tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21491840228168795942024-02-07T22:11:58.457+02:00Parenting in PragueUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-50017188228912393452012-06-21T15:41:00.001+03:002012-06-21T15:51:57.308+03:00To Spain and Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three years plus and we're still here in Prague. Still trying to get our feet on the ground and find that rhythm that makes routine seem boring. It's been a rather emotional past year around here and so there's been a long absence- almost a sabbatical, I suppose. But summer has come 'round again and like all good things under the sun, it feels good to reach up and reach out. Our first travel out of the country this year was a road trip down to the Spanish coast. With the littles and minimal luggage - we headed out with hopes of pulling the whole thing off with content children (ages 2, 4, 6) to boot!<br />
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Here's my five cents, if you ever get the itchin' to get away and are compelled to take the little lovelies with you!<br />
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1. <b>Leave after lunch or close to bedtime.</b> They will have burned some energy and will have enough in their stomachs to keep them from begging for snacks as soon as their bottoms hit those car seats.<br />
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2. <b>Media is a driver's best friend.</b> When you know they have hit their "staring-out-the-window limit" - give 'em the toons! There are times when too much T.V. is ok - long haul travel is one of them!<br />
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3. <b>Hotel beds are your personal trampolines.</b> In fact the whole room should be treated as an activity center. After being cooped up on the road for 4 - 6 hours at a time, the kids deserve to jump, run, chase and scream a bit - it's just one night. The beds and neighboring guests will survive - and your babes will build positive memories of those road trips with mom and pop.<br />
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4.<b> Lollipops are the ultimate pacifier - buy them big.</b> Seriously, I don't buy the kids lollipops often. So, when we are waiting in line for entry to a beautiful cathedral or the bickering becomes a bit too intense in the car, I whip out the lollis - it's a quick fix in a tight situation. I teach my kids plenty of self-control and expect a lot from them behavior-wise. We live in Prague, and there are some strict standards here about how kids should behave in public - something along the lines of Victorian England - seen and not heard, that kind of thing. The "lolli - gagging" is the exception, not the rule. A tool used rarely but effectively.<br />
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5. <b>Keep a balance between the sight-seeing and all that's lovely in-between!</b> As I look back over the photos of our little adventure, I'm reminded that the kids had their best times (and so did mom and dad) when we were traveling between sights. Climbing trees at a park or chasing pigeons in the local square. Playing in the water at some lovely fountain or exploring an interesting window display. At one point we all simply plopped down in a French public garden and played a game of charades. It's one of the sweetest memories of the trip! <br />
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I know I'm not the only one out there who hits the road with a car full of kids and no fear! How do you do long-hours travel with kids?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-60931229056677988822011-05-29T23:14:00.002+03:002011-05-29T23:19:49.155+03:00Cute and Clever Springtime Blossoms<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW6aLbF8JFlHTQNe-MkdpgX7WcJqLuw_i8rUXH9PpZ-7O1VVyJ0BXhV6umSiQ5Dz_9hQP-a6hNv_MNylck-abD2pVC-mpsK173a5bOT9kTwkAMgRPyz0xd2fdkAn_LuO61i7F2PbiBm4/s1600/May+11+053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW6aLbF8JFlHTQNe-MkdpgX7WcJqLuw_i8rUXH9PpZ-7O1VVyJ0BXhV6umSiQ5Dz_9hQP-a6hNv_MNylck-abD2pVC-mpsK173a5bOT9kTwkAMgRPyz0xd2fdkAn_LuO61i7F2PbiBm4/s1600/May+11+053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHmEAih9mkSAQBvx8TEJz-6c7ystO2vL0N0rRtFZqTJ7SXw4U6YRBX1W-BzCyjnuDqngPODQqE6qkoJR6xRpKw6PfOXxy-YLo4h89jlBMIqQDHCxgFxrN1mQclFDTLN5-RVwnC8mKEI/s1600/May+11+069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaHmEAih9mkSAQBvx8TEJz-6c7ystO2vL0N0rRtFZqTJ7SXw4U6YRBX1W-BzCyjnuDqngPODQqE6qkoJR6xRpKw6PfOXxy-YLo4h89jlBMIqQDHCxgFxrN1mQclFDTLN5-RVwnC8mKEI/s320/May+11+069.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Spring has sprung, the sunshine is here, and sickness has finally been banished! And so, gearing up for the summer with the kiddies, I thought it right and proper to get ourselves moving and start creating more art. Finally!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSzkdkB9IUStP3AzWSH0UXAFrQA6nYa81zj6X0SOY3mvxbTNQeBXHrtpXopmeOoIJjtMQLjYmvTKK-g4UTYHiZ_X2aw9_AqiYrTIq1EdoB2OOJBy1tXIzgVxwtUoc9fwLH-NzekzfmTI/s1600/May+11+047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSzkdkB9IUStP3AzWSH0UXAFrQA6nYa81zj6X0SOY3mvxbTNQeBXHrtpXopmeOoIJjtMQLjYmvTKK-g4UTYHiZ_X2aw9_AqiYrTIq1EdoB2OOJBy1tXIzgVxwtUoc9fwLH-NzekzfmTI/s320/May+11+047.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>Here's a simple but lovely project I got from <a href="http://www.svojtka.cz/index.php?mod=shop&action=detail&seo=2757-malujeme-cely-rok&category=54">this little Czech art book</a>. I've learned a thing or two about the way Czechs educate here and have developed a little saying to remind myself of it. It goes a little something like this: <i>It's not just what you teach; it's how you teach it</i>. I don't mean that in the be "nice" or "funny" or "patient" kind of way (all important and beneficial). I mean <i>be clever</i> - the process of getting to that final product should be smart too. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW6aLbF8JFlHTQNe-MkdpgX7WcJqLuw_i8rUXH9PpZ-7O1VVyJ0BXhV6umSiQ5Dz_9hQP-a6hNv_MNylck-abD2pVC-mpsK173a5bOT9kTwkAMgRPyz0xd2fdkAn_LuO61i7F2PbiBm4/s1600/May+11+053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieW6aLbF8JFlHTQNe-MkdpgX7WcJqLuw_i8rUXH9PpZ-7O1VVyJ0BXhV6umSiQ5Dz_9hQP-a6hNv_MNylck-abD2pVC-mpsK173a5bOT9kTwkAMgRPyz0xd2fdkAn_LuO61i7F2PbiBm4/s320/May+11+053.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This project is easy-peasy and yet inspirational for all - my 3 year old loved it and my 5 year old was into it too. They were surprised to see how a simple drip of watercolor paint could instantly turn a colored circle into a lovely flower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0d8cJqPH5Q5Ntrw1IS9F9YgWF_nnQXObGp580KYChXEAxbNlWbUlg8vpF4fxseHExAsBRUT9J_34RI0_J-V7ISIjotroEuBJo2YgCeIUbj4lLz1R1cz8kyRkfjWUuA8QpjY5QKAGRRw/s1600/May+11+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0d8cJqPH5Q5Ntrw1IS9F9YgWF_nnQXObGp580KYChXEAxbNlWbUlg8vpF4fxseHExAsBRUT9J_34RI0_J-V7ISIjotroEuBJo2YgCeIUbj4lLz1R1cz8kyRkfjWUuA8QpjY5QKAGRRw/s320/May+11+049.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We had a whole field by the time we were done - these survived long enough to shoot. My baby added the sunshine with a bit o' yellow and aqua pastel was used to create the center of each flower (as you can see way at the top)! My son woke up the following morning asking if we could "please do an art project again today!" Just the inspiration a mother needs during spring time in Prague!<br />
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</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-76439536811133806922011-02-21T22:20:00.000+02:002011-02-21T22:20:50.756+02:00Presentation Matters!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iomLTiXL_6KOkZy4WMvVTlNP5Mi3OQrytSUvGk_mG-ghqYbtbkk4yFg4SRel0WxLrbEVVx6-AmKqkyHTdSPoaM3JM0wqcUnW1HfOrNaHHHKx-A7EPFErgYZUsrH3Lj9Ipo_gaUIuZEI/s1600/Drawing+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iomLTiXL_6KOkZy4WMvVTlNP5Mi3OQrytSUvGk_mG-ghqYbtbkk4yFg4SRel0WxLrbEVVx6-AmKqkyHTdSPoaM3JM0wqcUnW1HfOrNaHHHKx-A7EPFErgYZUsrH3Lj9Ipo_gaUIuZEI/s320/Drawing+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My son loves big, plastic, ugly trucks. With no encouragement from me (the truck was a hand-me-down), he has embraced all things wheeled with a passion only rivaled by his love of animals. When I think of presenting my little one with a new project or activity, I usually think about it from my aesthetic - natural and neutral. This, of course, usually leads me to the beauty of the simple woven basket (unparalleled in home decor, I do declare). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksGBStgxC_56oNPu7XKoY61zjprXzSmULBo5mLVmp1DDELL0N8YzwXv8gnRHSUw4g-ceymk1hmGqPFjQihqY_oa7zZpFgmq8VgFkTAHIx-lweTLg2ahMgShUXlmeEFu6xVBEtTLAVkf4/s1600/Drawing1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksGBStgxC_56oNPu7XKoY61zjprXzSmULBo5mLVmp1DDELL0N8YzwXv8gnRHSUw4g-ceymk1hmGqPFjQihqY_oa7zZpFgmq8VgFkTAHIx-lweTLg2ahMgShUXlmeEFu6xVBEtTLAVkf4/s320/Drawing1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My babe, however, has not yet embraced my love of the basket. After presenting him with some new colored pencils in the basket above, he drew about 4 lines and was ready for some action. Down he wiggled off our stools and back he came with that monstrosity of a plastic truck you see. I think he needed a little bit of him up there at the table. And I think I needed to embrace some of his interests as I introduced him to mine as well. And so, said colored pencils were dumped into that there truck and those pencils instantly did double-duty - at once drawing utensils and a trucker's haul! My babe was pleased as punch! Here's to embracing gaudy plastic toys in new ways with my little one's idea of beauty in mind!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-85159131060662384322010-12-18T22:52:00.002+02:002010-12-18T22:55:53.874+02:00Water-Only Christmas Paintings and a Fancy Snowflake Curtain!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfSqTSp9C1mIM1olMdeU8KECoHxRpiWupuWxnJNcIf8_upEoFkh9yvvhaO3sAN5JyJ_rQMhvREtHkomxMg9MgjJlOokTQ8r5QgrWHswM-P3Zo4vaPLQirMiToCKWBzUe0gG7gM7_N5b4/s1600/December+10+134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfSqTSp9C1mIM1olMdeU8KECoHxRpiWupuWxnJNcIf8_upEoFkh9yvvhaO3sAN5JyJ_rQMhvREtHkomxMg9MgjJlOokTQ8r5QgrWHswM-P3Zo4vaPLQirMiToCKWBzUe0gG7gM7_N5b4/s320/December+10+134.