Sunday, February 20, 2011

Tot School–Valentine’s Day Theme

- Adam is 38 months old - Tot School Logo

We had a fun week full of hearts and love!
We read a bunch of books from the library and from our own bookshelf.  I’ve decided that for us, the most important part of our Tot School time is reading.  I want to make it more of a priority.

Anyway, here’s what we did!

Before the week started, I found my Tot School idea list like this:DSCF5646That is the first time that Adam has purposefully “written” something.  I love his cute scribbles!

I had wanted to do this song several times, but we only did it once.  He liked it though!  It’s the B-I-N-G-O song only you spell out H-E-A-R-T.  I can’t remember where I found the song though. DSCF5741

A favorite activity was this Alphabet Hearts file folder game from File Folder Fun.  He has done this “game” twice this week and that’s only because I wouldn’t let him do it more when we had so many other things we could do!  I was very surprised that he knew 22 out of 26 lowercase letters.  The only ones he missed were b, d, l, and q.  Thank you LeapFrog Letter Factory!  I didn’t teach him any of that directly!DSCF5660

Also from File Folder Fun were these Achy Breaky Heart puzzles.
He only made it through 4 of these before losing interest.DSCF5632
From Making Learning Fun we did the following:

Conversation Heart Count Cards
He LOVED these!  We did them 3 times this week.
It was a great fine motor activity clipping the mini clips on the correct numbered square.DSCF5629DSCF5677


Do-a-Dot H is for Hearts pageDSCF5759


Heart Mosaic Page
He put a conversation heart on each red circleDSCF5816

From 1+1+1=1’s Love Tot Pack we did:

Hearts in Shapes matching puzzlesDSCF5823

Lovebug Matching game
We took turn drawing cards and finding the matchDSCF5827

I turned the blank hearts into numbered hearts and Adam counted out conversation hearts to match the numberDSCF5828


Other Activates:

Transferring heart shaped ice cubes with tongs
DSCF5742

He then made himself some ice water…mostly just ice. :)

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On another day, he used tongs to transfer pom-pomsDSCF5833

One of Adam’s Valentine gifts from us was a Moon Dough set.
He loves it, however I don’t!  It is so messy!!DSCF5798


We did a bunch of art projects:

Stamping with V-day stampsDSCF5663

Valentine’s Day CollageDSCF5668

Cookie Cutter Stamping
(idea from Totally Tots)
This started out as cookie cutter stamping but quickly turned into painting with a paintbrush….then fingers….DSCF5763
DSCF5764

and then hands.
Right about now I was thinking his painting was turning out really cute….DSCF5766

and then he smeared it all….oh well, Daddy still loved his Valentine!DSCF5767

Car Track Painting
(idea from Monkeyin’ Around)DSCF5841DSCF5843DSCF5845

Finally, for Family Home Evening we talked about loving our family members and then we made a Love Tree (idea from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman)DSCF5790DSCF5796

And sugar cookie for dessert!DSCF5793

Whew!  When I write it out it feels like we did a TON of stuff!
We’re headed off on a short vacation with my family while Nat (my hubby) is out of town on business so we won’t be doing any Tot School next week, although I’m taking a bunch of file folder games and activities to keep Adam occupied.

Visit 1+1+1=1 for more blogs participating in Tot School!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Abby’s 1-Year Old Portraits

I took Abby and Adam to FotoFly for her 1-year old portraits and it was great!  Unfortunately, Abby wasn’t cooperating.  Big surprise.  She has yet to have a great photo session.  Even so, we got some cute “pensive” and “somber” pictures of her.

2011-2831-12.12011-2831-18.1.cropped8x102011-2831-24.1.cropped8x102011-2831-30.cropped8x19.1.22011-2831-33.1.cropped8x102011-2831-37.1.cropped8x10

And then we got some great sad faces.  Even though she’s crying….we think they’re cute!2011-2831-41.1.8x102011-2831-42.1.8x102011-2831-43.1.2.cropped

I got her happy again by giving her a book….which is quite fitting since she’s a little bookworm!2011-2831-47.1.22011-2831-49.1

 

Adam will smile for just about anybody!2011-2831-2.12011-2831-5.12011-2831-8.12011-2831-9.12011-2831-11.1

We thought this was cute….he’s trying to fix her flower.2011-2831-52.1.2

What I love about FotoFly is that they give you the CD with full rights so I can print what I want, when I want but still have all my images to save.  Let’s face it, with her newborn pictures, our family pictures in September, and these….I have no where to hang them all but I LOVE having them to look at!

Monday, February 14, 2011

L-O-V-E

DSCF5426

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Abby’s Birthday Parties

Because of my Dad’s chemo schedule, we had two separate birthday parties for Abby.  The first one was for the Shurtleff side of the family on the 6th.

The SetupDSCF5513The CakeDSCF5510


Adam was SO excited to help blow out the candle.
Abby wasn’t quite sure about the flame!

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Yummy!_DSC0193DSCF5538

Opening Presents
Adam was so kind in offering to help his sister open her presents.DSCF5551DSCF5558_DSC0203DSCF5581

She got lots of soft and cuddly things._DSC0211_DSC0215


On the 12th was the Gardner family party…

Setup #2DSCF5694

Cake #2….I got lazy the second time aroundDSCF5695


Opening PresentsDSCF5711DSCF5713DSCF5714

Still unsure about that flame!DSCF5718

More yummy!DSCF5720DSCF5722

Although having two parties was a pain, Abby had a great birthday spread out over an entire week!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Deja Vu

Abby at 11 monthsDSCF5596

Adam at 10 months2008_09150042

It’s fun being reminded of Adam when Abby does something similar!

Dang, Adam was blonde!!