Cool Stuff . . . Press Here

One of the best books that I have ever read and used with my boys.

Press Here by Herve Tullet

The author is a freaking genius!  And, they have activity sheets online to spur your own imagination.

Whenever we read this book, the boys clamor with, "AGAIN, AGAIN!!!!"

Here is more on his other books.  HELLOOOOO!  Guess what is on my wish list?

Hello! Where have you been?

Merritt is a sensory kid and is at peace, ultimate peace, when swinging.

A year ago, I did some research on an indoor swing with depressing results.

Then I came across this site today:  http://kidsdreamgym.com/

Portable hammocks, cocoons, doorway swings . . . am I drooling?

I may be able to put the indoor swing back on the list.  And, now that I know what to call the stuff, there are loads of other places that carry the equipment.  http://www.especialneeds.com/

Time to research again!

Gotta Do This With the Boys

I can't wait to make this with the boys.  I better hurry before school begins . . . not!  I get to have both of my boys with me for another year.  Well, at least until Christmas.  (DO NOT want to put Merritt in speech preschool, praying he doesn't qualify.)

Anyway, thought I would share from Dine & Dish:

Rice Krispies Wonders

Yo Ho Ho: A Good Book T' Read

map reading

talking like a pirate (my favorite)

pirate life

pictures of what TREASURE looks like: 

"Mom, when I find my treasure, I'll need your help to carry it."

a reason to brush your teeth

and, Evy convinced me that he could be a responsible pirate and needed his pirate sword

so, I pulled the repaired sword from lock-up

all is well

lyrical peace

I get all giggly when I find artists doing work like this:

Fort-Tacular!

Yesterday began wet and cold.

We had Stake Conference where Elder Oaks came and spoke of several things including the importance of Father's Blessings.

When we arrived home after the two hour conference, we built a fire (by we, I mean, Erik) and constructed a fort.

And we played in it all day long.

Movie viewing

Playing

Hide-n-seek

Laughing and Tickles

Popcorn

Games

 It was a great Sunday to have family fun and laze around.  We loved it so much, we are playing in it again today.

Boo-Boo Bunny

When we were little, we made boo-boo bunnies with my mom.

Evy had a pretty difficult week/weekend with managing the pain from a couple of injuries.  One evening, he was beside himself with the grief and pain over a cut on his toe.

So, I remembered the boo-boo bunny.  My boys won't tolerate an icecube, but distraction is the main goal.  A white face towel, a rubberband, and a sharpee.  And, it worked!

Easy instructions for a Boo-boo Bunny

Spins and Chocolate

A large spinning top.

Three colors of paint in squeezey applicators.

Paper.

Awesomeness!

No end to the questions and color combinations.  We hung the first six masterpieces from our chandelier.

This one will be a constant request. 

I totally want to make a giant one with the drill providing the rotation.

Here is a version with a salad spinner.

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You know what else is awesome according to Everett?

He literally screamed,"This chocolate is AWESOME!"  I don't know that he'll go back to Hershey ever again.

Handprints: Nature Style

For Christmas gifts, I try and involve the kids as much as possible.  Frankly, like most things, it means that things take longer.  At the same time, I want Christmas to be about giving and thinking of others . .  . and so it works pretty well.

For one of the gifts we gave, a garden bag, we personalized it with our hands.

These are cabbages using the side of our hands.  Everett now swears that they are weeds.

The kids' hands were the "tops" to the carrots and I painted in the carrot so that it looks like it is tucked into the pocket.  Evy really liked this one.

The whole palm became a rose bush.

 And, that blue smudge was supposed to be a chrysanthemum.

The kids really enjoyed doing this and I was suprised at how big their handprints are.  (In fact, Everett's feet are 1/2 the size mine are, and I don't have small feet.)

And, we, of course, had to get out all of our gardening tools to help us "do the paintin' thingies."  I guess, Evy saw them as inspiration.

