Week 3 {chickpeas, body unit-bones, and monkey butts}

Sunday, August 22nd, started with a pretty little lady at church...

This dress was Natalee's from 11 years ago, and it's still so sweet.

The kids rode their bikes to church and back!

Sunday ended with an early movie night - the new Paw Patrol movie - the kids thought it was terrific.

Monday dawned and a new week of school began.  Zayden is using his new "My First Spelling Dictionary" that is handy to look up common words for blossoming writers.  

And look at this boy's cursive!  Beautiful!

Monday's sensory bin was brown beans.

Often when the kids say, "guess what?" I respond, "monkey butt."  Evie called me out on that...

Bedtime "recess" with daddy....working on headstands.

Monday night I decided to dye a batch of chickpeas for Evalynn (and the big kids, but don't tell them that).  Ev tends to like "heavy" sensory trays over light items right now (beans over rice) and I thought she'd really like these colorful chickpeas.  She (and Daddy) helped me wiggle those bags and get them just right. (1ish cup of chickpeas to a couple tsp white vinegar and several drops of liquid food coloring - spread on paper towels to dry)

They were a big hit!

This bin stayed on the blanket most of the week and got a lot of attention.  Ev especially loves when the big kids play with her.

Zayden found a mosaic sticker book to work on during read aloud time.

And we finally got rain!!

Zayden and Ameliya started their human body unit this week and got their first "piece" - bones!

Showing off his writing and illustrating.

Evie has had an increased interest in her puppets lately.  She couldn't quite decide whether to laugh or be scared of my growling.

We found an ornamental aronia berry bush on our evening walks and got permission to pick the berries.  Our little helpers were efficient pickers and had the stained hands to show it!

Somehow Evalynn's white shirt remained unharmed.

Evalynn gobbled up those berries until she got a sour one and then she was done!

The weather was beautiful Thursday, so we took things to play outside while Natalee had hippotherapy.

An afternoon chat with my girl while the big kids had free time.

Friday we had an afternoon park date with some of our new co-op friends....and I took not a one single picture, but we had a blast!

Saturday was spent in full birthday prep!

These castles come unfinished from Michael's.  I "wallpapered" it, painted it, and Mike helped me make our family in peg dolls to go along with it to gift Ev for her birthday.

A full week that flew by!