Preschool Craft time: Coffee Filter Butterfly

Preschool Craft time: Coffee Filter Butterfly These are great fun but a little messy to make it. Step One: Gather 1 or 2 coffee filter(s) and 1 1/2 pipe cleaner. A cup of water, water colors paint and bushes. Young kids have fun using more than one brush. You may put down pager on table because paint does go through the filter. (I don't mind cleaning up the mess so didn't do this.) Step Two: paint the filters and let dry.

Step three: If using two filters put together. Then pinch mild together. (like in picture above.)

Step Four: Wrap the half a pipe cleaner (the are easy to cut with scissors) around where you pinched it. Step Five: Place the whole pipe cleaner through the pipe cleaner that is there. Fold in half and twist together. This is held to make the butterflies fly. Girlygirl loved that she made something she can play with.

New Ideas For Preschooler

I was looking at a book my sister has and I got new ideas I would like to try with Girlygirl. I love finding new things that I have not tried that will work for us to do at home. For snack time I found a great idea to had Animals in the Mud. All I need is animal cookies in chocolate fostering. Just have the animals standing in the fostering. I think I will be a good thing when we talk about animals. For art/craft time I got lots ideas. Some are more simple like; scribble bookmark, torn paper or fabric collage. A few will be made out of shoe boxes. Treasure box made out of a shoe box covered in construction paper. You can choice to decorate the box with stickers and by coloring. We will use it to hold all the treasures of a two year old and as she grows. Show box garage simply cut whole in front to fit toy cars in. Again you and decorate however you want. I am sure the kids will not care if it is just a box with a hole for their cars. Mail box is made just like the garage you can decorate or just cut a hole to get the mail. (I plan to make the mail box this week I will blog about it when we are done) Car wheel painting is a great and easy thing to do. Just get or make a shallow box make sure it is big enough to fit your paper. Roll toy cars in paint then in box. Or you can just put a few drops of paint in the box and roll the car around on them. I have never used a car but when I worked in a preschool we did it with balls it work it was a great hit. I found three other things I am not sure what category they'd be in. I still look forward to trying them. Falling ball tunnel (I think can work for cars too) you need a cardboard mail tube, a towel, cookie sheet and masking tape. To make the falling ball tunnel you roll towel and place on cookie sheet. Then place the mail tube long way on the cookie sheet with towel holding one end high on the other end on the cookie sheet. Tape all three together do not cover the holes. A cheep great game is what is in here. All you need is a pillowcase, tube socks and things to hide in the socks/ pillow case. There are two ways to play you can just put things in the pillow case and let your child play with them. They may dump the all out then put back in or just take out one at a time. The other way to play is to hide things in the tube socks and then in pillow case. The last sounds easy but I never thought of it. It is called laundry basket ball. It is just like it sounds you throw a ball in the laundry basket. The other idea was to use rolled up socks. I can't wait to play these with Girlygirl. Remember to play with your kids today.

Tot School

I am joining in an other thing. I look forward to doing this. It will be great to look back on what I did with Girlygirl over the weeks. This sounds even more fun to me includes my love to photos and watching Girlygirl play and grow. We we go with my first post about Tot School.

We played in the snow at auntie's house.

We all worked together to make a snow man. We played with blocks and practiced sharing without being bossy.Painted our red color bag. She cut and glued for table time.We read in the chair. This picture is after I was told to move. She needed more room for books

Go cheek out what others are doing for Tot School this week and remember to play with you kids today.

Operation Playtime Day 6 of 12: Get outside

Today operation playtime is about outside play. This is something I have not been good at this winter. With there always being snow on the ground and how cold it is been it is not something I want to do. Also with my old job I didn't have much time to do anything fun. The last time we really played outside was Monday we made a snow man and Girlygirl played with some sand toys. Today we are going to go to see the husky dogs at the Arboretum. That will be fun and a great way to get out. I will add pictures later.

I am going to try to get outside more to play with Girlygirl. Remember to play with your kids today.

