Crystal Gardens

January 31, 2014Leave a comment

What looks like a fun science project in pictures was actually a bit of a nightmare. There’s nothing hard about what we did. We combined equal amounts of Epsom salts and warm water and put it in the fridge. The next day we had crystal gardens, that are still holding up almost a week later.

What pictures don’t show is the half cup of Epsom salt spilled on the floor. And then, after that was mostly cleaned up, a puddle of broken mason jar, water and salt.

The results of our experiment are: don’t involve a toddler.

At the Hill Aerospace Museum

January 29, 2014Leave a comment

World Map

January 23, 2014Leave a comment

I’ve been recently try to integrate more Montessori methods in my school. It somewhat can get expensive and complicated, but they also have some great ideas and materials. I recently put together this Montessori-inspired world map.

I used material I had on hand. My template came from Imagine Our Life, who has a more awesome version on her site. I used Velco stuck to the foam board to make it a puzzle. PB is already interested in geography: one of his favorite computer games is to look around on Google earth. He’s enjoyed this map and it was pretty easy to make.

School Projects

January 21, 2014Leave a comment

One of our big projects for school was moving the school room downstairs. Previously, we had been using the downstairs living area as a master bedroom. It was the only way we could sleep near the kids. But we decided with a baby monitor and kids that usually sleep through the night it didn’t matter that much. The upstairs attic room makes an awesome master bedroom, and the downstairs living area makes an awesome school room. It was a good move. (Minus the occasional two-flight of stairs in the middle of the night to adjust Mr. C’s blankets and tell him to go back to sleep.)

Now we can paint on already paint-stained tile:

I’ve been picking red a lot to paint with it, and I have no idea why. It reminds me far too much of blood and has the greatest tendency to stain. I do like only giving the kids one color to paint with, it is just a little more simple.

The kids also made a cool hat with piper cleaners and a colander.

Now Mr. C is going to time travel past his whiny, crying far too often stage. (Or I can hope. He is a sweet kid, just recently he is discovering he wants things he can’t get and he doesn’t like it.) Speaking of wanting things, nothing gets the kids into the kitchen like announcing that I am making cookies. They love, adore, and nearly worship cookies. Here is Mr. C covered in cookie dough.

One final picture of a contact paper collage. The collage was worked and re-worked for a couple of weeks. PB is now old enough to cut out his own shapes too.

Snowshoeing

January 14, 2014Leave a comment

I don’t know if we will be able to convince PB to go snowshoeing again. We decided to go on a quick hike Saturday. I had noticed a small side canyon barely up Perry Canyon that looked perfect for a bit of snowshoeing. So we went. We tend to go up very steep hills while snowshoeing. Inaccessible hills in the summer are changed by the snow, and small deer tracks are the perfect snowshoeing trails. PB wasn’t so sure going up the side of a mountain was fun…it was more terrifying. But he hung on to me and made it up and back down the steep slope, even if a few tears were shed. I was enjoying myself immensely, it was beautiful day.

On the way back was the worst part. He fell in a puddle soaking his boots and feet, and most of his pants. Luckily we were almost back to the car.

Ice Castles

January 7, 20141 Comment

I’ve watched this video a lot, and when I saw that they had ice castles a half hour away from my grandparents, I had to go. Great place for some good pictures and fun exploring.

This sad little boy had cold hands. Luckily Mom had better gloves for him.

The kids were amazed at the ice lighting up with different colors when it started to get dark.

PB did try to eat much of the ice. And the really gross snow on the ground. There wasn’t a panda there…just my sister in her panda hat.

Mr. C

January 4, 2014Leave a comment

This is a bit on Mr. C. He has been good at making good stories for his mom to tell lately.
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When I had a bunch of family over, C destroyed a roll. I had to vacuum that up. Soon after he pulled out all the games upstairs. I even had put the game shelf in the closet to avoid such messes, but he was a having a blast in the closet that someone else opened up for him.

I ignored the mess until the next day. While I went up and cleaned up all the games, PB came up and informed me that C was making a big mess. (I’ve asked him to tell me.) He had emptied sprinkles all over the dining room and stairs.

I vacuumed that all up, and was just about done when I looked over and there he was with a ripped cereal bag spreading cereal all over the hall. The little vacuum was very full when I was done. He finished out the morning with a very full diaper.
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At a final family Christmas party, C was very easy to get to come eat. I showed up with a brownie and he shouted, “Cake, cookie!” and came running. Later on, I found him with seven cookies in a bowl, all excited and ready to eat. He is a little cookie monster, but I’m glad he’s not picky and eats just about anything. Joe made some cookie dough and left it in the fridge. I have gone around the corner into the kitchen several times to find him sitting on the floor with the bowl between his legs eating as much cookie dough as he can. He was very distraught over the makeshift fridge lock soon after.
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C will say, “Watch this,” or more like “Waashiss”, before doing a little stunt–going down a slide, jumping on the bed. It is cute. He copied PB, as PB does it all the time. I don’t mind the invitation to watch.
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C got out the potty and wipes and said poopy. He sat on their for a while. Ten minutes later after his diaper was back on he actually pooped. I think this kids is going to be much easier to potty train that PB who took until he was over 3.5

Chrismas Morning

January 2, 20143 Comments

2013 in Review

December 31, 20131 Comment

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this year:

Joe passed his board exam and found a job working as a Physical Therapist in the nursing homes.
We moved in February, after a couple of months at my Grandparents.
PB finally caught on to using the toilet. He also started to learn to read, and became an avid fan of numbers and unanswerable questions.
Mr. C learned to walk and started to talk. He also started sleeping through the night. Currently he loves balls, and trying to be like his big brother.
Spent lots of time at home doing various art projects, learning activities, and playing outside.
Made lots of new friends and spent lots of time with family.
Grew a mildly successful vegetable garden.
Didn’t go on vacation, except a small trip to Nevada to see my sister, and a one night camp out.
Had a few garden design clients, also updated/worked on a lot of my resources, and started studying permaculture.
Bought a house, three blocks from our old apartment. And we love it.