Goldfish in the pond

Rice cake (kids love them! Preferably the chocolate chip or other flavored ones) with blue cream cheese and goldfish crackers on top. So cute & fun to eat!

Fire Truck Dramatic Play

This is the fire truck I made out of big boxes for the kids to play in.  I finally got it done just before Fire Prevention Month ends!  It took me two hours to get the two boxes cut, piece it together and decorate it. Fun! I didn't tell the kids I was going to make it so they were very excited to arrive and find a firemen's hat in their cubby!  It's been played in non-stop the last two days and I'm sure it will be again tomorrow. The hose is probably the most important accessory - the kids have played and played with it. I think we'll have find a place in the basement to keep this one, it's held up decently.

What Happens? {will it grow?}

When you put Indian corn in a pan of water? I had no idea!

What about celery? We'll have to wait & see.

Creepy Snacks

Peanut butter on Ritz with pretzel stick legs and Reece's Pieces for eyes. Fun!

Indian Corn Paintings

Worm Trails Art

Just in time!

His warm coat came just in time for the first cold day.  Cozy!

Boo!

Footprint ghosts

The Leaves are Falling Down

(Farmer in the dell) 

The leaves are falling down, the leaves are falling down, red, yellow, green and brown, the leaves are falling down.

Fall Leaves

This is what's left of the leaves on our tree. I'm surprised they are still holding on after all the wind! Our neighbors tree has even more so we'll still be raking in November.

Wordless Wednesday

Composting: Week 1

It's just been one week and already we've seen change. In our bin there's dirt, leaves, strawberries, carrot peelings, coffee grounds, avocado peel, grapes, vegetables, etc. Today we took off the cover and there were lots of bugs! 100's of gnats, a bee and a spider. Probably more that we didn't see. The kids found that very interesting.

I found these exciting (ok, maybe not!) videos to go along with our learning:

Brett Said

• In gospel meeting he whispered to me:  "I'm starving. I just started to starve."
• Brett was looking over my shoulder & saw my full name on my Facebook profile. He said "I know you're full name without looking" and turned around & repeated it. I said, "But what's my middle name?" He didn't remember so I hinted "L for...."  Finally I just had to tell him. He said "oh, that's right! Stacy "Alforlynn" Hesebeck Ransom."
• About the little girl at school that he likes:  "Because I love K, I obey her. If she tells the boys to stop, I do it right away!!"  Oh boy...
• I was reminded of one time when he was little (3?): I was making him lunch and it was to be a hot dog. We didn't have any buns so I planned to put it on a piece of bread. I thought I should warn him lest he be disappointed and refuse to eat it. I told him "we are out of buns so I'm going to put it on a piece of bread. How does that sound?"  He said "Mom, I don't think that will work. It will get "all rolly" and fall off!"  : )
• On that note, he used to call hot dogs "dog gogs". Love it!
• Today when Damon left for work I said "No lunch?" He said "No, I didn't leave myself enough time to get something together."  After he left Brett said "So is Dad going to have hot lunch?"

What I Learned About Football

I'm talking about youth football. And no I didn't learn much more about the actual game. I still don't know all the rules. 
Now that Brett's season is over I learned:

1. It's a big commitment.  Practice two nights a week and games every Saturday for 2 months. Some nights Brett was late because of our work schedules, but he went to all practices (except one). Sometimes I took Brett and Damon picked him up if I had to leave or we both watched practices. Lots of running around. We felt it with just one kid!
2. You have to get to know the other parents. This is not the part I find easy. Now I can talk to just about anyone. After 5+ years in sales, you learn to do that.  It's just hard when the other parents seem to know each other already & I just don't fit in. I really don't feel a big need to get to know them either but felt like I should a certain amount. We were invited to a pizza party after the final game today and I took Brett. I didn't want him to be the only kid on the team who didn't go even though it was pretty much the last thing I felt like doing today. We were the first to leave though, and Brett knew it. He wasn't overly disappointed though and behaved well. I just felt relieved.
3. It's a team effort. Brett didn't get to carry the ball much at all but he played his (it varied) position. That's kind of disappointing, but that's how it is and Brett learned that. Each child got a chance to run the ball though & the coach kept a spreadsheet on who played what position. Certain kids did always have the same position.
4. Coaches have a big job. I thought ours did an amazing job. He was excellent with communication. He sent out emails and started a Facebook page.  Our thank you felt small for the time and effort he gave.
5. They take the game pretty serious. At the first game, I was a little taken back. I mean these kids are only 2nd graders. The parents are calling about things to their kids "Get in there! Cause some trouble!" "Hit em hard! Take em down!" and the coaches (we had 3) are directing everyone and they don't go easy on these kids. But that's how they learn to play the game.  It's true; if he's going to play when he's older, now's the time to start.
6. Kids are tough! They bounce back from big hits pretty quick. The coach told them if they hear the pads slam, they know it's a good hit. Safety did come first though and I don't think anyone was hurt at practice or a game. I didn't worry about Brett getting hurt, although they just small kids yet. Actually 2nd graders sure vary in size! Anywhere from 110 lbs down to 50. One boy was especially tall (you should see his dad) and Brett was on the shorter side, but in the range of most. Today the coach said all the "skinny kids should fatten up for next year. Eat ice cream every night!"  Brett knew that wouldn't be a good idea, but he liked the thought of it!
7. It's all about who knows who. We felt that very much. I don't know if it was imagined or not (perhaps just coincidence), but it appeared a certain group of kids from Brett's school (there's several elementary schools) were all on the same team. Lots of those dads were very involved and it seemed their team was quite successful. I question how that comes about. I wonder what the high school team will look like some day!
8. It was worthwhile. Brett learned a lot about the sport. He learned about being part of a team. I felt he handled the work of going to practices after school and games very well. Last year, I think he would have had meltdowns but this year, he seemed ready and more able to deal with going to school and then to practice. I'm interested in Brett being well rounded. Not that he would be good at "everything" but that he would experience lots of different things. It's easier to try and learn new things when you're young. He's already a very confident child (which I know I wasn't) and that's something he can carry on through the next years and adulthood. 
9. It was fun! We all enjoyed it other than the part about being gone every Tuesday & Thursday night.  
10. We won't be doing hockey. It's a big deal in this town but it's too much commitment, money and Brett has no interest. Thankfully!