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div>Found a cute and easy-peasy way to bless my kiddos with mommy-made "Just Add Water Mini-Paintings" they get to complete thanks to <a href="http://ucreatewithkids.blogspot.com/2010/12/tutorial-just-add-water-mini-paintings.html">Ucreate</a>. Picasso, I am not, but practical I can do! This fits the bill. The goods include: watercolor paper, watercolor pencils, and a permenant marker. The watercolor paper and pencils are available on the cheap from Tesco! I used a black CD/DVD pen for a Sharpie as they're just as permanent. I'm thinking these could make nice little over-sized Christmas gift tags that double as a little bonus gift for some nieces and nephews of mine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz9tJm7OJXAlFZ-qSEyt5txe51cHkISQHouLnNoURCudGjClFffPDGflJ4zBoyd5OQc0nm1OTzx8O03lhaYrQlv2W1TNz_52EFbZ7sPkNUbPePgc56x-UUO9SW6ZiGEv1aUYXEHCjl2M/s1600/December+10+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpz9tJm7OJXAlFZ-qSEyt5txe51cHkISQHouLnNoURCudGjClFffPDGflJ4zBoyd5OQc0nm1OTzx8O03lhaYrQlv2W1TNz_52EFbZ7sPkNUbPePgc56x-UUO9SW6ZiGEv1aUYXEHCjl2M/s320/December+10+135.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>While the authors over at Ucreate ran their watercolor paper through a printer to get their pics, I decided to just draw my pictures with the permanent marker and then used the watercolor pencils to heavily color just the inner edges of the black lines. The kids then go over portions of the painting with a wet paint brush to spread the color around and fill in the painting. I'm thinking this will also make for good on-the-airplane creativity, as you just add a bit o' water to make the magic happen!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguimT9p1eAbfLBo80nAGRouuHKrC9WF1aVon32AIAUFgznHstmaM4CwH9-usIfn7GbXU2iFtIj0XmuUtOJQR6EqsSJjKw82K63VbDETCKKQl9iMMhw1aINpiCqDlE6HMI4pLtcJnpvJPY/s1600/December+10+137.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguimT9p1eAbfLBo80nAGRouuHKrC9WF1aVon32AIAUFgznHstmaM4CwH9-usIfn7GbXU2iFtIj0XmuUtOJQR6EqsSJjKw82K63VbDETCKKQl9iMMhw1aINpiCqDlE6HMI4pLtcJnpvJPY/s320/December+10+137.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">For those of us who aren't the greatest of drawers, it's the abstract stuff that really makes one feel accomplished! Before the sick season started, I found <a href="http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/11/diy-snowflake-panels-from-free-people.html">this post</a> over at <a href="http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/">Poppytalk</a> and dreamed of giving it a whirl. This represents the start of a very grand snowflake curtain to hang at our kitchen window! These aren't the 6-pointed snowflakes, mind you, but who's really counting?! My kiddos enjoyed cutting, and it isn't much to tape the edges together to create this delightful Christmas curtain. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm off to join the hubs in making some delicious Czech Christmas cookies! He makes them every year, and it's his signal that the Christmas season is finally really here at home. Now that the kids are taken care of, it's the grown-ups' turn for some Christmas-making! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-14435416672453897202010-12-08T22:28:00.003+02:002010-12-09T11:17:45.199+02:00I Have Been Forced to Receive!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazBISWyXDt57vMmHmNjmRyQbPaFqVHMUhBCBXB6PxrFzKte32J7z2XVpOx3wv-_JPYzID0vRibzZ9bLlrSUWfNNv4A6BKgn2Ygv0Vy44OUkcmhWS9K8DW1blX0tpFTsfl3sT9p5MXd-c/s1600/December+10+103.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazBISWyXDt57vMmHmNjmRyQbPaFqVHMUhBCBXB6PxrFzKte32J7z2XVpOx3wv-_JPYzID0vRibzZ9bLlrSUWfNNv4A6BKgn2Ygv0Vy44OUkcmhWS9K8DW1blX0tpFTsfl3sT9p5MXd-c/s320/December+10+103.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>My kids are basically (what's a bitty cold to me) <i>healthy</i>! Ah, just in time for Christmas! I, on the other hand, am very much still in recovery mode. Let's just say I'm getting to know my way around my local Czech hospital quite well. In the midst of the drama, I've had to submit to a whole lot of loving from friends and family who have given their encouragement, time, and food (get a load of all that tupperware)! It's not always easy being on the receiving end at a time when I have nothing to give in return. But, I know this is what's at the heart of the Christmas season and I just need to let it be and welcome it with a very thankful heart. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CJH0Yap8X7ShirxFvKIdcpAIcJif0xCG6gtfkN715_idY-L9ttLpRoDm0DjRMBMft8_8fngHuPF4Po-FmIvRHpIJdFJ3tM2ylNKuMklNEiXap-tdlpde_dORBKZeUkAuM_QHnjB207I/s1600/December+10+051.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CJH0Yap8X7ShirxFvKIdcpAIcJif0xCG6gtfkN715_idY-L9ttLpRoDm0DjRMBMft8_8fngHuPF4Po-FmIvRHpIJdFJ3tM2ylNKuMklNEiXap-tdlpde_dORBKZeUkAuM_QHnjB207I/s320/December+10+051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My hubby's been doing a whole lot of giving lately - taking up much of my slack and stepping in Dad-style with the kids! Happy children spending time with Dad: priceless. Sawdust all over the floor in the kids' room: ehh, I can deal with that.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrLHVb0EoZUuSS0ZL7kQhBDeXoXsiiSrZ1IUe-N0oA0p5CIqmoJOl9sNRbCQxLBRBWyzzLcS20NgQxgvJJ8ghVLhvcSiASQtQ4nSH1L1d8sao9z0iTezeI78rEHc3w6Kk5KiYRXkEmzM/s1600/December+10+071.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrLHVb0EoZUuSS0ZL7kQhBDeXoXsiiSrZ1IUe-N0oA0p5CIqmoJOl9sNRbCQxLBRBWyzzLcS20NgQxgvJJ8ghVLhvcSiASQtQ4nSH1L1d8sao9z0iTezeI78rEHc3w6Kk5KiYRXkEmzM/s320/December+10+071.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Good, homemade carrot soup from friends (with homemade bread to boot). Of course my 3-year old didn't want to eat the free, hearty, healthy fare that I (very thankfully) didn't have to slave over - <i>until</i> she got to sip it with a straw. At this point in time, I contemplated blending all her meals and just serving them in liquefied form with a choice of straws. Yeah, it was that easy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEABKXgqaUERJQwS_9CntD36gNOvDCiYbVlxPnaUCnZPatBQPe9j_-4hjRg4bP7i4kQFdupol1RxqXCDvagrChX-LM-HVTdqyeBI_qG0zHLdXSHVTjxFsNbvvt_-5po8Rc_Xxgn2TmdA/s1600/December+10+106+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEABKXgqaUERJQwS_9CntD36gNOvDCiYbVlxPnaUCnZPatBQPe9j_-4hjRg4bP7i4kQFdupol1RxqXCDvagrChX-LM-HVTdqyeBI_qG0zHLdXSHVTjxFsNbvvt_-5po8Rc_Xxgn2TmdA/s320/December+10+106+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My oldest takes showers independently now. Yay for the both of us! We let the shower time stretch a bit with some shaving cream play on the shower doors. He loves it. I get a few more minutes of rest. And the doors get pretty clean after a quick rinse down!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXVmO_tkptErDvUdlPn_6YgyYe8esDhp8OqL5Zo_WykWRKAynAjpS5dm8L0-wkXMz_BxVywrnZFZOjGv2ywso4530hlKyoeBJMRKmZpkpYoI64KEBiX2iXWWO-x668SvBuQMFcbLcPwA/s1600/December+10+037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXVmO_tkptErDvUdlPn_6YgyYe8esDhp8OqL5Zo_WykWRKAynAjpS5dm8L0-wkXMz_BxVywrnZFZOjGv2ywso4530hlKyoeBJMRKmZpkpYoI64KEBiX2iXWWO-x668SvBuQMFcbLcPwA/s320/December+10+037.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Spending quality time with the Bear that doesn't require burning a lot of calories has been eye-opening. Found out the little guy likes <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pressman-Toy-0055-06A-Lets-Fishin/dp/B00004YO0Y">Let's Go Fishin</a>'. I'm thinking there has got to be some kind of hand-eye coordination skill he's learning here - these fish move around pretty fast while he tries to grab them! Join me on this one!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m-zE8_GoP_XyVyPUZ84bDzEVU3f5Z2-IlFbCL7q8yejsFk2hHHW67B8SnJbbyZaevjqZuJYMPuUbErv9WLwVw0IDqjKXRQlIjKZMXEqSYGJRvJqJElqQH84az9-VWySDg7AZ0XK7wMI/s1600/December+10+087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1m-zE8_GoP_XyVyPUZ84bDzEVU3f5Z2-IlFbCL7q8yejsFk2hHHW67B8SnJbbyZaevjqZuJYMPuUbErv9WLwVw0IDqjKXRQlIjKZMXEqSYGJRvJqJElqQH84az9-VWySDg7AZ0XK7wMI/s320/December+10+087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More tactile love for the little guy. A mini-sensory box with hidden animals in some <a href="http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2010/03/fun-with-dyed-pasta-part-i.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheArtfulParent+%28The+Artful+Parent%29">dyed pasta</a> the kids and I made a while back. The bear enjoyed the sound and feel of the pasta and sat with his bin for about 20 minutes. Low-key fun that brought big smiles to my little guy's face and blessed my heart. </div><br />
For all the presents that don't go under a tree - I'm thanking God for these gifts given and those not yet received.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-46050344692065265992010-11-28T23:01:00.006+02:002010-11-28T23:18:21.302+02:00Great Re-Readable Books for All Ages!Still at home sick, we're reading more than usual! As I live in a foreign country with a limited choice of books in English (that are scary expensive), I make sure to pick wisely when I do buy abroad or off Amazon. I love books and (joy!) all my children love them too. Trust the list - these are books worth owning!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/20th-Century-Childrens-Book-Treasury-Picture/dp/0679886478/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290973348&sr=8-1">The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud</a></b> <span class="ptBrand">by Janet Schulman. A great book to own for you, the kids, and grandkids to come! It includes a variety of classics along with a guide to which books to read for a given age. </span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beatrix-Potter-Complete-Tales/dp/072325804X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290973637&sr=1-2">Beatrix Potter The Complete Tales</a></b> <span class="ptBrand">by Beatrix Potter</span>, preferrably in the <i>little</i> boxed set that will oneday lead to someone's blindness! My kids are motivated to read more of Potter when the collection is divided into individual books and laid out before them! We read my childhood treasury boxed set.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0547391005/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_sims_1">The Complete Adventures of Curious George: 70th Anniversary Edition</a></b> by H.A. Rey along with any other Curious George book you can get your hands on! These books really reflect the curious spirit of a preschooler. And are somehow exciting over and over again! And for kids not reading yet, the illustrations are many and engaging enough for them to follow the stories visually when "reading" alone.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/HarperCollins-Treasury-Picture-Book-Classics/dp/0060080949/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290973348&sr=8-2">HarperCollins Treasury of Picture Book Classics: A Child's First Collection</a></b> <span class="ptBrand">by Tegen Katherine. Another great collection in a large-format book that would impress any kid!</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Make-Way-McCloskey-Robert-Treasury/dp/067005934X/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1290973348&sr=8-9">Make Way for McCloskey: A Robert McCloskey Treasury</a></b> <span class="ptBrand">by Robert McCloskey. I've been falling in love with this classic writer more and more. McCloskey's pace is slower, but stick with it and you will be won over. His engaging illustrations coupled with an easy, yet richly descriptive writing style is quite endearing.</span><br />
