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Love

Storytelling

Have you ever created your own story and told it to your children? A few months ago, I began doing this for the first time with T. She immediately loved it and demanded more right then. So, I told her another one. And another one. We have continued this just about every day now. A few days after me telling the first story, T began telling me stories of her very own. She has such an imagination and it's so cute to watch her mind think up different scenarios. She can go on and on and on.



I cut the video off because otherwise it would have been too long. Like I said, she can go on for awhile...

I encourage all parents to try this with their young children. Don't be afraid; you'll be surprised how the stories just come to you. And with children, the stories don't have to be elaborate. In fact, they're better when kept simple.

"A homemade story is a gift from heart to heart."- Sharifa Oppenheimer

Frog Pond

At this year's Easter egg hunt, T happened to receive 4 little froggies in her Easter eggs. Around that same time, I saw a frog pond scene at Let the children play and another one at Prekinders. Inspired by these, I came up with my own creative scene just for T.


I used her new rainbow silk scarf she also received from the Easter bunny as a table covering to make the scene more irresistable to play with.


I often set things like this up during T's nap time so it's a surprise when she wakes up. Mainly, because I often have a harder time keeping her occupied in the afternoons and it makes things more exciting and new for her.


Since that first day, the frog pond has been both inside and outside, the water has been turned blue with these, rice from her rice box has been thrown into the tub (and also has turned blue), and toys have been added and taken away through out the past 2 weeks.


I think it's about that time for the frog pond to be taken away and replaced with something else just as new and exciting. I just haven't figured what that something else is going to be yet.

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Outside play with cousin A

T's Book Review

T had a hard time picking just one favorite library book this past month. Her response when I asked her was, "I like all of them!"

But, after discussing it with her a little more, she did finally decide on just one favorite for her interview. She chose, If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff.



Why was this book your favorite?
That's cause he only makes the cat spill sprinkles.

What happens in this story?
The little boy gives a cat a cupcake. He wants sprinkles and he spilled!


T also really enjoyed reading:
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor "It's my favorite." - I thought for sure this would be her choice as we read this one more than any of the others.
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Red Riding Hood by James Marshall

But, like I said, she really enjoyed reading all those books I listed. She had a hard time choosing which 3 to read each night before bed.

Celebrating May Day

Yesterday, we made a craft in celebration of May Day. I never had done anything for May Day before, but this year I have been so excited for Spring, that I just really wanted to do a little something.

So, in honor of the traditional basket of flowers left anonymously at doorsteps, we made our own little flower vases to hang on our doorknobs.

I let T decorate some construction paper. The idea was for her to decorate two pieces of paper for two difference vases, but she really insisted that I do one and she do the other. So, I did one too.


She drew flowers, a polka-dotted sun, and clouds of many different colors.

I then folded the paper into a cone and taped it in place with double-sided tape. I hole punched both sides and strung yarn through the holes for it to hang. A few weeks ago, I had picked up some "spring flowers" from the craft store that were on sale. We used those so we can have our flowers hanging on the door knobs for as long as we like.

Here's mine hanging at our front door:


And, here's T's hanging on her bedroom doorknob:


I absolutely love how they bring spring into the home.
And, yesterday was a BEAUTIFUL day spent mostly outside in the warm sunshine. Perfect first day of May.

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Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!