Easel Painting

We have an easel, but we rarely use it for painting.

It's kind of a pain to fill up the cups of paint when only one or two pictures are going to be painted.

Both boys have painting easels set up in their classroom everyday. They never paint at school (even with my encouragement), but then will want to at home. 

Westley got to ride the Sprinter with Dad, so I had to have something fun for Will to do. I let him choose from a few ideas, and Easel Painting is what he wanted, so we did it!

CCI Volunteer Event

Today I took the boys and our Canine Companions for Independence puppy in training, Major, to an event for volunteers at the center. Apparently most people who raise puppies are older adults, as Will was the youngest person at the event, Westley was second youngest, and I was the third.

I managed to keep all 3 fairly well behaved through the recognition speeches and chili luncheon (good thing there was cornbread... 3 pieces of that is what kept Will quiet)
but after that there was some games that the boys had fun with.

We played Tic-Tac-Dog, which Westley especially got a kick out of. There was a large tic tac toe board taped off on the ground. To win, your team had to have 3 dogs in a row in a down position. If they got up you lost that spot. Major's weakness is staying in a down position so I was glad our team one before I had to do it with him.
Then we played something like a version of musical chairs. We walked around in a circle until the music stopped and when it did we had to get our dog into a down position. Last dog to lay down was out. I was happy that Major didn't go out until about half of the other dogs already did. The boys were cute. Every time they did they shouted praise "Good job Major!! Good down!!"
The boys also got to play in a ring toss game. And, they got their picture taken

We won a $10 jamba juice card and a CCI T-shirt in the raffle, so all in all I'd say it was a success!

Open Gym at YMCA Gymnastics center

The Magdellena Ecke YMCA has a complete Gymnastics Center Gym in Carlsbad. We had never been there before, until last weekend Westley went there for a birthday party. They have open gym one hour a day on weekdays (11-12am or 12-1pm) , so today we went to check that out.
The boys loved it!
They did rings (their practice for trapeze), balance beams, low bars, trampolines, rope swinging, a foam pit.

We will certainly go back.

If you go, make sure that you are there 5-10 minutes early as it can get full.
Cost is $8 per child

Simon Says

I was surprised that Westley had never played Simon Says before at school or YMCA or anything.
I had never played it with him at home.
So today I taught him while I was cooking dinner.
At first he was easily fooled, but then he got really good at the game!

Then I used it to my advantage "Simon Says eat your broccoli, Simon says clear your plate!"
Will did not understand the whole Simon has to say part but he liked playing along anyway

Here they are for "Simon Says, smile for the camera!"

Glow Stick Bath

Today Westley scraped his arm when he fell into a pokey bush. Usually at bath time he really complains about any cuts he has and wants to get out right away. I knew I needed a distraction.
I had a pack of glow bracelets (comes in a pack of 10 - think I got these in the dollar bins of Target)
So I told the boys I has a surprise for them once they got in the water and I gave them each two. They were so excited and it was fun to see them glow in the water and under the bubbles. They also cooperated in linking theirs together.
No doubt they will want this to be a regular activity!

Bath Grow Sponges

I get these grow sponges at the dollar store. The boys love to each take one in the bath and see what type of animal they got

Real Tiny Legos

Kevin bought a small lego kit to do with Westley. While Westley is familiar with the Duplo bigger legos, this was the first time he worked with the tiny pieces.
I have never built anything ever with the little real legos either, so my job was to keep Will out of the way.

Kevin said Lego building is likely not Westley's niche (at least not yet - note it does say ages 6-12 on the box), but he had fun working with Dad anyway

Coffee Filter Art

This is one of those classes art activities I can't believe we haven't done yet.
I think I was waiting on a easy little spray bottle.

I had the boys color with markers on coffee filters.

Then, allowed them to spray them a few times with a spray bottle of water.

The water causes the colors to spread and bleed together, changing the art on the coffee filter.

I think Will made 10 of these. He was really enjoying using the spray bottle too.
I know they  will definitely request doing this activity again!

Sidewalk Handprints

In a break from the rain, Westley and I went outside to check on how our outside toys were holding up.
Westley got his hands wet, and then touched the ground, discovering this made handprints. He was really excited about showing me how he could do this! I of course acted amazed.

Little handprints are always special

Measuring Trash Trucks

We got two big trash trucks (one is really big) and the boys each got their own measuring tapes for Christmas.

Today the boys measured their trash trucks with Dad, recording their height, length, and width.

They enjoyed writing down the measurements on their paper. 

French Toast Bake

Today the boys helped me make a new french toast bake.
It turned out pretty good. Westley liked it a lot, Will didn't eat much of it.
I am trying to find different things other than pancakes and waffles for Will to eat in the mornings.
Those are definitely his favorites.
But I would say most people would like this, and it is pretty healthy too!

French Toast Bake

5-6 pieces of Whole Wheat bread (or use half whole wheat bread, and half cinnamon bread)

2 eggs

¾ cup milk

1/8 cup white sugar

1/8 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice (or nutmeg and clove)

1/3 cup pureed pumpkin or sweet potato puree (optional)

1 tbsp. flax oil (optional)

1 apple, chopped finely

¼ cup (aprox.) raisins

Preheat over 350 degrees. Spray 8x8 baking dish.

Lay slices of bread overlapping like shingles

Beat all ingredients except apple and raisins in a bowl with a fork or whisk.

Pour mixture over bread.