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<span class="ptBrand"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Word-Song-Bible-Stephen-Elkins/dp/0805416897/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1290976567&sr=1-1">The Word and Song Bible</a></b> by Stephen Elkins. Many of the Bible stories are coupled with fun illustrations that capture my 3-year old's imagination. The CD that accompanies the Bible is a good one too!</span><br />
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<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_862373629"><span class="ptBrand"></span></a></b><span class="ptBrand"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Treasury-Little-Golden-Books/dp/0307168506/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1290977044&sr=8-1">A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books</a></b>. A solid collection with a variety of stories - some with many illustrations and simple stories for the wee ones, and others with fewer illustrations and more complex stories for your older ones.</span><br />
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<span class="ptBrand">By now you must have recognized the theme here - <i>treasuries</i>!! The right treasury (good stories with a fair amount of illustrations) is a great deal. Treasuries are also good for travel, </span><span class="ptBrand">good for the pre-reader browsing on his or her own, and very good for the</span><span class="ptBrand"> parent who needs the read-aloud variety!</span><br />
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<span class="ptBrand">Which books do you consider "re-readables"? </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-11012121123660814162010-11-24T23:08:00.001+02:002010-11-28T23:15:41.435+02:00Accessible Abstract Art - Mondrian Collage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY85G9DGhoTnOmdHgMiC1Ut_Kw9LJfIzKxZx8JwbYUxGABkboGFDcj50DauXeM_g73bSFl3MpimPH1GojXq3rc2wAgst-ZTEqHYOl9TgJHft2lAQZdMvPMavhOZ4M9-9ZsAmCbjgxm9Eo/s1600/November+10+366+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY85G9DGhoTnOmdHgMiC1Ut_Kw9LJfIzKxZx8JwbYUxGABkboGFDcj50DauXeM_g73bSFl3MpimPH1GojXq3rc2wAgst-ZTEqHYOl9TgJHft2lAQZdMvPMavhOZ4M9-9ZsAmCbjgxm9Eo/s320/November+10+366+a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One week of bed rest for almost an entire family at home has definitely inspired me to search (hunt down like there's no tomorrow) for ideas that are fresh, creative and thought-provoking for the kids and me! This <a href="http://katieweymouth.blogspot.com/2009/04/mondrian-collage.html">Mondrian Collage</a> inspired by a fantastic art teacher and <a href="http://katieweymouth.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> is a fresh approach to some of the common materials we have in our home. We used black construction paper cut in various-sized strips, white construction paper for our canvas, glue sticks, and crayons (didn't have the oil pastels) in primary colors and grays.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqi_2JMs9adLJI1DKSv4GwYN3Cb7Pq4DDoj_zjQgHWK0n4ChcXXlgortQMRLarypeRvJtA3OUxwVmssmjZ8_V3Qz6LkDlLPCdJZYsPS5jQTEWsijRwmtYoRrLMssJVtmfuKooVhQh6cY/s1600/November+10+374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqi_2JMs9adLJI1DKSv4GwYN3Cb7Pq4DDoj_zjQgHWK0n4ChcXXlgortQMRLarypeRvJtA3OUxwVmssmjZ8_V3Qz6LkDlLPCdJZYsPS5jQTEWsijRwmtYoRrLMssJVtmfuKooVhQh6cY/s320/November+10+374.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And, oh what loveliness was made! My eldest child - ever the organized one - created a star and colored right on the black strips. Normally I have a plethora of art supplies at the ready, but I think he appreciated the limitations of this project, continuing to slowly add to it for some time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBQC-MSGd3TepEIo3Z2ok-UcC58pmY49jMmyYdW_5hutkR5Fqh2-D3U6x5UH6UHhyphenhyphenbqa2E_lU30lRjY_UKSuG164fvtBTt-v9Q8qXaW4lmzwutRpxKPrAO7mAZ0yDQ2m5sIsC8kl3Vo0/s1600/November+10+390+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBQC-MSGd3TepEIo3Z2ok-UcC58pmY49jMmyYdW_5hutkR5Fqh2-D3U6x5UH6UHhyphenhyphenbqa2E_lU30lRjY_UKSuG164fvtBTt-v9Q8qXaW4lmzwutRpxKPrAO7mAZ0yDQ2m5sIsC8kl3Vo0/s320/November+10+390+a.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sbnWtGiXvIShYES9-0TyDfg0jPmhN00LS_pmTkWmxEBerbJrBqKc6XNcU8plYBNU_tQgO0GHvM1KtcCt7hgX6SRo9pwq8doDTarq5b5sTfz00ItHuztr2RrlxRa86bVnPLOaVxOlzls/s1600/November+10+380+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My younger kid on the other hand, prefers to get things <i>done</i>. She enjoys the process, but doesn't want it to be too, too long. Hence the three long strips because she's "thwee" years old. Despite basically having only four colors to work with, she was still inspired by the "rainbow" pallette.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sbnWtGiXvIShYES9-0TyDfg0jPmhN00LS_pmTkWmxEBerbJrBqKc6XNcU8plYBNU_tQgO0GHvM1KtcCt7hgX6SRo9pwq8doDTarq5b5sTfz00ItHuztr2RrlxRa86bVnPLOaVxOlzls/s1600/November+10+380+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sbnWtGiXvIShYES9-0TyDfg0jPmhN00LS_pmTkWmxEBerbJrBqKc6XNcU8plYBNU_tQgO0GHvM1KtcCt7hgX6SRo9pwq8doDTarq5b5sTfz00ItHuztr2RrlxRa86bVnPLOaVxOlzls/s320/November+10+380+a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the Bear baby creating his own composition on clear adhesive contact paper. I never used to be one of those "but the baby will feel sad if he doesn't get to do it too" moms, but it's actually true with this little guy. He cried for me to put him in his high chair so he could create a little bit of loveliness of his own!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSJ3jIgHNRmILGnmrLjOLBD55sBJEhCp2sqqADTK9vdBoaDLjlgyFNzSivcG_Wze_Wj9ou3VH1zXLSnzi4lTVg6mVMg_l6FtWwg1fl2CtrAoS8vw3YC0qFnv5Lzzh6O9EFWMcFI-S-R4/s1600/November+10+401+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSJ3jIgHNRmILGnmrLjOLBD55sBJEhCp2sqqADTK9vdBoaDLjlgyFNzSivcG_Wze_Wj9ou3VH1zXLSnzi4lTVg6mVMg_l6FtWwg1fl2CtrAoS8vw3YC0qFnv5Lzzh6O9EFWMcFI-S-R4/s320/November+10+401+a.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY85G9DGhoTnOmdHgMiC1Ut_Kw9LJfIzKxZx8JwbYUxGABkboGFDcj50DauXeM_g73bSFl3MpimPH1GojXq3rc2wAgst-ZTEqHYOl9TgJHft2lAQZdMvPMavhOZ4M9-9ZsAmCbjgxm9Eo/s1600/November+10+366+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IY2J_JlScApFM8zC8UqsbFXN14ClKVSgqYuaCqjuVUICZuchHZxnowAKka2OmMztOQzwxLRd77WCPQ1c0PNUY8NYFqMmfrDiF2DFqc5cXu6C8GZFnXEfXa4qvdjvgzkFr7U7tEfFBvU/s320/November+10+404+a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The kids were so proud of their artwork, they immediately ran to the fridge to "frame" it. After displaying his piece, my son exclaimed, "That was a lot of work. This was a good project, Mommy!" Music to a sick mama's ears!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj303xuMGIo6WB4h22JxeIF_hMc4M2A2J0c_SH3mSRhMqRaVZzZY6GWS38mUIpG9DQCxprJ5aBk1EOJ8h0A8j8mCg-l386UlbyeEmpCFsZpcWQrU38w5PdY-PMWbGfIPXSYkQt6mgy_JU8/s1600/November+10+399+a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj303xuMGIo6WB4h22JxeIF_hMc4M2A2J0c_SH3mSRhMqRaVZzZY6GWS38mUIpG9DQCxprJ5aBk1EOJ8h0A8j8mCg-l386UlbyeEmpCFsZpcWQrU38w5PdY-PMWbGfIPXSYkQt6mgy_JU8/s320/November+10+399+a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a little fun with Mondrian myself! One of the interesting aspects of this project was how the bold construction strips and limited palette inspired them (<i>us!</i>) to design and color. Here's to simple, thoughtful, <i>accessible</i>, abstract art!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-29969124172909340652010-11-22T23:25:00.001+02:002010-11-22T23:28:39.428+02:00Sick Week and Artful Opportunities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's going to be a stay-at-home sick week for us. Bronchitis for me and my two eldest. Thankful the babe is healthy though. Thankful too for all that good paper, a chalkboard and lots of art supplies can bring us during a wintry week indoors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkffp7gHHTMSk3M8_Z1zXij16vF0g6U4Nt4SffVWWgVJxgHCNzvpNsUrWYA4eyMnKfH3bk0vGQbsXCqmWVN7aUXrX7bFCUEbwztA0t70tlCSMsGGX5W62w2ybqUPrSYUu5PYcH8rq34HY/s1600/November+10+328+copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkffp7gHHTMSk3M8_Z1zXij16vF0g6U4Nt4SffVWWgVJxgHCNzvpNsUrWYA4eyMnKfH3bk0vGQbsXCqmWVN7aUXrX7bFCUEbwztA0t70tlCSMsGGX5W62w2ybqUPrSYUu5PYcH8rq34HY/s320/November+10+328+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have three hot spots in the house for inviting the little guys to make some art. Above, our (<a href="http://parentinginprague.blogspot.com/2010/10/celebrating-joy-of-painting-and-turning.html">archa paper</a>) wall in the kitchen. Over 6 feet of the stuff is sandwiched between the natural kitchen boundaries of the fridge and the dining table. This wall is very good to us! And very worth moving the small buffet we once kept there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcG9bhY9nY8OPbg5R8iACiTuc2_n6ma9NAMvUb7wBnz7CwMVlTFDpVaNuHDNeINXFT3BCyAIR_DtlCbGbk2q7BipYU-uVYrh7Bz4QBrADAL8EaAChVzvx284Uw9boT0CZpZ3BmJRoPjM/s1600/November+10+325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcG9bhY9nY8OPbg5R8iACiTuc2_n6ma9NAMvUb7wBnz7CwMVlTFDpVaNuHDNeINXFT3BCyAIR_DtlCbGbk2q7BipYU-uVYrh7Bz4QBrADAL8EaAChVzvx284Uw9boT0CZpZ3BmJRoPjM/s320/November+10+325.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqbrTcdMu_6v8IqZstsKluTchVQrcZBykmOL9YCn6ZyA-S0PReOzr5Mzx2-AKDHpBWjWRXW4kqmgcYNlajGCd88xW2BO_b0vZkHMJ3grY3Hf62ubWlaMCOLNN-TObC7etiUE72e6SU8U/s1600/November+10+339.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqbrTcdMu_6v8IqZstsKluTchVQrcZBykmOL9YCn6ZyA-S0PReOzr5Mzx2-AKDHpBWjWRXW4kqmgcYNlajGCd88xW2BO_b0vZkHMJ3grY3Hf62ubWlaMCOLNN-TObC7etiUE72e6SU8U/s320/November+10+339.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The hall - every old Czech flat has this huge entry hall from which one reaches all the other rooms. I'm telling you, we could make two bedrooms from this one hall! For now though, it's made for running and adventures in chalk! My little girl has recently exited the love-of-all-things-purple stage and discovered <i>rainbows</i>! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG1ufRQxCeHYPTrun7uZ83OAIv5Q0JHhZK3Tej970Nd4DVw4uT3e_l9X89xDcUCJ0T1rpNgJ_JZ0I6EeAjtr3TNhiTPo5xtlPPZPg8c0KbDV4bKXZHRAELBCnd2CpZR68LMXdyEuxms-s/s320/November+10+347.jpg" width="240" /></div>Finally, there's the <a href="http://parentinginprague.blogspot.com/2010/10/homemade-lego-table-and-best-kids-table.html">best kid's desk ever</a> in the children's room. Supplies are stocked and ready at the window sill. Tonight, my little ones calmly enjoyed a bit of just-before-bed art making. I must say, this is some of my favorite kind! They always seem to enter this really peaceful zone of creativity right before going to bed (that or they are running around the house as a cheetah and a rainbow princess). I plan on giving them more opportunities for this kind of quiet time before the lights go out at night.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC38bkzbSseb8Gz0SBZYuDVENM9tJzVTUXG4S4nANAjG2cy0fexndRXPQ7IYPk549y2kwZrBezvjnflmj9gwvIqSKbpi-lL6jHMmfF97zFtWPrPLjSwM0AKZcrfuX8RcwYc2BJWRJKYE/s320/November+10+338.jpg" width="320" /> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Wishing you health and the little bit of happiness a rainbow brings just when you need it! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-34347173364604394242010-11-18T16:54:00.003+02:002010-11-18T21:53:51.850+02:00Reverse Bathroom Breaks for Mums and Dads!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHflbF_2wCkcbrZZc7FcKPUyFA-9OOO57QaMoYExM6S-R2DEaXWwOF-rRgboaUx2l-m0KT5SCvczar1SlflZxRVQy9gknnjWYU3ENx3rAcEac03lYrn9M0SJWHYq9Sx_eSSzbaOFOm9A/s1600/November+10+309+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHflbF_2wCkcbrZZc7FcKPUyFA-9OOO57QaMoYExM6S-R2DEaXWwOF-rRgboaUx2l-m0KT5SCvczar1SlflZxRVQy9gknnjWYU3ENx3rAcEac03lYrn9M0SJWHYq9Sx_eSSzbaOFOm9A/s320/November+10+309+copy.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is quite obviously a pic of our WC. I now truly understand what is meant by the term "water closet" (this photo was literally taken in the doorway). It is a tiny room - a place where you come in, do your business, and get out. <i>Unless</i>, it is filled with magical books, magazines, and comics for the kiddies. <i>Then</i> this little bathroom becomes an oasis of sorts - offering interesting reads for the youngest in the family and a good 5 - 15 minute break for the parents working (resting!) about the rest of the house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8HiDYRfB2asMPsDvQ6aR9FAwXDdwtb56PtQ8aPXa8ml-toJEYgGyn-W8Hy1epJCpk1j7v2qKsIvcn__MjrSQE0U1PTeomCuCvCGT4JkoO1i8TtFAOHrY5ip2wyf7zP7lT8uiXsi3FAg/s1600/November+10+311+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw8HiDYRfB2asMPsDvQ6aR9FAwXDdwtb56PtQ8aPXa8ml-toJEYgGyn-W8Hy1epJCpk1j7v2qKsIvcn__MjrSQE0U1PTeomCuCvCGT4JkoO1i8TtFAOHrY5ip2wyf7zP7lT8uiXsi3FAg/s320/November+10+311+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHflbF_2wCkcbrZZc7FcKPUyFA-9OOO57QaMoYExM6S-R2DEaXWwOF-rRgboaUx2l-m0KT5SCvczar1SlflZxRVQy9gknnjWYU3ENx3rAcEac03lYrn9M0SJWHYq9Sx_eSSzbaOFOm9A/s1600/November+10+309+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The magazine holders are from IKEA - white for adults, red for the kids (we really should be modeling good reading habits!). I used double-sided sticky tape between them to attach them and placed a clear sheet of contact paper across the bottom of both to keep the holder clean(er). I try to keep a good selection of materials rotating on at least a weekly basis. And I place the most interesting covers in the front in hopes of enticing my little ones. Truly, my 3-year old has gone to use the bathroom and stayed there reading for more than 10 minutes! I'm not encouraging random trips to the bathroom for reading - just the necessary ones. Still, between two potty-trained kids, it gives me some nice breaks throughout the day! I wipe the books down with wet wipes before they make it back to the shelves. I'm thinking this makes the whole practice technically OK! What do you do to give yourself little coffee breaks throughout the day? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-26835588549426783012010-11-15T22:11:00.003+02:002010-11-15T22:14:56.378+02:00Magic Mud - A Sensory Experience for All Ages!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77C3xc7PZ4_RhFEizuxP7td-i6FTwEuZ7cDRay8L_fRZwEsguW_pFz5LX-7C15OzuU-H1uOz_qxUUa3AfacZt7yu2zhhiuHn7joKrR7Mrj_2N0n1ecNvo9ClrpVQ6Mm1O0MGE6AzaMJw/s1600/November+10+305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77C3xc7PZ4_RhFEizuxP7td-i6FTwEuZ7cDRay8L_fRZwEsguW_pFz5LX-7C15OzuU-H1uOz_qxUUa3AfacZt7yu2zhhiuHn7joKrR7Mrj_2N0n1ecNvo9ClrpVQ6Mm1O0MGE6AzaMJw/s320/November+10+305.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77C3xc7PZ4_RhFEizuxP7td-i6FTwEuZ7cDRay8L_fRZwEsguW_pFz5LX-7C15OzuU-H1uOz_qxUUa3AfacZt7yu2zhhiuHn7joKrR7Mrj_2N0n1ecNvo9ClrpVQ6Mm1O0MGE6AzaMJw/s1600/November+10+305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>What you see here is more than just muck - it is the most mesmerizing bit of goop your kiddos<i> and you</i> will ever get your hands on, in, and through! It's Magic Mud - a common bit of sensory science that is accessible to preschoolers on up (way up - I dig this stuff too)! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4MT2L-wKfVwL7xnSvpXgxOy4hT1hmmsCFOSjgizo7GLau996gjZ3zJ6hgT36HxhmkpYLiXD2-DPZti-BsZx2mW6gVhtltD8b5hTBluyfeTv8-WnWzLkk4D8fpEbJseRTwqvC9Od-WPY/s1600/November+10+290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4MT2L-wKfVwL7xnSvpXgxOy4hT1hmmsCFOSjgizo7GLau996gjZ3zJ6hgT36HxhmkpYLiXD2-DPZti-BsZx2mW6gVhtltD8b5hTBluyfeTv8-WnWzLkk4D8fpEbJseRTwqvC9Od-WPY/s320/November+10+290.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>The intriguing aspect of Magic Mud is that it acts as a liquid and a solid at the same time. It is hard when picked up or hit, but acts like a liquid when poured slowly through your fingers. You can find the full recipe and the science behind Magic Mud <a href="http://www.sciencecow.com/project/chemistry/magic-mud">here</a> . We double it for an extra messy experience! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtAamrTYrGrr5cYBzwvvEQnBk32P4AfN6P4aFLTLmvp0Crw70G3FzMyd3fYZPkk0BAusWV8YqCBMHiBPMt_cEhNVPRrIndf1EY0iErXeoHFHDl1Zd0guyiTd7UdZwan4dN9BCUjv4UU8/s1600/November+10+292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtAamrTYrGrr5cYBzwvvEQnBk32P4AfN6P4aFLTLmvp0Crw70G3FzMyd3fYZPkk0BAusWV8YqCBMHiBPMt_cEhNVPRrIndf1EY0iErXeoHFHDl1Zd0guyiTd7UdZwan4dN9BCUjv4UU8/s320/November+10+292.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A plop of food coloring was all it took to bring it up to the next level. This was the first of many requests for different colors. You can order food coloring or <i>gelova barva</i> in CR <a href="http://eshop.timidekor.cz/eshop.cukrarske.potravinarska-barviva,stranka1">here</a>. Their food coloring gel is supposed to last a long time and has great color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFD-Hv1wecaHfmIHbgdnB1I7PhOeiu7WKfuTSXH4BIC0Zx0DAkAzWEAdIKc_PSLtgQdrzh_gHlrnHVIwzWLzVJPVMGd2fLX-nJsYpd_YU8hS1Po0R3yZ8fs5H0YBOXIlY0dqQBTH1rbA/s1600/November+10+295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFD-Hv1wecaHfmIHbgdnB1I7PhOeiu7WKfuTSXH4BIC0Zx0DAkAzWEAdIKc_PSLtgQdrzh_gHlrnHVIwzWLzVJPVMGd2fLX-nJsYpd_YU8hS1Po0R3yZ8fs5H0YBOXIlY0dqQBTH1rbA/s320/November+10+295.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Sensory love...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkKVa0KphQ7_6bf6QhKnl6N3sTbFT6lOTuqbDWrobXsqMSSfHdQfNARGHCFhq5U0s21kIgrJ9RE_v42o9n1Sx5-tX03K2rSSfH01_66Q7XFGAwO1_NYiAazu-RZd-zkPwsDcK2dNn-XU/s1600/November+10+304.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkKVa0KphQ7_6bf6QhKnl6N3sTbFT6lOTuqbDWrobXsqMSSfHdQfNARGHCFhq5U0s21kIgrJ9RE_v42o9n1Sx5-tX03K2rSSfH01_66Q7XFGAwO1_NYiAazu-RZd-zkPwsDcK2dNn-XU/s320/November+10+304.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>One of the little guys was not about messiness at all - requesting we clean his chair of the dusty particles of cornstarch before we added the water. I think the Magic Mud broke him! He was into it, as you can see!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjpmUkTbRJhgqy5Z8vCEwV3UBOU-TIPJRG7gKIWZhHPdlhvzWqqkhwyW71sMn6DChPmltVhMNsT6RbKfcGMZRZRLfi97ThO56wixuk1GdGTo6Mhl1jov4Uk-SYkqHonYWFg9JF4QxAx8/s1600/November+10+303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjpmUkTbRJhgqy5Z8vCEwV3UBOU-TIPJRG7gKIWZhHPdlhvzWqqkhwyW71sMn6DChPmltVhMNsT6RbKfcGMZRZRLfi97ThO56wixuk1GdGTo6Mhl1jov4Uk-SYkqHonYWFg9JF4QxAx8/s320/November+10+303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My daughter's request for pink and purple. Minus the flash, it's not a bad little composition!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNmgboVPhKv5zEN_CUXoqcr4zsJ6LfmXtc0tq-3PzgZfmzid1r5897RsEtpEDtJRsTlPSM2sAvotWEcxiGNuSVjasPJaQuOLR13YcNfDY4GvdResPbUjZyXnnVMsQfZrt6lTan9-r8Ds/s1600/November+10+307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNmgboVPhKv5zEN_CUXoqcr4zsJ6LfmXtc0tq-3PzgZfmzid1r5897RsEtpEDtJRsTlPSM2sAvotWEcxiGNuSVjasPJaQuOLR13YcNfDY4GvdResPbUjZyXnnVMsQfZrt6lTan9-r8Ds/s320/November+10+307.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A good time was had by our group of little scientists and mums alike! I bring this project around every 4 - 5 months or so, and it's always a crowd pleaser. Next time, I'm thinking I'll also put some glitter into the mix for even more sensory fun with Glittery Goop!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg77C3xc7PZ4_RhFEizuxP7td-i6FTwEuZ7cDRay8L_fRZwEsguW_pFz5LX-7C15OzuU-H1uOz_qxUUa3AfacZt7yu2zhhiuHn7joKrR7Mrj_2N0n1ecNvo9ClrpVQ6Mm1O0MGE6AzaMJw/s1600/November+10+305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-48329433359001273102010-11-12T18:15:00.003+02:002010-11-12T22:22:19.731+02:00Eating Out With Kids - Beyond the Restaurant Coloring Books and Crayons<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQX3v4839I4ySjIR-ktqD1qkRPkgKhtCpJCvF6RIbL0s6V6fQmCVuHYinnnjr494V5FUS19LR2mokwjWqy5FtOSbWnTtKZP8eCPQGSh7TMiAX1xiR2whXAJyXU41-shn2EcbssEUf2JQ/s1600/November+10+278+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQX3v4839I4ySjIR-ktqD1qkRPkgKhtCpJCvF6RIbL0s6V6fQmCVuHYinnnjr494V5FUS19LR2mokwjWqy5FtOSbWnTtKZP8eCPQGSh7TMiAX1xiR2whXAJyXU41-shn2EcbssEUf2JQ/s320/November+10+278+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>We have some busy little kids in our family. Having two preschoolers means we are constantly looking for ways to keep their brains stimulated and (at least) their little fingers moving. The often leisurely wait at a restaurant for seating and food is probably one of the most difficult places to be with lovely, squirmy, hungry, fidgety young ones (who are hopefully) sitting in their chairs. So we've come up with a few strategies to keep them (us!) entertained with more than the standard coloring books and crayons.<br />