Hit Replay

The kids and I heard this driving home . . . and with windows down because the weather was Ni-Ice, we jammed out.

It is now on replay in our house all the time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Turkeys" by Evy and Mommy

Cool Stuff for Computer Coordination

I am always on the lookout for really good, I mean really good online computer games that are free.  However, Evy gets extremely frustrated with the keyboard and mouse.  Today, I found a solution.

My First Clicks with Boowa and Kawala

This breaks the use of the mouse and keyboard into discrete skills . . . Everett loves it.  We've gone through the first sets of lessons and he isn't becoming as frustrated as we work on each skill.

BTW, the games aren't too bad if you link to it from the main site and there are lots of fun songs I haven't heard of on the website as well.

Busy Working

We've been in the house a year.

Time to unpack those boxes that have been sitting waiting for attention.

Time to go through clothes, toys, and unused pantry items.

Needed an idea.  Found it here:  http://theredchairblog.blogspot.com/

I'll be back later.

Swinging . . .

Watching Everett swing is an experience like no other. Each time he is on a swing, it is like the first time he has ever been on a swing. He squeals with delight and giggles as the breeze catches his hair.

Merritt settles into the swing as if he knows that the swinging will lull him to sleep. He relaxes and just takes in the pendulum movement with ease.

Swinging together, well, it is just the coolest thing ever!

Cool Stuff . . . for the wiggly wittle one

Merritt is a mover and a groover. When he plays he roams the rooms, the house, climbing and emptying everything in his way.

When he is in a grocery cart, his curiosity and propensity to move aren't hindered at all by that strap that comes with the wheeled vehicle no matter how tight I pull it. And, he can stand within seconds . . . and get himself into trouble.

Each time we went out and used the grocery cart, I ended up continuously restrapping him in after he maneuvered himself to the surfing position again, and again, and again. You know the position . . . where he is standing facing away from me with his hands gripped firmly on the cart squealing with delight as if I was moving fast enough for wind to rush through his hair.

A couple of months ago, in that place of many embarrassing mommy moments, the grocery store, he stood up-turned around-and jumped for a flip all in the moment it took for me to look at a label and back . . . split second timing. Thankfully, that inadequate strap was adequate enough to hold him from flipping completely over (I was lucky he didn't step out of the strap before jumping). He was upside down with "grill" marks across his face. In all, no permanent damage. Some blood (and, yes, I am going to start his dental savings account any day now), some hysterics, and lots of concerned looks from passerbyers.

That day I went home to find a harness. One that would keep him safely inside the confines of the sitting area so he wouldn't flip over and "grill" his face again.

I decided on the "baby sit-tight"--and, no, the "I'm wearing overalls" look isn't quite what I would have gone for in the baby couture . . . but it keeps him safe. The straps that go over his shoulders prevent him from standing up (and the straps are adjustable). It is pretty compact and fits right in with even my smallest bag that I use with the boys. After using it for awhile now, I consider it one of the best purchases I've made for him.

Even better, he doesn't mind it all . . . and probably would like it if I brought his cowboy hat to complete the look.

Learning at Home

I've been asked several time what I do with Everett at home. He isn't in preschool for a variety of reasons; yet, we do things that might be considered preschool activities.

I am a big fan of teaching skills in context. Meaning, we talk about the color red in the context of why colors might be important . . . observing things as we walk or as we read a book. I do have a couple of "books" that he sometimes colors and cuts. On the whole, though, I've found that I get bored with them.

So, I've been using literature as springboards to what we talk about and learn through with each other. We've just completed a huge time period (so it seemed) in learning and reading about dinosaurs. I am not too concerned that he can read the word "dinosaur" or even recognize the letter "d" at this point. I want him excited about reading books, excited about learning new things, learning how to ask good questions, and beginning to understand how he can find answers to his questions. (Right now we are back on alligators.)

