Outdoor Education Day

For Abby's last day of school, the third grade participated in Outdoor Education Day in the afternoon.  Lily and I went in to help.  They did several activities, including making plastic bag ice cream (We did it every spring when I used to teach), a watermelon seed spitting contest (sounds more fun than it was-no watermelon eating, just seeds), rocket launching (awe.some.), and kickball.

Our first station was ice cream.  It's a fun project, if you use enough ice, which we didn't.  At first.  It sounded like no one there had ever done that project before, so Abby's teacher was very defeated when it wasn't working, so I suggested adding a bunch more ice (They only used about a cup of ice), and reshaking their baggies.  Voila!  Ice cream!!!

Here the kids are eating their plastic baggy ice cream

Next, they shot off rockets they made last week.  It was a COOL project.  I'm still not sure how the whole thing works.  There was a plastic pop bottle half full with water.  It connected to a device made of PVC, and they used a bicycle pump to pump air into it.  The kids pulled a string to launch it, but I know there was more to it than that.

 Here's Abby's:

They culminated the hot day with Just Dance on the projector in their cool classroom.  They do this every Friday and the kids LOVE it.  Obviously, there are no controllers, just a youtube video, and they dance along.  Even Lily joined in.

Summer List and Journals

This week, I started telling the girls to begin thinking about what they wanted to put on their Summer List.  I had seen some ideas on Pinterest (of course!).  I didn't want to use whole lists from Pinterest, but they were good for getting us thinking.

Last night, I had them get some paper and pencils and we brainstormed ideas.  Then, this morning, I took the lists and made it "pretty."  I took a picture of it after I finished it and posted it, so many of you have already seen it.

But, it turns out I forgot something...

I pinned something on Pinterest earlier this year that I want to try this summer, and I had forgotten to put it on the list.  I haven't told the girls about it yet, but I think they are going to like it.  The idea is Summer Journals.  Click here to read about how one mom did it.  

I will using her blog as a guide to get started and then I think it will take off on its own. 

Today Lily and I ran to the store to buy basic notebooks and it's killing her that I won't tell her why yet.  I'm waiting to get labels on them, and I want to explain to both the girls at the same time.  This is the first summer that she is reading, so she will be able to do this also, on a much more basic level.  Though I think we will draw in them too.  

The girls still have "quiet time" most afternoons for at least an hour.  They don't usually sleep (though the can), but they have to be quiet in their rooms, and that will be a good time to do notebooks.  I'm actually pretty excited about this.

As a elementary teacher, I also know it can only be a good thing for their reading and writing.  So, I'm encouraging you to do it too.  Kids who write are better readers and kids who read are better writers.  Okay, off my soapbox.  (Sorry, literacy is a passion.)

Some observations about kids and change and moving, a year later

We have been in our new house just 12 months now, and Abby is wrapping up her first year at her new school, and I have learned a few things about my children, and maybe (?) kids, in general, with how this whole change and moving things went.

I should say that we only moved 10 minutes away, but did have to move elementary schools because of the way the boundary lines are drawn.  Same school district, different elementary.  Abby was able to see some of her old friends, and still does.

The beginning of the year was hard.  She did great academically.  Socially, she had a hard time.  And, she is a happy little girl who always has lots of friends.  Friends have NEVER been a problem.  At her parent/teacher conference after 9 weeks of school (in October), her teacher told us she was just starting to see the "spark" of Abby that we had told her about.  9 weeks!  And, I would say on the friend thing, it took longer than that to not want to go back to her old school.  Now, as in May, she says that she would miss her school if she left.  That's the whole school year.

This picture is from the second week of school (August) when I was so worried about her not playing with anyone at recess that I went in to have lunch with her.  Things are so much better now.  Earlier this month she had her first sleepover with girls from her class.  That was a big step.

Also, a funny story about Lily's little mind.  This spring, we drove past our old house, and she had no idea which house it was.  I had to tell her.  She recognized the front of the neighborhood, but not the house.  When I told her I found that insane, she replied, "Well, it's been a year!"  

So, if you worry about your child missing the actual (physical) house, don't.  :)  

And, I guess school just works itself out.  Not much you can do except pray, and be involved at school.  Volunteer.  Check in with the teacher.  Ask lots of questions.  Make your child talk to you.  At least that's what I did.

We're looking forward to summer now, but not dreading next year!

Ultimate S'mores-You must try!

We have been sucking the life out of our Memorial Day weekend.  It's been fabulous.  

Last night, we had a cookout, complete with our first official firepit and s'mores of the summer.

yummmmm...

While we were at the grocery store shopping for supplies, we decided to try a new idea and go for an "Ultimate" S'more.  We usually buy just marshmallows and fudge stripe cookies.  The cookies already have chocolate on them, so you don't have to buy separate graham crackers and chocolate.  So easy.  I can't thank our friends Lauren and Lacie enough for teaching us that trick.

So, as for our "fancy" s'mores... we bought a back of York Peppermint Patties (a snack pack with 8), graham crackers, and marshmallows.  Then, we put them together, wrapped them in foil,

and put them on the grill for 5-10 minutes.  

They. were. heaven.  

Everything melted way more than if we had roasted the marshmallows over the firepit, and the Yorks got all melty and yummy.  Even those who weren't convinced that the peppermint was the way to go, loved them.

Next?  Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.

Then, we let the kids go to town on our the standard roasted marshmallow-cookie s'mores.  

Fun times.

Emi-Jay Inspired Hair Ties

A couple weeks ago, I bought the girls some Emi Jay hair ties from GMA's Deals and Steals (apparently they are VERY in with celebrities).  They are generally pretty expensive, but the deal was for a little container a bunch of their new skinny creaseless hair ties and 2 headbands.  The girls have some similar ones that they got for Christmas and the pop of color is fun.  They have to still have an elastic under them to hold up their fine hair, but the color is still fun.  I actually really like the 2 headbands that were included.

Anyway, long story short, I decided to buy some elastic and make some of them for much cheaper.  I googled hints ("how to make emi jay hair ties") and what kind of elastic to buy.  I found several tutorials.  Here is one I liked.  So I ordered some fold over elastic, and it arrived today!  I bought it in a multi-pack on Etsy at a shop that specializes in it. They even had polka dot styles!

It's pretty easy.  You cut it to length.  Run the end through the flame of a lighter (being very careful) to seal the cut edge, and knot it.  Easy peasy.  Go make yourselves some.