Learning to swing!!

We had a *little* who got so frusterated that he couldn't make the swing go! (not to mention my frustration of having to stand and push for an hour!!) 

So this morning after a ten minute fit of trying to get on the swing and making it go - look what someone figured out how to do!!!  Look at how proud his face is!! 

PS - check out the little in the background pointing up!  Yes there really was an airplane flying over!  So I thought the song was appropriate!

Watch my littles here!

So when one of my littles achieves a skill they have been working on, OR something exciting happens during their day; I make them a special *badge* to wear until they get picked up.  It lets the child feel special and helps me to remember to tell mom or dad at the busy day's end!!

all it is a mailing label decorated up like a party!!

Recycle Band!!

What can you get when you put these things together?

MARACAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little cereal box, a little rice and a whole lotta tape!  AND

VIOLA'!

Mr. K and Nathan were going to have corn pops for breakfast - they came in the little travel sized boxes!  So of course I said "hey don't throw those away!!" 

So what are the odds that we end up emptying 4 little cereal boxes, a paper towel tube AND a large plastic coffee can in the same morning!!  Can you say RECYCLE BAND!!???

We put dry macaroni in the coffee tub and taped the cover on well!  We colored the paper towel tube and used it as a horn. 

Then we decorated our maracas.  The only thing left to do was to go outside and have a parade!

Nathan was all business on the horn!!  And Christian was getting his groove on with some dance moves and his maraca!

Happy crafting!

Steph

I LOVE my U.P.S. Man!!!

I love, love, love my UPS man right now!  I came home from the kids dr. appts today and found this little gem on the front porch!  What could it be? You ask? 

Only THE one and only thing I have pined over for a while now!

Accuquilt Go! baby!!  Happy Birthday to ME!!!  I immediately went and found some fabric to try this bad boy out!!

I bought the 5"X5" squares die so that I can make my own charm squares!!

 

In case you have never heard of this fabulous little beauty - this is how it works - you put your die down on one side with the foam side up - then place your fabric on top of that - up to SIX layers!!!  (yep I said 6!!)  Then you put the cutting mat on top of the fabric.  Hold on to the top and turn the crank-  It will roll the die,fabric,and mat sandwich through to the other side!

Viola'!!!

I cut these 12 charm squares in about 4 or 5 turns of the crank!  SWEET!!!!

I cannot wait to get going on some charm totes now!!  Let me know if you have one and how you like it!!

Happy crafting!
Steph

A little bit of what I've been up to.....

I have been in a little bit of a funk lately.  I don't know if it was the heat of the summer, or the busyness of summer vacation.  I have worked on a few small projects here and there.  Let's take a look.....

I made this cute dry erase board from a picture frame!  I slipped a cute piece of scrapbooking paper behind the glass, sprayed painted the wood frame and VIOLA!  I use it next to the front door for all of my reminders for my day care parents!


Next I have been trying to keep the clutter of daycare toys to a minimum.  So I picked up these 3 tiered bins and labeled them with pictures and words to match what belongs in that bin!  So far so good!!

Lastly I have been trying to pretty up my ugly front porch....

Our house is an old farm house and is in major need of new siding.  Until we decide what and when we are doing....all I can do is come up with economical ways to spruce it up!  I used up the left over spray paint from the dry erase board and sprayed the house numbers,  they used to be ugly black!  Then I took an old little sign from my bedroom and sprayed that as well.  The phrase "God bless our home" was the most expensive part of the porch project - no not really - it is non other than a wall rub on that I found at the Dollar Tree!!  yup - it was a buck! 

The wreaths I saw in an email for some projects you can do with supplies from the Dollar Store - most of the stuff I had at home already - it is a foam wreath, socks from the dollar store, ribbon to hang and make a bow, and what ever embellishments you'd like!  I love them!  I can't wait to make them for every season!!
The only thing left would be to spray the light fixture -it's icky black plastic!!- But I have to figure out how to get it down first!!

I have been working on a few other small projects - but I will save those for a later post!  Happy crafting all!  Have a super week!!

