Taking a break.. calling it quits?

Well readers. I'm posting today to let you all know that I just am plain burnt out on blogging. I'm just not sure if it's my "thing". I absolutely love blog hopping and getting ideas and inspiration from other bloggers. But, I just don't have the drive and ambition to keep up my own. I've been doing activities at home with T still but just don't have the extra energy to blog about it anymore. I may or may not come back. Not sure if it's a temporary thing or for good yet. Just wanted to apologize. It saddens me a little. I do love coming here and seeing everything we've done. But, it's not in me right now to continue on with this currently. Thanks to all my loyal readers. It means so much to me that anyone even read my little blog and hopefully I inspired some creative ideas and brought colorful works of art into your life.

Leaf print stained glass

Another wonderful art-inspired idea from The Artful Parent.

Last Saturday, I was watching 2 of my nieces (age 2 and 3), and had them gather some leaves. Then, I taught them how to use the side of a crayon to make leaf prints. They kinda got the hang of it, but enjoyed scribbling around and drawing on the paper more. No big deal. The paper was really big, so I didn't think they would be interested in filling the entire paper up anyway. I think they're favorite part of this was just gathering up all the leaves. :)


The following day, I had T and A (3-year old niece), paint the paper with our liquid watercolors. They painted the entire strip of paper practically all by themselves. They really enjoyed this part.


After the paint dried, I cut the paper so it would fit into our window by the front door. Then, T and I brushed vegetable oil onto the back of it and stuck it onto the window.


I absolutely love all the beautiful colors and the way the sun shines through the paper. The leaf prints didn't seem to be so noticeable though, unless you stare hard at it, but the kids and I still like it.

First Day of Fall!

Fall play idea: Jumping in a pile of leaves



(The leaves aren't in a pile anymore in these photos, but still just as fun.)

What We've Been Up To...

Playing...


Dancing...



More ice cube painting with a friend...


Practicing photography...
(photo taken by T)



The state fair...






Last beach trip before summer ends...




Happy Autumn!

Mural Painting

A couple weeks ago, A (T's cousin that you've seen around the blog) spent the night over for the first time. Whenever A comes over, I love to do atleast one activity for the girls. It's fun to see how different, or how similar, their creativity and imaginations are.

This art activity was really easy. I just taped up a long roll of T's easel paper onto our backyard fence. Set out some paints and handed the girls some paintbrushes.


I also had the pool out full of water for easy cleanup. (Which actually became an activity in and of itself- mixing different paint colors in the pool.)


Body painting was also inevitable. Which was followed with painting of rocks and sticks. (Didn't get to take a picture of that.)

Montessori Activities

As you may have noticed, I haven't posted at all this week. I decided to extend my "blog vacation" for a bit. Not sure when I'll be back. I'm thinking most likely next week, but honestly, I think I'm going to slow down on my blog post numbers. One reason being that T is now in school so we might not be doing as many activities together each week. And the other, is I just need a little break. I even contemplated not continuing with my blog anymore now that T is in school and I'm a little burnt out. However, I've realized that I really do enjoy blogging. And, I think we will still continue with activities at home, maybe just not as many as before. With that, I will post when I feel the desire again. (I do have some things to post, I just haven't had the ambition to post them.)

Anyway, I did run across a wonderful list of age-appropriate Montessori activities for you to do with your child at home. Perfect for those rainy days ahead.

Montessori Activities for Pre-schoolers

I don't think I mentioned before, but T began a Montessori school this year. I can not say enough how excited I am for her to be going to this school. Everything about it, the teachers, the classrooms, the parents, the playground (you get the point), is just too perfect and I know will be a great fit for T.

Also, I wanted to add that this is my 100th post! Wow! Wanted to say a special thank you to all my followers and supporters of this little blog journey I've begun. I feel honored to have even one person who appreciates my postings. I hope to have many more inspiring activities and ideas to come! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. :)

Photo of the Week

First Day of Preschool


Also, want to add that I will be taking a 4-day weekend blog vacation! Be back soon! :)

T's Book Review

What could be a better book recommendation than straight from a 4-year old?

What library book was your favorite?
Corduroy

Why is it your favorite?
That's cause daddy reads it last night.

What happens in this story?
He went upstairs on the escalator and he wishes for he was going to the mountains. It was a living room and there was a lot of big beds to lay in. And the big boy thought someone was awake in the store and he heard a crash and he saw some brown little ears and he went down the escalator and he saw Corduroy and take him down and he put him back on the shelf with all the animals. And the same little girl taked him home and she knitted the button for him. And that's the end and that's why it's my favorite.











