Spring Painting

Seeing as spring rolled in with a snow storm, we needed something to perk things up a little.  Eva decided she wanted to paint a flower picture on her easel and I am loving how all of the sudden her paintings actually look like something.  I am a total nerd when it comes to child development and I am just amazed how children grow and change so this picture will definitely be going in the "keep" pile!

See that green and yellow thing at the bottom?  That's a bee- isn't it the cutest you've ever seen?  Next to it is a flower and some baby bees (the little yellow dots).  The blue is sky and the yellow spotted blob floating in it is a bunch of bees shedding their skin (guess who learned about molting in her bug class?).  And of course no spring picture is complete without a giant red T-Rex.

Bugs Glorious Bugs!

Eva has been taking a class about bugs at our science museum and brought home some really cute crafts!  Last week she made a thumbprint caterpillar

and a fun ladybug magnet who now hangs out with her letters.

The ladybug was made by filling a plastic spoon with plaster and then pushing a magnet into it.  When it was dry it slid right out of the spoon and Eva was able to paint it red and then add spots and a face.
This week was all about butterflies.  The teachers wrapped a few kids up in toilet paper so they could be like caterpillars in a chrysalis and then they broke out- Eva thought it was hysterical but wouldn't try herself.  They also made this to show the stages of the butterfly's life cycle using different pastas:

Eva also got to meet a few bugs up close including a tarantula

and a vinegaroon (a cousin of the scorpion).

Hello Spring! We've Been Waiting For You!

As you have probably noticed due to the lack of posts lately, we just haven't been into India much this month.  Eva has been anti-craft/organized activities lately- she only wants to color and I am not one to force her to do something she isn't interested in.  She is still on her dinosaur kick and she is also really into bugs so I am going to abandon my plans and follow her.  We have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring so I'm working on incorporating Eva's interests into the change of the season.  Thank you for your patience and for sticking with us as we have battled the winter hum-drums.  Hopefully now that spring is here, we will be energized and the fun will return!

(Eva digging for mastodon bones at our Science Museum- aka our home away from home!)

St. Patrick's Day Cards

To share our love of all that is Irish with our family and friends, we made these St. Patrick's Day cards.  Eva stamped a "shamrock" on the front using a pepper top and some green paint.

When they were dry, I added a message- Shamrocks are green, Dinos are too... Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I love you!  Eva signed her name and we taped in a picture of her posing with her favorite dinos.

We also whipped up a batch of green cupcakes (lemon cake mix with green food coloring added) to snack on when we visit Grammy and Papa for the holiday.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the Luck of the Irish be with YOU!

March Sensory Tub

In March we are "visiting" India and taking in all the beautiful colors and shapes the country has to offer.  Our sensory tub this month is full of rainbow colors and shapes.  I found the pack of 3D shapes here and the flat shapes are meant for overhead projectors back from my teaching days (similar to these).

I was so excited to make this tub but really hadn't thought about what Eva could do with it.  No worries! I gave it to her and she created her own activities.  I forget sometimes that not everything needs a plan- I'm still working on doing more following, less guiding!  Eva used the shapes to make things.  This one is a penguin:

And she experimented with how many toys she could cram into a tiny zipper bag:

She has also used the bin as a place for her dinosaurs to romp (yes, we are still a bit dino-obsessed!) and many a "downtown" has been constructed with the blocks.  Sorting by color and shape are also options but chances are if I suggest them, they will be vetoed.  Three is a very independent age!

Mardi Gras Activities

Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday and we have a fun day planned!  We will be kicking off the day with some yummy doughnuts for breakfast.  Eva picked out a chocolate frosted one covered with sprinkles when we were grocery shopping today and she can't wait to give it a taste!  We'll also be having a New Orleans staple for dinner- jambalaya- yum!

Other fun Mardi Gras things to do:
*  Throw on some beads and grab your masks for a masquerade.  Add some fun music and you've got a dance party!
*  Use those beads for painting.  Dip a string of them in your favorite color paint and then drag them around on paper or toss them in a box top lined with paper and shake them up.
*  Grab some musical instruments (or make your own, like we did last year) and you can be your own rag-time band!
*  Many folks enjoy a king's cake on Mardi Gras and it's good luck to find the baby hiding in the cake.  Play hide and seek with a baby doll and bring on the luck!