q-EQVxGf-mXofokxOGujCwwdEkB4BB/s320/deb2_spring1998.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>Springfest - 1998</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnrvo8YnAtizF6mTKMt6wq1GR8Q3DASOYJaEcD6BdCq5vx_Gl_NNMaiZtvWwcgqVehcRIuBHivNnmpSAMl8BP4U_a6TMlWIdJx6ooqUHLrKr6Rap0CrsmSO2Yp6ro7vV8NS8TCOFgQvWF/s1600/deb3_oct1998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnrvo8YnAtizF6mTKMt6wq1GR8Q3DASOYJaEcD6BdCq5vx_Gl_NNMaiZtvWwcgqVehcRIuBHivNnmpSAMl8BP4U_a6TMlWIdJx6ooqUHLrKr6Rap0CrsmSO2Yp6ro7vV8NS8TCOFgQvWF/s320/deb3_oct1998.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> Halloween - 1998</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0J7Qi-ahi5I_U_agxcsd0UAL149SNkP7UQjtzPV-zdHbbfIUY5DHRX1-9GB6eamMGhyphenhyphenO9SbJFcXm6jlJ_YbsNruBg1If8rd0-b6Nnj9foHWMikH9MOg9VqfnXG6w3x9k2iiyDL9ZVPJr/s1600/deb4_1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_0J7Qi-ahi5I_U_agxcsd0UAL149SNkP7UQjtzPV-zdHbbfIUY5DHRX1-9GB6eamMGhyphenhyphenO9SbJFcXm6jlJ_YbsNruBg1If8rd0-b6Nnj9foHWMikH9MOg9VqfnXG6w3x9k2iiyDL9ZVPJr/s320/deb4_1999.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <i>1,000 Steps Hike - 1999</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXBof2X24PQxP2tmzddItF6EqkSyvkZ2CI0cTSz1ICif6XQz_CLI9F4nvKRFgmgfG7Hb-wxv0-PH5NBtYoTkK2CkWCPJS0JvkrXZqlaH3Gt3oDJiMOLb2VbiQFGjhAGp5So5C54_lSC-Q/s1600/deb5_spring2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXBof2X24PQxP2tmzddItF6EqkSyvkZ2CI0cTSz1ICif6XQz_CLI9F4nvKRFgmgfG7Hb-wxv0-PH5NBtYoTkK2CkWCPJS0JvkrXZqlaH3Gt3oDJiMOLb2VbiQFGjhAGp5So5C54_lSC-Q/s320/deb5_spring2001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> "Under the Sea Party" - 2001</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4b_kf9tSkUS__ptUYfDGmXnsWBwsqhIp93b2lp1bsjD2jNgU-UzHQa9a4LNzcbtGG-VBDe2BibFb3K9TuuKH-TpckyQm8Vr0IcMMB-JCrrEvwi7Vk6AankKA1Ig-6fYBF4gqxm1y-IlL/s1600/deb6_may2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm4b_kf9tSkUS__ptUYfDGmXnsWBwsqhIp93b2lp1bsjD2jNgU-UzHQa9a4LNzcbtGG-VBDe2BibFb3K9TuuKH-TpckyQm8Vr0IcMMB-JCrrEvwi7Vk6AankKA1Ig-6fYBF4gqxm1y-IlL/s320/deb6_may2001.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Juniata Graduation - May 2001</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Us NOW </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEsLbLpGh6ptv-FVZalRqgOdWMDqeq-bnjEcExpRgO8sAiObcbw5dnqSVIFS2cGGLMBulksvz7e-UzE2g-SFOrHauQxqiD9HGXbY5ItBA4s66kL59W49vpPTFIO8NIhMNQR5oFUaRN2YQ/s1600/100111i_hike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEsLbLpGh6ptv-FVZalRqgOdWMDqeq-bnjEcExpRgO8sAiObcbw5dnqSVIFS2cGGLMBulksvz7e-UzE2g-SFOrHauQxqiD9HGXbY5ItBA4s66kL59W49vpPTFIO8NIhMNQR5oFUaRN2YQ/s320/100111i_hike.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>2011 (yikes, 14 years later?! how'd that happen?!)</i></span></div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">-----</span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More from Deb's Visit... </span></i><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">CUT and PASTE, COLORS and SHAPES</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven shared some of his home-preschooling activities with Addy. I was flattered that the ideas were new and fresh to Deb, and she plans on carrying them home with her. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Y6gnz6MSq4OxhT8m6jO7cjnvdakaU6jmUriQvA-vdT3dUGLLDZrgC-GuNLVA5A6661RCL3qIAJyMsa9yQKNpWYLWaFo_PBVlMEru0NH9EWIXoJaOOpUin323B6Cs7xkkKBAiQEr9Hkg/s1600/092911a_n%2526a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9Y6gnz6MSq4OxhT8m6jO7cjnvdakaU6jmUriQvA-vdT3dUGLLDZrgC-GuNLVA5A6661RCL3qIAJyMsa9yQKNpWYLWaFo_PBVlMEru0NH9EWIXoJaOOpUin323B6Cs7xkkKBAiQEr9Hkg/s320/092911a_n%2526a.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>CHILDREN'S MUSEUM</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Face painting, dress up, puppet shows, water play, and sand play... all in one place! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c1u6Qsa9uqBVezRnSgn8WxtR0VqYHsyhb3mGPCPX9p9b9hA35fTySuyx7UrnAPfrv4teAuAixWNXOqMbrD1qlwVJ5OR8yNOvLfvSoR085Q-DUHwrpSLA8iSZE0te-pNVn8Rz5zcg3TaF/s1600/092911d_SFCM.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c1u6Qsa9uqBVezRnSgn8WxtR0VqYHsyhb3mGPCPX9p9b9hA35fTySuyx7UrnAPfrv4teAuAixWNXOqMbrD1qlwVJ5OR8yNOvLfvSoR085Q-DUHwrpSLA8iSZE0te-pNVn8Rz5zcg3TaF/s320/092911d_SFCM.