This week we started with a trip to the Japanese Tea garden and the Zoo. The weather was lovely and it could literally feel the Vitamin D soaking in and lifting my spirits.

 Dillan pulled out an old favorite. Making a role play adventure so fun. The traveled the globe in cars and planes and fixed stuffed animals. Daniel is now old enough to really join in the fun. It was great to watch and of course I had to pilot the plane. The bed was the plane. lol.

 We took a trip to the Zoo with our local moms home school group. The kids found a nice spot and decided to nature journal the Hippo habitat. They shared paper and pens with friends and had a snack.

 We set up a little area on one of our shelves to encourage nature journaling and it has been fantastic!

 Daniel is really enjoying the reusable sticker pack this week. Trying our new animal names and sounds!

Tomorrow we have OT and Joe is on a different schedule the last 2 weeks. It has really thrown us, but it has been okay. A coworker had a baby, so we certainly understand that :) We are going to hang out this weekend and just enjoy some sunshine!

Family snuggles

 Quilt progress

 Original Creations

Lazy Afternoons

Sunshine Evenings

Trips with Mom to the Library

Library Card clipped to kids library bags- sanity savers and learning responsibility

Snuggles reading books

We are really enjoying ourselves and digging deeper. It's been a lovely month!

This was a great historical fiction book about the Netherlands :) We made blueberry muffins and had blueberry parfaits. Yum!

 The kids said the walk was exhausting and stopped under this tree for a "nap".... They make me laugh.

 More valentines fun, they had a great time making bookmarks fro family and then used some quick ones for friends. Daniel was so big writing his own cards up!

 Dillan will soon be the master/stand in bagel maker. He is getting so big and enjoys making bread items and warming things in the microwave on his own.

 Brother photobomb!

 We went as a family to the rodeo. Joe had a big time telling the kids all about the animals and the farm life. They each picked out a valentines necklace from a vendor who makes them out of pewter.

 She looks right at home in the midst of horses/farm life.

 We finished the week with new play dough. The kids picked their colors and I used a new recipe that was fantastic. It made smaller batches and I think that helped keep the play dough from getting too grainy.

Catching up 2nd week of Feb

We started the trip to the Netherlands. My mom sent us a wonderful book that she made. It has pictures of our trips when we lived in Germany. I also got some fabulous books from the library.

 Dillan loves sharing his knowledge with Ellie. She feels so big when she can in turn share it with Daniel :)

 The kids did all sorts of fun Valentines activities and had a special Valentines tea party. It was complete with Gouda cheese and windmill crackers- from World Market.

 The kids picked out a rug and set up a little are in the pantry for their bowls, plate, cups and tea items. This way they can reach them and I don't have to worry about any one climbing the counters ;) Yes they have been known to scale the cupboards.

Catch up

Ellie loved this planting activity we found at Target. We planted Basil and Mint and hope to use the leaves for tea in the future. :)

 The kids added stickers and found a sunny spot
 They are loving card making this year. I will have to get better at mailing things and I will need to stock up on some cards/stickers/etc in a basket for the future.
 I left out the trays and we added a book. I have ignored the dishes and held a cranky sick toddler.
 We introduced nature journaling books this week. They are a hit :) I think we will include this once or twice a week. It was a pleasure for us all.