Steph

Science ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had the pleasure of attending an early childhood training last night.  The presenter was Amy Ahola from Marquette MI.  You can read her AWESOME blog here.  To describe Amy in one word I would have to say she was ENERGIZED!!!!!  She had us hopping around from experiment to experiment without a dull moment!!  She was FAB!!!!  THANKS so much AMY!!!

Just for registering and showing up to this training we received this FREE (my fav 4 letter "F" word!) science experiment kit!!  I know right- you're jealous!!! 

The experiments that she had us doing were ones that could be done with these kits - then she told us of some extensions that we could try!   So today was a day that I only had BOYS in my care - so I thought let's get messy!!!!  We dove right in~

 The first thing we did was try out the goggles and magnifying glass -

check out how big his lips are!!!

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We took a close look at raisins - and how they dance in 7-up!

The first 7-Up we tried didn't work....Maybe because I got it out of the cooler at the store - the second bottle I tried was a bottle of Sprite off of the store shelf and it worked!!
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Then we tried Mixing Impossible!  Mixing oil and water!

we mixed........

and mixed.....

And mixed......

but just couldn't get it to mix together!!!

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Then we were on to make a LAVA effect! ~  Food color and water, oil, and alka-seltzer!!!  This one was fun!!!

you can't really tell, but the big bubbles are moving!

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I saved the best for last! - We made a VOLCANO!!!! (without the mountain!)  Baking soda, food color, and vinegar!  WHOO HOO!!!

After we had yummy homemade biscuit pizzas for lunch we went outside to do 3 more projects before nappy time!

refridgerator biscuits flattened

pizza sauce

cheese and pepperoni

TA DA!!!!

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We made a "BOMB!" ~  Baking soda wrapped in paper towel, placed into a "CHEAP" zipper sandwich bag, then pour vinegar in and zip it closed!  Watch what happens!!

even though it wasn't a HUGE explosion - the kids still jumped every time!!!
Once it pops open you can reseal it and watch it all over again!

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Then for the grand finale's!!!  MENTOS Giesers!!!  Diet coke and mentos candies.....nuff' said!!

Did you know that if you put salt in Sprite it does the same thing???

our lovely helper KAITIE!!!!  My 14 year old daughter!

I made this little salt "loader" to make it easier
All it is  - is rolled up construction paper taped,
then I cut a small slit on each side with an exacto knife
and slide a piece of tag board through
when you're ready slide the tag board out and
TAKE COVER!!!!!!!!!!

All in all - the boys had a SUPER day of experimenting!!!   You should get out and try some of these awesome experiments!!



Thanks again 4C of the UP for the great new science kit!!!  We love it!!

Wiggles and Giggles Home Day Care
Steph

FABULOUS GIVEAWAY!!

We all like free stuff right??!!  Who doesn't!?  Here is a giveaway for a GO! Baby accuquilt and 3 dies to go with it!!  All  you need to do is click on the link  for Vintage Sheets and follow Jens directions!!!  She is so fabulous!!


All Things Vintage Sheets



Good luck!!  you'll need it because I AM going to WIN this!!!!

HAPPY.....

For this, I am happy.....

For Baby Birds that have survived falling out of their nest!

Patriotic Toes.....thanks to my 14 year old Kaitie!!

A Peony bush that keeps on surprising me with fabulous flowers!

An Easy peasy 4th of July project.....

found here

So Easy a 2 and 3 year old can help!!

Thanks Heidi for the idea!

I made one for myself also so that the boys and I will match on the Sunday School float for the parade!

For a 14 year old who asks her dad for driving lessons in the *Old* truck!!

For HAPPY squeals in the summers first run through the sprinkler!

*I Dinkin' Mama*

The tractor in the hay field was more exciting than the sprinkler at one point!

For finding a very cool *VINTAGE* receiving blanket at the thrift store today!

This is going to make a very HAPPY backing to a *taggy* blanket!

For finding a very soft *VINTAGE* sheet (for very cheap)

at the thrift store

MMMMMMM  just like butter!!!

For Homemade *reversable* headbands for the season!!

I found the pattern and instructions here

I made these 2 in about 40 min while chatting with my 14 year old!!!  Those conversations are priceless!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!!