Where our classically eclectic, crafty, nature loving homeschool tries to stay on track...
Quick Stops
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Crafty 4th of July Firecrackers
Besides the heat and humidity, there are many things to like about this time of year. 4th of July fireworks, yummy corn, blueberries and peaches in season, and lightning bugs just to name a few.
We used these items to create these cute 4th of July Firecrackers.
Cut the red construction paper to fit the toilet paper roll, wrap it around, and secure with tape. Next cut strips of any color paper and tape to the inside of the paper roll. Punch holes in the top and insert a pipe cleaner so you can hang your new creation. We added yellow tissue paper to make it look like fire was coming out of the top-Enjoy your 4th!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
What's in the mail game?
The girls love getting packages in the mail so I thought this would be a fun game to play. I added rocks, coins, a book, a blanket, marbles, and pencils to separate boxes and envelopes. Jem had to squeeze and shake the mail to figure out what was inside. Both girls gave good guesses and enjoyed this easy activity. I think we'll also do this on our next road trip in the car.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Children's Museum Fun
What a day we had a the Columbia kid's museum! The girls loved climbing through this 3-story tall kid, from his brain, down his spine, into his heart, and through his stomach. There was also a fun farm exhibit where they could milk a cow, pick peaches, and gather eggs. Jem showed an early sign of having a crush on firefighters at the fire truck exhibit, too....she didn't want to leave. Before we left I browsed through the museum's gift shop, but didn't buy anything. I did find some of the same educational items at the CSN online stores. You can find just about anything from cool toys, baby items, and even green LED lighting.
CSN has given me the opportunity to review three neat educational items that we plan to use for school this Fall. So please stay tuned.
CSN has given me the opportunity to review three neat educational items that we plan to use for school this Fall. So please stay tuned.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Coffee Cake Perfected
Today is a happy day....After 10 years of marriage, I have found the perfect coffee cake recipe. I will now share this delicious piece of yumminess with you. Enjoy!
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until combined. Don’t overbeat. Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula. Spread in a well-greased 9 x 13 pan. I used my lasagne pan as it has high sides.
In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Sprinkle all over the top.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes
(I found this recipe over at The Pioneer Woman, it's a great blog, thank- you for this recipe.)
Ingredients
- FOR THE CAKE:
- 1-½ stick Butter, Softened
- 2 cups Sugar
- 3 cups Flour, Sifted
- 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1-¼ cup Milk
- 3 whole Egg Whites, Beaten Until Stiff
- _____
- FOR THE TOPPING:
- 1-½ stick Butter, Softened
- ¾ cups Flour
- 1-½ cup Brown Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
- 1-½ cup Pecans, Chopped Instructions
Cream butter and sugar. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until combined. Don’t overbeat. Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula. Spread in a well-greased 9 x 13 pan. I used my lasagne pan as it has high sides.
In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Sprinkle all over the top.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes
(I found this recipe over at The Pioneer Woman, it's a great blog, thank- you for this recipe.)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Easy Sew Party Shirt.
I forgot to post this cute shirt that I surprised Jem with on her third birthday. I used scrap fabric and ironed on stitch-wich to the back of it to make the fabric stiffer. Then I cut out a number 3 and sewed it onto one of Jem's old shirts....that now looks like new. I added a little embellishment to the top and there you have it, a cute little party shirt!
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Butterflies Are Here!
The Monarch butterflies have emerged from their chrysalis and they are using their proboscis to drink the sugar water we left for them. The girls like to reach into the butterfly house and feel the butterfly wings flutter on their hand.
Every year we go through the same thing.....Olive gets so sad when it's time to release them into Grammy's garden. "It's almost time for their wings to fly," I tell her. "I know," she replies.
The life cycle of a Monarch butterfly is an amazing thing to see.
Every year we go through the same thing.....Olive gets so sad when it's time to release them into Grammy's garden. "It's almost time for their wings to fly," I tell her. "I know," she replies.
The life cycle of a Monarch butterfly is an amazing thing to see.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Happy Father's Day
Happy Father's Day to my Buzz Lightyear, my Dad, and to all the great men who make a difference in our lives.
Enjoy the outdoors with your Dad today!
