Wordless Wednesday (Halloween 2017)

  Every year even if we go to the same places Halloween is different.  The trunks are different at the Trunk or Treats, the festival events are different and even a trip though the neighborhood brings new experiences.  Regardless of all the candy the kids will remember what they were, who they were with and maybe how much they walked.  Candy cravings will fade and I can't wait.

    The hardest part of Halloween is not what candy to eat first, or which house to start at first.

It's what costume to wear!

The festivals are fun because they have so many activities and crafts to do.

Master Gardeners always have such fun crafts.  They glued different leaves on plates and the kids used their imagination to complete the picture. 

No lollipops for these ghosts. These were made from the Sweetgum Tree pods. 

Finale to our night was Trunk or Treat.  I can't say if there was a theme or not but, some of the trunks are so fun no theme is necessary.  

It's extra fun when people match the cars! Hello Mario where's Luigi?

This was my favorite!  Such minimal work but a huge statement!

We went to the circus.

We didn't touch the jellyfish.

Emoji's are a language everyone knows.

Special appearance by the Golden Girls.

An interactive trunk. I-Spy!

This was the most elaborate car. The starship enterprise.

4 pumpkins brought this yellow brick road together.

Pumpkins were not going to be showed up by some cars!

                

                

  This fun was the weekend before the big day so we had days of Halloween fun!  How did you spend you Halloween or last few days of October?  Did you attend a fall festival?

Pete the Cat book and fun

  My son was recently introduced to Pete the Cat and it's catchy songs and loves the books so I decided to make something he can continually play with circling around one of his favorite books.

  He attended a kids event at the library and had fun listening to a couple stories and participating in those activities so some fun at home is a win as well.

There was a sorting buttons based on color or size and he even made a Pete the Cat hat.

For the Pete the Cat I love My White Shoes book I decided to make some shoes.  

I used foam for this craft based on what I was using them for.  Of course you could use plain paper or cardstock. I then colored everything with permanent marker.

In this book Pete has some shoes that he's strolling around in and gets dirty.

He steps on strawberries, blueberries a mud puddle and then a bucket of water (I didn't make a bucket).

I colored each shoe to indicate what was stepped in.

He stepped in strawberries.

He stepped in a pile of blueberries.

He stepped in a puddle of mud.

Lastly, he stepped in a bucket of water.

I made these with foam so that they could be play with on the window or bathtub.

The permanent marker also helps maintain the color with the water.  

Use the shoes for color identification or make more fruit for number counting. 

I did color one side on all but, you could also color one shoe two different colors and have two feet stepping on the items or he is a cat after all you could give him four feet of each color.

I also threw in a lacing activity.  Another piece of foam with several holes punched in and a piece of yarn.  My son can lace but, this will be good practice to learn how to tie.

Have you read the Pete the Cat series with or to your child?  What's your favorite Pete the Cat book?  Have you read this book?

School with Letter A

  This week started school for everyone here! My last child here is working on kindergarten grade level.  He was not real receptive last year but, this year has started out much better.  He's asking more questions, and repeating the correct answer when asked.  He's eager to learn and excited for more class.

  This week we learned the letter A.  He has had school on and off for the past couple years but each year it just starts over. So he has studied everything before but, at different levels, with different worksheets and less time.

  Each day we start with the desk.

The desk has 2 letter A titled books in addition to other items pertaining to the specific letter.

We take time outside to play and learn as well.  Writing the letter in dirt and using sticks impressed him.

Each day I subjected him to walks.  This is our PE/quiet/mommy and me/exploration time.  This go around was his second trip so I allowed the scooter. He doesn't like to walk and I want him to find peace in it.  Enjoy nature, get some fresh air and slow down and see things.  I will have you know this was day 1 and he took his father and sister on two separate trips around the block to show them all the A's! (Insert proud mommy smile here)

Some of our books gave us an excuse to get outside.

The Magic Acorn by Maggie Stern was about a special acorn. 

We went on a walk to gather our own acorns.

Our acorn hunt was successful.  This hunt gave us a hands on A experience, and a touch of science!  We checked our math by counting the acorns and touched a little science too in that we planted an acorn! 

Apple trees made out of playdoh!  Then with the help of a roll of dice we picked apples off and put them back on the tree. Hello math again!

After you spend a few days identifying it's time to write! So we practiced writing upper and lowercase a's. 

A workbook helps with more handwriting practice.  The pages are from various websites with requiring different tasks. Tracing, letter search, name writing and circling the correct numbers.

  In the past I tried to incorporate snacks into the day and I continued this year by having fun with food in some way. Applesauce was not received well but these two A's brought a smile!

Yesterday was his favorite as he had to run from number to number and complete a different task. He picked apples and had to transport them! 

My favorite was his ax and arrow tattoos! I though to myself hey its even on his arm! Ha win for me!!

Lastly our play time outside today involved air!

This was my first time with the sock bubble but, I should have made two because once my daughter saw it they couldn't switch off quick enough for the other to have a turn.

Well there's our one week of A's. I have a couple crafts I will be sharing in a separate post pertaining to the letter A.  I hope you enjoyed a peek in our day.  I haven't figured out if we will do weekly or daily letters.  We shall see as we go along but, we will actively learn and have fun everyday!

A is for angry!

How Kids Can Manipulate You

  Whether you know it or not if you have kids they have somehow (maybe even unknowingly) manipulated you.  Look into my eyes.

Manipulate: 1. handle or control typically in a skillful manner.  2. control or influence cleverly, unfairly or unscrupulously.

  It starts out early when they are young, vulnerable and needy then works it's way to when you would think they were old enough to know better but for several reasons:

1. New mom
2. Outnumbered
3. Stressed out
4. Manipulated
 
  You are oblivious to the active manipulation.  It's not our fault they are sneaky.  They can't be capable of such acts. They love me.

  I am not a new mom.  Well not in the true sense.  I have 4 kids but each child is a separate child.  Each child capable of their own tactics.  Capable of manipulation.  This makes me a new mom every time as no tactic is ever repeated by any child or the same child.

  TV control.  If you turn it on the are mesmerized.  They stay content through the duration. Until... you get on the phone, need to do something or want to go somewhere without them.  You thought you had it figured out!

  Games on your phone.  All fun and games until they have called grandma, deleted your pictures or sent them to grandma, called what number or ordered a new app.  How does this happen?? Your 5 and know more of the capabilities of my phone then me.  Hey, show me how to do that!

Teeth brushing, hair brushing and "I went potty" tactics have been played multiple times too.  Some of these areas I'm sure should be mastered but how can I be sure.  Should I just risk it and let them go?  Walk away when someone is bellowing for me from the inside of the bathroom?  What's the worst that can happen?

  This list can go on forever.  One child alone could single handedly take down a grown adult.  I think the 4 of mine are circling me like vultures.  They are breaking me down.

  The other day my daughter went outside to play and Sophia the First was on tv.  I asked her if she was done with the tv.  I asked her?  She has been manipulating me (unknowingly).  I may be trained.  Excuse me, ma'am can I change the channel.

  I hope it's not too late.  I wonder if they mess with me when I sleep too?  Repeating their wants and wishes while I sleep.  I need to be more proactive and on high alert.  The kids are probably plotting right now!  No, they are not; they need me don't they?

#nablopomo