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Memory/Concentration or <i>Pexeso</i> as it is called in the CR. It's easy to find small memory card games made out of cardstock at any local papirnictvi store. They're sold in sheets, ready for you to cut up, and pack away. We keep ours in a tiny square ziploc we found about the house and cut down the number of pairs for restaurant play.<br />
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Miniature puzzles with 20 - 50 pieces or so. Pack them up and break them out at the table. And then enjoy adult conversation!<br />
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A little bag of Legos. If you are willing to lose a little Lego here or there, I think it's worth it!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/cz/cs/catalog/products/80122682">Finger puppets</a> courtesy of IKEA - good for the babe and imaginary play with the preschoolers.<br />
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Charades at the table using kid-friendly picture action cards. Get your hands on some printable charades cards <a href="http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/wc1.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/wc2.html">here</a>, scan some from a charades game you have at home (our source), or draw some up of your own. This makes for a great little game of bonding around the table.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaBdxy8ss_249-9XzxRIybO4GooDDmJheuCEhv6nwTP23LMmV1502X1i5MBqWK3XcRjgJj9O8uPQxfEqv5boSR8wABOET16UDi_Lr6-BrojvOUnXlNvLEa5W1XpJdfjElSvw1u2a4Yic/s1600/November+10+218.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWaBdxy8ss_249-9XzxRIybO4GooDDmJheuCEhv6nwTP23LMmV1502X1i5MBqWK3XcRjgJj9O8uPQxfEqv5boSR8wABOET16UDi_Lr6-BrojvOUnXlNvLEa5W1XpJdfjElSvw1u2a4Yic/s320/November+10+218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://madebyjoel.blogspot.com/2010/02/slotted-building-discs.html">These slotted building discs</a> are available to download courtesy of <a href="http://madebyjoel.blogspot.com/">MadebyJoel</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://theteachingpalette.com/2010/03/14/color-sudoku/">Color Sudoku</a> courtesy of <a href="http://theteachingpalette.com/">The Teaching Palette</a>. Wonderful printable sudoku games made for 3 years of age and up!<br />
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And, the ultimate in keeping children happy just about anywhere - reading books!<br />
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All of this is packed up in a ziploc bag, ready for any adventure in restaurant eating that awaits us! What tricks do you use for eating out with children?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-81925396007502127192010-11-08T23:29:00.002+02:002010-11-08T23:36:56.169+02:00Blown-Ink Munshters!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9q4mc6ygm0q1QPQiNeIDK9dWGYwEY9UCs57qsTtbxdMMiB1-C5KJcEPv9DTHmo9LoKL8kmDo0NOp0OgpXc4c3eUcjIknDNdLlUQBpWEespe443NIuuD28kY0uJS9Ngyn0Ec3apZte0M/s1600/November+10+187.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9q4mc6ygm0q1QPQiNeIDK9dWGYwEY9UCs57qsTtbxdMMiB1-C5KJcEPv9DTHmo9LoKL8kmDo0NOp0OgpXc4c3eUcjIknDNdLlUQBpWEespe443NIuuD28kY0uJS9Ngyn0Ec3apZte0M/s320/November+10+187.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqC6m1QqflXxD-s3B8GnSGi3zOiEPren3jUi7fD0Cs8XaJZmd4-fQYl3DhSAk-UbwSnmskQ4NRB3oR3mqdHjyC_O-NbQMtLZNcwZ9sW0qinxqgbQjGrx6Q6WVYDdO5GafOhTDvVLJDSI/s1600/November+10+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>With the weather turning rainy outdoors, we brought our <a href="http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2009/06/the-art-group-lives-again.html">art group</a> inside for some more <a href="http://parentinginprague.blogspot.com/2010/11/blown-ink-fall-trees.html">Blown Ink</a> creations! This time we used a variety of colors and some black permanent markers to create Blown Ink Monsters - or creatures, depending on your parenting style. We had a range of kids from 3 - 6.5 which meant a wide range of interpretations for what a monster looks like!!!! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqC6m1QqflXxD-s3B8GnSGi3zOiEPren3jUi7fD0Cs8XaJZmd4-fQYl3DhSAk-UbwSnmskQ4NRB3oR3mqdHjyC_O-NbQMtLZNcwZ9sW0qinxqgbQjGrx6Q6WVYDdO5GafOhTDvVLJDSI/s1600/November+10+185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqC6m1QqflXxD-s3B8GnSGi3zOiEPren3jUi7fD0Cs8XaJZmd4-fQYl3DhSAk-UbwSnmskQ4NRB3oR3mqdHjyC_O-NbQMtLZNcwZ9sW0qinxqgbQjGrx6Q6WVYDdO5GafOhTDvVLJDSI/s320/November+10+185.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9q4mc6ygm0q1QPQiNeIDK9dWGYwEY9UCs57qsTtbxdMMiB1-C5KJcEPv9DTHmo9LoKL8kmDo0NOp0OgpXc4c3eUcjIknDNdLlUQBpWEespe443NIuuD28kY0uJS9Ngyn0Ec3apZte0M/s1600/November+10+187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>We used the same method I wrote about in a previous post on <a href="http://parentinginprague.blogspot.com/2010/11/blown-ink-fall-trees.html">Blown-Ink Fall Trees</a>. This time we used a variety of colors of drawing ink or <i>tus</i>, blew the ink out in all directions, and used the blown ink as inspiration for creating our monsters!!! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8zhJA-FlGNx20DC2yRN1bsewuqddKW0F4e9h0QA17-bQar4u3wO9FV2U9kwxvCjgXnfwoKIRQOdD1LoJs8S_FEmlnDhTh2JsUaUYneSvcY3dfZiCk40qMGURx1vi0X8OLKsJkxxVkGI/s1600/November+10+186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8zhJA-FlGNx20DC2yRN1bsewuqddKW0F4e9h0QA17-bQar4u3wO9FV2U9kwxvCjgXnfwoKIRQOdD1LoJs8S_FEmlnDhTh2JsUaUYneSvcY3dfZiCk40qMGURx1vi0X8OLKsJkxxVkGI/s320/November+10+186.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1p49aQTNfeG3HqIWBAxoPMGHWKP0q4Okw84qbWBJuwYCMRBIvpgsibU2D29c3oUoVnaNoDf36ZbwP9IOreWMw-ucNA7OfucQec2TsTbgMou2y-XY3PZ8udinhVgJT73JeqHfvW5DCAk/s1600/November+10+188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1p49aQTNfeG3HqIWBAxoPMGHWKP0q4Okw84qbWBJuwYCMRBIvpgsibU2D29c3oUoVnaNoDf36ZbwP9IOreWMw-ucNA7OfucQec2TsTbgMou2y-XY3PZ8udinhVgJT73JeqHfvW5DCAk/s320/November+10+188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfLl0bcyslQq3oZSXzOJFlvx2G_IPZMx-L6bZMvH9rCv2io3Qgir7GBB3cN_qTsXC-oCKjz6g7xG31POPqBPHfwuWMN-KhrYPuS8b5oLQ8GuGa0bDsCZ3vDvaJYUwfLoKD9lANbNyxUQ/s1600/November+10+195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfLl0bcyslQq3oZSXzOJFlvx2G_IPZMx-L6bZMvH9rCv2io3Qgir7GBB3cN_qTsXC-oCKjz6g7xG31POPqBPHfwuWMN-KhrYPuS8b5oLQ8GuGa0bDsCZ3vDvaJYUwfLoKD9lANbNyxUQ/s320/November+10+195.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As usual, with preschoolers, one must always make room for deviation!!! I just don't fight it anymore!!! My 5 year-old (scientist) was memorized with how the colors blend together to form new colors! Yep, that's art too!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD-qb3dMEz-bkkzZtjCBey6GJb8el92MnKnvDWl6LJSKGtWTunJGhfBGOTRsvzvRu1zNZWwPPRFe2IUSs13tNTXVZSaVPrSbd1rnHxk1UP4KW8UC45mOE5pXj_BcBjtEsvs_3kRQTkpk/s1600/November+10+190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgD-qb3dMEz-bkkzZtjCBey6GJb8el92MnKnvDWl6LJSKGtWTunJGhfBGOTRsvzvRu1zNZWwPPRFe2IUSs13tNTXVZSaVPrSbd1rnHxk1UP4KW8UC45mOE5pXj_BcBjtEsvs_3kRQTkpk/s320/November+10+190.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> One mum did a fine job creating a (hacking, but still) cute reindeer!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsm2LJODNYqn_gh9JqXm8e3Ph2gTeLGtKv9fFp1tKHPGO9jhSzB2fbc69PMMk6ANzkUjvAcLAJQ-6tQG8qaHVGAHUXlO-OicCPSxXxVj6S0vSrBX59TC6CBPefI8cq7oM8f5RYa0XMCg/s1600/November+10+199.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsm2LJODNYqn_gh9JqXm8e3Ph2gTeLGtKv9fFp1tKHPGO9jhSzB2fbc69PMMk6ANzkUjvAcLAJQ-6tQG8qaHVGAHUXlO-OicCPSxXxVj6S0vSrBX59TC6CBPefI8cq7oM8f5RYa0XMCg/s320/November+10+199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My daughter was quite excited to point out all the family "munshters" (monsters) to Dad. We're all in there somewhere! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A great process for the younger ones and a lot of potential for the older little Picassos too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqC6m1QqflXxD-s3B8GnSGi3zOiEPren3jUi7fD0Cs8XaJZmd4-fQYl3DhSAk-UbwSnmskQ4NRB3oR3mqdHjyC_O-NbQMtLZNcwZ9sW0qinxqgbQjGrx6Q6WVYDdO5GafOhTDvVLJDSI/s1600/November+10+185.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-22540279048253640832010-11-05T23:14:00.002+02:002010-11-05T23:21:36.291+02:00Contact Paper Collage for Toddlers<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf0QB93Clj2iAq16yeT7SygpQEY-MJXX43CiiUYl3tNPkr-NQFmGuFl8eYb3Ydaz3gyKRMj9lcbPLe5fDDqCevwngMGB7ydXvtBRkOutcnXNYMQsJyfFOixRJPK6z23w-6yhVZhVkYMQ/s320/November+10+049.jpg" width="320" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ah, the wondrous projects a mom can do with just clear contact paper and not much more! It's like a huge piece of tape, and kids love it. And, therefore, <i>I</i> love it! This project was for the 1-year old - the one who is always watching the other kids do projects! It's big, sticky and has a lovely touch of exploration to it - perfect for curious little ones! I found the inspiration from a fellow mom's blog that I cannot for the life of me find the name of now. Props to that mom out there for such a thoughtful idea for her toddler!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkGLR61VtAzHtBjaFW6RVG8OObFxXBhNJNuMUpv5wRfNtqWOCE5kTCSQSG2BAUz7y1aahxD2XVVIdfEFLDPfqMZ2zpGg34Epr-nd8UGZqIfdGwH_H09g2BEvQDh5UxDAv5ok6B14abec/s1600/November+10+006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkGLR61VtAzHtBjaFW6RVG8OObFxXBhNJNuMUpv5wRfNtqWOCE5kTCSQSG2BAUz7y1aahxD2XVVIdfEFLDPfqMZ2zpGg34Epr-nd8UGZqIfdGwH_H09g2BEvQDh5UxDAv5ok6B14abec/s320/November+10+006.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I found clear contact paper at the local papirnictvi store/paper store and taped it to the refrigerator with packing tape (I'll work on getting the Czech translation for "contact paper" - really doubting my Czech hubby knows the name of this stuff ;). I stuck a few pieces of masking tape above the contact sheet for added fun.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmefNjmiLZFekiSOf1sO0Z7or49L_NtDfcBpf74esvQUYR2RLruAGq747UdwdCQHhudNI-SIn3o8Cj1_Ael3eTsJXN2n9c3z1WZ9DhHW8T-QukPWXVc5csP9zug7oTTMoYBF6K-mgxsuw/s1600/November+10+002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmefNjmiLZFekiSOf1sO0Z7or49L_NtDfcBpf74esvQUYR2RLruAGq747UdwdCQHhudNI-SIn3o8Cj1_Ael3eTsJXN2n9c3z1WZ9DhHW8T-QukPWXVc5csP9zug7oTTMoYBF6K-mgxsuw/s320/November+10+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My older kids really got into preparing odds and ends for their little brother to explore and add to the contact paper. It was really heartwarming (yep, that cheesy word is the one I'm lookin' for) to have us all come together to bless the youngest of the bunch with something all his own!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aSr4l4V-GHhB-dteflI6a5z3EsKYfxk3z3NHmQU6xQzhgojLZRbcvpHRBWG-b4b6c-5bapTP7kqfpXYnewPYZZK-FRKrs153h-VDgHVyYck0ZClqR3pbTrdrgVrcSiFOreQVhpou19o/s1600/November+10+012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aSr4l4V-GHhB-dteflI6a5z3EsKYfxk3z3NHmQU6xQzhgojLZRbcvpHRBWG-b4b6c-5bapTP7kqfpXYnewPYZZK-FRKrs153h-VDgHVyYck0ZClqR3pbTrdrgVrcSiFOreQVhpou19o/s320/November+10+012.