Stormy & Booker

Stormy must have recently realized there's something living in the frog tank. He's constantly checking out Booker which was kind of cute until last night when he jumped off the top and knocked it off the table. Booker's world got turned upside down and the carpet was a mess with the mulch and water combination. Thank goodness for my Little Green Machine!

Composting

I've wanted to do this for a long time but finally got it started. This is composting on a small scale which works well for us with the kids and our small garden.  The kids are so excited about it! Everyday I tell them we have something for the compost bin and they all are wanting to help. It involves teamwork because the cover needs to come off and be put back on and the rug draped back over the top. They take turns dumping the bucket and returning it to the deck by the patio door for me to wash and refill. It won't take long for us to get a good amount in our bin. I do wish we had started in the spring but this will work. It's kind of strange...I'm finding I really enjoy environmental/nature and science activities with the kids. It feels like we're really learning something!
Supplies:
A compost bin with a lid (a tote with holes drilled in it will work)
Old plant waste (leaves, weeds, etc)
Kitchen waste (fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, etc.)
An old rug or doormat
Soil
Directions:
1. Place bin outside on earth, not concrete, and fill with plant and kitchen waste. 
2. Sprinkle in some soil to help the worms digest it.
3.  Place lid on and cover with rug or doormat and keep it in the sun until there is more to add.
4.  As time goes by, dig into the compost and turn over as it is decomposing.
Predict: What will happen over time if we place plants and scraps with soil?
This process takes months for rotting and decomposing. Keep children involved by asking them which foods can be saved daily to add to the compost, asking them to help rake leaves or pull weeds and put those in the compost bin as well.
When the bottom of the compost is brown and crumbles, it is ready for use as fertilizer. Find flowers, plants or trees that can use some extra nutrition.

Here you can see how I drilled the holes. There's a row of holes all away around the top and the bottom.  Drill carefully! Mine cracked on one side.
Composting idea from Science Experiment Card from Mother Goose Time curriculum

Yes we still have this frog

The kids love Booker! He gets looked at everyday. We buy a bag of crickets to feed him every week. Poor guy hasn't had any in a while though - the last time Damon went, the store was out of crickets and we haven't gotten back. He likes his water bowl. Sometimes makes little chirps. This afternoon he was trying to climb around and he got Stormy's attention. So here's Stormy nose-to-nose? with Booker checking him out.

He's actually looking a little skinny.

Yep, I labeled the frog. Just because he's sometimes hard to see and these are nice close up pictures for the kids to look at. Some are into writing too so they can learn how "frog" is spelled.

Spider Webs in the Garden

An idea in our Mother Goose Time curriculum for our bug theme, included making our own spider web. Of course this is not the time of the year to try to catch bugs in our area but we tried it anyway. We decided the best spot may be in the garden. Brett even put an old tomato in the hole under the box for "bait". We got a few gnats. We'll do this again next summer!  The kids thought it was very exciting to check the web. I also put a long piece of packing tape up across the garden. Again more gnats but we also collected some seeds and dust blowing around. It shows us what's blowing through the air! Fun!

Football Pics

The last practice is on Thursday and the last game of the season on Saturday! It's been fun!

Textures Board

Today I made a textures board for the kids to explore. I started with a foam core board and just started hot gluing on different materials I had on hand. This is also good for playing "I spy something......{yellow and soft, colorful and curly, long and bumpy}. I had fun making it and the kids enjoyed checking it out!

