Being Crafty

Kyle had 3 weeks off for Christmas.  It was relaxing - he did puzzles, read a book, and we went to or had parties.  In January his rotation has been with a plastic surgeon and I think he's had to work a total of 5 times in the whole month.  He's going a little stir crazy.  He has the whole month of February off for vacation time.  He is not used to all this "sitting-around" and needs things to do to keep him busy and take his mind off the up-coming Match Day (Feb. 11).

The other day he saw a glue-gun holder tutorial I had seen on Pinterest and thought that was something he could make for me.  He took Logan to Home Depot for a little "man-time" and came home with all the supplies, including a saw...because we didn't have one.

It was really fun for me to watch Kyle, (who is usually working hard by studying books or being gone all day), pull out tools and measure and saw wood and paint.  He made me the best glue-gun holder ever.  I'm so glad I'm married to such a handy-man.  I know it's not a big thing...but it was a big deal for me and a great activity for him.  I love it and I love him!!


I'm usually the one keeping busy with crafty projects.  I sewed a craft apron with some friends from church and was very pleased with how it turned out.  It required very little fabric (I had enough to make a second apron - anybody want it?) and didn't take too long to put together.

Of course, I knew when I got it home that Meggers would want one the instant she saw mine, so I scaled down the measurements, made my own pattern, and used scraps from previous projects to make her a cute little apron too.  Then Logan was feeling left out, so I found some plain brown and blue and made him a "shop-apron/tool-belt" (minus the flower and ruffle) that he loves to use to carry his toys.

Don't you love my kids' modeling skills? hahaha... I love how creative and crafty we've been this month.  It is so fun learning new skills and using something useful that "I made myself!"

Preschool Week 19

Theme - Our Heritage! - DENMARK

MS/PS: Letter/Phonics worksheets. Play with LEGOs (because they’re from Denmark!)

CT: D/W/T - watch “The Ugly Duckling”  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCX-mPstrPU) and “The Emporer’s New Clothes” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWWy5tpnbA4) by Hans Christian Andersen

S:  Danish Apple Charlotte

WT: Dance like a mermaid to “Under the Sea”, stomp like a viking to the theme from “How to Train Your Dragon” (playlist.com)

L:  Map Skills - Where did we come from? Look for Denmark on the map. Denmark was the home of author Hans Christian Andersen who wrote many beloved children's stories. We looked at pictures of Denmark's little mermaid statue, LegoLand, and Viking ships.

C/A:  Make an “ugly duckling” from a paper plate (Pinterest).

Preschool Week 18

Theme - "Martin Luther King, Jr."

MS/PS: math skills - adding and subtracting “people”, letter worksheets.

CT: D/W/T - What is “peace”? What is a “hero”? What is a “dream”?

S: make trail mix using foods that each taste good but look different.

WT: marching, wiggle block

L:  Discuss Dr. MLK, Jr.  Look at eggs that are different on the outside but have the same things on the inside.

C/A: Read and color book about Dr. MLK, Jr.

Preschool Week 17

MLS Literacy Bag from Westmont Library MS/PS:  Phonics worksheets.  Use counters to count and find patterns in shape, size, and color (purple MLS card).  Build transportation puzzle.

CT:  D/W/T.  Sing "Wheels on the Bus" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".  Read "Bear on a Bus".  Listen to cd of vehicle sounds and follow instructions on picture card.  

S:  Build a vehicle using crackers and peanut butter.

WT:  Let's make a paper airplane and see if we can make it fly!

L:   How did we get around before cars?  (Green MLS card) Review with pictures.

C/A:  Make a picture using tire tracks and stencils (MLS orange card).

Preschool Week 16

Theme - "Setting Goals!"

We had a lot of fun today learning about the New Year.  We have made a resolution to work on writing our letters and numbers and learning to read some sight words.  We learned about goals today and how we can realize our dreams!

MS/PS:  Race to Trace Number Game and Trace Alphabet with Fingerpaint!

CT:  D/T/W  Read, "Roberto the Insect Architect"

S:  applesauce, crackers, and "can't"loupe

WT:  wiggle block

L:  Discuss the difference between a wish, a dream, and a goal.  What are your goals?  "A goal not written down is just a wish."

C/A:  Illustrate a goal we can work on for 1 week.  Illustrate a goal we would like to achieve in the future.