The girls and I took Buzz on a kayak trip, it was a first for all of us, and something we will for sure do again. We saw many lovely birds, a stingray, and crabs.
Enjoy the outdoors with your Dad today!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wedgets Rock
What an amazing educational toy these are....
My girls have enjoyed this open ended fun by designing their Wedgets into amazing shapes. They had fun stacking them up, over, and across, and they actually designed shapes together. Wedgets are rhombus and octahedron shaped toys that help stimulate perception and reasoning skills. We purchased this set on Amazon, here. I also purchased these soft Wee Wedgets for my nephew who just turned on here.
Out of all the stacking and shape toys we have these are super fun!
My girls have enjoyed this open ended fun by designing their Wedgets into amazing shapes. They had fun stacking them up, over, and across, and they actually designed shapes together. Wedgets are rhombus and octahedron shaped toys that help stimulate perception and reasoning skills. We purchased this set on Amazon, here. I also purchased these soft Wee Wedgets for my nephew who just turned on here.
Out of all the stacking and shape toys we have these are super fun!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Our Curriculum for Kindergarten!
The decision has been made.....drum roll please.....
Olive’s Kindergarten 2010
Math:
Hooked on Math and then Math-U-See
Reading:
Teach Your Child In 100 Easy Lessons, Bob books, and Hooked on Phonics
Writing:
Draw Write Now
History:
Story Of The World
Science:
Living Learning Books
Language:
Wordly Wise K
Art:
Fun projects
We are also excited to take part in a Classical Conversations Co-op that will meet on day a week! We will still be lapbooking with Five in a Row and doing Daisy girlscouts. I think this should be a very good year (fingers crossed, prayers said).
Olive’s Kindergarten 2010
Math:
Hooked on Math and then Math-U-See
Reading:
Teach Your Child In 100 Easy Lessons, Bob books, and Hooked on Phonics
Writing:
Draw Write Now
History:
Story Of The World
Science:
Living Learning Books
Language:
Wordly Wise K
Art:
Fun projects
We are also excited to take part in a Classical Conversations Co-op that will meet on day a week! We will still be lapbooking with Five in a Row and doing Daisy girlscouts. I think this should be a very good year (fingers crossed, prayers said).
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Living Learning Books- Butterflies
Our caterpillars have arrived in the mail and have already started making their chrysalis. This is the third year that we have ordered monarch butterflies from Insect Lore and it never gets old for my two girls. In about 3 weeks the butterflies will be named and released into grammy's garden.
I am so excited to be using our new science curriculum called Living Learning Books, created by veteran homeschool mom, Sandi Strenkowski. In level one science we will be learning about animals, human body, and plants. The best part about Living Learning Books new format is that you are now provided with weekly lesson plans and an easy downloadable format for both vertebrates, invertebrates, and the human body (coming soon). I love that these lessons can be used for multiple ages and you can add as much to a subject as you would like or keep it simple with just the basics. Each lesson has coloring and activity pages, crafts, cooking, and suggested reading.
Our Butterfly Lesson:
Read- Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
Waiting for Wings by Lous Ehlert
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
Projects- Antennae headband
Baggie Butterfly Garden
coloring pages
Cooking- Butterfly Apples
Caterpillar Cookies
I think this is a good start to the week ahead...plus as an added bonus their is a free sample unit to download on Sandi's site here!
I am so excited to be using our new science curriculum called Living Learning Books, created by veteran homeschool mom, Sandi Strenkowski. In level one science we will be learning about animals, human body, and plants. The best part about Living Learning Books new format is that you are now provided with weekly lesson plans and an easy downloadable format for both vertebrates, invertebrates, and the human body (coming soon). I love that these lessons can be used for multiple ages and you can add as much to a subject as you would like or keep it simple with just the basics. Each lesson has coloring and activity pages, crafts, cooking, and suggested reading.
Our Butterfly Lesson:
Read- Monarch Butterfly by Gail Gibbons
Waiting for Wings by Lous Ehlert
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Butterfly House by Eve Bunting
Projects- Antennae headband
Baggie Butterfly Garden
coloring pages
Cooking- Butterfly Apples
Caterpillar Cookies
I think this is a good start to the week ahead...plus as an added bonus their is a free sample unit to download on Sandi's site here!