{Ahhh! My camera flash isn't working!! I have to send it in for repair....}

Sounds like me

Tonight this little guy was the last one here. It was an unusually late night for him and he was unhappy about it. Brett offered to read to him and said he should pick out a book. He continued to cry and said "I don't want to." Brett picked him up and put him in the chair where he is, and said "Too bad. You're going to." He was fine within a few minutes and Brett read to him for a 1/2 hr.  Brett is great with the kids. He tries to teach them: "What color is this?" "What comes next?" Of course some nights he's not so interested but what a help he can be!

Cold Nose

The windows were open and it was kind of cool in the house.  I think Stormy was keeping his nose warm. : ) Maybe not, but cute either way.  He sure was sleeping hard when I took this. {Doesn't he have such nice toe tufts?}

My To Do List

Yes, I know. If I wasn't blogging, I could get one of these things done. This is all part of the process!  : )  I think of myself as being organized. I really am in lots of ways. I just have so much going on and I accomplish a lot in a day but these are the things that have piled up that now need to be dealt with. Of course this isn't even all of it! Tomorrow's the day! I'm getting this stuff done! And more I hope. OK, let's be realistic. I doubt I'll get to the ironing!

Brett Said

• Tuesday night we left to take Brett to football practice. A few blocks away he realized he forgot his helmet. He said, "I forgot my helmet! I only have my head!!"
• Last weekend, Brett was at a friend's house who has an older autistic brother. I knew this, but Brett began to tell me about him.  "You know how S (the day care boy I care for that has a brain disorder) is BRITISH? (motioning his hand around his head)  LOL "Well that's how (friend's) brother is too. You know, how his brain isn't connected right?" !! I told him what "British" is and he said sheepishly "Oh yeah, I knew that, I just forgot".  I had to share that one with a certain someone in my family who is married to a guy from England. Hope he laughed.

Disclaimer:  No disrespect intended towards either the British or anyone with a disability. Brett is learning & he's so sweet. He prefaced this with "I'm not saying this to be mean...."

If only I could remember some of the other things he's said recently. If I don't write it out here, it's gone!

Suddenly it's fall

Which caused me to look for a certain (favorite green) zip up sweatshirt that is no where to be found. I suspect a 4GB SD card is in the pocket....Losing things is so frustrating!  It couldn't have gone too far, yet where is it?? It sounds like a really have a problem after losing my black sweater in Chicago.

Yesterday Brett ate a whole box of strawberries - 16 ozs. - between his lunch and a snack after school. I didn't realize that's what he was having for snack until they were nearly gone.  This morning he wondered if I bought any more. Not yet!?!

Yesterday my day care parents were thrilled to see a couple videos of our circle time. These are things we do all the time but of course the parents aren't here for it. I've been good about keeping up my day care blog and some really appreciate it - others I don't think even look. Oh well. It seems like I have to keep "selling myself" and what better way than to show them things I'm already doing.  Please disregard my singing.  I should have included myself in the video so I could use it in my preschool portfolio! I might be able to use it anyway - will have to check.

I have a few piles of papers and stuff that keep getting shoved around my desk, laundry room, all over.    If I could just have a few hours of uninterrupted time! What would be ideal is a week day off. Then it would be just me and my stuff to do.  After the kids are gone, supper started, errands, football and family stuff, my piles still sit. I'm just unmotivated by then. Saturday I plan to stay home! All day! (Like I do everyday!) and work BY MYSELF on stuff I want need to get done.  We'll see if that actually happens.

Damon's 40th Birthday

Since it was a big birthday, we decided to celebrate big.  We went to Chicago for the afternoon on Sunday. {His birthday was Monday.}  

I would have really enjoyed planning a party for him but so many of our friends and relatives live a distance away. I couldn't really expect them to come for a few hours and figured most wouldn't.  Even our family is a long ways away (1.5-4 hrs) and since we just saw everyone for Brett's birthday, I decided to plan something with just us.  I would have loved a weekend in Galena or even overnight in Chicago, but a trip overnight isn't necessary and we have no one nearby to leave Brett with. Brett has football every Saturday and we're just plain busy with life so this worked well.  

With a recommendation from a friend for a good seafood restaurant, we went with that. We visited Chicago twice recently (April & June) so there wasn't much we wanted to see or do - just wanted to go.  We walked around a bit and then had an early dinner at 4:15 pm.  We really enjoyed it!  It was a new experience for us and not something we may ever do again, although we'd like to!

They have a kids menu and Brett ordered fried shrimp. He enjoyed it with some fancy pop. I ordered the sautéed Alaskan Halibut with Maryland crabmeat, portabella mushrooms & meuniere butter. It was excellent! Loved it. Damon ordered the Chilean Sea Bass with a Hawaiian ginger-scallion sauce and mashed potatoes with crabmeat. He enjoyed it but would have preferred what I ordered. 

It was a really nice day with special memories together!  Here's the rest of our pictures.