Operation Playtime Day 5 of 12:Painting

I found Operation playtime today. I wish I found it before day one. I seem to find things 5 days in all the time. I joined late but it is still fun. In Operation Playtime the goal is to play with things that don't have batteries or a plug. I love that. Each day they give an idea of something to do. Today was painting with kitchen stuff. Girlygirl didn't like the idea of painting with anything but brushes so we just paint the red bag to use for our color bags. Painting is one of Girlygirl favorite things to do so she loves when I get the paint out.

new Web Site

I just found this web site today and it looks great. I can't wait to have more time to play on it and learn more stuff to do with Girlygirl.

teaching color with color bag

Back when I worked as a teaches aid the class had these cool color boxes from Lakeshore. I really liked them and when I wanted to start helping Girlygirl learn her colors I wanted to buy them. That is when I found out how much the cost. So when I was at a Thrift Store and fond canvas little bags I came up with the idea to make my own color bag for Girlygirl. I got 5 bags all white. It made a great art time for Girlygirl to paint the bag we just do one at a time. After the bag is dry I went around the house and looked for anything blue to add into the bag until the bag was full. Girlygirl loves the bags. Soon I will be teaching her to look and match the colors. We will have all 5 bags out and take all the toys out and she has to put each thing in the right color bag. I will let you know how this goes. Update: I found other home made color bags. I they are nicer than my done by the mom. Just thought I'd share my find. They made by PisecoMom over at Mind Games. Remember to play with your kids today. Playing is teaching

100 Free Things to do with kids: 76-100

I can't believe I made it to 76 already and still thinking of more everyday. I am having lots of fun trying to think of free stuff to do. I hope this last 25 free things are easy to think of. Here we go:

1. get a pen pal or type pal (pen pal through email) great for when friend moves away
2. read
3. press flowers
4. start collection-rocks, bottle tops, shells, bugs, lots of things free
5. dust house
6. dry-erase board
7. sort-button, bean, pasta. You can do this my color, size or shape
8. play tag
9. play hide and seek
10. The Jar
11. doll bath
12. trace hands
13. egg or toy hunt-hide one egg or toy and let the kids try to find it
14. take a bath
15. hold child and spin in circles
16. roll down a hill
17. sit at the window and watch it rain
18. play telephone
19. move toys to different rooms-it makes kids feel like the are new
20. go to pet store
21. plan tour of fire station-i think better with a few friends
22. plan tour of police station
23. visit a nursing home
24. tour cold stones-free unless you want ice cream
25. build tent with table and blankets

It took me some time but I found my last 25 things. Remember to play and have fun with your kids today.

Allowance at 2

We give Girlygirl an allowance of $2/week. She will get a $1 raise each birthday. The money is not given to her for chores or anything she just gets it. As part of our family she gets money just as Sweet Dude and I both get $10 each week no matter what also. We do make her give 25 cents to savings and 25 cents to church. The other money is her to use as she wants. She doesn't really understand it yet but we like to start now and teach her little by little.

No Help

Girlygirl loves to do anything and everything she can with out any help. She got a great Christmas gift from a friend. It is a tea pot. She uses it very morning to pour her own juice. I also give her a cheese knife to put peanut butter on her toast. It not only saves me time but teaches her she can do it.

FTJ: The why of the dreams

After coming up with dreams I need to know why I have them, what it will proved for me

Adopt 2+ kids- I want to give kids a family who have lost the first family.

Have one more kid- Because I promised Sweet Dude.

become SAHM or work 3 or less days- I love being with Girlygirl. I want to be the one who hugs my kids when they fall.

homeschool- I think that the way the schools are today to many kids get left out. I know I would not make it in today's school.

vacation in all 50 states- It is something I have always thought would be fun.

AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC,FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY

move bigger house- If we have a family of 6 or more we can't only have one bedroom.

live on a small farm- I have always wanted to live on a farm. My reason change but right now I would say for my kids to have a place to run and play everyday.

be free of all cc debit- It is stress full having debit.

teach kids to love God- I want my kids to know which way to go.

work as a photographer- I love to take and look at pictures.

own a daycare- Running around and teaching little ones all day is fun.

be size 10- I want to be able to play more with Girlygirl and I know it would be better for my health.

finish Girlygirl first year scrapbook-I love to do it.

make Girlygirl 2nd year scrapbook

walk 10000 steps a day- Help me be healthier

have weekly date with Sweet Dude with no TV- I want more time with Sweet Dude.

keep the house clean- My house stresses me out.

take picture of Girlgirl everyday- I think it will be fun to look at them when she is older.

find some who want my cat- She make me so mad. I think she needs a home without kids

do foster care- I want to help kids who moms and dads are trying to get better to keep them

my home to be the place my kids and friends want to hang out- If my kids are here I know they are being good.

pay full 10% offering every month- I would like to help the church and I know the Bible says to.

read bible daily- to be closer to God

read to Girlygirl daily- To help her learn and build a bond with her.

have a scrapbook room- I can scrapbook anytime I have just a few min.

learn to cook good- I want to make food people want to cook.

live in an RV for 3 months or more-I think it will be a fun time and a good break from the in and outs of daily life.

go to Disney World with family- Be great family time.