Friday, June 11, 2010
My New Summer Theme
It's still me, but with a new summer theme for Sippy Cup Central. I would love to know what you think...? Have a great weekend and I'll post Jem's birthday pics soon.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Alligator Cake Sneak Peak!
Here is a quick look at Jem's very green gator cake for her 3rd birthday tomorrow. I think it turned out really cute for her alligator jungle themed party. I'll show more photos tomorrow.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Hungry for a Party!!!
My little Jem turns 3 on Friday and we sure are "hungry for a party" at our place. The theme is an alligator jungle party so I am attempting to make an alligator cake. Today I baked the parts and tomorrow I'll use my homemade buttercream frosting to decorate it.
(Use you imagination) - We used a Christmas tree pan for the head, loaf pan for the body, cut a bundt cake pan in half for the tale, and used heart shape muffin tins for the feet.
Stay tuned for the finished cake tomorrow!
(Use you imagination) - We used a Christmas tree pan for the head, loaf pan for the body, cut a bundt cake pan in half for the tale, and used heart shape muffin tins for the feet.
Stay tuned for the finished cake tomorrow!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Beach discovery with visitors
We had a wonderful time with our German friends who stayed with us for the week. The days were lovely and we spent as much time as possible on the beach. Here are some great ocean discoveries we made during their visit!
a sand dollar
a horseshoe crab
Now it gets interesting a jellyfish, cannonball jellyfish, also known as the cabbage head jellyfish, is a harmless (it’s edible) variety that sometimes washes up on beaches in large numbers.
a dolphin
We have been friends since S was an exchange student in high school. How lucky I am to have a fantastic friend across the ocean, who is always close in my heart! Even though our children speak a different language they played wonderfully together, it was really special to see.
a sand dollar
a horseshoe crab
Now it gets interesting a jellyfish, cannonball jellyfish, also known as the cabbage head jellyfish, is a harmless (it’s edible) variety that sometimes washes up on beaches in large numbers.
a dolphin
We have been friends since S was an exchange student in high school. How lucky I am to have a fantastic friend across the ocean, who is always close in my heart! Even though our children speak a different language they played wonderfully together, it was really special to see.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Playdough under the sea
I found the perfect playdough recipe, it's just like the real stuff! Olive and Jem both agree that it's soft and easy to mold. They spent a good part of an hour playing with this new blue dough. They had a good time pretending that their little animals were under the sea.
Perfect Playdough
1 c. flour
1/2 cup salt
1 T. cooking oil
1 T. cream of tartar
1 c. water
Food coloring of your choice
Add-ins of your choice (i.e. spices, extracts, glitter, etc.)
Stir ingredients together into a saucepan. Over medium heat cook the dough until it pulls away from the pan. Lay onto a cutting board and knead well, it will be hot to touch. Allow to cool and enjoy.
Here is a fun chocolate playdough recipe from My Montessori Journey and Counting Coconuts has a variety of fun colors here.
Perfect Playdough
1 c. flour
1/2 cup salt
1 T. cooking oil
1 T. cream of tartar
1 c. water
Food coloring of your choice
Add-ins of your choice (i.e. spices, extracts, glitter, etc.)
Stir ingredients together into a saucepan. Over medium heat cook the dough until it pulls away from the pan. Lay onto a cutting board and knead well, it will be hot to touch. Allow to cool and enjoy.
Here is a fun chocolate playdough recipe from My Montessori Journey and Counting Coconuts has a variety of fun colors here.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Peanut Butter Buttercream Frosting!
To celebrate the end of our school year I made a super yummy chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream frosting! Buzz says it's the best frosting I have ever made! The recipe could easily be made into just vanilla buttercream too. I think everything taste better when it's made on my Grandmother's old Sunbeam mixer that still works wonders.
The Best Frosting Recipe:
The Best Frosting Recipe:
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 to 2 of milk or whipping cream
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- dash of cinnamon
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Freezer Pop Fun
Why wait for bathing suits when it's hot outside....just turn on the sprinklers, and grab a homemade freezer pop!
Summer Freezer Pop Recipe:
1 cup yogurt
2 cups lemonade or any juice
1 big handful of fruit we used strawberries
Blend it all together and pour into molds.
I plan to keep the freezer full of yummy pops all summer long, Enjoy!