Random June Memories

Sprinkler play on a warm day...
June 10

Zayden watching a "scary part" on a PJ Masks episode
June 12

A woodpecker visiting
June 15

An evening walk
June 20

Puzzle master
June 25

A bath for Mia
June 26

Followed by PB&J on Grandma Num's homemade bread

Story snuggles
June 27

Summer Preschool - Dinosaurs (Week 4)

This summer I hosted a summer learning experience for preschool age children.  I did it in our home and took 8 kids, plus my 2 preschoolers.  My big kids were enlisted as helpers.  We ran 2 hours in the morning, 2 days a week and filled those hours to the brim with learning and fun.
We had to juggle the schedule of weeks a little, because Mia got sick after our very first day but everyone was really understanding and we had such a good time!

Week 4 was Dinosaur Week.
(June 26 & June 27th)

Color matching with poms as a welcome activity.

 Painting muddy puddles for our people drawings to jump in like in the book Dirty Dinosaur.

Dino book look...

Dinosaur imaginative play while children worked with me in pairs on do-a-dots at the table.

Dinosaur paint with water...

Coloring the dirty dinosaur and then painting him muddy with chocolate pudding.

(then we ate the pudding...)

Dirty and clean dinosaur sensory stations (water beads, shaving cream, oatmeal baby cereal mush)

13 Years

Mike and I celebrated 13 years of marriage on June 25th at the ball park in the rain surrounded by our tribe.  Living the dream....we think.

Happy 8th Birthday, Xavier!

In the midst of ball season, sick little sister, and summer preschool, our second born turned 8 on June 24th.

Xavier came to us as one of the best surprises we didn't know we needed.  He's a best buddy to his siblings, and big help to his parents, and a trusted friend to those who want one.

His birthday fell on a Sunday, which worked out conveniently with a Sunday lunch at Papa and Grandma Num's.  I made him a dirt cake, which is one of his favorite desserts. 

Making Lego movies...

Son, you challenge us but you are the definition of love.  Your heart is huge and you forgive easily.  You genuinely care about others and work hard to do right.  We love you, bud.

Summer Preschool - That's MY Name (Week 3)

This summer I hosted a summer learning experience for preschool age children.  I did it in our home and took 8 kids, plus my 2 preschoolers.  My big kids were enlisted as helpers.  We ran 2 hours in the morning, 2 days a week and filled those hours to the brim with learning and fun.
We had to juggle the schedule of weeks a little, because Mia got sick after our very first day but everyone was really understanding and we had such a good time!

Week 3 was That's MY Name.
(June 20th & June 22nd)

This week focused on name recognition!
Each child had a letter road book with the letters in their names in it.

I also made each child a popsicle stick puzzle and a clothespin activity using their names.

Magically appearing names!

Dot your name.

Ahh, worn out and ready for pick up...reading books while they wait for parents.

We tried to spell names from Alphabits cereal.  The cereal failed us - there wasn't every letter.

 This was a fun activity!

After they found their names, they worked on tracing them with water and paintbrushes.