Ryleigh's Princess Party....

For Ryleigh's Fourth Birthday Party...we had a princess theme... and yes... it happened several months ago... I may have a few outstanding posts to blog about... but the important thing here is that I am attempting to catch up!!! ..... right? Be prepared to see a few posts from over the summer months while I become "current" before school starts next week.... Braeden... who I had dressed as "Prince William"...instead of a princess getting ready to go down the slide.. and Braeden's Great Grandfather up in the tree house...

Sir Braeden going down the slide...

We had a princess scavenger hunt... we used clothes pins as markers...

I think Marc was working security to the castle ?!?!?!?

Princess mosh pit...

Jumping in the jumpy house...

The Princess Pinata...

Gathering the goodies from the pinata...

Princesses on the slide...

Gathered around the cake...

Singing Happy Birthday to Ryleigh...

Ryleigh turns 4!!!

Happy Birthday Ryleigh!!!!!

stART- Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss...

In honor of Dr. Seuss's Birthday I had both the kids at Preschool and Tot School Beginnings make a hat. Both classes read The Foot Book... one of my favorites... for the project I cut out the hat shape from posterboard and then used tape to make the stripes.... the kids painted with red using rollers...when they were finished we removed the tape... so simple...and so cute!!!

The hat...pre-paint...

Ryleigh painting.... she loves loves loves the rollers to paint with...

Braeden painting... he just loves paint!!! I gave the younger kids the option of using rollers, paint brushes or sponge shapes... Braeden used the roller...

The finished hats...Ryleigh's has 4 stripes and Braeden's has 3... I really like these type of projects because even if the kids (especially the little ones) paint all over the trays the projects still come out looking neat and tidy...

For more great stART posts check out A Mommy's Adventures!
For more fun projects check out My Delicious Ambiguity , ABC and 123... Red Ted Art and JDaniel4's Mom

The one in which Braeden plays in snow for the first time....

The day after Christmas we were hit with our first snow of the season...in a blizzard type fashion... I was unamused... however, Ryleigh and Braeden were so excited!!! Ryleigh has had so much fun playing in it this week... Marc has been home from work on vacation so she has gotten to go out in it every day... it did not take long before Braeden really wanted to go out and play too... after all this was the first time he has seen it (that he is aware of)...

Ryleigh stuck in a drift...and trying to move...Braeden stuck in a drift....watching Ryleigh make angels in the snow...

Braeden examining the snow...

Braeden and Ryleigh shrieking with laughter while throwing snow....

Braeden having a great time....about 2 minutes later there were tears after snow got in his face and he came inside shortly after....

Wordless Wednesday- Ryleigh's first day of pre-school

Today was Ryleigh's first official day of preschool....and she was so excited! Here she is equipped with backpack...which she wore...all the way from the living room...to the dining room table...

School Daze- Before our official start back...

Ryleigh is 39 Months and Braeden is 12 Months

Although we have not "officially" started our 2010-2011 "term" we have begun doing a few organized projects to ease back in...we had dance class, Music class, a stART project, visits to the park, visits to the library, playdates and lots of giggles....

I set up a mini-obstacle course in the living room...with big foam cushions and the tunnel...both kids loved it. Ryleigh jumped continuously all afternoon....

Ryleigh jumping and Braeden standing...unassisted.....

They both fell down...and Braeden thought this was hilarious....

More jumping...but Braeden has moved on to emptying out the bins....

During our Musical Mondays... some of the kids...
the class has gotten so big that we have had to add on an "annex" to the drum...
I need to get a second big gathering drum this fall...

I set the girls up with this bead transfer...
using cute ice cream dishes and spoons that I got at the target dollar spot.
A great fine motor activity...

Braeden thought that banging his magnetic farm barn on the floor was extremely funny....

I found these great cylinder 4 color shapes at the target dollar spot... so many possibilities for them...I also got the square and triangle ones... Here Ryleigh is sorting by color and then counting how many of each color there are....this is a good fine motor activity, sorting activity (color) and counting activity...

Ryleigh and my Grandmother playing Dora Dominoes....
a great way to practice matching and turn taking...

"Oh- Do you see me about to try and take the Computer away from sister?"

Braeden doesn't really bang on my pots and pans...but he does on Ryleigh's...

I had the girls do some beading activity on a pipe-cleaner...they made bracelets...
I think they played at this project for a good half an hour, if not more...

I brought out all 3 kinds of 3-D shapes that I had gotten...the girls sorted by color and shape...and then practiced lots of counting...

Braeden and Juliette playing with the chair and magnetic farm while the girls worked on their projects...shortly they will be included in tot trays...

Ryleigh and Emily really wanted to eat lunch together....so they had an indoor picnic...

And Braeden and Juliette had a lunch date...yummy cheerios!

To see what others are up to this week head over to 1+1+1=1, Homeschool Creations and Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

The one in which a "new elmo" is acquired...

I know many of you many have noticed that Ryleigh LOVES Elmo... perhaps the random shots of him during activities may have given you a clue.... anyway...Jen S. sent me a link on how to make an Elmo hat... and I promptly asked Jenn over at Babyitzyou.com if she could make it for me...the end result...a VERY HAPPY Ryleigh...

Ryleigh will pretty much not take this hat off...

Ryleigh...after I told her to "freeze" so I could take her picture...
she is really good at "freezing"...

Dressed for bed...and of course the hat is part of the Elmo outfit...and the ballet slippers? Well how is a girl going to dance without her shoes? Seriously people....

More Elmo...
Ryleigh likes to bring her Baby Elmo into Braeden's room for storytime before bed...

So Happy....

One can never have too much Elmo...

The one in which there is a love/ hate relationship with the sprinkler....

Look...there is a sprinkler...perhaps it can be fun?

Hmmmm...there seems to be WATER coming out of the sprinkler....interesting...

YAY!!! This is going to be really fun!!!!! I am going to run through the sprinkler...

I got a little wet...not so bad...I am going to run to my (play) house now...

Whew!! I made it... I will watch the sprinkler from this side...

Uh....it looks like the water is coming this way....?....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Now I am upset!!! UPSET!!!! The WATER got me....!!!!....why would it do that?

Quick escape down the slide...

Why are you taking pictures of me instead of rescuing me?
Or at least handing me a towel?....