4th of July Craft for Preschoolers

With my Dad coming in town for the 4th of July, I thought it would be fun to decorate a little.  Then I thought....maybe the kids could help?  I rummaged through some crafty crap that I had laying around and came up with the idea of windsocks. 
Materials:
1 piece of poster board
red and blue streamers
stars (or whatever to decorate)
glue

First, I cut the poster board to make the tops of the windsocks.  I let the glue dry overnight.
Next, we decorated it with stars that I found in the $1 bins at target last year before school started.  They were bulletin board stars (incase you were wondering).  I'm sure you can make them, but I'm always looking for the fast and easy way out.  I only used the blue and red stars (came with a variety of colors).  Lastly, I let the kids glue the streamers on.  Easy peasy.

Mia did really well with the glue.  Pax...not so much.  He tried though and had fun.

They didn't really know what to do with them.  Mia thought it was a hat. 

Paxton was looking through his. 

But...a fun cute craft to decorate your house for the 4th! 

Paxton update- Adenoids and Tubes

Sometimes life just seems so unfair.  I know we are fortunate that our son is healthy and happy, but it is still hard to watch him deal with all of his medical issues. 
Monday, we went to Hopkins for a consultation with an ENT.  Paxton had tubes put in at 12 months; however, one fell out and the other is no longer functioning.  He continues to get chronic ear infections.  He also gets sinus infections. 
First he had a hearing test.  His results came back normal in the left ear and just below normal in the right ear.  My kid was a champ though.  He was so sweet and so good!  I was so proud of him. 

Next, we waited 2 hours to be seen by our ENT.  I really loved the Dr, but the resident and student that were assisting her had a very poor bedside manner.  I was NOT impressed.  But anyway...  She is recommending that we do a swallow test first where he will drink some liquid and they'll take x-rays.  I'm a little anxious to see how that will work with a 2 (almost 3) year old. 

After that, he will have surgery to remove his adenoids and put in another set of tubes.  They are also going to take a camera and check out his esophagus.  They are also going to check for someone just below his voice box.  They lost me here, but I'm going to type it as I remember it.  In some cases with children with feeding/eating disorders, they have found a "spot" below the voicebox.  If he has this thing, they will fill it in temporarily with some sort of gel.  The gel will last 8-12 weeks and during this time, if we see an improvement in his eating, we will know the cause.  If he has it...they said the gel works with 70% of patients.  If he has it and if it works, they will then schedule a surgery to permanently fix it.  So...basically, it's a lot of if's. 

Next up...July 8th he has a consultation to talk about round 2 of fixing his hypospadius (birth defect he was born with-fixed the first time in March 2011). 

BIble Story and Craft- The Sneaky Snake

Two weeks ago we read the first part of the story of Adam and Eve.  Last week, we read the second part, the Sneaky Snake. I have to admit, it was hard to come up with snake themed crafts, but...I managed to do 2.  Keep in mind...I'm not creative or crafty, but I think I managed to get the point of the lesson across.

I was going to have them make a paper chain snake (as seen on pinterest), but I realized that I would be doing most (if not all) of the work.  Since evenings are really hectic at my house (dinner, baths, packing lunches, etc.), I took an easier route.  I had already pre-cut strips of paper so we just taped them together.  I let the kids decorate their snake with crayons and stickers. 

On day 2, we made play doh snakes.  I think this was especially good for Paxton as he has sensory issues.  I helped him make his blue snakes. 

Mia made pink snakes...and used a pen to make little eyes. 

We also learned a new song-- called Adam and Eve and it goes to the tune of the Adams Family. 

Next week:  Noah's Ark. 

Summer Lovin

There are so many things I love about summer... 

I love riding in the jeep as a family, singing at the top of our lungs (kids included) to the Zac Brown Band. 

I love the warm weather and watching the kids play outside after preschool.

I love yard sales and scoring good deals

I love outdoor concerts

I love eating crabs cooked in lots of old bay

I love margaritas and sweet tea (not together or course)

I love ice cream

I love Friday nights at the Farmers Market

I love trips to Ocean City

What do you love about summer?