Sprinkle apple and raisins on top

Bake for 30- 35 minutes

String Surprise

While the boys were napping I set up their Valentine's day surprise.
I started a long string and the bottom of their stairs and hung it throughout the living room and kitchen.
The boys followed their string, finding little presents along the way. The string ended in the garage with two Valentine's day balloons.
They enjoyed it, and wanted to do it again!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Heart & Seek

Last night I cut out hearts and put one letter on each.
They were color coded by word, and had a number on the back.
On the sign there was an outline for each heart and the matching number.
I hid all the hearts around the house.

This morning Westley picked up his basketball and found the a heart taped to it. He said "huh? What's this?"
I told him it was a game, that there were more hearts around the house, they each had a letter on them, and when he put them all together it would spell something.

The first letter he found was a Y and he taped it to the sign.
He then guessed that it said I Love You.

Westley and Will had a great time finding the rest of the hearts around the house and putting them on the sign.

They were both so excited about it and wanted me to re-hide them.
Now Westley wants me to spell new words/phrases.

I was thinking this would be a good one for a little bit older kids for practicing spelling words and such.

I'm sure we will be doing something similar again!

Lunch at the Pond

Today we went to Jack's Pond in San Marcos. I took the boys about a year ago and we mainly played on the play ground.
This time Dad and Major came along. We spent a long time at the waters edge watching the ducks (Major included) and having our lunch.
It's a neat little place
Too bad again we hit it on a Saturday when the Nature's Center was closed

Airplane Box

I had a big box that I got in the mail. I just threw it in the backyard to see what the boys would do with it.
They immediately called out "airplane!" and hopped in.
It was a little narrow for them to sit side by side but they were nice to each other as they figured out how they could both sit (a pleasant surprise for me!)
And they smiled for my camera.
It was a great moment

"Breakfast Cake"

Since we have our Breakfast Cookies, I told the boys this was breakfast cake.
It is the recipe straight off the side of Trader Joe's Multigrain pancake/waffle mix.
It is very simple to make using the mix, eggs, buttermilk, sugar, and blueberries.
I thought it was pretty good, not nearly as moist or sweet (especially since I added a little less sugar than it called for) as a regular coffee cake but I'd rather it be healthy.
Westley loved it, it was hard to tell with Will, but we will definitely make it again sometime!

Heart Puzzle

Since the boys' school doesn't celebrate holidays, I am making a point to do some activities related to holidays we do celebrate at home (hence all the heart activities).
I am glad they do not do mindless crafts at school, or pass out store bought valentines that are not even signed nor addressed to their fellow students, and that they will not come home on a sugar high from frosting and candy, however, I do enjoy and want to share some aspects of these kind of holidays I remember from my childhood.

Today I cut a heart out of red poster board. I asked Westley if he wanted to draw lines on it so we could cut it into pieces to be a puzzle. He drew around near the perimeter which actually made an interesting and kind of difficult puzzle.
Once it was all cut we did the puzzle together.
He was very proud when we finished it!

Valentines

Today the boys made a couple Valentines.
I taught Westley how to cut out a heart shape by folding the paper in half. He did really well.
We also used pastels for the first time, I showed them how they can smear and shadow with them.
They spent a long time on them.

Superbowl unParty

It was just the boys and I on Superbowl Sunday. I was kind of bummed we were home alone with nothing to do. But we made the most of it
We made air popped popcorn, and corn bread (I guess we needed to be watching a game with the  Nebraska cornhuskers in the game to fit our theme)
We played outside. I played basketball with Westley, fetch with Major, and a game with Will that he made up called bubba... all at the same time!
During half time we took Major for a walk and went to the swing park.

Paint Stenciling

This evening it was just Will and I, Westley was off to a SDSU basketball game.
Will loves to paint, so I wanted to try this with him.
I took a piece of poster board and folded it in half like a giant card. I cut a heart shaped hole out of the front top page. So, as Will covered it with paint it went through, so when you open it up there is a red painted heart inside.
He enjoyed the painting. I wish I would have had some white paint too so there would have been some color mixing involved.

We'll have to see who Will wants to give this giant card too.

Jana Alayra Concert

Tonight we went to a Jana Alayra (Christian Kids singer) concert at our church, North Coast Church.
The boys enjoyed bobbing dancing along with the music.
Westley even got to go up on stage for one song.

The concert was probably geared a little more for 5-9 year olds that know her songs better, but the boys had a fun time.
The songs were very upbeat and Jana herself was very energetic and you could tell she really loves children

Heart Toast

Sometimes I skip over things I think are not very exciting, forgetting that for a 2 year old that has never done this before, it is exciting!

Will often says he wants toast, then we make it and he wont take one bite. That was about to happen today when I asked him if he wanted me to make it heart shaped. He was very excited, and asked me to make another.

What's Faster?

We played this game in the car, and both boys really liked it. Will was better at it than I thought he would be as we never have really talked about this before. (unlike many boys, neither of mine have shown an extreme fascination with cars, trucks, trains, etc.

What can go faster ...
a boat or an airplane?
A horse or a bike?
A bus or a race car?
etc. etc.

the next day I moved to all animals/living things
a turtle or a rabbit?
a snake or a dog?
a cheetah or Dad?

Earning Coins

A few days ago taught Westley how to give a face massage, and told him he could probably earn a coin from Dad for it. He did, and then was excited to learn how he could earn more.
He took the self initiative to rake leaves in order to get another quarter.
He's added a few other helpful chores like helping take out the trash.
The coins he earns he is keeping to play games.

Today we decorated his special coin container

P.S. - Don't get excited about the face massages (eh hem Aunt Lisa). He's not very good at them yet. But I guess for a quarter they aren't that bad.