Work of Art

I may like this birthday present better than my kids do, which is staying a lot.  You’ll notice they kidnapped several pieces while I took pictures. 

Luke’s mom makes these books with her high school classes, and she was kind enough to make one for us.  Thanks! 

For Caleb

On your third birthday, three things I like about you…

• Your intense imagination can turn practically anything into a digger truck, phone, museum pass hand stamp, house, or musical instrument.  May your imagination serve you well in getting to know a God who is more than we can understand. 
• You try new things and explore.  May you take big risks for the right reasons and at the right time! 
• You have a lot of energy.  It’s never boring when you’re around!  May you use your energy well. 

Letter Pages

Each week that Caleb and I have done alphabet activities, we create a letter page early in the week.  I mostly use it as a brainstorming tool.  At first I did most of the brainstorming, but now Caleb is coming up with words to add.  I write the words we come up with and then draw a simple picture (I’m no artist.) so that Caleb can “read” the words himself.  Depending on the week and on his interest level, we may have a lot of words or just a few.  The pages usually end up with scribbles, and I remind the teacher in me that the scribbling is a mark of interest and attention more than destruction.

Sandbox

Dandelions

Hair

For a time, the hat kept the hair out of her eyes, but now that it’s over 70 most days, it’s not really an option. 

So the great hair debate begins…

Barrette?

Au natural?

Pebbles’ Ponytail?

I suppose there’s always this option…

Any votes? 

Letter P

Attribute of God: Patient

Bible Story: Peter walks on water. Matthew 14.  We used a blue blanket, a paper boat, and a couple stick figures from our Easter tomb to tell the story.

Song: “Have Patience” from Music Machine’s Agapeland, 2nd verse of “I’ve Got the Joy…”

Common vocabulary: penguin, purple, pink, puppy, potatoes, polite, please, pizza, pretzels, peach, pancakes, puzzle, pepperoni, peppers, pajamas, pudding

Activities: Picnic at the Park, Pudding Paint

Caleb sitting in his “house”-otherwise known as the tree stump.

Bettendorf Family Museum

Last weekend we spent the day in the Quad-Cities, most importantly seeing Grandpa and Grandma, but we also had the chance to go to the Bettendorf Family Museum. 

Caleb’s favorite part was driving the car with Grandpa, but the steel drums were a close second.  There was quite a bit to do: grocery store, gas station, play kitchen, pond, art/craft station, wacky mirrors, music exhibits, weather exhibit (tornado included) and more that I'm forgetting.  Sophia loved exploring and especially playing with the interactive pond mat. 

Thanks for the fun adventure, Mom and Dad! 

Model T:

Wacky Mirrors:

Gas station:

Kitchen:

Farm exhibit. I think Sophia’s riding a cow here.

Various mallet instruments:

Steel drum, Sophia-style:

Quotables

As I was cutting an onion: “Good job not being sad, Mommy!”

As he was looking at a picture of Jonah and the big fish: “Going in the intestines.”

As he was helping Sophia color: “Beautiful!” then a bit later… “No eatin’ colors, Sophia.”

And so as not to give a skewed perspective of our day, I also heard, “Give me my ‘tuff!”

Letter O

Attribute of God: Omniscient, Omnipresent, Omnipotent
Ok, so Caleb doesn’t quite get these words yet, but he understands that God sees him wherever he is, that God knows how many hairs are on his head, that God is strong enough to do anything, and that God can find him wherever he goes.  Several times this week, we acted out Psalm 139 as we read it.  We also tried counting how many hairs are on our heads (Matthew 10:29-31).  We made it to 20 before giving up and saying “lots.” 

Bible Story: The Widow’s Offering from Luke 21:1-4
Another dramatic presentation.  Caleb got the big bag of toys representing the rich people bringing their offerings to the temple.  Sophia got the little bag carrying 2 toys representing the poor widow.  Which offering is bigger?  Even though the rich man gave more stuff, the widow gave more of her heart. 

