Right now I'm...
...enjoying our local wildlife. We had a grasshopper on our window (above), we have three resident spiders (two on the outsides of windows and one in our front doorway), and many hummingbirds.
...wishing our front doorway spider wasn't quite so Enthusiastic with her web spinning. (ahem)
...explaining to Isia the life cycle of the bee that's currently caught in one of the window webs.
...hoping that I've explained everything in a way that makes sense to her.
...listening to her say, "The spider will drink its blood... then it'll fly away again?"after I've explained it for the third time.
...appreciating her optimism by finally just saying "yes."
Wishing you lots of learning- and wildlife- this week!
Linking up to: Wonderfull Wendesday
We have begun our Fall with a visit from our dear old friend Stomach Bug. We were gracious at first, thinking she'd only stay for a day or two. However she decided to nest a bit, and it's only now- a week later- we're sending her on her way. Thankfully just the kids and I are the worse for her visit- Cory, who has to teach and function in the real world, was spared. We've been spending a lot of time resting- doing laundry- and, of course, doing crafts. Because on the days that the Mama feels the worse, her kiddos will of course be especially sprightly and need lots to do! This craft is perfect for just those days- you only need paper labels, straws, and any drawing medium.
Quick back history: As I shared a few Wednesdays ago, here, I was having trouble adapting a paper bead project I used to do with older students. We used to take strips of magazine and wind them around straws to create beads. Simple enough, right? Not for little fingers- it took a lot of help to create the beads above.
When she was finished decorating them, I wrapped the straws with mailing tape before cutting them into beads. You could also Mod-Podge them or enjoy them without sealing them at all.
I then gave her a long piece of yarn to string them onto. I had taped one end to make it easier to string on her many beads...
...and her attention lasted until each and every bead had found its special place. I ended up cutting a few little pieces of plain straw too, just for contrast, and offering them to her.
The finished necklace! Straws and paper labels at their finest, I think. And busy little hands help for a rested Mama. (wink)
Happy Joyous Fabulous Birthday Card
Shop Shutterfly for beautiful Christmas cards.
Disclosure: This post is in conjunction with a Shutterfly promotion.
Happy crafting this weekend!
"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
(words and inspiration via Soulemama.com)
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The mural was completed just over a week ago with one final coat of sealant. Now it should be grubby hands and stubby crayon proof! Here's a tour of the finished piece...
It ended up being 26 hours of painting in all, which I thought was a good start for my largest mural yet. I'd promised Isia that I would take her to visit "Mama's painting" when it was all done. When we arrived she asked, "You painted all this?" I assented, and she said it was beau-ti-ful! She went around the room looking at everything and asking questions about the animals. Interacting with it, just as I hope all the little patients will. I even hid pictures within the mural- a blue triangle, 5 snails, Nemo, etc.- to help them look even more closely at it. My thank-you gift to the doctor's office was a worksheet for the kiddos introducing myself, detailing the process of painting the mural, and giving the list of everything I'd hidden for them to find. I then included space at the bottom for them to draw their favorite animal, just as I had drawn mine (the whale!).
Today I'm...
...excited about our newly arrived package of tongue depressors.
...thinking that a box of 500 seemed like a lot less in type than in person.
...researching every possible tongue depressor project.
...enjoying our recent rainy days.
...thankful for the Calico Critters that Isia loves so much.
...happy for colder days and warmer layers.
...eager to carve out more time indoors to be together, and for projects too!
Wishing you a happy middle of the week!
(And all ears for any recommended tongue depressor projects... *wink)