Fly Away by Kristin Hannah book review

Amazon's Description:
Tully Hart has always been larger than life, a woman fueled by big dreams and driven by memories of a painful past. She thinks she can overcome anything until her best friend, Kate Ryan, dies. Tully tries to fulfill her deathbed promise to Kate---to be there for Kate’s children---but Tully knows nothing about family or motherhood or taking care of people.
Sixteen-year-old Marah Ryan is devastated by her mother’s death. Her father, Johnny, strives to hold the family together, but even with his best efforts, Marah becomes unreachable in her grief. Nothing and no one seems to matter to her . . . until she falls in love with a young man who makes her smile again and leads her into his dangerous, shadowy world.
Dorothy Hart---the woman who once called herself Cloud---is at the center of Tully’s tragic past. She repeatedly abandoned her daughter, Tully, as a child, but now she comes back, drawn to her daughter’s side at a time when Tully is most alone. At long last, Dorothy must face her darkest fear: Only by revealing the ugly secrets of her past can she hope to become the mother her daughter needs.
A single, tragic choice and a middle-of-the-night phone call will bring these women together and set them on a poignant, powerful journey of redemption. Each has lost her way, and they will need each one another---and maybe a miracle---to transform their lives.

 This is the sequel to FireFly Lane, which I read last week.  If you like Jodi Piccoult and Nicholas Sparks books, then you will love Kristin Hannah.  There are so many things that I love about this book.  I love the characters.  Despite their obvious flaws, you really connect with them. This book should come with a disclaimer though--have tissues availabe.  It shows you that not everyone handles grief in the same way.  What is right for one person, isn't necessarily right for the other.  I liked hearing the back stories for the other characters....like Cloud.  It gives you a chance to understand where she is coming from and why she acts the way she does.  I also liked getting to "know" Marah. 

There are a few things I didn't necessarily care for.  1.  Marah's loser boyfriend's name was Paxton.  I hate that he has the same name as my son.  Not a deal breaker though :).  2.  The flashbacks--  While I get that they are necessary to tell the backstory--I was often confused with what year it was.  I soon figured it out there so again...not a deal breaker.

Overall, I loved both books.  I am definitely now a Kristin Hannah fan. 

Literary Junkies

I'm linking up again for another edition of Literary Junkies. Come back tomorrow for my book review of Fly Away by Kristin Hannah.  This months questions are:

1.  What are you currently reading? Tell us about it. 

I am currently reading Entwined with You by Sylvia Day (book 3 in the Bared to You series). 

2. Who is your favorite book character and why?

 

I really like strong female characters. I like Katniss from the Hunger Games, Tris from Divergent, and Deborah Hall in Same Kind of Different as Me.

 

3. What would the title of your memoir be?

I think it would be Patching Hearts- Same as my blog.  My story would be one of overcoming grief, healing, and love.

 4. You be the director! Cast your favorite book characters for the movie version that has not yet been made.

 

Let's cast for Firefly Lane/Fly Away since I just finished reading those. 

Tully:  Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway

Kate:  Kate Hudson, Reece Witherspoon...or Rachel McAdams
Marah:  Abigail Breslin

John:  Paul Rudd

 

5. What book or series do you remember reading as an elementary/middle school age?

Dear Mr. Henshaw and Ramona Quimby

Week 2: Adam and Eve

This week, my kids and I talked about Adam and Eve.  I was shocked that they didn't know their names!  We've read the story a few times now and taught the lesson at Sunday School. I guess reinforcement really is important.  We did a few related projects this week and talked about them every night. 

Monday night, we "dressed" Adam and Eve by coloring clothes on them.  I found these coloring pages somewhere on line (I'm sure you can see where if you make the picture larger). 

One night, we colored this picture, which I also found online-somewhere.  Sorry, I'll try to be better about crediting my resources. 

My kids love to paint so we also pinted the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Mia made her tree rainbow (everything in her life is rainbow), but she did make a few apples. 

Paxton needed a little help with his tree.

Mia also did a worksheet, which I found online....  She circled all things related to the story of Adam and Eve.  She did a great job.  I think I have successfully taught them this story.

