Sunday, July 17, 2011

Tot School-Pond Life Weeks 1 and 2

This month we are studying Pond Life. We are focusing on four animals: alligators, ducks, turtles and frogs. These first two weeks, we have learned about reptiles, waterfowls, the different coverings of each animal, what the animal eats, enemies and life cycles. I have linked most ideas and hopefully I did it correctly.

Alligators

Hattie using tangrams for an alligator pattern and Celie
counting alligators up to 3.




I found these hats at the Dollar Tree. The girls had fun
trying to bite each other. Oh boy. We also watched a YouTube
clip read by Mercer Mayer.




Liam came over and we made these A alligators.

Ducks

Celie counting ducks up to 3, Hattie putting the life cycle
of a duck in order and the girls playing Lucky Ducks board game.




Hattie put letters in order in this Melissa and Doug puzzle
and then I took the puzzle away and had her sound out the word
and try to spell it. She got it!


I found a simple science experiment in this book on how to
teach children about the oil in a duck's feathers, and how the oil
makes them waterproof. Cut out two ducks from a paper bag.
"Paint" one duck with oil first (we used vegetable oil). Then
spray both ducks with water and hold them up. The water from
the oiled duck drips off, but the water from the other duck
soaks into the paper.

Turtles

Both girls pretending to be turtles with pillows on their back.


Tearing pieces of green, yellow and brown construction paper
and gluing it onto a paper plate to make a turtle.


Estimating how many turtles would fit onto various lengths
of brown construction paper logs. Surprisingly, she was only
off by one number each time.




Various activities: pond life sensory bucket, sorting ducks,
alligators and turtles, stamping sounds and numerals into playdoh
and lacing a turtle.
A few books we read:
Good Morning , Pond
Look Out for Turtles
Make Way for Ducklings

Tot School

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Tot School-Dinosaurs

The girls really enjoyed learning about dinosaurs in the month of June. Some of the concepts we learned were: the differences between a T-Rex, Triceratops and a Brachiosaurus, the definition of extinct, definition of an herbivore and an carnivore, what Paleontologists do, and what fossils are.
Here are some examples of some of our activities this month:


A few worksheets and mini books from kidssoup.com


Our friend,Liam came over and the kids dug for fossils in
the backyard (Milk Bone Dog Biscuits). Even Celie joined in
and found several on her own. I also found a fossil digging kit
and Dollar Tree. The kids chiseled away the dirt and found
dinosaur bones inside.


We were invited to Gilroy Gardens by our friend, Brody.
While we were there, they were having a dinosaur exhibit.
The dinosaurs moved and the kids were able to dig through
sand to find dino footprints. It was a highlight of our day.


I saw this in the store and had to buy it for them.
I am not going to mention how much sugar is in it :)


One day Hattie asked if she could build
sky scrappers so her dinosaurs could crash
into them. Um...ok!


While Hattie was building a city, Celie was sitting in the box
of blocks and playing with Cameron. Um...ok!

Click on the button to see more ideas from other moms:
Tot School

Friday, July 08, 2011

4th of July Weekend

We had a fun and relaxing 4th of July weekend. Lots of food, water, bubbles and naps for me!

The third picture is of Hattie practically drooling while watching
Randy making s'mores

Ice cream bars with red and blue sprinkles, tomato and mozzarella
salad, and hamburgers


Lots of bubble play, especially trying to eat them



Sprinkler play

Sprinkler and bubble play

Randy having more fun than the kids

She really wants to eat those bubbles

Monday, June 27, 2011

First Week of Summer

We survived our first week of summer with lots of fun activities. It was a cool week here in the Bay Area. The girls love spending most of the day outside running and playing.


Lunch with friends

Celie at her "Wiggle and Move" class

Hattie enjoying a juice box after summer camp

Playing with their friend

Tickles, pushes and reading in the backyard

What's the first week of summer without getting wet in the sprinklers?