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>HIKE</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We revisited the short, kid-friendly hiking loop through Eldorado's community preserve that we discovered a few weeks ago. Neven and Addy were like pros... off they went on the trail! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWw_B9MpdrYo3pjjXYgbTL9EjUl19SSp2p9_nnAPY48tJ9ZU_D8wz79MQCv-4q-gYQMpnBZVOhQc0AN12wN8j5vAc_b7Fk6DnGbAquwZLaUX_sjlnfC1_JbVYJoXe8l8rcclgdT9Sbckl/s1600/100111d_hike.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWw_B9MpdrYo3pjjXYgbTL9EjUl19SSp2p9_nnAPY48tJ9ZU_D8wz79MQCv-4q-gYQMpnBZVOhQc0AN12wN8j5vAc_b7Fk6DnGbAquwZLaUX_sjlnfC1_JbVYJoXe8l8rcclgdT9Sbckl/s320/100111d_hike.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>PARK</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How can you go wrong with something as simple as swings?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTq2EUFqxp3FoeuovASs8HQcGv7hGfKC8ZeArvxISzzD8DBiFAk2_NdGVXJduM96w6ZPlnI3al4-wN_ZEpKk0_5YFMra2eZLS3xdTZ-nduybh7PCNLUp1dze_vd5cg0mvceSedCZOegCr/s1600/100211a_n%2526a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTq2EUFqxp3FoeuovASs8HQcGv7hGfKC8ZeArvxISzzD8DBiFAk2_NdGVXJduM96w6ZPlnI3al4-wN_ZEpKk0_5YFMra2eZLS3xdTZ-nduybh7PCNLUp1dze_vd5cg0mvceSedCZOegCr/s320/100211a_n%2526a.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>** We miss you girls!! Come back and visit again SOON! xoxo **</i></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-88589917345163354272011-09-25T19:13:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:13:16.905-07:00Me Time (well, kinda...)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I haven't been as focused on Neven this week as I intended -- I've been a little distracted with my own projects. Feels <i>amazing</i> to get in some me-time!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>DEHYDRATING</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...bananas (as good as candy!!), sweet potatoes, apples, peaches (huge, juicy, organic ones from a neighbor), apple fruit rolls. I've realized that since I got the dehydrator, Neven is a super-healthy snacker! He eats homemade yogurt and granola for breakfast most days, grilled cheese for lunch makes his "unhealthy" meal of the day, and he snacks on dried fruit almost 100% of the time. Makes me a happy mama. :) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>SEWING</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We took down the bi-folding wooden doors on Neven's closet and our laundry closet (where our washer and dryer are), since they were hardly ever closed anyway and just seemed to be in the way. Neven went to the fabric store with me, and picked out blue sharks (luckily for me and my OCD personality, this matches his room which already has a 'fish' theme). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along the sewing lines -- I've been commissioned to make a baby quilt for a mama in Santa Fe, using her son's baby blankets and onesies. Pretty excited about this!! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>DATABASE ENTRY</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For a few years now, I've been working on setting up and populating a basic database for the Birth Center in Taos. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And yes, I like -- no, LOVE -- data entry. Such a black and white task. No (or at least, not much) room for interpretation. With each keystroke, you're technically making progress. Aaahhh... :)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Neven's Activities this Week</u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>SIGN LANGUAGE</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to it! We did many basic signs with Neven when he was around one to two years old. As he started learning to say words, signing took a back seat. We've recently re-discovered the fun of learning though talking with your hands, and have been picking out a card each day (ok, <i>most</i> days!) to learn. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Cards-American-Language-Boxed/dp/B003I7HMXU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1317002319&sr=8-3">flashcards</a> that I really like, but when I need to look up a word, my favorite website to use is <a href="http://www.signingsavvy.com/">Signing Savvy</a>.