Next week:  The Sneaky Snake (Adam and Eve Part 2).

Mom Intuition

I'm not sure where I'm going with this post except to say, I'm not sure how to handle "playdates" when my Mother's Intuition kicks in.  Here's the situation:

Mia has a friend.  We'll call her Sally.  Sally is a sweet little girl, but she is much more mature than my daughter (though they are the same age).  She is an only child and spends a good amount of time around adults.  She is exposed to things that Mia is not yet exposed to (certain tv shows, words we don't use, etc.).  Let me say again...she is a sweet girl.
Sally's mom has befriended me.  I don't know her well, but she is very nice.  She continually asks for playdates, but I am very uncomfortable with sending Mia over to their house.  I don't know if its because they have a couple ginormous dogs that jump on you and nearly knocked me down their stairs...or if I feel like my daughter will not be closely watched....or if it's something else that is bothering me.  Mia has had other playdates with kids that I've felt fine about (note--I have known the other parents much longer). 

I've offered for Sally to come to our house a few times, but it's exhausting to always host the playdates.  I'm even going as far as to meet her out with my kids just to avoid a playdate at her house.  What would you do?

Dear Sweet Paxton,

Your birthday is 3 weeks away!  Can you believe it?  I know I can't.  It seems like yesterday that I was carrying you in my belly.   Well little man, what can I say...you are like a big ball of sunshine.  You are bright and full of laughter and fun.  You love life.  You love music, sports (especially baseball and soccer), airplanes and trains.  You are all boy (except when you wear your sister's tutu). 

You have been through so much and I cringe to think of what you still have ahead of you (medically speaking).   Next week, we will be meeting with an ENT at Hopkins to talk about having your tonsils and admoids taken out and having tubes put back in.  I do not want this, but....you need this.  It literally makes me sick to think about you having another surgery of any kind.  In July, we will meet with your Urologist again to talk about repairing another issue from your last surgery.  This too, upsets me.  I don't want to see you in any pain or discomfort.

On a related note...you are still in feeding therapy.  It's been 18 months, including a 7 week day praogram at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.  You have made some progress (you are eating a meal in about 20 minutes now and you will eat approximately 10 cheerios a day if forced).  You just have no interest in food--other than baby food.  You do not want to feed yourself (though you will on occassion help us) and you will often pocket your food in your mouth until it dissolves.  I worry about you.  I worry that you will still be eating baby food in college (though the therapists have assured me that I'm wrong).  You are just so stubborn! 

On a happier note...you are a daredevil...you have no fear.  Sometimes, I still forget that you are only 2! 

You are also so sweet.  You always kiss my face and point to my nose and say "you have a cute little baby button nose".  I have no idea where you get this stuff.  I've never said that.  It's adorable though.  You are cuddly when you first wake up and you love to be held when you are tired. 
You are a Daddy's boy.  You love your Daddy and you want to do everything he does.  You literally follow him around some days.

and...you Daddy....he loves every minute of it! 

You are funny.  You make me laugh every day.  You sing all the time...and when you don't know the words...you make them up (something else your Daddy does regularly).  Your favorite is still Row Row Row your Boat, but you also sing Jesus Loves Me and Call me Maybe pretty often.  You like a wide variety of music!  You also love the Zac Brown Band.

You are an early riser...and though I'd love to sleep in...I have to admit, cuddling with you in the morning is pretty sweet. 

I had no idea what to expect when I brought you home.  I knew very little about little boys, but we have learned together along the way.  You make every day better.  You make me laugh all the time.  You are so thoughtful and so sweet.  You are an awesome little brother and you love your sister so much.  I love that you play so well together.  You bring us such joy!  If I could tell you I love you a hundred times a day (which I probably do), it would never be enough to really express how much we truly adore you.  Your smiles and laughter despite everything (even when you are sick) inspire me.  You are an amazing little boy.

I love you forever,
Mommy

Dear Mia

You are 4 years old...going on 14.  You are sweet, funny, caring, thoughtful, and I feel so incredibly blessed to have you as my daughter.  You are beautiful on the inside as well as on the outside. 