Song: Old MacDonald, Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord

Common vocabulary: octopus, owl, on, off, oatmeal, omni-, orchestra, opposites, OK, obey, omelet, onion, orange, offering, ocean

Books: Owl Moon (one of my favorites) and several non-fiction books about owls and oceans

Food: omelets, mandarin oranges, Cheeri-O-s, oatmeal cookies

Activities:

• Opposite game  (I say up, you say ____. I say loud, you say ____.)
• Make oatmeal raisin cookies
• Create an octopus (with 8 legs, 36 stickers, and a smiley face)
• Create an ocean in an old soap container.  It included salt water, sand, rocks, seaweed (yarn), a shark, lots of little fish, an octopus, 2 shells, some starfish, a jellyfish, and 2 crabs.  Since we cut all the fish out of fun foam, they all float.  I guess we created a polluted ocean that killed all the fish off.  Caleb also took the opportunity to taste salt water.  A fun activity to do together and talk about even if it doesn’t look very pretty. 

This week also included our second bike ride to the park.  I love listening to Caleb’s chatter as he and Sophia ride in the bike trailer.  Sophia’s not a fan of her helmet yet, but Caleb tries to convince her that it’s ok.  We’ll go to the park a few more times, and then I bet she’ll realize that the helmet is worth the reward. 

Letter N

Attribute of God: God never changes.

Bible story: Noah, Namaan, Nathan

Song: Nothing new this week, but Caleb did create a “song” that involves the words “I love you” over and over and over.  Pretty sweet.  I’m also hearing an interesting medley that includes Awesome God, The B-I-B-L-E, and The Alphabet Song.

Common vocabulary: neighbors, net, nest, nap, no, noodles, nine, numbers

People we know: Noah

Activities: Pied Piper Brass Quintet concert.  It has nothing to do with the letter N, but Caleb loves these trips to the mall.  We listen to the concert, eat lunch there, and usually do some fun kid stuff like riding the escalator multiple times. 

To Mom

Who inspired and nurtured in me a love for reading and learning.  Your legacy will extend for generations…

I could say much, much more, but I’ll keep it simple this year.  I love you, Mom! 

Dress

I made my first dress for Sophia using Prudent Baby’s Snappy Toddler Top Pattern.  I printed it at 94% to attempt a 12 month size, and it’s pretty close.  If I ever use the pattern again, I’ll make the armholes a bit more generous since they are snug right now.  The side seam length is 14” from underarm to hem.  Overall is a fairly simple, fairly forgiving pattern.  If Sophia didn’t already have a summer wardrobe, I’d be tempted to make several shirts like this. 

Resurrection Eggs, Part 3

Ok, I know they’re called Resurrection Eggs, so they should end with the resurrection, but both Caleb and Sophia have been so excited about the eggs and the stories that I decided to continue through Jesus’ ascension into heaven. 

Day 15: The women at the tomb.
Symbol: Stick figure with dress.

Day 16: Jesus appears to the disciples.
Symbol: felt fish (which is currently hiding somewhere in our house…)
Activities: We read the story locked inside a room with the lights out, ate goldfish for snack (uncommon around here), and ate fish for dinner (not uncommon around here).

Day 17: Doubting Thomas
Symbol: Pair of googly eyes
Activities: Blindfold games  (“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed!”)

Day 18: The miraculous catch of fish (John 20)
Symbol: Fishing net (part of a bag that we buy onions in)
Activities: Fishing in the bathtub.  We used the rest of the onion bag to catch the bathtub ducks.

Day 19: Jesus’ ascension into heaven
Symbol: Cloud (cotton ball)
Activities: Caleb remembered gluing cotton balls to paper when we talked about creation, and he wanted to do it again so he did.  I considered releasing helium balloon with them and watching it float away, but I was afraid it’d be more traumatizing than it was worth.