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>STACKING BLOCKS (Gross Motor Skills)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yep, another simple activity that was entertaining for a while -- making a "castle" for the guy in blue (not Neven, the plastic guy!). </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07P497iTArClUnNmsKXv5Slg7FV7gQiRL6sqOUpdtA8GtomSemtZhKcEeVw3Efh02rE-sCeR5dO3tOIf5Khr8Pf28VKkYuk-4kuDlzhOXVHkwcFqf9vnIZnFo6AP2F4Olv1zA64GsfyTr/s1600/092111a_blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07P497iTArClUnNmsKXv5Slg7FV7gQiRL6sqOUpdtA8GtomSemtZhKcEeVw3Efh02rE-sCeR5dO3tOIf5Khr8Pf28VKkYuk-4kuDlzhOXVHkwcFqf9vnIZnFo6AP2F4Olv1zA64GsfyTr/s320/092111a_blocks.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>ALBUQUERQUE AQUARIUM</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday, Matt and I took the kids to the Albuquerque Aquarium. They both *loved* looking at the fish, especially Daria! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9Zvh6iCO8e933bJh7L2ntcsDpzUI9T_isNmd1NPd8MJhor71bKJx7acUFtq9YU95OZcLwSS75PL8lEIP1OQ_hc8rcEnBxPAxBnli83ATeEqyfL8b2Ml6Q9FAAZGh_ijMhRSf2zLmbxcM/s1600/092411b_aquarium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9Zvh6iCO8e933bJh7L2ntcsDpzUI9T_isNmd1NPd8MJhor71bKJx7acUFtq9YU95OZcLwSS75PL8lEIP1OQ_hc8rcEnBxPAxBnli83ATeEqyfL8b2Ml6Q9FAAZGh_ijMhRSf2zLmbxcM/s320/092411b_aquarium.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We took the train to the Zoo... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAHPpEsM57HIhkuGykfxF-sJaGc5h7JjfW8Cz-zvYp35K4qFGNfVhB5V3ap7z0OlTuVrTNO97mmBMBjMJ-zSpZJuQ5zuiKq0BS4ilZWUqoBzHgG-kqc3B1epT9rR60atj9yEx55KgcU8g/s1600/092411n_train.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBAHPpEsM57HIhkuGykfxF-sJaGc5h7JjfW8Cz-zvYp35K4qFGNfVhB5V3ap7z0OlTuVrTNO97mmBMBjMJ-zSpZJuQ5zuiKq0BS4ilZWUqoBzHgG-kqc3B1epT9rR60atj9yEx55KgcU8g/s320/092411n_train.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...had a picnic lunch in the park there, then headed back to the Botanical Gardens. We made it a point to not rush to see everything, and rather we tried to let Neven set the pace. It seemed to pay off -- although at the end of the day he was tuckered out, he was still a happy camper!</span><br />
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</i></span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-51286538605344754852011-09-19T18:50:00.000-07:002011-09-25T19:40:29.316-07:00Homebody<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my first blog entry I wrote "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><i>I'm pretty sure [Neven would] rather spend an hour with me looking for bugs in the backyard than go to Disneyland.</i></span>" This week, I came as close as I could to proving that correct. Neven, Daria, and I drove to to the state fair in Albuquerque to meet a good friend of mine and her two kids (who are about the same age as Neven and Daria). We visited McDonald's Farm (where they walk around a mini-farm collecting fruits and veggies from the various stations), fed some goats, ate fair food for lunch (a foot-long corndog and french fries), rode a few rides (three seemed to be enough), and bought some cotton candy at the end of the day (<i>that </i>did get a wide-eyed "ooh!" expression from him). </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I</i> had a good day! Neven had an OK time for sure. Maybe he was just on overload a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">nd taking it all in, maybe the crowds made him a little nervous (it's usually <i>his </i>idea to hold my hand)... most likely a bit of both? </span></span><br />
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</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He slept for most of the car ride home, and wasn't exactly ready for bed at his normal time of 8:00. As a treat, we let him stay up late. He and Matt </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">curled up on the couch together under a blanket (the blanket I made for him while pregnant, his "hug" as he calls it) and watched "How to Train Your Dragon." After the movie ended, he was very animated as he told me with his hands all about dragons flying this way and that. And that night, he went to sleep talking about dragons. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">My conclusion? </span>I think he's a homebody... just like his mama and dad. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(I had planned on writing more on this topic, but am running out of time and just want to get something posted!) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Neven's Activities this Week</u></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>HIKE</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last weekend, our family visited Eldorado's 4,000+ acre <a href="http://eldoradosf.org/index.php/Amenities/community-preserve.html">community preserve</a>. Full of connecting trails, we made a short 2-mile hike that Neven was able to do on his own (Daria was awarded a free ride in the backpack). We picked flowers, learned about "trail markers", and listened to Neven leading the way while mumbling to himself about all that he was seeing and taking in (what a joy!). </span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>MAKING PIZZA (fine motor skills)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Neven helped me make Greek-style pizza for dinner. One of the simple activities that not only makes him feel included, but can be used as a learning opportunity. I cut up all the veggies, and let him put them on. Of course, he added them one by one -- great use of his fine motor skills! </span><br />
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</i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>FORT (gross motor skills)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pillows + not on the couch = a fort! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pushing the truck trough the fort with him was intentional - additional practice using his gross motor skills. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDHDmbgaur8UFNnQnLndnikSpRMHoox7gm360ooDEJYmY7mB_eAjE4-xBRzAv8wwQoaBFV165jNauezSqkrKoEHg6RMYX_M89R0gi2y2Jz5B_Mr0o6iSQacCatBqwWlSyS9SV6lz6bUGb/s1600/091311a_fort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDHDmbgaur8UFNnQnLndnikSpRMHoox7gm360ooDEJYmY7mB_eAjE4-xBRzAv8wwQoaBFV165jNauezSqkrKoEHg6RMYX_M89R0gi2y2Jz5B_Mr0o6iSQacCatBqwWlSyS9SV6lz6bUGb/s320/091311a_fort.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>BALANCE BEAM (gross motor skills)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An idea I read about online - We found an old wood plank in our yard, about 6 inches wide and 6 feet long. At first, I laid it directly on the ground, thinking that would provide a challenge for a least a few minutes. No such luck! Next we moved it to make a ramp from the grass to the wall of the flower bed. That lasted a few more minutes. Moving it to a foot off the ground turned out to be the best - Neven was able to walk across (to escape the sharks, he claimed), bounce in the middle, or jump off the side! Pure, simple fun... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the simplest fun you can have - a cardboard box, painted like a boat (you <i>do</i> see the resemblance, right?!) with circles and squares!</span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>CHILDREN'S MUSEUM</i> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This weekend's Saturday activity was a visit to the <a href="http://www.santafechildrensmuseum.org/">Santa Fe Children's Museum</a>. We've heard rave reviews, and this was our first time to go since we've moved here two months ago. Plenty of stimulating activities here - rolling balls along a track until they crash, bug displays, beads, bubbles, a (huge!) water table, magnets, play kitchen, art supplies... Definitely a place we'll be visiting often this winter when it's too cold to be outside! </span><br />
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</span>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5202028583539412416.post-56485207125593714572011-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:002011-09-12T12:55:14.793-07:00August (and a bit of September) in Review<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before I can start blogging like I want to, I feel the need to share a bit of what we've been up to for the past month (and a half). Much of my time has been spent in the kitchen (hooray for harvesting season!) or outside trying to make some progress on my newly-aquired garden. Also high on my priority list since I (we?) decided to start home-preschooling Neven has been planning focused activities for him and I to do. I haven't been too strict about a schedule, but I've been aiming to have one activity per day (seems like a reasonable start, and makes sure we have more than just good intentions). So far, it is working out well, and I think the structure is beneficial to all of us.