be 100% debt free- I think it is was God wants.

eat health- If I don't I will die young

work on getting my knee better- I am scared it will come out soon and not go back in.

make time to hang out with friends- I needed to have friends and good friends who are close to me to be happy.

meet deaf people our age here- I want Girlygirl to know she is not the only kid with a Deaf daddy. I also think Sweet Dude needs it.

have a brand new van- It would be cool.

get a wagon for Girlygirl- Mine was in my top ten of favorite toys as a kid.

get a swing set- I think it would be fun for the kids.

fix up house 100%- I will have more place to put our stuff.

write sponsor child monthly- I know he wants it.

have garage sale- Clean out my house and make money.

get organized- I want to be able to find what I am looking for when I want it.

move back to CA- I want my kids to know their Grandparents.

take more me days- Sometimes I need a break to be a better me.

personal

Take a 30Th bday trip with Jessica- To remember I am still young.

go camping 2x this summer- I loved camping as a kid.

have my children know that I love them- I want them to not have to look for love in the wrong way.

make Girlygirl laugh everyday- her laugh is so great and then I know she is happy and plus it makes me laugh.

FJT: Udate

Sweet Dude and I mostly caught up on and we know our credit score so today was easy. I will analyze my dreams. I have really enjoyed this whole thing. We have been blessed by my sitter and brother this past weekend. They took us out to dinner and saved Sweet Dude and I a fight about what money for.

Thoughts about FTJ

Today is the 8Th day of FTJ and I have not done much. Sweet Dude's work is not going good and for the next 5 weeks they all only are working 4 days. So our spending freeze maybe a little long than the 3 weeks as we have to just buy what we needed until things get better there. I have done really good thus far. I did have to buy Sweet Dude his get better stuff (cold meds, OJ, and ice cream) but I had a gift card for that. I also but my self some sunflower seeds that was not on the list but for some reason when I find out bad news they make me happy and at $1 I gave in. I have worked on the net wroth but need Sweet dude's help with a few parts of it and he is sick so I trying not to bug him. When he gets sick he acts half way to died. I try to just give him more love not more things I want from him. I hope to work on that and our Mission Statement over the weekend. I have about 50 things on my dream list. I am now going to work on my stuff some more.

FTJ Day 5: 100 Dreams

This is a work in progress. It is not that easy for me. I am not a big dreamer and don't think about my wants that much.

1. Adopt 2+ kids
2. Have one more kid
3. become SAHM or work 3 or less days
4. homeschool
5. vacation in all 50 states- AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC,FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WY
6. move bigger house
7. live on a small farm
8. be free of all cc debit
9. teach kids to love God
10. work as a photographer
11. own a daycare
12. be size 10
13. finish Girlygirl first year scrapbook
14. make Girlygirl 2nd year scrapbook
15. walk 10000 steps a day
16. have weekly date with adam with no TV
17. keep the house clean
18. take picture of Girlgirl everyday
19. find some who want my cat
20. do foster care
21. my home to be the place my kids and friends want to hang out
22. pay full 10% offering every month
23. read bible daily
24. read to Girlygirl daily
25. have a scrapbook room
26. learn to cook good
27. live in an RV for 3 months or more
28. go to Disney World with family
29. be 100% debt free
30. eat health
31. work on getting my knee better
32. make time to hang out with friends
33. meet deaf people our age here
34. have a brand new van
35. get a wagon
36. get a swing set
37. fix up house 100%
38. write sponsor child monthly
39. have garage sale
40. get organized
41. move back to CA
42. take more me days
43. personal
44. Take a 30Th bday trip with Jessica
45. go camping 2x this summer
46. have my children know that I love them
47. make Girlygirl laugh everyday

FTJ: Day One

I know it is day five but I am just starting now. I stayed away from the computer for the last month but to cheek email and look at job posting. So I am getting a late start. So day one started a spending freeze. Day one assignment was to write an approved spending list. Here is mine:

• Food-milk, eggs, fresh fruit and veggies, soda, cat food, soaps as needed, pull ups for night no more than $25 a week
• gas-for both cars
• bills that come in as due and pay off cc with saved money
• DH $10
• pay library fine
• church offering
• DD $2 weekly
• $50/week for vacation saving

I look forward to trying this. Tonight I will talk to Sweetdude about the whole thing and do the day two assignment.

Starting Forget the Jones Boot Camp

I am doing a boot camp called Forget the Jones (FTJ) that I found at Mommy Savers. It is six week of figuring out what I want and how to better use your money. I am starting 5 days late because I was in California. I look forwarding to doing this and will be posting lots about it as I go through the steps.