Celie not enjoying her first popsicle (I HAD to finish it for her)

Hattie loving hers

I hope to share our dinosaur themed activities with you soon.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Last day of School

I can't believe it is already the last day of school. It feels like I just wrote this post yesterday. Hattie has had a great year and has learned a lot of Spanish. I hear a new word every couple of days. She starts summer camp at the same school in a few weeks.


Thank you gifts for her teachers. A little
something for summer.

Crazy hair day. She loved wearing pink gel in her hair.

Dora, Rosy and Patty. They were wonderful teachers;
very loving and caring.

Friday, June 03, 2011

A Day at the Aquarium

Last weekend we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. John and Jenny met us up there. Celie loves fish, so she was in awe most of the day.




Saturday, May 21, 2011

First Haircut

We finally decided it was time for Hattie to get her first haircut. Combing her hair everyday was turning into a battle; tears, screams and begging, and that was just coming from me! We took her down to a local kids shop. She sat in a pink convertible, watched a movie on the big screen tv, and ate a lollipop. Her favorite part was getting glitter and a pink feather clip in her hair. She did well, and in the end, it really wasn't a cut, but more of a trim. Her hair looks great, but her curls are gone (insert sad face here).


Before and after pictures




Before and after from behind. Curls are gone :(











Certificate she received along with her curls






In the backyard enjoying her new "do"




















Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Easter

We had a fabulous time in Los Banos with our family. Lots of eggs, food and chocolate!



Click on photo to enlarge

Saturday, March 19, 2011

18-Months Old



Celie is 18-months old today. Time is moving too fast.
She:
-takes one 1.5 hour nap a day
-sleeps from 6am to 6pm
-loves Elmo and Dora
-cries whenever we drop Hattie off at school (all the way home in the car she says, "Hattie school" in the saddest voice)
-is a picky eater, but loves cottage cheese and yogurt
-loves to sing and dance
-can count to 10 in English and 6 in Spanish
-speaks in 2-4 word sentences (her newest phrase is, "Look Mommy, it's a mess" whenever someone spills something)
-pulls Hattie's hair when they are fighting
-tries to kiss me the whole time I am scolding her (usually for pulling Hattie's hair)
-wears 12-month sized clothing
-still sucks her thumb when she sleeps at night
-loves dolls and playing with the dollhouse

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Shamrock Kisses

Sadly, this will be the last day our Leprechaun will visit, but he did not disappoint us.
He snuck into our rooms last night and gave us a kiss on our cheek. The shamrock stickers were evidence of that. He also left the girls a scooter and new baby stroller. They played with them all morning and can't wait to try the scooter outside this afternoon.








Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Leprechaun Day 3


The silly Leprechaun put hats on the
pictures in the living room...

"He" got the idea from here: http://kikicreates.blogspot.com/2011/03/quick-idea.html


He also left these dolls: Goldilocks and Little Red Riding
Hood. When you flip the dolls over, the 3 bears and
grandma/wolf are on the other side. The girls are really
into fairy tales recently, and Hattie can recite these stories
by heart. These dolls were a hit!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Leprechaun Day 2


The Leprechaun was back last night and he was up to his
usual tricks. He turned all of the photos in our family room
upside down. He also put a few dolls upside down hanging from the
curtain rod. When Celie saw them, she kept saying, "Look
Mommy. Oh no Baby. Oh no."

The Leprechaun also made the milk for
Hattie's cereal turn green right in front of
her. She loved it. (put a drop of green
food coloring in a bowl, add dry cereal
on top, and then in front of the child, pour
in the milk. Magic!)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

He's Baaaaaccckkkk!


Our Leprechaun has found his way back to our house again
this year. He shows up 5 days before St. Patrick's Day and
plays little tricks on us and leaves us treats.
He made a huge mess in the middle of the night with the
girls' toys. Cameron (far left side) is not sure what to make
of him.



He brought Hattie this green mug. When she saw it, she
said, "Just like mommy's cup to drink coffee." He brought
Celie a St. Patrick's Day book that Randy has had the
pleasure of reading about 5 times already this morning.