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next week's post will be more interesting, for sure! </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>GRANOLA</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We go through granola (cereal) like its going out of style! A few months ago, I started making granola at home. I had no idea how simple it is to make, and it feels great to know exactly what's going into it. I've tried a few recipes, and this is the one I've landed on as my favorite combination (its actually a recipe from a card I found in one of the fireplaces at our La Posta house...!). In the end, I think making our own granola costs about as much as the generic, store-brand “granola with raisins.” But making our own not only tastes much, much better, but it feels healthier and we can customize each batch to the variety we want! </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Ingredients</i>: </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 3 c regular rolled oats </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/3 c wheat germ </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/3 c brown sugar </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1 apple, shredded </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/4 c water </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/4 c honey </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1 t cinnamon </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1 t vanilla </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1 c dried fruit (cranberries, apricots, raisins, dates, dried bananas...) </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/2 c nuts (slivered almonds, sunflower seeds...) </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Directions</i>: </span> </div><div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mix oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, and apple in a large bowl. Combine water, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla in a small bowl, and microwave for 30 seconds. Pour mixture over oats; mix well. Spray 10x15 baking pan with non-stick spray. Spread oats evenly in pan. Bake at 325 deg F for 60 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Cool. Add dried fruit and/or nuts. Store in airtight container. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>YOGURT</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another recent discovery I've made is making our own yogurt, in the crock pot. How much easier can you get? I was a bit skeptical at first as to whether or not this method would work, but it does! It tastes fabulously simple, and costs about half of what the cheapest, store bough yogurt does. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Segoe Script', sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-yogurt-in-your-crock-pot/">http://www.nourishingdays.com/2009/02/make-yogurt-in-your-crock-pot/</a> </span></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>FREEZING, JAMMING, AND DEHYDRATING</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'Tis the season to be buying in-season fruit in bulk, and preserving it for the winter. For us, this has meant buying many blueberries and strawberries on sale at the supermarket, and picking our own raspberries. Much was frozen, some was jammed, and we just purchased a dehydrator to deal with the rest. I'm pretty excited about the latter, to make on-the-go kid snacks! Neven has always been a healthy eater at home, but it was too easy for me to fall into the convenience snacks for when we were out and about – goldfish crackers, animal cookies, granola and cereal bars... (all pre-portioned in individual packaging, of course). Making our own dehydrated fruit and vegetable snacks not only means healthier, but it also means less packaging to toss in the trash! </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>PLANTING SEEDS</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What you need: </i></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">plastic coffee or yogurt container, with a few holes poked in the bottom for drainage (I used a hammer and screwdriver)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> seeds (we used green beans)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> dirt (“yard” dirt worked fine for us)</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> a few straight twigs, about 12” long</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> twisty-ties</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Directions: </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fill plastic container with loose dirt. Use finger to make a few holes, about 1 inch deep and 2-3 inches apart. Drop 2-3 seeds in each hole. Cover with loose dirt. