Water Outside, Crafts Inside

A big deal this week is that we went to the splash pad for the first time this summer. It was also a big deal because Claire hates splashing water and she managed to get close enough to the water to fill a little cup over and over again while we were there. We told her she was brave for doing something that we know is hard for her to do, and celebrated her successes.

 "Justice! Freedoms!"

 Craft with friends today: Captain America mask and superhero cuffs. We also read a short book about Independence Day, as well as one about Captain America.

 Claire practicing her photo taking skills

 Another one of Claire's photos, but I love it! Who can resist this cute, little boy!

 Fairy house! I saw a wooden one like this and decided to do what I do best and make it out of cardboard. Claire loved painting it, and putting sparkles, stickers, beads, rhinestones, etc. on it! It almost looks like a Valentine box.

back and side view

 Side view

 Front door with a heart-shaped door knob

 Someday we'll think Todd looks so small in this pictures because he can fit in a diaper box!

 Skyler brought this box from work and it has been entertainment for the kids while I recovered from a cold

 Practicing writing her name for the first time.

 We've started drinking smoothies almost every afternoon as a summer snack

 This is Claire's first piano book and her first song was Twinkle, twinkle which happens to be one of her favorite songs.

 We have a song about the planets so Claire colored these and I put them on a stick she painted a long time ago.

 Our three little pig craft. I'm pretty sure we've read five versions of this story.

 Mermaids and pirates-arrr! Studio C always makes me laugh. This may be too silly for some, but we've been quoting it a lot this week because it has to do with pirates:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u5EwaJ2hH8

 Helping water the garden

Captain America

"Captain America meets pizza! Captain America eats pizza!" -Claire

Beading and Painting

We rediscovered our Mickey hat and I thought it went along well with her black tutu!

 I've had these beads and string for ages and was able to pull them out when Claire developed an interest in beading after a friend showed her how to do it.

 I let Todd put buttons and beads on pipe cleaner and play with pompom balls.

 A pretend picnic with friends. Looks like Claire is a fairy and her friend is Rapunzel.

We do a craft every week with friends and this week was good old rock painting. The one with the heart is paper mod podged to a rock. And some I painted white so that they could use permanent markers on them.

 Claire helped picked out this vinyl tablecloth in preparation for our craft play dates.

 Of course Claire had to do more painting and we enjoyed using patriotic colors. Although, Claire had to sneak in some hot pink. If it was up to her, the flag would be red, white, blue and hot pink!

Flag Day

 This OK veteran's memorial is at a park that we visit often. We finally stopped to look at it more closely.

 The way the light was that day, the Eagle looks like it's glowing.

 I feel like it was hard to explain to Claire the concept of people protecting us and our freedoms. I guess that's why you keep teaching them over the years and it'll all start to make sense. We celebrated flag day by painting a paper plate to look like a flag, reading about the history of the flag, watching a silly kid video about the flag on Youtube, and watching Lady Gaga sing the Star Spangled Banner at the last super bowl where they are holding the giant flag.

 Exploring a new park.

 These birds were camping outside of our church building. Their nest is cool looking with the red mud.

 My attempt to decorate on top of the bookshelf with a summer theme.

 A hard working man.

 The humidity is on! I know we'll use this water table a lot!

 Hats :)

 Watering the plants. Our tomatoes and basil are surviving!

 Todd recently discovered how to gallop and it's so cute watching him do it up and down the hallway and through the family room.