Right now, you are struggling to balance being independent and wanting to rely on me for everything.  You want to pick out your own clothes and shoes, but you want help getting dressed (even though you are perfectly capable of doing it yourself.  Here are a few of your most recent choices. 

This, my dear, is your Christmas dress (note--it's June 2013 now).  This dress is for Christmas, but you have insisted on wearing it twice this month already. 

This, little lady, is a night gown.  While it does have princesses on it, it is not appropriate for the park.  On this day, it was rainy and no one was there--and I did not have the energy to fight this battle with you.  Therefore, yes, you wore a nightgown to the park (and all day at preschool because you refused to get dressed).

Lately, you have been talking a lot about your brother, Parker.  I think it is so great that you think of him so often.  I also worry about it.  I worry about you and how you are dealing with losing your twin brother.  I LOVE that you celebrate his life and seem happy that he is in heaven with God and Jesus (as you tell me often).  I love that you ask to send balloons up to him all of the time.  I love that you tell us we are a family of 5 and not 4.  These are things that you say...not things we have told you. 

I also love how amazing you are as a big sister to Paxton and as a friend.  You are so thoughtful.  You are a nurturer and caretaker.  You love everyone and you are always taking care of others.  You are upset right now as 2 of your best friends (Peyton and Ella) start kindergarten in the fall.  Unfortunately, you missed the September 1st cut off and will have to start next year.  You worry about this a lot, but you will make friends.   I try to reassure you that we will still see your friends a lot and that you'll meet new kids when you start school next year.  This is a picture of you and Ella from last weekend. 

You girls are so cute together.  I loved taking you to the bounce house.  You had so much fun.

I love you so much.  In my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined a more amazing daughter.  You make me happy every.single.day.

I love you forever,
Mommy

Amazon's description:
In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the eighth-grade social food chain. Then, to her amazement, the “coolest girl in the world” moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all---beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be: Kate, doomed to be forever uncool, with a loving family who mortifies her at every turn. Tully, steeped in glamour and mystery, but with a secret that is destroying her. They make a pact to be best friends forever; by summer’s end they’ve become TullyandKate. Inseparable.
From the beginning, Tully is desperate to prove her worth to the world. Abandoned by her mother at an early age, she longs to be loved unconditionally. In the glittering, big-hair era of the eighties, she looks to men to fill the void in her soul. But in the buttoned-down nineties, it is television news that captivates her. She will follow her own blind ambition to New York and around the globe, finding fame and success . . . and loneliness. 
Kate knows early on that her life will be nothing special. Throughout college, she pretends to be driven by a need for success, but all she really wants is to fall in love and have children and live an ordinary life. In her own quiet way, Kate is as driven as Tully. What she doesn’t know is how being a wife and mother will change her . . . how she’ll lose sight of who she once was, and what she once wanted. And how much she’ll envy her famous best friend. . . .
Ok...disclaimer...this book is sad.  My sister has been telling me to read it for 2 years.  I finally did and cried my eyes out--at work (during lunch) no less.  Here's what I thought...

I am lucky enough to have a few life long friends.  Most of my closest girlfriends are girls that I have known since elementary school so I can relate to that life long friendship.  My friends are like my sisters for me as well.  They are the first ones I call (other than my husband) when I am happy...or sad.  They are always there to pick up the piece, no matter the distance between us.  I love the Kate and Tully share that same friendship as well. 

I related most to Kate.  She is logical and realistic and optimistic.  Ok, I may be more optimistic than realistic, but I definitely related to her.  Like Tully and Kate, I also majored in Communications with a plan to go into broadcasting, but like Kate, I discovered, I really only enjoyed the writing and I didn't have the ambition to be on-camera and move anywhere for a job.  My focus was having a family as well. 

Kate and Tully's story is heart warming and heart breaking at the same time.  I love that the book shows...no matter what happens and how much time passes, lifelong friends are just that....life long.  I would definitely recommend this book to anyone (just read it alone unless you want to cry big ugly tears). 

** I'm now reading the follow up book- Fly Away.  I'll post on that when I'm finished (only on Chapter 5).  It is slower so far, but still good. 