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0EaX1hxdY6yN26asmBM-lh4MYqh9UkNFs3SLk7xTiNpTQ7yh4QRoSuf1zOSaeupz1h9N7YaKqBsow581OEcIhLNUrCBOF3fN8gfHWkymWEx4cP_-YQqsfXwkQe5p3nP979TZ1EswOdg/s1600/November+10+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>The finished box looked a bit Halloween-y in the end! It included what I could round up in about five minutes (plus cutting): furry balls, feathers, cardboard, ribbon, foam sheet pieces and cut paper in different shapes and colors. I would have loved to have added more sensory items in there, but by this time my kids were running on fumes - and I had to get movin' to get something on the table for dinner! Our little Bear seemed quite pleased with the selection. He knew this was his to explore without the "no-no-no's" he usually gets about interesting little things about the house!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRglU3thRhV6upl4pPmCewP9psIBgJyxGO5E3YP65JmWHuNPczR9gtjDEkEOruEmotPY_GsrJ8YQFuY6CwwdhVncobY_gqF7bU2gN9Ha4vZD-v7yQPqRrzwv9u3Q_Vubxfg3hCBSZFEtE/s1600/November+10+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRglU3thRhV6upl4pPmCewP9psIBgJyxGO5E3YP65JmWHuNPczR9gtjDEkEOruEmotPY_GsrJ8YQFuY6CwwdhVncobY_gqF7bU2gN9Ha4vZD-v7yQPqRrzwv9u3Q_Vubxfg3hCBSZFEtE/s320/November+10+018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>His big brother got into it too! It ended up being quite an artful adventure for the kids. In the end, I ordered pizza. I'm thinking this might be a tradition - an art night with pizza and creative fun for everyone, including the babe!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYf0QB93Clj2iAq16yeT7SygpQEY-MJXX43CiiUYl3tNPkr-NQFmGuFl8eYb3Ydaz3gyKRMj9lcbPLe5fDDqCevwngMGB7ydXvtBRkOutcnXNYMQsJyfFOixRJPK6z23w-6yhVZhVkYMQ/s1600/November+10+049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkGLR61VtAzHtBjaFW6RVG8OObFxXBhNJNuMUpv5wRfNtqWOCE5kTCSQSG2BAUz7y1aahxD2XVVIdfEFLDPfqMZ2zpGg34Epr-nd8UGZqIfdGwH_H09g2BEvQDh5UxDAv5ok6B14abec/s1600/November+10+006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-2152788014552217352010-11-04T12:16:00.002+02:002010-11-04T12:17:12.039+02:00More Than Just Jam Jars - Rewarding Positive Behavior<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1HH9-6PFNeFQrscNf1eq_DiV8F9E4b4zh1uF1e4uMGeVnN-kTbhF7qg5MaItMQ0xDcHxUzWEI-sWq3Wd8KgzePBlTD1KP8_702qlWjPzLH2Pdy113JeUF-6wFGeyiPAjQOkladFgcfQ/s1600/October10+128.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB1HH9-6PFNeFQrscNf1eq_DiV8F9E4b4zh1uF1e4uMGeVnN-kTbhF7qg5MaItMQ0xDcHxUzWEI-sWq3Wd8KgzePBlTD1KP8_702qlWjPzLH2Pdy113JeUF-6wFGeyiPAjQOkladFgcfQ/s320/October10+128.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Meet our new friends - the happy face and sad face jars. I know we could have come up with more clever names - but we keep it simple around here. Isn't simplicity the latest fad anyway?!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5wNiWJMD0lPd-s0pN5Fp4M8kxfFKaGTmP0_sBll2pGqc9SNPdQzYhoKcsGu-858mgHxtIsSUoS04-Saqq7f5R_Gb4hBdi89LRs1zW5ZYecTH4tzJaItcDkJlH1ITR5PF3S4t4uyC0c/s1600/October10+131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu5wNiWJMD0lPd-s0pN5Fp4M8kxfFKaGTmP0_sBll2pGqc9SNPdQzYhoKcsGu-858mgHxtIsSUoS04-Saqq7f5R_Gb4hBdi89LRs1zW5ZYecTH4tzJaItcDkJlH1ITR5PF3S4t4uyC0c/s320/October10+131.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">We use these jars the same way a teacher would in a classroom. Each jar starts out half-way full. When the kids are <i>cooperating well </i><i>together</i>, we pour some beads from the sad face jar into the happy face jar. And, of course, when the kids are fighting or speaking inappropriately to one another, we pour some beads from the happy face jar into the sad face jar. I like that the kids have to work together to be rewarded! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSVDX3go_XhUCemJNMlvoCLEQ0CtphrLiatVLA47F02tqUGjBggezDzeg5BDdUjujXZRJSQJqIWStRjC0Kc8BrrDksfwDAzICxvWJVaH8Nxx9eYWhPyNsCTvYVqtjf9s5uY_QrlqhedA/s1600/October10+129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSVDX3go_XhUCemJNMlvoCLEQ0CtphrLiatVLA47F02tqUGjBggezDzeg5BDdUjujXZRJSQJqIWStRjC0Kc8BrrDksfwDAzICxvWJVaH8Nxx9eYWhPyNsCTvYVqtjf9s5uY_QrlqhedA/s320/October10+129.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>When the happy face jar gets filled up, the kids get a special reward such as a bonus cartoon (cartoon time is earned by doing age-appropriate responsibilities), a special treat or a special trip somewhere. A teacher friend of mine bequeathed these jars to me on her way out of Prague. She used them to reward her two kids when they cooperated well with each other. We use these almost daily and at least once a week the kids earn their reward (or not, if the sad face jar is filled - then the kids get a talkin').<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Uwg7A6X8OudVka0l8d_fjgzaJFOUVvVP79tj_2Q9u3kgLC-CsrHC_k5Hh968IpnkPzrbi_Rv9cbKuCor_k5ZJXpDDFLIQF8Qa-ymQqgr1u52lUH0H4XlInjHSxEgqNKiZRtWfp8jtJQ/s1600/October10+133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Uwg7A6X8OudVka0l8d_fjgzaJFOUVvVP79tj_2Q9u3kgLC-CsrHC_k5Hh968IpnkPzrbi_Rv9cbKuCor_k5ZJXpDDFLIQF8Qa-ymQqgr1u52lUH0H4XlInjHSxEgqNKiZRtWfp8jtJQ/s320/October10+133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I keep this clay heart my son made in front of the jars to remind the kids what cooperating is all about! These little jam jars are so simple, but they work. This would also be good for just one child. It could be used to work on a certain character lesson you really want to teach - like communicating appropriately, being patient, helping without being asked, etc.<br />
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You should hear the screams of joy (I can deal with that kind of screaming) when that happy face jar gets filled up! Does a mommy's heart good!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-72363691169018442952010-11-01T21:55:00.002+02:002010-11-01T22:13:35.385+02:00Blown-Ink Fall Trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincqVNp4AbAOxwfuDeFEwR6SlEjGeeZLnRC00dMbSJ3tvjc8aoE-vfiPUwi_1veU2Ml2_YOB0Cco57GxoiAXlI02wuHw0VtfOktm742Gp-N31wzVGCB-Feo2Sclxf-cnpj0PVCCBRi9fI/s1600/October10+141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincqVNp4AbAOxwfuDeFEwR6SlEjGeeZLnRC00dMbSJ3tvjc8aoE-vfiPUwi_1veU2Ml2_YOB0Cco57GxoiAXlI02wuHw0VtfOktm742Gp-N31wzVGCB-Feo2Sclxf-cnpj0PVCCBRi9fI/s320/October10+141.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_Vaa9_1__PGvgLo-PxrS-QoWfsSEIPR6qCN7VT26U54cq3JJzaqhxnp447iGiQ5DUqSIFZhStHR6ct2_SxaWyU5IW9h7rA50grVrusNijAMxHvgK_kZa_oOZAH34ZtnB-1wVDTEPNqM/s1600/October10+135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Oh, but this one is a beauty! Courtesy of our Czech skolka (preschool)! They never cease to amaze me with creative ideas for lovely art-making! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2h7UplZ-o_jFHIqLRIVJO_SOaVvd4O6hedKlnIRzBm0pblfNaMY2hUHDbhilLcdw4iBMMRl20kGz3zqTIcINHHG_8ed8GvZLDLjn-ZxIHgSbtih-AWVKq_czhtXi-5LY0OiDndFeDPM/s1600/October10+143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2h7UplZ-o_jFHIqLRIVJO_SOaVvd4O6hedKlnIRzBm0pblfNaMY2hUHDbhilLcdw4iBMMRl20kGz3zqTIcINHHG_8ed8GvZLDLjn-ZxIHgSbtih-AWVKq_czhtXi-5LY0OiDndFeDPM/s320/October10+143.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mpZsQkJHm6MjIlnr43Bc2ZMquzp3-DF0ss5gVVm3Xr2P2qTjLYQ-9Pk7vMgeviLzi2F1bnfblPZFdsFFGp_OzbTinYrhCx0Eh6ESVF5h3IS3X0QgfzECVuq_zVqtBvJmFGr-ZMHVIRY/s1600/October10+142.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9mpZsQkJHm6MjIlnr43Bc2ZMquzp3-DF0ss5gVVm3Xr2P2qTjLYQ-9Pk7vMgeviLzi2F1bnfblPZFdsFFGp_OzbTinYrhCx0Eh6ESVF5h3IS3X0QgfzECVuq_zVqtBvJmFGr-ZMHVIRY/s320/October10+142.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each of the children had his or her own take on just how to make that tree look "right". And there ain't no tellin' preschoolers how something is "supposed" to be done - especially when they outnumber you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ciA5NK6kLgBPc1g0b8FQYTgycMqusxzI1B7WxbGhRUgosZvWZtu7bN_m1aLAxKi7EbYfpBLuPoZLPTZlA6NpZZEET2jYD3-gCyZD7H3_JqlmEtqy0iO7hIi4KFKuzw0oW-gw7CW6ho4/s1600/October10+149.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ciA5NK6kLgBPc1g0b8FQYTgycMqusxzI1B7WxbGhRUgosZvWZtu7bN_m1aLAxKi7EbYfpBLuPoZLPTZlA6NpZZEET2jYD3-gCyZD7H3_JqlmEtqy0iO7hIi4KFKuzw0oW-gw7CW6ho4/s320/October10+149.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>All you need is... this great drawing ink or <i>tus</i> (which comes in many colors), a straw, some glue, paper, and free leaves (dried and crushed - or not :)! The drawing ink is available at Tesco stores and local art stores.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNmzlNzWFmaNLIATHhclLu4maVhA98HSDhS5GCwI-ZwVOApeFvVpvDFJP-mvv25EzOUy5d-EYTPLy2yB7ttOuzEoPR7UHgtgVyt7e50CFTTrh6dTiYIZTiYjAzbbFD-7HGfffGaqd7mg/s1600/October10+150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNmzlNzWFmaNLIATHhclLu4maVhA98HSDhS5GCwI-ZwVOApeFvVpvDFJP-mvv25EzOUy5d-EYTPLy2yB7ttOuzEoPR7UHgtgVyt7e50CFTTrh6dTiYIZTiYjAzbbFD-7HGfffGaqd7mg/s320/October10+150.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A dollop at the bottom and give the kiddie the straw to start blowing up and out to form the trunk and branches. Now that's a great beginning to a great process-oriented project!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EDpjBm6RKyXQdtfV6Hzf46ZaRgo9z4MzZQhI1ueMoJqCb_CPk6fSrAhnjUWnNHo0LlalSpmBloVkYjDAFUu0PrUWowSgI8ODMh3hdlk2m4oB_55OeeVmFXH5oKXFUvMHOfPCfR5iMoI/s320/October10+151.jpg" width="240" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EDpjBm6RKyXQdtfV6Hzf46ZaRgo9z4MzZQhI1ueMoJqCb_CPk6fSrAhnjUWnNHo0LlalSpmBloVkYjDAFUu0PrUWowSgI8ODMh3hdlk2m4oB_55OeeVmFXH5oKXFUvMHOfPCfR5iMoI/s1600/October10+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Add some glue spread across the top where the leaves are and around the bottom where the leaves have fallen. I must say, I think I would be happy with just the trunk and branches alone...Simple beauty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_Vaa9_1__PGvgLo-PxrS-QoWfsSEIPR6qCN7VT26U54cq3JJzaqhxnp447iGiQ5DUqSIFZhStHR6ct2_SxaWyU5IW9h7rA50grVrusNijAMxHvgK_kZa_oOZAH34ZtnB-1wVDTEPNqM/s1600/October10+135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_Vaa9_1__PGvgLo-PxrS-QoWfsSEIPR6qCN7VT26U54cq3JJzaqhxnp447iGiQ5DUqSIFZhStHR6ct2_SxaWyU5IW9h7rA50grVrusNijAMxHvgK_kZa_oOZAH34ZtnB-1wVDTEPNqM/s320/October10+135.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each tree was an original and the beauty of this project really came to life when the kids viewed all their creations together outside. And <i>outside</i> is really where this project should be done - as it's a fantastic recreation of the landscape around them! More projects with Blown-Ink to come!