P is for Pirate

We had P week this week and had lots of fun with Pirates and searching for treasure.  We also did a lot of Pirate activities from 2 Teaching Mommies too!

We found the treasure and dressed up.

We went to see one of our favorite books come to life, How I Became A Pirate at the Derby Dinner Playhouse.  We could not take pictures at the play, but we got one by the poster!  Thanks to a great friend, Donna Lyerly for sending us this book!  It has been a wonderful treasure!

The acting and music were great.  My boy absolutely loved it!

AARGH!

Winter “School” Days

Winter Fun

I have been lacking in my posts due to the holidays and such.  But this is what we have been up to the past couple of months with school.  We have been working on our letters and have really enjoyed a new site with great lesson plans called www.abcjesuslovesme.com.

Kinley has been starting some Tot School activities and doing some busy work:).  Here is one of her favorites.  Pushing pom pom balls through circles in a tupperware bowl or putting them on her head. 

Here is one we found on Pinterest: Pipe cleaners in a colander.

Eli has been working on his letters and numbers.  We have also been doing some fun winter crafts and art.

We had a caterpillar theme one week and here are some fun crafts he did.

Fingerprint Caterpillars

 

 

Toliet Paper Roll Caterpillar

 Thanks to my parents for keeping this wonderful Bed Bugs game all these years.  It helps us work on fine motor skills and colors.  Eli loves it!

Bed Bugs

We played in the flour (snow) and made letters and shapes.   We also did a little face painting.

Flour on your Face

He had fun making these simple marshmallow toothpick sculptures.

We have really starting working on using scissors and cutting too. I forget that it is the little things that I have to teach him too. I love when they stick out their tongue our open their mouth. It shows how hard they are working to use the sisscors.

I have been working with Eli on good behavior and earning smiles on his Melissa and Doug Responsibility chart. This week we went to the dollar store, and I gave him a dollar to choose whatever he wanted.  He chose glitter glue to make some fun pictures.

Glitter Glue Creation

I was washing the dishes one day and realized there was silence.  I ran to find the kids sitting in our room doing this:

Brother & Sister

These are the moments I treasure and I know they will too!:)

Christmas Advent 2011

This year we are doing Truth in Tinsel it is a great 25 day Bible an ornament advent with a special activity each day. We are doing the  Book Advent theme with some new books this year too.

I also got some great advent ideas from some of my favorite blogs like A Year With Mom and Dad and Passionate Homemaking.  I have been finding a lot of great ideas on Pinterest too! 

We are doing some free Christmas Printables from 1+1+1=1,and  Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Light Bulb Letter Match

I printed up a Holiday Bucket List from here.

Every night we will be doing our Chocolate Advent and Star Advent from My Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Star Advent

Day 1:

We made our candle ornament, wrote Santa a letter, and sang carols by the Christmas Tree.

Santa Letter

Day 2:

We made our crown ornament and some Christmas cards with fingerprints.  We visited our new favorite cupcake shop Jamie’s 14K Cupcakes and got a holiday treat:).

Crown

Christmas Lights Card

Day 3: We made our Zechariah ornament, went to see some trains, and watched a Christmas Movie. Santa Buddies was a big hit.

And a cute pic of brother and sister.

Cyber Monday with Melissa and Doug

 

Cyber Monday is Giveaway Monday on Melissa & Doug’s Facebook Fan Page!

“LIKE” us on Facebook to be eligible to win! Answer the active giveaway’s question, to enter that giveaway. At least one random entrant will be chosen to win each giveaway.

JOIN THEM BEGINNING at 8am EST for the FIRST GIVEAWAY…OUR TRAIN TABLE!

They’ll be giving away terrific educational toys from 8am EST, right up until midnight!

Check out Melissa & Doug’s Terrific Twenty Holiday Toys to see some of the great prizes they’ll be giving away!

Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon When You Take the North “Poll”

Melissa & Doug want you to tell them which of their educational toys you think is the best! Just click on the image below to place your vote in the North “Poll!” You’ll Get a Melissa & Doug 25% Off Coupon** to use at MelissaAndDoug.com just for voting!

Camping Out in the Backyard

Camping Out

Next on my to read list is: Last Child in the Woods.

My husband has enjoyed it so much, that it inspired him to camp out with our son in the backyard.

They set up the tent, grabbed a good book (Bear Snores On By: Karma Wilson), and snuggled in their sleeping bags for a father and son night.  They survived the night and my son had a big smile on his face.  He asked if they could sleep out in the tent again the next night.  Good times!

Pumpkin Pancakes and a Smoothie!

Yummy!

So here is our third Pumpkin recipe!  I think I am going to make them tomorrow too.

Pumpkin Pancakes Recipe from The Curvy Carrot

Servings: 2

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon sugar (or use honey for healthy version)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup skim milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

2 large eggs, separated

2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, pumpkin puree, egg yolks, melted butter, and vanilla extract together, mixing well until smooth.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing with a spatula until just combined.

4. In another small bowl, using an electric hand mixer (or whatever you have on hand), beat the egg whites until thick and stiff.

5. Gently fold the egg whites into the pancake batter, mixing until smooth.

6. Meanwhile, heat a frying pan over medium heat.

7. Lightly spray the pan with cooking spray, and, in 1/4-cup increments, cook each pancake until lightly browned on each side, about 1 minute per side.

8.  Repeat with the remaining batter.

9.  Top with your favorite syrup, and enjoy.

I am crazy about smoothie and have been trying to sneak some veggies in them for the kids.  I just like to throw a little bit of this and that in them and the kids love them!

Smoothie Recipe

Fresh Spinach Leaves

Raspberries

Banana

Strawberries

Milk and a little yogurt

Blend and enjoy!