Week 1 -Creation

Last week, I started reading the bible to my kids after school and following up with a project relating to the story we read.  For week 1, we started at the beginning...with Creation.  My kids have heard it a hundred times before, but we read it again.  I'm always amazed at the things they remember and ask.  I searched Pinterest for the perfect quick and easy toddler friendly projects I could find. 

We started the week by making a Sun.  I had everything prepared (I pre-cut the yellow sun rays) so all we had to do was attach them and color/decorate it.  They had fun.  Both kids decided to make their sun rainbow.

Tuesday was a perfect day to play outside so I made a "scavenger hunt" of all things that God made.  I included flowers, a leaf, a stone, a stick, and even dirt.  They loved searching for everything.

On Wednesday, they painted fish.  I had the plates pre-cut again so it was fast and easy for me after school. 

So, week 1 was a success.  Week 2:  Adam and Eve.

My Closet Makeover

I have always dreamed of a big pink closet and it's finally happened!  I thought I had more before pictures (before paint and before hardwoods), but unfortunately, I can't find them.  So, imagine it white with carpet when we first bought it. 

First step...hardwoods and paint.  I think this is call "Hot Lips" from Benjamin Moore

We (by we I mean Chris) installed the closet system.  I went with the Pax system at Ikea.  I think it was meant to be (Pax--get it???).  I didn't go with the whole unit.  I feel like they take up too much space and I wanted space to walk around.

Please ignore the fact that I can't fold clothes propoerly.  Its one of the many chores that I hate.

Chris added some extra bars (is that the word??) for me to hang my clothes

I swear there are days when I have absolutely nothing to wear. 

I insisted on having shelves on the wall for my shoes.  Thanks pinterest for that idea! 

Of course, I had too many shoes so I had to buy an over the door shoe thingy as well. 

I also wanted a place to hang my purses.  Love it!

Lastly, I wanted a fun rug.  I found this one on Rugs USA and I could not be happier. 

What does your dream closet look like?

I got nothing....

I have writers block.  I have a ton of ideas that I could write about (fathers day ideas, spring/summer decor, etc.), but I'm just not motivated.  It's almost summer and right now, I'm spending my evenings playing outside with my kids.  Last night, we had a scavenger hunt.  I'm also trying to find an activity for my daughter.  She wants to do gymnastics; however, she was really unhappy with the place she went to for lessons.  They have open enrollment and were not welcoming on accommodating with new students.  Mia felt out of place.  So...back to the drawing board.

In other news...Paxton has tested out of the Infant and Toddlers program for sensory issues.  I'm not sure how that is possible since he still has issues, but I'm ok with it since we are still getting treatment through the hospital.

I'm still trying to keep my kids in their own bed at night.  Last night, Pax slept in Paxton's room (that makes 2 nights in a row).  I'm ok with it, but then he ends up in our room. 

I found an amazing new eye cream that works wonders.  It's called Start Over.  Unfortunately, the price is $85 which is pretty expensive.  I got a sample in my latest Sephora purchase and now I am trying to justify why I should buy a bottle.  Thoughts?????

Teaching my Toddler and Preschooler about the bible

As you may or may not know...I have taught a preschool Sunday school class for the past 2 years. I stepped in because they needed help as they had an overflow of 2-4 year olds.  While I've had a great year with the kids, I've become very frustrated with the lack of response/communication with the church staff.  I've complained about it to my husband for the past 6 months, but decided....if my kids are not learning...it's no ones fault but my own.  I should not rely on any church or Sunday school class to teach them.  That is my responsibility as the parent.  So, I've come up with a plan.  I'm writing this on my blog as a way to hold myself accountable. 
Every week, I will read one chapter from our children's bible.



I will reread the story 3-4 times during the week and at least 2-3 times per week, we'll do an activity or craft related to the story. 

This is starting tonight so I hope to recap once a week to show you what we have learned and what activities or crafts we have done.  I hope you can join in and start this with your kids as well.

This week:  Creation
Upcoming crafts/activities for the week:  Make a sun, making a fish, and a scavenger hunt