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvWsR42dhTe1QLhyD-ljvvwrd80vwk_-wRK5NeEZ43eKL-1bdTRsM415fXgkdQUl6IfWNAB5nzhdOMoHGPgP0zWLqBKxiWkEVs19pPrGazWOJ4r0W0UxSHgIqBEiXuuZzXXnzI81tXl8/s1600/October10+143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EDpjBm6RKyXQdtfV6Hzf46ZaRgo9z4MzZQhI1ueMoJqCb_CPk6fSrAhnjUWnNHo0LlalSpmBloVkYjDAFUu0PrUWowSgI8ODMh3hdlk2m4oB_55OeeVmFXH5oKXFUvMHOfPCfR5iMoI/s1600/October10+151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-54065542335695358462010-10-28T03:31:00.000+03:002010-10-28T03:31:59.168+03:00Q-Tip Pointillism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu65UtZyktNRpnSPvhh5PQpaZjhPv8oWDCJv6bev-W140yF2ofKYawu3up9lF_m3FjiSfUNOP3o6KjEopy2b035RKgmOxpF8ETjKmLAavLmwDc7TyS4108PtYP1w8Dy7hK9IwmKdLyOA/s1600/October10+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu65UtZyktNRpnSPvhh5PQpaZjhPv8oWDCJv6bev-W140yF2ofKYawu3up9lF_m3FjiSfUNOP3o6KjEopy2b035RKgmOxpF8ETjKmLAavLmwDc7TyS4108PtYP1w8Dy7hK9IwmKdLyOA/s320/October10+020.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>After reading a quick post on Q-tip pointillism on <a href="http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2010/10/pointillism-for-children.html">The Artful Parent</a>, I decided to give it a try with the kids. It seemed very low on the mess and high on creativity. And it's always nice to paint with something <i>other</i> than paintbrushes and fingers! Besides, my babes have a strange fascination with Q-tips. It was nice to just let them at 'em!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqyv1GZ750SaBYVbGO1tPcuTaRmXQTthPKsJYs2VuN5qMluHexvRDfSKlt-YAHWqXRHGPSFczeB3nPzyfAsiO_0hg3H8n68yRsrRnW2GL02y1fHUz60AEDFT5UgSgjV7e51ZBkBjd6ho/s1600/October10+033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqyv1GZ750SaBYVbGO1tPcuTaRmXQTthPKsJYs2VuN5qMluHexvRDfSKlt-YAHWqXRHGPSFczeB3nPzyfAsiO_0hg3H8n68yRsrRnW2GL02y1fHUz60AEDFT5UgSgjV7e51ZBkBjd6ho/s320/October10+033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I cut down card stock into three smaller rectangles, so the little artists wouldn't get overwhelmed by all that white space meant to be covered with just a bit of Q-tip! Smaller canvases are just the ticket when we're in a "letter-size" paper rut!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAL91dnhxSd8Yb1iQLARFIXziuLikJfog1EWc9us8_G9xtMSnNQq_uWi93czUHoG-A8vRD1cMLjQFPbOiiJpQ99-8-yHXGkZ3oG7A1a6B8YzgugUry2gGuFiEQIZdvqhzu6HEuvVLtKU/s1600/October10+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAL91dnhxSd8Yb1iQLARFIXziuLikJfog1EWc9us8_G9xtMSnNQq_uWi93czUHoG-A8vRD1cMLjQFPbOiiJpQ99-8-yHXGkZ3oG7A1a6B8YzgugUry2gGuFiEQIZdvqhzu6HEuvVLtKU/s320/October10+026.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My oldest jumped right into it. He has more patience than me and didn't stop until he had 3 paintings done - and I had dinner done! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAJ-nAhVrflnXCO8fsRTwpPK2mIyzS0p4l6mO2ZUsh89oVdOA_1CGkw_HV9ZxI4meP_7xfTYygq13hY8uF2Sxr8IEFSEpQk-iLXnErDPam1xTYXcCa-k2AL1h7fwFWsSCGlctJhcfPn4/s1600/October10+035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAJ-nAhVrflnXCO8fsRTwpPK2mIyzS0p4l6mO2ZUsh89oVdOA_1CGkw_HV9ZxI4meP_7xfTYygq13hY8uF2Sxr8IEFSEpQk-iLXnErDPam1xTYXcCa-k2AL1h7fwFWsSCGlctJhcfPn4/s320/October10+035.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Easy-peasy and the kids loved it. I'd like to <a href="http://parentinginprague.blogspot.com/2010/10/celebrating-joy-of-painting-and-turning.html">go BIG</a> on this next time around with large circle-shaped sponges on door-sized sheets of contractor's paper!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-14338022187308033502010-10-21T22:35:00.002+03:002010-10-21T22:50:28.830+03:00Too - Easy Foam Sheet Shampoo Visor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji4BCzg1lRZtEpn4Kx8WyHmqRzFP3iR1qWBCt_FLC4M369XsOAkwn2Z6PlspJL59qUoBZ6u7dwrDpEjAABf9ZaO19svtPrZIT1Re922Pi6p8r75hG0ZwyB2S0MaKqbXgcRWKbcOImiro/s1600/October10+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjji4BCzg1lRZtEpn4Kx8WyHmqRzFP3iR1qWBCt_FLC4M369XsOAkwn2Z6PlspJL59qUoBZ6u7dwrDpEjAABf9ZaO19svtPrZIT1Re922Pi6p8r75hG0ZwyB2S0MaKqbXgcRWKbcOImiro/s320/October10+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bath time just got a lot more pleasant for this mama! Taking a cue from a <a href="http://www.filthwizardry.com/">Filth Wizardry</a> post on using foam sheets for bath play, I created a little foam sheet visor for shampoo time. Really too, too easy and yet so very useful!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIBMdzYMAU5u4yHysrF61O4CEh5lZamBjh02o8nEFGZwowOb62vt4Gtqabs_6O7GOZmemnpbN-w3Pzq_KC0MSVkp4Pl-dO0F98N0nAFM3OBUELSzzlwXx51N9DFnAZKh17J-HXB-3kGo/s1600/October10+041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIBMdzYMAU5u4yHysrF61O4CEh5lZamBjh02o8nEFGZwowOb62vt4Gtqabs_6O7GOZmemnpbN-w3Pzq_KC0MSVkp4Pl-dO0F98N0nAFM3OBUELSzzlwXx51N9DFnAZKh17J-HXB-3kGo/s320/October10+041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I simply took my rectangular foam sheet, cut a hole through the middle of the sheet and then cut some curved edges around the sides of the sheet for a wee, little bit of style. That's about as snazzy as it gets around here.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_xLemKFcCkbCMEJkFQKzmHv4SFORCKs24JUUSnnR6ytIfZJd-yr34sOXGWijuovw_qSorXZPvdoipIlILOZ9rTztCeHom39z2WF4idF43sbZcQWnh9mmjzOzgoIY8k0N50YdZR5c4tE/s1600/October10+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_xLemKFcCkbCMEJkFQKzmHv4SFORCKs24JUUSnnR6ytIfZJd-yr34sOXGWijuovw_qSorXZPvdoipIlILOZ9rTztCeHom39z2WF4idF43sbZcQWnh9mmjzOzgoIY8k0N50YdZR5c4tE/s320/October10+016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Make sure to cut the hole on the small side as the foam sheet has a good amount of stretch. When these wear out (at 20 crowns a pop per sheet), I'll have the kiddos make and decorate some more for themselves for a good "kids in the kitchen while mama's cooking project"!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-41403398198768624512010-10-18T11:08:00.002+03:002010-10-18T11:13:31.936+03:00Sidewalk Chalk Revisited - Drawing Bicycle Paths<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNZRJWWwFVLUemno9yB9uPAIjJsR9TO7K2boG-dSRWG4M5nvURdryc5i7b2x536k7cUCku4ITvAlOsv1ZeM5KPxNEGrWaVQpSw0Sb5P9N8fWpYfrN1ifM9EJ9p2QJs1kmUA3jcFuWOF8/s1600/October10+054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNZRJWWwFVLUemno9yB9uPAIjJsR9TO7K2boG-dSRWG4M5nvURdryc5i7b2x536k7cUCku4ITvAlOsv1ZeM5KPxNEGrWaVQpSw0Sb5P9N8fWpYfrN1ifM9EJ9p2QJs1kmUA3jcFuWOF8/s320/October10+054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A great post on <a href="http://madebyjoel.blogspot.com/2010/07/outdoor-summer-fun.html">Made by Joel</a> inspired me to get the sidewalk chalk out again! My younger cyclist really enjoyed the little wiggly bike path I drew her, while the oldest was into making signs and arrows about which way to go. This could be great fun, for creating a mini traffic park of our own in the future!!! This is a great activity for young preschoolers that we will definitely be revisiting!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-36650559477442792142010-10-10T23:03:00.001+03:002010-10-10T23:09:18.767+03:00Over the weekend - packing up and getting OUT!<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6NyKA5z0B8APAbzRlrxwErrDbqsSY0sLec9qHPfnH8HBuFJN95Wu-XndEdzDWk3flMMjEApiIyY_Lji7CsTFtf9HZIacN106HtVKQJK1tXw1R8NGkmKi1G_tFlnhiSRCMtlCjVg2Gxs/s1600/October10+035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6NyKA5z0B8APAbzRlrxwErrDbqsSY0sLec9qHPfnH8HBuFJN95Wu-XndEdzDWk3flMMjEApiIyY_Lji7CsTFtf9HZIacN106HtVKQJK1tXw1R8NGkmKi1G_tFlnhiSRCMtlCjVg2Gxs/s320/October10+035.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNV54-_d43c_w4PHW2GSqn4r7FL5Qa0iCSjE7jUG4m8LhGEVEvKwFn4Uh4c0LkLaGlmNgKY0mH2d_LNsc-RsGlkmq8bdwkUP1xk1TPlIPIYhyarv1MKP9j9M7KsugY1lMMZQBNJ5QJ6M/s1600/October10+046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>For all those who have small kids, there's no place like OUTSIDE! That wonderful space where messes can be made, snacks can be eaten while tramping about, and little discoveries can occur on a daily basis. Because our flat has no outside space to stomp and romp around in, I've taken to declaring the street in front of our building to be our "front yard". There we create special bike paths, do creative projects and more - pics of this to come!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNV54-_d43c_w4PHW2GSqn4r7FL5Qa0iCSjE7jUG4m8LhGEVEvKwFn4Uh4c0LkLaGlmNgKY0mH2d_LNsc-RsGlkmq8bdwkUP1xk1TPlIPIYhyarv1MKP9j9M7KsugY1lMMZQBNJ5QJ6M/s1600/October10+046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNV54-_d43c_w4PHW2GSqn4r7FL5Qa0iCSjE7jUG4m8LhGEVEvKwFn4Uh4c0LkLaGlmNgKY0mH2d_LNsc-RsGlkmq8bdwkUP1xk1TPlIPIYhyarv1MKP9j9M7KsugY1lMMZQBNJ5QJ6M/s320/October10+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><i>But</i> some weekends, we really get OUT... all the way to Babicka's cabin in the forest. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAijGG8FqBug0gY6MtD2oyxMZZXy3wNPywWwrfF4LkFSmxv7id-GCuKBaf32NmgG1L0lQBCSpB3xBnxjKM66ptQxqrsrS2pN6gDEiO3yOxrDxRygi3vSRQyVpIEAJn6hufvg1bFbXPBjE/s1600/October10+030.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAijGG8FqBug0gY6MtD2oyxMZZXy3wNPywWwrfF4LkFSmxv7id-GCuKBaf32NmgG1L0lQBCSpB3xBnxjKM66ptQxqrsrS2pN6gDEiO3yOxrDxRygi3vSRQyVpIEAJn6hufvg1bFbXPBjE/s320/October10+030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">And, there's been no place quite like Grandma's cabin in the forest... </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gqROMJW0FFovxgK-qq_tgcMLCN1fL5D6oGgDHu5koaungFEhVouiGb3C7SWtTNzX5QqyRCNk6uK_YlY7EWHb1WjOmaGLXqGO8sMtbcwW8Vcb3aDdqH1N0u2SWIVnbPRuPGAPEL5957c/s320/October10+036.jpg" width="240" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black;">With blue skies and autumn around us, it was a good time to pack up and get out...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"></span><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrfL-niHpwmXA7mI4BtQgRpzlORS9WpWibCa9cEP7gSkAERB6LeLriFBHrq-fZtL1_PjlW-YIlLy2vD0UP2GXh6RFLJYL24SEQ2q9pQCC9iTYeYFQlVdVKK0NHPrQksyI6yCrE9zcvrc/s320/October10+001.jpg" width="320" /></div>A friend of mine made my kiddos the best pick up and go bags ever as one of her first sewing projects. These bags (inspired by <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2006/05/bedtime_bags.html">Soulemama</a>), have been great for packing up each child's clothes and small treasures for a quick weekend away! They're useful and remind me of how very much my kids are loved by one of our most esteemed family friends. <br />