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Water seeds every day to keep soil moist. You should see sprouts in less than a week. As they start to grow, use straight twigs and twisty-ties to support the stalks. At some point, you may need to transplant your bean plants outside or to a larger pot.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> fine motor skills (planting), plant needs, responsibility (remembering to water them)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuelWgALrOsLeCQ6cB2uH5Bw3IPvjDFl2TXy8DRNevSZsdthv2Qpwy_yRXjo0IElCsXRtcTZv6xqEaLahL1kAxgRhnwKhAZSnaOey5BE188WY6hTfjZuGXdU6_WUVtnXrqUcyfhKiZT2r/s1600/081011a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuelWgALrOsLeCQ6cB2uH5Bw3IPvjDFl2TXy8DRNevSZsdthv2Qpwy_yRXjo0IElCsXRtcTZv6xqEaLahL1kAxgRhnwKhAZSnaOey5BE188WY6hTfjZuGXdU6_WUVtnXrqUcyfhKiZT2r/s320/081011a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>COLORED ICE CUBES</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Initially, the idea came from here: </span><a href="http://simplekids.net/indoor-outdoor-activities">http://simplekids.net/indoor-outdoor-activities</a> </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But we didn't use our ice cubes to paint – we used them for playtime in the bathtub. </span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you make the ice cubes, consider using basic colors, which will mix easily to make other colors! </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts: </i><span style="font-style: normal;">colors, mixing colors, melting, ice/water phases</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>MAKING CRAYONS</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Another idea from the same website: </span><i><a href="http://simplekids.net/indoor-outdoor-activities">http://simplekids.net/indoor-outdoor-activities</a> </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The best form we found to use was a piece of aluminum foil, molded into a trough of sorts. As the wax melted, I squeezed slightly and rolled to help the wax stick together. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> colors, sun/heat, melting, fine motor skills (coloring)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX1hxHX0nF8X65uQ7_bGuymPS5q1AsKLXnDCsTrfpAg3USDHeixyRiD4Pt-3l8REottMQ9MlYMY1K1xUkpO41IXslsJ4AWJcwjV99shobhq6_t_Fy0h6AzpRRziiTzNMZulstGA7nKMZ2/s1600/081611a_crayons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX1hxHX0nF8X65uQ7_bGuymPS5q1AsKLXnDCsTrfpAg3USDHeixyRiD4Pt-3l8REottMQ9MlYMY1K1xUkpO41IXslsJ4AWJcwjV99shobhq6_t_Fy0h6AzpRRziiTzNMZulstGA7nKMZ2/s320/081611a_crayons.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>FISH MOBILE</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What you need: </i></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">colored paper</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> scissors</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> markers</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> string</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> wire hanger</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Directions (or, what we did!): </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut out six fish shapes of different colors (while I cut fish, I gave Neven a pair of scissors to cut randome pieces). Use a marker to draw designs on the fish. Punch a hole in the top of each fish. Attach the fish to the wire hanger at varying lengths. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> fine motor skills (using scissors), colors, fun!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HiPMgVx-21FbdsPR__iP6ehZXqyd4sL-TU9c8oatZ384fVMtAKUhf7iRQKwrHqr0Y9Qrs9X3NVi7UsZgnzSZ5Cvuz6f97YjoNFcMByDjywqDXNeDzTsfX4qOkudLpLUKrHLEJUZPQHaq/s1600/081811a_neven.