Preschool--Rainbows

This last week we played around with rainbows, in honor of St. Patric's day coming up.

We actually did a few things that Gracin could do too!! This homemade finger paint is just food coloring and vanilla pudding. It was perfect for Gracin because he did try and eat it. He likes doing things that are messy much more than Rhylan. Rhylan was done after a few min, she hated her hands being so dirty and sticky. Gracin also got to try out his new Cars apron/smock I made for him.




Next I learned this new "magic trick" online. We have been using their leftover milk after breakfast for this. I was so surprised that Gracin did so well. He was so surprised when he put in the magic toothpick to see the color spread. He was even giggling. Rhylan has done this several times now and really has a blast. We have been trying using only two colors and learning about mixing colors. Her favorite was blue and red make purple.



Put drops of food coloring in milk, and dip a toothpick in dish soap and watch the magic happen. Try it... you may need two toothpicks because it was hard for me to let Rhylan have a turn, it is fun for adults too:)

Next project was making a rainbow with little scraps of construction paper. I helped Rhylan tear these up but she did a great job with those little fingers. This project took 2 days she got tired of it and we had to finish the next day. I colored each band of the rainbow with marker so she would know what color went where. She did great and is still so proud.This tray I got at the thrift store has been put to such good use. It is perfect for separating craft items, sorting games, holding the topings for Hawaiian haystack or tacos. Seriously I have used this thing so many times, just thought I would share. You probably have one of these waiting to be used more often.
Here is her rainbow and a little leprechaun she made hanging up in our dinning room on her art display. It is a string pinned up with thumb tacks and the art hangs by clothes pins. It is a prefect conversation starter at dinner time, when she gets to show Riley what she made that day.


One more-- The day after we made the paper rainbow Rhylan made this rainbow with our new chalk. I thought it was beautiful.

Georgia Aquarium take 2

We planned to head to Savannah GA for spring break. Atlanta is about half way there. We went there 2 years ago and went to the WORLDS LARGEST AQUARIUM--The Georgia Aquarium . We loved it so much we decided to go back. This place truly is amazing! I even found us discount tickets online, about 50% off!! Side note-- the kids got really sick and we had to head home after the aquarium and never made it so Savannah. Its okay because Riley actually needed this week to study for his board exams coming up in 2 weeks.

Back to the Aquarium. Ever since Rhylan saw a beluga whale at Sea World, she has said they are her favorite animal in the sea. We headed to their tank first. She really enjoyed watching them swim so gracefully. We got her a little stuffed baby beluga in the gift shop. She has been keeping her close by ever since.She also liked the big tank with whale sharks. Look at that shark in the bottom right, he wanted to eat me I'm sure. We all thought those giant crabs were strange.
Here is a big hammerhead shark and a large manta ray. --and Rhylan picking her nose:)
Another exhibit Rhylan really enjoyed was the jelly fish. It took us several minuets to pull her away from these guys.



Rhylan was brave enough to touch the sea urchins after Riley bribed her with candy.
Gracin on the other had was pretty sad most of the time--remember I said they were sick. He was upset that he couldn't just run around like a crazy man. Now, we did let him walk around with the monkey leash, but that is not enough freedom for him. We finally found something he did like to do... punch fish. He would get right up to the glass and punch it as they swam by.


And here are a few shots of us.

Spring is...

For Rhylan, spring is day dreams and blossoms...
For Gracin, spring is mud and... more mud...

Mini vacation in Georgia

We drove 6 hours to Atlanta GA during spring break. After a long day in the car, the kids had a blast running around the hotel. They particularly enjoyed the closet. Rhylan said they were playing elevator. They would go in shut the door, out shut the door, over and over again. Oh yeah there was also a lot of running and laughing too.

What did you do this week?

Having spent countless hours studying for my National Boards Part 1 test, I seemed to have grown a beard. So I decided to make the most of it. Here are some common hockey playoff beard grooming styles.

THE MUZZLE

THE ZAMBONI

THE NACHO LIBRE

THE GOALIE

MAGNUM P.I.

THE WHIPLASH

Our backyard is going to be great

I can already tell this summer, the kids are going to spend a lot of time in the backyard!! It was 60* all week about 2 weeks ago and the kids played outside every min they could. If I mention outside, Gracin races to go grab his socks and shoes. He really really loves it out there.

It is nice because it is perfect weather to leave the back door open, I can clean the kitchen or do laundry right there and keep and eye on them. And they have the freedom to come in and out as they please.

Gracin wasn't old enough last year to play out there. He was still eating dirt and crawling most of the time. But this summer, is going to be so different, he doesn't crawl any more...

They really like to play together, run up and down the hill, draw with chalk, throw balls, ride bikes and scooters, play in the water table etc.

Rhylan likes to play dress up as well.
Some times I wish I was 3 years old again, look how carefree she is running around in a tutu, princess crown and "cape"--(That's a baby blanket.)We discovered a great chalk board!!! It comes right off with water and you don't have to sit on the hard cement while drawing. That handy little ledge holds the chalk, AND the canvas seems endless:)

This picture is hard to see but here is a work of art. Gracin drew about 100 little lines (up and down) all across this fence.Trying to blow bubbles in the water...

The kids wanted to play outside after it had rained all night...


Rhylan stayed pretty clean...
Gracin did not...

Gracin's 18 month pictures

It was a perfectly overcast day, just right for an 18 month photo shoot. So I took Gracin to his favorite location... our backyard!! He is so hard to catch holding still, not looking for a plane, looking for a puppy under a fence, or finding some mischief to get into.However, in the backyard, he also gives a lot of natural smiles. I tried to predict those fun faces and situations and have my camera ready. I love all the Gracin expressions I caught.--What ones do you like?
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There's a puppy under the fence

The other day I was watching Gracin out the window, he kept bending down by the fence. When I went to see what he was doing I found a little puppy head poking out under the fence. Rhylan and Gracin played with that puppy for a while. The next day the puppy came back to play. I bet the little dog is going to make it over here one day, he really wants to play with the kids.