I do provide specific instruction when it comes to drawing shapes. I show, provide a model for him to use, he traces, and then he works on doing it on his own. We use the chalkboard and crayons. I've found that I am more excited about teaching him when we go a more creative route and use pudding, cereal, rice, and sand to practice shapes, too.

For the past couple of months, he has started to show interest in games (games other than Twister which we used to talk about colors and left and right). There are tons of cool movement games out there that he seems really drawn to right now.

I'm also a big fan of free play. I don't want to structure his whole day. I want him to be able to come up with play and games on his own. Oftentimes, that means I am asked to play "cars" more often that I would like, but he is learning how to structure play and use his imagination (though I do show him new scenarios to play-out that don't include a 10 car pileup caused by Chick Hicks).

He does have a favorite TV show "Dinosaur Train." I think it is a pretty cool show, too. And, it is just long enough to let me get a shower in for the day.

One thing I have been trying to get centered in is going places that directly relates to what we've been discussing. I guess I need to find an alligator farm next.

That is about it, I guess. I figure we'll have plenty of time for alphabet practice as he shows more interest and I have more interest in teaching it. We do count and develop number sense all the time as we explore what we see.

We have until Fall of 2012 before he goes to Kinder. Lots of play to be had before then.

Today's Inspiration

When I Can't Think Of What To Do Next

Cool Stuff . . . a Recipe Book

Long, long ago a friend from an old ward in Alexandria, Virginia told me about a recipe book that was being compiled. Did I want to participate?

Heck, yeah! The Fraconia Ward, or congregation, has some of the most amazing cooks, ever. So, I threw in a recipe (my fave chocolate bread pudding) using typensave software with Morris Press Cookbooks (because they told me to).

Then, long after the cookbooks had arrived, I asked for one and was lucky enough to get the last one. And it is REALLY cool!

I don't know what the ladies in charge thought of using this company. But, using the software to input the recipe was SO easy. The book is one of the most beautiful cookbooks, was inexpensive, and looks totally professional. And, I've got the great recipes from those great cooks. I'm a lucky girl.

Yea, you'll have to look at the pics sideways because my computer is goofy right now and killing all pride that I have about being tech savvy.

Cool Stuff . . . To Help the Finances

I've been looking for some helps to reengergize my thriftiness and inspire me in different ways to save money.

Take a look at the following sites to see if something spurs an idea for you:

Feed the Pig--all about saving and has a link for kids to use, there are a few glitches but overall I thought it was clever. I liked the "360 Financial Literacy" link.
My Rate Plan--to ease cell phone cost confusion
SideStep--a newer search engine for travel needs
SmartPowerStrips--don't let your household electronics continue to suck the juice while they are off (have yet to try it but it sounds great)
Frugal Hacks--have just been perusing the archives

Cool Stuff . . . To Feed the Toddler and Infant

The best idea I've come across in long time in keeping Evy's appetite satisfied and not go nuts carrying stuff:

Snack Time & Cereal-on-the-Go

Freeze the cup of our Snack Time-on-the-Go container to keep your favorite drink cool. The cup has a flip-up straw and a leak-resistant seal. Unscrew the base to enjoy your favorite snack. Found it at The Container Store

Breastflow Bottles

I've had a bit of trouble with Merritt's latch when breastfeeding. We had to supplement quite a bit the first several days Merritt was in the hospital because of the jaundice. As a result of being lethargic and using the "other" type of bottle, he had a very poor latch. When the latch is lazy, I become quite sore. These bottles have been great to keep up all my work on helping his latch improve and allows Erik a chance to give Merritt a feeding, too. Found them at Target

Bebe Au Lait / Hooter Hider--Nursing Cover

I needed something to cover both of us when eating outside the privacy of my home (not that I've been outside the house). Blankets are just too hot for the both of us to use as coverage. A friend of mine has something similar that she found at Babies R Us. I wanted different material and found what I wanted with this duo name brand. It is really quite a handy product. You sewing wizards out there would be able to whip up one of these. Many vendors sell them. Here is the link to the product's homepage.