The Week in Photos - 5/21/10 - 5/27/10

Sunday May 23rd, 2010

Monday May 24th, 2010

Train Day at the Library

Check out the girl in the background. lol

Tuesday May 25th, 2010

Wednesday May 26th, 2010

Ryleigh took one look at this cloud and said she thought it looked like a poodle. I was amazed. Do you see it???

Thursday May 27th, 2010

Belle looking for chipmunks

More adventures at the pond.

First time seeing one of these there. There were little ones to

Kid Quotes of the Week:

-Ryleigh: 'Mama, there's a two and then a seven. What number is that?' Me: "You tell me...what number do you think it is?' Ryleigh: 'ummm...twoty-seven'

-'Me big and strong like Dada' - Isaac

Kids Crafts Thursday - Paper Plate Dinos

I got the idea for today's craft from the Little Hands Paper Plate Crafts book that I checked out of my local library. There are lots of great craft ideas in this book! I would recommend it. We did two different dinosaurs. Here is what you will need for both:


-paper plates
-paint
-paintbrushes
-marker(s)
-scissors
-glue
-stapler

Pre-Project Prep:
-Gather up all your supplies and cover up your table with newspaper and your child(ren) with smocks.
-Cut out your dinosaur shapes. For Isaac's dinosaur, I folded the paper plate in half and then cut out a dinosaur shape with the fold being the dinosaurs back (see pics below). Then I cut out a horn for its head and at the last minute decided to make some spikes for its back. For Ryleigh's
dino I folded one paper plate up on each side, leaving a flat part on the bottom. Then I cut out a long tail, a long neck, and two rectangles for legs.
None of my camera batteries seemed to be charged, so I didn't get all the pics I wanted. But, here is the horn for Isaac's dino:

Here are the head, tail, and legs for Ryleigh's dino:

Now get the kids and let's make some dinos!

1. Give the child the pieces to the dino. Let them pick out some colors and then let them paint all the dino pieces.

2. Staple or glue the pieces of the dinosaur together

3. Using a marker draw eyes, mouths, and whatever other details you want your dino to have.

Here's Isaac's Dino:

Ryleigh's Dino:

Project Review: Both of my kids (ages 2.5 and 4.5) really liked this project. It was easy, quick, and fun. It was quick enough and easy enough that Isaac didn't get bored or distracted, but still fun enough that Ryleigh really enjoyed it. As you can see, she had fun decorating her dinosaur. I would recommend this project and will probably be doing more from the same book.

Whatcha Crafting Wednesday

Just a quick note to let everyone know that my crafting took a back seat over the past week. I didn't accomplish much at all! I started cutting out the summer dress that I want to make for myself, but that's about it. Sorry to those who look forward to the crafting posts. I'll try to do better over the coming week! :)

Monday Mommyhood Madness - Produce Bags

You know what always drives me nuts? Every time I enter the grocery store, I bring along my reusable shopping bags (OF COURSE!) and then what's the first thing I do? Well...I enter the produce section and proceed to use like 5 plastic bags to put each different produce item in. Kinda doesn't make sense, right??? I don't WANT to use plastic...period. So, I've been on the hunt for the best kind of reusable produce bag. Should I sew some with a light-weight mesh fabric? Knit some? Crochet some? If I knit/crochet them, what's the best and most light-weight yarn choice? I don't know what the best option is...and I'd love to ask around, but I have NEVER seen anyone use a reusable produce bag in a store. And that's another thing I'm wondering about...when I go to put my apples on the counter in a fabric or yarn bag, are the cashiers and baggers going to look at me like I'm totally nuts??? I suppose I don't really care if they think I'm nuts...I'd just rather not have to explain my 'bag' habits to everyone I see. I would really like to hear some other thoughts on this topic. Here are some tutorials or patterns that I've found in my search for the best way to make reusable produce bags.

-Here's a tutorial by The Sproutz Store. These are made using tulle. I'm not sure tulle is the best option...sure, its light-weight, but it doesn't seem like it would be very durable. Although, I like the design...so, I might try to find a better fabric option and use this tutorial.
-Here's a tutorial by Oh the Cutness! for a crocheted produce bag. I really like the looks of this one, but I'm wondering about how big the holes are...and if the yarn would be too stretchy. I don't want my beautiful produce falling through the holes!
-Here are some muslin bags that are for sale at Colonial Patterns, Inc.. I like how they look very streamlined and clean...but, don't the cashiers need to see the little stickers on the produce??? Not really sure I want people having to open up my bags and paw through them.
-Here's a nice looking knitting pattern by Fickle Knitter Design. Again, this is a very nice looking bag, but if you read through the description, it says the bag weighs 1.25oz and to ask the cashier to subract the weight of the bag from the total weight of the produce. Ummm...yeah, NO. Dragging 2 kids through a grocery store is enough of a task without having to end the adventure trying to explain things like this to 15 year old cashier. I need something lighter...

So, you see my dilemma....I'd love to hear your thoughts and/or experiences!!!
And my next issue is what to do about the baggers wrapping my meat in plastic bags. They always look at me like I'm totally crazy if I ask them not to wrap the meat. ????

The Week in Photos - 5/15/10 - 5/20/10

Sunday May 16th, 2010
I believe this is 3 weeks post-planting
Monday May 17th, 2010
Play date at the Warren's house

Wednesday May 19th, 2010

Graduation Rehearsal

Thursday May 20th, 2010

Isaac and Daddy shaving. Apparently Isaac has a hairy forehead. lol...oh, and Isaac's razor is pretend, obviously...

Pre-Graduation Photo Shoot

Ryleigh and Miss Elaine
Getting ready to march in

This is how we kept Isaac entertained during the ceremony

Ryleigh and Lillian-Grace singing Hickory Dickory Dock

I didn't bother uploading the rest of the ceremony pics because they came out horrible. :( Thank goodness my friend Telicia (Miss Elaine's daughter) got front-row seats and has a great camera! She shared her pics with me which I will be ordering prints of. Thanks Telicia!

Kid Quotes of the Week:

-Me: 'Isaac, do you want to be able to use big boy cups?' Isaac: 'uh huh' Me: 'Then stop being naughty with them!' Ryleigh: 'YEAH! And that means (while counting off on her fingers) no screwing around with it, no sticking your fork in it, and no sticking your spoon in it either!'

And since I don't have a good quote from Isaac this week, I thought I'd share another from Ryleigh...

-'Are you touching my brain?!?!?!' - Ryleigh - while Josh was cleaning her ears after bath.