Teagan is 5

Teagan turned five today and it was his last day of preschool.  He thoroughly enjoyed preschool and grew in so many ways.  His teachers were amazing and their approach to learning was top notch.  We will really miss him going there and we can't wait to send Eli when he's four!

Teagan is a very energetic, kind, compassionate, creative, he loves to build things, and to sing.

Here are some pictures of his special day and his birthday interview:

Birthday doughnuts!

I got to go hangout with T on his last day of preschool/birthday.  He is writing in his journal what his favorite thing to do at preschool was.  He said playing in block center.

Sharing about his new Rescue Bot at show and tell.

Last day fun...chalk,

eating popsicles, and

playing on the playground in the midst of  bubbles.

His last day of school picture by his school sign.

Opening presents...his favorite Legos!

Teagan's favorites at 5 years old:

Color: red and dark blue

Food: Pizza

Show: Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Song:  "Ready Set Go" by Royal Tailor (feat. Capitol Kings)

Toy: Lego's

Movie: Cars 2

Thing to do with the family: Go to the movies

Book: "Detective Chase McCain Save that Cargo" (a Lego book)

Activity: playing with toys

What he wants to be when he grows up: Police Officer

Elijah is 3

So today my littlest man turned three. It has been so much fun watching him grow and see who he has become.  Eli is sweet, funny (a little jokster or instigator at times), creative (always wanting to do some form of art), kind, smart, loving, caring, and energetic.  We have had a full day of celebrating and so I thought I'd share some pictures from his day.  Also, I did a little birthday interview of all his favorites right now.

Birthday breakfast

Helped mama make cookie dough to freeze.

Opened presents.  He was very excited about this barn!  All his horses finally have a place to sleep.

And a little Flying Pig for dessert.

Eli's Favorites at 3 years old:

Color: Pink and Yellow

Food: Doughnuts

Show: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Song: "Let It Go" (although he's never even seen Frozen)

Toy: Horses

Movie: "Winnie the Pooh"

Thing to do with the family: Have our baby

Book: "Put Me In The Zoo"

Activity: Art

Valentine's Goodies for the Little Ones

Happy Valentines Day!


My boys have been so excited for today!  I think this year they "get it".  I decided to drag Valentines Day out this year.  I've seen the past couple of years (all over Pinterest) others doing 14 Days of Valentines.  You start on Feb. 1st and give a little "gift" everyday until the 14th.  I used some of the ideas I saw on Pinterest and added a few of my own.  With every gift I gave a heart with a little saying on it that went with the gift.  We then hung their hearts on their bedroom doors for a little decoration.

Here's a list of the sayings and then the little gift I gave them:

I "Dig" you - sand/snow shovels

You are the "apple" of my eye - apple juice

Love U "peanut" - peanuts

You rock my world - a CD

You color my world with happiness - new markers

You are one Marvelous Munchkin - M&M's

You make me feel all bubbly inside - bubble bath

You're a "catch" - goldfish crackers

You knock my "socks" off - new pair of fun socks

You're worth a million don't ever "change" - $2 in quarters

What are the chance I have a "shot" at being your Valentine? - small nerf guns

My heart "pops" for you - popcorn

I think you're a "cutie" - Cuties

Ahoy matey be my Valentine - eye patches and bandannas to dress up like pirates

I would set their gifts out at different times each day so they never knew when they were coming.  It was neat to see their expressions when they found the gifts!  I also did 14 Days of Valentines for Ryan with a lot of the same sayings, but not all of them.  

As some of you know about me, I can't go a Holiday without crafting something for someone else.  So for the other little ones in my life I whipped up a couple of things.  

For my niece and two other little girls that are very special to us I made some snap barrettes and wood bead necklaces.  I'm kind of in love with the necklaces and thinking about making one for myself!

For my boys and my nephew, eye patches and a superhero mask.

How are you celebrating Valentines Day?

Dinosaur...ROAR!!

So I haven't really been doing Mommy School with the boys this school year.  Teagan is in preschool three days a week and I feel with the extra running to drop him off and get him we are busier than usual.  I have been trying to do a little bit of whatever his theme at school is here at home just to reinforce it, either by having books out about the theme or introducing some toys they haven't played with that go along with the theme.
Since Christmas, it has been bitterly cold here!  Teagan has had no school a couple of days because of the cold.  I decided to be a little more deliberate in planning activities so that we don't all go crazy!
Last week the theme was DINOSAUR's and this is what we did:

We had a sensory bin with small rocks, dinosaurs, trees, and the letters D-I-N-O-S-A-U-R.

Teagan even took the rocks out and made a dinosaur nest.  The white rocks were the eggs.

 

Making dinosaur footprints/imprints in play-dough.

Teagan had the idea to separate the dinosaurs into those that walk on land, those that live in water, and those that fly.

Teagan followed picture instructions on how to draw a stegosaurus.

Eli had a dinosaur with the alphabet on it.  I would show him a letter, ask him what it was, and then he had to find it on his page and put a dot on it.  It helped me know what letters he knew and if he could match them.

We also have a giant dinosaur floor puzzle we did together and they watched The Land Before Time.

For me it helps our days go a little smoother if I plan a few activities for the day in advance.  Sometimes they play so good that we don't use them but then I just save them for a rainy day. :)

What do you do to help have a smoother day?