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Good memories made out and about as we prepare for wintry whimsies indoors.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-25505405461330022162010-10-07T21:46:00.008+03:002010-10-08T11:58:37.722+03:00Homemade Lego Table and the Best Kid's Desk Ever<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-vGBAZfvfVE-6F7xyH_sKoDfUAHaEM804H-Z69nldSA7U4uTc9MGMg95cceLt_8vs07Zxqw-CgId7vndzvTwKbaj2I47HPErWtqofN6M7lGC-cHEnTboGHF6BPWn44Ek5y20y3PE0cE/s1600/September+10+005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-vGBAZfvfVE-6F7xyH_sKoDfUAHaEM804H-Z69nldSA7U4uTc9MGMg95cceLt_8vs07Zxqw-CgId7vndzvTwKbaj2I47HPErWtqofN6M7lGC-cHEnTboGHF6BPWn44Ek5y20y3PE0cE/s320/September+10+005.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Recently I found the most useful and doable Ikea hacks for a lady with no tools! The <a href="http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/2010/08/lack-lego-table.html">Lack Lego Table </a>inspired me to create my own Duplo Lego table of sorts on the adult Ikea desk we use as a kid's play table. With some adhesive putty (cheap and available at Tesco stores) I stuck some Duplo boards to one half of the kid's table. I love it - all the fun, without any of the commitment of another purchase, or permanently altering the table in any way. The kids are enjoying the more stable foundation for building their Lego creations too!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-vGBAZfvfVE-6F7xyH_sKoDfUAHaEM804H-Z69nldSA7U4uTc9MGMg95cceLt_8vs07Zxqw-CgId7vndzvTwKbaj2I47HPErWtqofN6M7lGC-cHEnTboGHF6BPWn44Ek5y20y3PE0cE/s1600/September+10+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe2m8YOQnd7YNse-faEajUpRJLBRBFY6VgKKJBaL59JhHNi6_OyZT344uxt2YuFYYWLLPnfCf-7Te1I_9v-4Vk5sHxci9WAKdIbtXtc2KJfBDNK6-yy-F_Z6RGnSD6GsfeeJY-h0Zze4/s1600/September+10+003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe2m8YOQnd7YNse-faEajUpRJLBRBFY6VgKKJBaL59JhHNi6_OyZT344uxt2YuFYYWLLPnfCf-7Te1I_9v-4Vk5sHxci9WAKdIbtXtc2KJfBDNK6-yy-F_Z6RGnSD6GsfeeJY-h0Zze4/s320/September+10+003.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of the kid's table - it's probably my favorite piece of furniture in the kid's room. My genius mil gave us her combination <a href="http://www.ikea.com/cz/cs/catalog/products/S59831699">Galant Ikea desk</a> a year ago and suggested we use them for both adults and kids. How can such a big desk be used for kids?! Again, my mil pointed out that the legs of the table are adjustable. We got them down to the lowest height possible, picked up some stools and voila a LARGE, SPACIOUS (read: no fighting about being elbowed by sibling) workspace!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDW64_-5fTDGg8yYFQbr9jVk2wfKUkFbvk31P6D_M53bNBh8mV606Wh1CCtXAGDt2WORnXyL547jyjrlZVWxfwxjJmobSkaIUyv0RO_banCf3UJGYmcMxQQ2p2FI3w6_gTYB68-k-8vL4/s1600/September+10+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDW64_-5fTDGg8yYFQbr9jVk2wfKUkFbvk31P6D_M53bNBh8mV606Wh1CCtXAGDt2WORnXyL547jyjrlZVWxfwxjJmobSkaIUyv0RO_banCf3UJGYmcMxQQ2p2FI3w6_gTYB68-k-8vL4/s320/September+10+011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We use two of the original three piece combination in our work space and we placed the other one in the kiddos' room. Plus, we can have plenty of friends over for Art Group - a group I was inspired to start after following the artful adventures of Jean over at the <a href="http://artfulparent.typepad.com/artfulparent/2009/06/the-art-group-lives-again.html">ArtfulParent</a>. Six kids easily fit around the desk and when we have had more, we have simply brought in one of the two desks from the adult work space, lowered the legs and added it on! Another great benefit - the desk will work for the kiddos for their entire childhood and on through college! Worth it - don't you think?!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-22048660089312668092010-10-07T00:24:00.001+03:002010-10-08T11:53:10.168+03:00Crepe Paper Window Decorations<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1p9CB_A_WhjqfFqG5dyLlcj5MVb0bOfecGLfmc-1Zhh6HD2ZTeCXDpmIhDcseWTvskywpvl2hm-CR5hB8nvL1Z7KRF8m88Sr1cbHRZHOUXlKKc2L6euCMk-5asaB65SJw98DvYMl__8/s1600/September+10+019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1p9CB_A_WhjqfFqG5dyLlcj5MVb0bOfecGLfmc-1Zhh6HD2ZTeCXDpmIhDcseWTvskywpvl2hm-CR5hB8nvL1Z7KRF8m88Sr1cbHRZHOUXlKKc2L6euCMk-5asaB65SJw98DvYMl__8/s320/September+10+019.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div>Today I handed my daughter a transparent, liquid glue stick and asked her to spread the glue all over the windows. The twinkle in her eye said, "Now those are the kind of directions I like to hear!" For ALL of my dinner prep, my little one spent her time decorating our window with crepe paper cutout shapes (tissue paper would work just as well). Ahh, the peace - and BEAUTY of it all!!! I think there's still life to this craft yet too! Next time around I might try using just smaller squares in more colors and encourage my older son to create a mosaic! Thanks to <a href="http://www.filthwizardry.com/2010/06/tissue-paper-and-glue-window-collage.html">FilthWizardry</a> for the creative idea of turning our windows into works of art!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-84553297173710363622010-10-05T22:12:00.006+03:002010-10-08T12:01:01.011+03:00MP3 Love. Recording Kid's Books<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQi1RH2i63C85-IPlxjaShCoybvG8pt_LQFEvnxlSSn4lhXvq2B5Ogws97mhA9wWYwtvjwK10h5mSI88HXR1UW1bvcHBg9pj3TtMGX24TcY7QVci98hzZbp3k43hpiiq0d18WDidRtyE/s1600/September+09+013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQi1RH2i63C85-IPlxjaShCoybvG8pt_LQFEvnxlSSn4lhXvq2B5Ogws97mhA9wWYwtvjwK10h5mSI88HXR1UW1bvcHBg9pj3TtMGX24TcY7QVci98hzZbp3k43hpiiq0d18WDidRtyE/s320/September+09+013.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div>I got my MP3 late - like last year! I'm loving how much I can use this for the kiddos now that they are old enough to follow a story - without (so much) the need for pictures!<br />
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Here's how I do it. While I'm reading a story to one of them, I set out the MP3 on "voice", choose "record now" and start a-readin'! That's it! Later on when we are in long lines or long car rides, perhaps a restaurant, I whip out my little technological wonder (with headphones/earbuds attached) and voila - happy, quiet, EDUCATED, ENTERTAINED children! Did I mention that relaxed momma part?! Oh yes, I love that part very much indeed! We also have some MP3 listening time at home during quiet time for the non-nappers! My oldest son (5) can handle a reading without pictures, whereas my daughter (3) still uses them to keep her focused on the story. For her, I make sure that the recorded stories she listens to are ones we have read many times together so she is very familiar with the pictures that are read along with the text.<br />
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One more tip I look forward to applying to our own family! We're bilingual - Dad is Czech. I'm planning on having him record some books in Czech (with page turn signals for following the book in hand) - so the kiddos also get more reading from the parent who spends more time outside the home. <br />
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I'm looking forward to how far I can go with this as the kids get older! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQi1RH2i63C85-IPlxjaShCoybvG8pt_LQFEvnxlSSn4lhXvq2B5Ogws97mhA9wWYwtvjwK10h5mSI88HXR1UW1bvcHBg9pj3TtMGX24TcY7QVci98hzZbp3k43hpiiq0d18WDidRtyE/s1600/September+09+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-5547008972901078792010-10-04T22:58:00.005+03:002010-10-08T11:54:38.824+03:00Celebrating the joy of painting and turning 1 !!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShXJ9aJnnmCjDQ3hu7yfQpqCxkksGfKJJriRQAL-skwbNbewiiicIB5hgomZXmEynwn8DiUIgbjjGE_TslblnPxNtF_T9NC_A9QKfUZB1AKV12gk_B4tYAJU1wVWxdGoNid5Kus9Niv4/s1600/August+2010+035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShXJ9aJnnmCjDQ3hu7yfQpqCxkksGfKJJriRQAL-skwbNbewiiicIB5hgomZXmEynwn8DiUIgbjjGE_TslblnPxNtF_T9NC_A9QKfUZB1AKV12gk_B4tYAJU1wVWxdGoNid5Kus9Niv4/s320/August+2010+035.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div>The Bear loves to explore! He likes things big and he doesn't mind a mess (like boy #1 did). For Bear's birthday, I set up a large canvas of sorts and let him have at it. I kept dipping the paintbrush in the paint for him (located on a high table). I at least had to make a decent attempt at keeping things halfway clean round the kitchen!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8pFTLqadbq8z3xo-RS7yqYI1H-V7HVo_YEL0xLonjuonip4hjpuKWNXaIdTExRoxTsDfpAuKnTj2GGKkGmoQg-pf8Qp9t-7JVHS3KUVUYEpl4kdsPQN-V-NsaJpxypHF_iTOHOvUq1I/s1600/August+2010+042.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8pFTLqadbq8z3xo-RS7yqYI1H-V7HVo_YEL0xLonjuonip4hjpuKWNXaIdTExRoxTsDfpAuKnTj2GGKkGmoQg-pf8Qp9t-7JVHS3KUVUYEpl4kdsPQN-V-NsaJpxypHF_iTOHOvUq1I/s320/August+2010+042.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShXJ9aJnnmCjDQ3hu7yfQpqCxkksGfKJJriRQAL-skwbNbewiiicIB5hgomZXmEynwn8DiUIgbjjGE_TslblnPxNtF_T9NC_A9QKfUZB1AKV12gk_B4tYAJU1wVWxdGoNid5Kus9Niv4/s1600/August+2010+035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>The paper is called archa (pronounced <i>arka</i>) - that's the way the lady at the Papirnictvi store pronounced it anyway! It's available at the bigger papirnictvi stores (paper stores). But, you're gonna have to ask, possibly using your arms to describe exactly what you mean by BIG. They usually keep the stuff - in the back! Isn't that where all good stuff is?! Otherwise I'm thinking a great big role of contractor's paper would be just as good. I have two nails in the walls to push the top corners of the paper through. And I stick an extra piece of masking tape over each nailed section of paper to reinforce it so the kiddies don't pull it down during their artful adventures.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTpbfRTAPTvtkhFsWAUIOOXpxzp3IELDZl-_XfkFxGUPuqM-vQoK0JxMOCZILLgpgj732SRjvQB-2hT9FtbrdYXOlYpiMUrMuBB3IXY8BVV_Gw57jkkND5KM4yeynqZEoZLfcPq_lCCY/s1600/August+2010+041.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTpbfRTAPTvtkhFsWAUIOOXpxzp3IELDZl-_XfkFxGUPuqM-vQoK0JxMOCZILLgpgj732SRjvQB-2hT9FtbrdYXOlYpiMUrMuBB3IXY8BVV_Gw57jkkND5KM4yeynqZEoZLfcPq_lCCY/s320/August+2010+041.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It's cheap and has a variety of uses for many kids (plus one Bear) to have a good time! And don't we love groups of cooperating kiddies!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2149184022816879594.post-33117001199107742242010-10-04T12:45:00.000+03:002010-10-04T12:45:41.660+03:00InspirationThanks Connie for inspiring me to blog! Hopefully this doesn't turn into a "Dear Diary" :) Looking forward to keeping connected (without the help of FB;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1