School Days: President's Day

Monday was President's Day so what a better week to talk about the USA and presidents! Our mini topics were George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, flag and presidents in general.

We started the week talking about the flag. The older kids made a flag while the younger kids practiced pasting red, white and blue paper and sticking start stickers on paper.











Christianna's and Aiden's work since theirs goes home instead of staying on the board.


We talked about how George Washington was the first president and how Barack Obama is president now. For Abraham Lincoln, we made log cabins and colored a portrait of him.









Sean sayings from this week:
""Bracky" is president, he lives in the White House and works in the Oval."

When told that Abraham Lincoln was the president during the civil war: "How a war? He sleeping in his room in oval white house."

When shown a picture of the Lincoln Monument: "I see rusty man!"

I thought I'd just throw in this nap time picture...so peaceful!


Friday was an off topic day. More about it here.

Reading List
Know Your Government: President - Jacqueline
Washington's Birthday - Dennis Fradin
Lincoln's Birthday - Dennis Fradin
Pete For President - Daisy Alberto
Arthur Meets The President - Marc Brown
Otto Runs For President - Rosemary Wells
Grace For President - Kelly DiPucchio

*The kids didn't pick out books this week b/c we had a handful of books from the past couple weeks that we didn't get to read.

School Days: Wind

This Friday we were planning on learning about George Washington as part of week on the USA and presidents but a simple question changed that. Christianna asked me "Why is the wind blowing?" So we found out!

Before we did our wind craft, we had a visit from Aleacia and her girls!



After they left and after naptime, we made windsocks from plastic bottles and old shirts.







Checking out their work.


Then we spent some time out in the nice weather.

Banana Nut Bread ... With a Twist

I LOVE banana nut bread and have found the perfect recipe! Today I added a twist...mini banana nut donuts (and muffins)! Don't they look good!? They smell and taste even better! To make the donuts, you'll need this pan.

Here's what you do:

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 very ripe bananas
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup nuts

Preheat the oven to 350*F.

You will need 3 bowls.

In the first bowl you will beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs one at a time.


In the second bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

 

 In the third bowl, combine the bananas, milk and vanilla.

 

Set your mixer to medium and alternate adding in bowl 2 and 3 into bowl 1..beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Occasionally scrape the bowl. Beat just until blended.

Next, fold in the nuts. I used pecans.

Bake for:

10 minutes for donuts

20 minutes for muffins

1 hour 10 minutes for bread

Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes then remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack

Lastly, make yourself a cup of coffee and enjoy!

Project 52: Week 8

Spring Fever!!

We've had a few days here and there of beautiful weather.
The kids loved getting to play outside!


Spring being near means that Maddy's birthday is coming up! I've been working on a tutu for her. I just need to get the colored tulle for the ends. Here's what I have so far:

Teehing necklace giveaway

I swear by these necklaces!! Here's a way to win one!

http://vanessascraftynest.blogspot.com/2011/02/review-giveaway-inspired-by-finn-amber.html

In her own time

Months ago I started being told by people that it was time to get Maddy out of our bed. It was time for her to be in her own room. I mistakenly ignored my mommy instinct and what Maddy was telling me and agreed with them. We got her a bed and tried having her sleep in her room. Surprise! It didn't work.

Then I found this blog post at the beginning of January. It clicked! A light bulb went off. What was I doing!? We were all content with her in our bed. Why was I listening to others and trying to solve a problem that didn't exist!? We welcomed her back into our bed and things we're going great. She even started sleeping more in the twin bed that is sidecarred to our bed.

Then this week came.. All of a sudden she's asking "nurse bed? me bed!?". Meaning she wants to nurse in bed so she can go to sleep and she wants to sleep in her bed! Whoa! Where did that come from!? She's now starting the night in her bed and joining us in our bed around 4:00am. ...to be honest, I'm glad she (and Sean) sneak into our bed in the early morning. I love my morning snuggles and am not ready to give them up.

Brown Bear Brown Bear

Sean has really taken to the book Brown Bear Brown Bear lately. He pretty much has it memorized. He now wants to read it himself at bedtime.
So, here is bedtime story by Sean:


Maddy also seems to like it. Here she is reading it to her baby dolls.

Project 52: Week 7

Chocolate donut = happy Maddy


Dressed herself


Warming up first thing in the morning...he's sitting on the heat vent.

School Days: Valentine's

Week 2 of the new curriculum was not as good as week 1. After just one week, the kids were tired of making books so we didn't do that part. Week 2 went into the next week since the theme was Valentine's Day and Valentine's Day was Monday of the following week. Because it went a little longer, I added off topic things to the curriculum.

Here's what we did!

We started the week with a experiment.
What happens when you add red food coloring to the water of white flowers?


The kids' predictions


The results


We sorted and counted candy hearts.







We made Valentines!






We also wrote in our journals.
Who do you love?






Sean "I love grandparents."


Maddy "Grandma"


Zach "I love mommy and daddy."
Christianna "I love mommy and grandma."


The extra day we talked a little about nutrition: food groups and why it's important to try new foods. All four kids joined the Two Bite Club by trying at least 2 bites of a new food.



This week's reading:
Curriculum based on
The Best Thing About Valentines - Eleanor Hudson
The Two Bite Club - Team Nutrition USDA

Supplement books
Don't Be My Valentine - Joan Lexau
Valentine Cats - Jean Marzollo

What the kids picked out
I'm a Turkey - Jim Arnosky
Silent Movie - Avi
Raccoons And Ripe Corn - Jim Arnosky
Turtle in the Sea - Jim Arnosky
LMNO Peas - Keith Baker
Such a Prince - Dan Bar-el
Thomas' Milkshake Muddle: Three Thomas & Friends Stories - W. Awdry