Corduroy by Don Freeman



This was one of my favorites from when I was a little girl as well.


Other favorites last month include:
Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells
We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor

Photo of the Week

First Curlers

Body Tracing

(Face photo taken by T)



Everybody who has seen this can't help but laugh. It is too cute! Not sure if the hair or the toes are my favorite. (She calls her hair 'stick hair'.) Haha!

Next time, I think I'll double up on the paper (we only have easel paper) and tape them together side by side so T can sprawl out more. I also think I'll have her use paints to decorate. I'll be sure to post it if we do this again. Which, I am almost positive we will since T just thought it was the coolest thing to have a picture of her the same size as she is.

Our New Sandbox

My kids have begun to play together. Their favorite spot: T's new sandbox that Papa made her for her birthday. I absolutely LOVE watching them play together.







Of course, my head began turning with more play ideas...
T and I created a little jungle world for her Lion King toys. (With a few Disney princesses thrown into the mix.)


We even dug a long hole in the middle of the sandbox for a river. We both took turns using the hose to fill it up.





For some more ideas on how to expand on your typical sandbox play:

- Add some ramps to the sandbox as seen over at Happy Hooligans.
- Or do like Jenny at Let the Children Play did and add some sort of divider with holes and have different levels and spaces to play in.

Photo of the Week

summer time = bare feet

Boxes

So, I was just about to write my new post this morning but before I did, I read this over at Let the Children Play. (One of my favorite blogs, btw.)

Ummm... that is EXACTLY what I was going to post about today. Ha! Great minds think alike, right? :-)

Anyway, I love boxes. Mainly because of how much children love boxes. I will always keep boxes around the house before reusing them for something else or recycling. Kids never seem to tire of them.


And.. I've begun introducing baby L to them as well.


This kept him entertained for quite some time actually. This photo was taken a couple weeks ago though; now he is on the move and probably wouldn't stay sitting in that box for long these days.

Want more ideas on how to reuse your boxes?

Another D&G post - A Cardboard Home
Tinker Lab has 24 inspirational ideas - Cardboard Box Challenge
And, over at the wonderful, The Imagination Tree - Cardboard Box Town, Cardboard Play Tunnel, and A Discovery Box.

A New Tea Set

"Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air - explode softly - and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth - boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn't go cheap, either - not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination." ~Robert Fulghum

Photo of the Week

T's Garden

More Shaving Cream

I just read a great article over at Toddler Times that discusses the benefits of sensory art for young children; here. It also mentions an article from Early Childhood News that explains how sensory explorations help young children learn through cognitive, language, social, emotional, physical, and creative development, along with some sensory ideas to do with your child.

I admit to having a soft spot for anything that gives young children fun sensory experiences. This is why I love to use shaving cream a LOT.

I invited my niece over to enjoy in another sensory exploration activity I had.

I set out food coloring, filled a bucket full of shaving cream, put them in their swimsuits and set it all into the bathtub. Then, they went to town.


It's always more fun with a friend.


And, they really got into it.


T asked to do this again a few days ago but I haven't picked up more shaving cream at the store yet. (It's on the grocery list though.)

I do have to warn that it got really slippery in the bathtub. But, it was SO easy to clean up. I actually was able to clean the entire bathtub afterwards.

Sometimes, I feel like maybe I overdo it with my activity ideas. Or it's just another crazy idea from aunt Jacquie. But, I really am just a strong believer that a child needs to be allowed to get messy. I firmly want to encourage this with my children.

T's Book Review

What could be a better book recommendation than straight from a 4-year old?

What library book was your favorite?
Room on the Broom

Why is it your favorite?
That's cause the witch loses her bow and her wand and her hat.

What happens in this story?
The broom snapped to two pieces and she found her wand. And that's it.















Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson

This book contains a generous witch, repetitive rhyming, and helpful animals. I enjoyed reading this book to T.


Other favorites last month include:
The Growing Story by Ruth Krauss
How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? by Jane Yolen
Emily and Daisy by Elsa Beskow
Bella the birthday party by Mandy Stanley


Also, I've begun to participate in The Imagination Tree's: 5-a-day-books. Every Monday, other bloggers post books that they are reading and enjoying. If interested in finding more great books to read to your children, head on over there on Mondays. I have a link in the right side bar to it as well.

Photo of the Week

I Love Dirt