Spelling 101

As promised.  :)  A quick, fun way to play and learn at the same time.  I love learning.  I love playing.  Hence why this is my favorite.  :)

All you need is a muffin tin, shaving cream and food coloring.  Pinterest may have suggested this activity to me.  Well, my Momma used shaving cream for spelling in her classroom, Pinterest just kicked it up a notch.  :)

This my friends:

is Sesame's face when I told her what we were going to do.  We hadn't actually done anything yet.  This is her expression at the thought of what we were going to do.  How can that not make the whole event worthwhile?!  : )  Okay, moving on...

Drop a drop or two of food coloring onto the shaving cream.

Isn't it all pretti-ful with the drops

Allow the munchkin to mix the food coloring into the shaving cream.  (Science opportunity: talk about distribution.  :)  Yay.  I love to get my science on with my kids. Don't tell anyone.)

Don't forget to supervise.

I know I always get distracted when I'm taking pictures and forget I'm the adult never am too wrapped up in the moment to parent.  Never.  (snicker)

That's right.

Sesame was a little jovial and flung shaving cream on the floor.

See.

She kind of freaked out.  I think she thought she was in trouble.  Good thing we have a dog that eats anything.  Homer snatched it up before I could explain it was soap.  Not Cool Whip.

See that face.  That is the "Golbov face of concentration."  Husband dearest makes it all the time. It makes me smile.  :)

This is a fabulous activity for several reasons:

It really works the fine motor skills of toddlers.  You can have them draw shapes, work on letters and even replicate things they see around them in your house.  I could continue on this educational rant, but I'm just going to show you photos of us playing.  Then you'll run and get some shaving cream.  :)

Wow.  Look at Sesame's cursive.  She is so advanced.  :)  (wink, wink)

All in all shaving cream = great fun.  :)

The Weekend.

So.  This is weird.  It's a quarter after midnight and I'm the only one awake.  It would see the interrupted sleep habits Number Two has caused make it difficult for me to sleep some times.  Odd.  :)  Moving on...

Sesame has learned to play with her food.  I'm okay with this when it results in fun photos such as these:

My girl with grapes in her cheeks trying to say: "I'm a squirrel Mommy!"  but really just giggling so hard she can't even make a Mrs. Mumble gesture.  Love.

This Little Dude:

is developing quite the personality.  He's going to be such a lady-killer with those eye lashes (Thanks Abuelito!)  He seriously "talks" all the time..that is...when he's not eating or sleeping.  :)  He also thinks fans are hilarious.  And the song Hickory Dickory Dock - but only when Husband Dearest sings it.

Okay.

It's late.

I'm sleeping.

Happy Birthday to my Niece Peanut!  I LOVE YOU GIRLY!  :)

Our week. :)

My son rocks.  No really.  He does. 

Here is a series of photos from our much needed "happy day." (more on that later)

A photo titled "Om nom nom." for the Uncles.

"Who are you crazy lady and what the heck is this contraption in my face.  I am trying to eat my hands and you interrupting.  Please.  Go away so I can eat them."   

"Oh, it's you Mommy."

"I love my Mommy.  She's the best."

Can you believe Little Dude is already 3 months old.  THREE MONTHS!  Unbelievable!  He's really starting to look like Husband.  The past week he's been a bit screamy and then today he was FABULOUS. He was happy and talkative and giggly and smiley and playful.  Sesame and I thoroughly enjoyed him.  His personality is so smiley. I love that his favorite past time is staring at/laughing at ceiling fans.  Little Dude did this for 30 minutes today, I kid you not.  Love.

Number One is pretty rockin' too.  She's patient when I need to turn my attention to Number Two.  Not to mention this kid is stinkin' hilarious!  In the car the other day I used the phrase "Out of control."  Without missing a beat she replies, "No Mommy, the control tower is at the air port.  Not here."  Jigga what?!  You're two kid.  Oh, and then there's her phrasing.  What two year old says, "Excuse me Mommy, Would you please pass the ranch so I may put it on my watermelon?"  Ignoring the fact she wants to put ranch on her watermelon, that's a pretty complicated sentence!

Okay.  I'm done boasting on my awesome kids.

Except these two photos of Sesame dancing:

 And maybe a glimpse of what life is really like in our home:

That's right.  I fell asleep feeding my son.  See his face?  It's saying "Come on lady, it doesn't take that long to give me a bottle."  :)

Okay.  I'm done.

Really.