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HiPMgVx-21FbdsPR__iP6ehZXqyd4sL-TU9c8oatZ384fVMtAKUhf7iRQKwrHqr0Y9Qrs9X3NVi7UsZgnzSZ5Cvuz6f97YjoNFcMByDjywqDXNeDzTsfX4qOkudLpLUKrHLEJUZPQHaq/s320/081811a_neven.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>SORTING</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What you need: </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> containers or bowls</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> miscellaneous objects (buttons, beads, marbles, beans...)</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> colors, shapes, motor skills</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnVWqgoXP5VAnavoKwXkJJAshz0KpYqEfCp8fXFChCHp7eaVPQKXKaBrck68VEeb-2jQraMu7dS2m5OfM1NVc1ykin6OhyNm1k5bTtfsPFU-bqy7_zucrlptqpD0nDIR2ya_x3YiU0B64/s1600/082211a_sorting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnVWqgoXP5VAnavoKwXkJJAshz0KpYqEfCp8fXFChCHp7eaVPQKXKaBrck68VEeb-2jQraMu7dS2m5OfM1NVc1ykin6OhyNm1k5bTtfsPFU-bqy7_zucrlptqpD0nDIR2ya_x3YiU0B64/s320/082211a_sorting.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>MAGNETS</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What you need: </i></span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-style: normal;">pictures to color</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> crayons or markers</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> scissors</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> glue</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> construction paper</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> clear contact paper</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> magnets</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Directions: </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Print black and white pictures of animals, etc. Color pictures with crayons or markers. Glue onto construction paper and cut to desired size. Stick pieces of contact paper to either side of the construction paper and picture. Attach magets to the back. </span> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> fine motor skills, colors, animals</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKSvDSgtOxi63JfSh96YOFWkdY9FuhNu0xqW3sbJ-ew_MJs0VbbXdogq-5IiC4Y-Fn2kpElpu0VMSuJJFNz090XAgTo1Nald7CV1JJmOWlcVDaiMipLVKFFA2MV7h4vao9fZ1jsDLLD4U/s1600/083011a_magnets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKSvDSgtOxi63JfSh96YOFWkdY9FuhNu0xqW3sbJ-ew_MJs0VbbXdogq-5IiC4Y-Fn2kpElpu0VMSuJJFNz090XAgTo1Nald7CV1JJmOWlcVDaiMipLVKFFA2MV7h4vao9fZ1jsDLLD4U/s320/083011a_magnets.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>POURING</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What you need: </i></span> </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> objects to pour (beans, rice, buttons)</span></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> containers of varying shapes and sizes</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Concepts:</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> fine motor skills, life skills</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH3iaf-pdQWlirvVQYP2Qw5ROl_RzkXS2oZa_NwhfiscgxiM2VwW9Q6pMERfqFvQgk5HREcfEBx_uuMzIKnnNdf1GO48lWZWuDebkbJPHDFu2nRVGdhQHDWnLiu_-NWnHmzD5pnbQ1GrK/s1600/090211a_pouring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH3iaf-pdQWlirvVQYP2Qw5ROl_RzkXS2oZa_NwhfiscgxiM2VwW9Q6pMERfqFvQgk5HREcfEBx_uuMzIKnnNdf1GO48lWZWuDebkbJPHDFu2nRVGdhQHDWnLiu_-NWnHmzD5pnbQ1GrK/s320/090211a_pouring.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>RASPBERRY PICKIN'</i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Last weekend, we went to <a href="http://www.salmanraspberryranch.com/">Salman Raspberry Ranch</a> just north of Las Vegas, NM. Had a great time, and picked 4 pounds of fresh, juicy raspberries free of pesticides and herbicides. It was a good day!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC44EYkZ_WdEHqO_Dr6L39hlScuVnxYStrDuDDnG78ZkeXYb0bNPQHThqfglx6thM_JBcLVnsI509Sd9XN5KFeGDn1ycUk4UGhil8hZxSiweKE3CHAEawRBX3neM3euhcZp9CXm8l6uW3/s1600/090311e_salmanranch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHC44EYkZ_WdEHqO_Dr6L39hlScuVnxYStrDuDDnG78ZkeXYb0bNPQHThqfglx6thM_JBcLVnsI509Sd9XN5KFeGDn1ycUk4UGhil8hZxSiweKE3CHAEawRBX3neM3euhcZp9CXm8l6uW3/s320/090311e_salmanranch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div>jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16063585360681759049noreply@blogger.com0