green

Look: A while ago I bought some paint that comes in the bingo dabber bottles. Chelsea loves to paint with these. This is a picture of the green product. She painted an entire piece of grocery bag, but I cut a small portion to save out. We're working on colors, so this is green (is it wrong that I started with my favorite color?)

Learn: Painting can be a neat activity. The little dabbers are awesome and painting is just a short activty with little or no clean up needed.

Love: It will be neat to see how C's painting skills develop.

circles

Look: I was eager for some springish decoration at my house. So we took strips of fun colored paper (from my card/scrapbook supply) . Chelsea made them into little cirlces and I stapled them. She would have loved to staple them herself, but I had to insist on doing it for safety...but believe me once this one can staple it will be her favorite thing.

Learn: We called these "circles" and it really helped her learn the shape. She is finding circles all over the house now. Can't wait to do shape hunts outside and when we go different places...onto squares next!

Love: This was such a pretty little easy craft and it brightens my mood when I'm sitting at the table! Mission accomplished.

Penguin

Look: We traced C's hands, punched out circles, cut a triangle and voila...a penguin.

Learn: This ties in with one of C's favorite books so now she talks about the book when she sees penguin and talks about penguin when she sees her book. I didn't realize she was making so many connections already.

Love: Doing crafts was the fun part of early childhood teaching. But because K has gotten so advanced you have to slip in crafts here and there...now I can do them everyday!

craft basket

Look: Stopped in at Lakeshore stores this weekend. I have been there a zillion times as a teacher, but never as a parent. The main reason I'm staying home with my itty bitties is so that I can have lots of time to teach them things and put my early childhood degree to good use. But until I went to this store I didn't realize how much cross over there is with parenting and teaching early childhood children. So Ibought an art caddy (something I used in my classroom a ton...one on each Kindergarten table filled with supplies to share) and plastic trays to contain the mess of painting. I feel so organized and it keeps craft projects a few steps away!

crayon apron

Look: How cute is this apron. Mrs. M bought it for Chelsea for Xmas. We used it a few times and she enjoyed it. I pulled it out this week and she was so excited (my how a month of growth can change a child's zest for a toy or in this case an apron). She was very proud while wearing it and couldn't wait to show daddy. We get out a BIG coloring book and she colors with one crayon at a time. She uses every single crayon and loves pulling them out. When its time to clean up she helps and enjoys trying to get them in the little pockets. I bet in just a few months she'll enjoy putting them back more then getting them out. How fun!

Park with Baby Jack!

Look: I'll be honest, I forget which day this was...but I know it was warm and wonderful out. We planned to meet our friend Emily and her new son Jack for a walk. There was an awesome park right near their home. We pushed the kids to the park then let Chelsea play on the slides. After a bit we pushed Gavina and Chelsea on the swings. All the time Jack was sleeping and soaking up the fresh air (how cute is he!!!!).

Learn: One thing I learned was that my friend Em is an a terrific Mommy. She is a complete natural and has taken to motherhood like a champion. And even though I had no doubt she and her hubby would be stellar paretns, it is truly wonderful to see. Chelsea loves Emily and she is one of the only adults that Chelsea will accept help from and speak to right away.

Love: I love park days as you know. I also love that as Jack grows we'll have more and more of these types of days! Yippee!

Valley Forge

Look: It was sunny and beautiful so we took the kids to Valley Forge. They loved going for a ride and seeing all the joggers, families and especially the doggies.

Learn: Little tastes of spring in the winter are wonderful...but they really make me wish we lived somewhere warmer.

Love: Outings like this are just what I always thought of when we were planning our family!