:)

Science and Laughter

 

 That's right.  Science class starts at age 2 in the G-clan household.  "Why?" you ask, because:

A)  Science is fun.
B)  My daughter asked to do a "Science Peer-i-scent" aka "Science Experiment."  Yes, that's right, she asked to learn.  I'm sorry people, but all the mounds of dishes, laundry and toys can wait.  If my Sesame requests to learn, I'm going to soak up the opportunity.
C)  I secretly love having a toddler about so I can make messes and then blame her.
D)  Science is fun.  Duh.

Today's adventure includes a lesson in density.  :)  I completely stole this experiment from an episode of Sid the Science Kid saw this somewhere, and decided to spice it up a bit.

So.
Here we go.

The cast of characters:

As you can see, I have six glasses out that appear to be filled with water.

Oh, but they are not all water.
Muahahahaha.


(That was my evil scientist laugh - I felt it was appropriate here)

That's right.  White Vinegar.

With the baking soda.

Boo-yah.  Take that Sid the Science Kid.  I'll take your density and raise you...um...some cool reaction thing.

(Note:  Husband is the scientist.  I studied liberal arts.  Cut me some slack on the terminology.)

Step 1:  Begin adding one ingredient to each glass.

Step 2:  Take excessive photos of terrific, tiny toddler hands.

Step 3:  Stir ingredients in and discuss why some float (pepper & parm) and why some dissolve (sugar & salt).

Step 4:  Take photo of cute little scientist in her apron.

Step 5:  Be sad when you realize your baking soda is old and does not react well with vinegar.

Step 6:  Show toddler the fabulous lemonade and mix it together with enthusiasm.

Step 7:  Be sad again and start gagging when you realize your baking soda is not expired - you only mixed it with water.  How do you know this?  You just drank vinegar-lemonade.

Ew.

Gross.

Step 8:  Listen to your toddler laugh hysterically while you spit, gag and rapidly drink coffee to wash away the gross-ness that is vinegar-lemonade.

Step 9:  Improvise and make cool vinegar-lemonade-baking soda explosion.

Step 10:  Laugh at the cool bubbles with your toddler and admire the sweet mess you made together. :)

Tomorrow's play time experiment:

And, to appease Grammy :):

Guess who is starting to dig story time at our house!?  Little Dude LOVES it when Sesame and I read.  It makes me so happy.  :)

Moments Like These...

...make me one happy Momma.

I love to see unprompted interaction between my children.

I love to see them enjoying each other - even though their communication at this stage is non-verbal

I love that Little Dude has a certain "Sesame look" set aside for his Sister.

I love that Number One (Sesame) gives concerts to Number Two (Squirt)

I love that Little Dude coos and oohs and aahs at his sister's antics.

I love that Sesame tells Little Dude about the Lord.  

All the time.

Every 

Single

Day.

But mostly, I love that I am privileged to stay at home and bare witness to their relationship.

Watch them grow together.

Watch them play together.

Watch them love the Lord together.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."  Joshua 24:16

Family.

Apologies for disappearing for a spell - we had family in town!  :)

My most adorable and favorite niece is growing like a weed!  11 months already!  Can you believe it!?  Peanut has the most gorgeous blue eyes and toothless grin EVER.  :)  I think we'll keep her.

See.  Gorgeous.  I told you.  :)  

Little Dude (Squirt) is turning into quite the little charmer.

 

We dedicated him this past Sunday while Husband's family was in town.  I cannot wait to see what the Lord does with this little life!

He's very shy.  :)

Peanut and Sesame enjoyed a brief trip to the Children's Museum with Grammy and the Mommies, while Ezra snoozed with Yia Yia and Pappy.

This face.  Yes, the one pictured above, is the exact same face her Daddy makes when he's concentrating and her Grandpa.  Love it.  Love.

Who went and planted Sesame's in the garden?  Don't spread it around, they'll all be picked!

 After the museum Sistah and I decided we needed to exercise.

Here is Sister looking all fit and flawlessly executing the zumba moves.  I, on the other hand, am flailing about like a poor man's Richard Simmons.

Let's recap:

Sister's Zumba = Professional Dancer

My Zumba = Beached Whale

As if my postpartum body needed more of a workout - the girls woke up from their nap and wanted to play.

Notice Sisters gleaming smile.  Notice my flushed cheeks, lack of a smile and Sesame's skeptical stare.
Thus is my first Zumba experience.

We're all tired and falling back into normal routines - with the addition of a bit of Zumba.  :)