Dress Up Wardrobe from a Dresser

I can take no credit for thinking this up - saw it on Pinterest.  One $20 craig's list dresser later, a little paint, new knobs, and finally, finally the pile of costumes is off the floor where it had exploded out of a little suitcase and threatened to become sentient and carry off the children.  A bonus is trying to instill in the children that when you put things away and can see them, dress up is far easier and much more fun!

Fall

Our gorgeous tree was just kind of a purple color when all the other leaves were out.  Then suddenly this week, fireworks.

The bees didn't make it this year.  Here is the top bar hive broken down for winter.

Comb they can use next spring.  I'm not discouraged, but a bit more experienced.

And how lovely.

Homeschooling - Halloween Math

Frankies (and Mummies) arithmetic from No Time for Flash Cards

Haunted house and ghosties arithmetic from Pre K and K Sharing - we modified to be a haunted house drawn on the white board, simple addition equations are under the ghosties.  J really liked making the materials for both of the exercises!  It helped motivate him to do the math - which he normally will resist - the combo of the monsters he made and the new activity interested him and he focused and enjoyed it.

Pink Cake with Strawberries

Somebody is turning FOUR (with one candle to grow on).

I made a pink ombre cake.  Now, I don't think that ombre necessarily belongs everywhere.  Don't hate me, but neither do chevrons!   But this seemed like a pretty ok place for a bit of ombre.  You have to make the layers anyway, why not distinguish between them? 

The cake itself is the yogurt orange cake from a tattered old copy of the very first Moosewood cookbook.  It makes a nice moist cake with a good crumb and you can flavor it anyway you like.  And, you know, despite the cup of butter in it, it also has yogurt, so it's kind of good for you, right?

The frosting is not good for you at all, but oh so good.  A stick of butter, 8oz of cream cheese, a tsp vanilla and a Tbsp lemon juice, and 2-3C powdered sugar depending on how stiff you need it.

Can I just say my little girl's eyes rolled around a little in her head when she saw how big and how pink her cake was?  AND it had strawberries?  AND a surprise amount of pinkness INSIDE? 

Happy Birthday, sweet P.  Many many happy returns.

PS - I've been away for a while.  Nothing major, just summer.  There is always so much to do, and photographing it seems so secondary - let alone sit down at the computer.  See you soon with our homeschooling adventures, year one.

Pendulum Painting Outside

Pendulum Painting didn't get into the Art and Yoga Camp but I hope to try it again in the one we do in August.  Easy to set up but the trick is getting the ratio of paint to water correct - too much paint and it just makes spots.  Also crucial is the distance to the paper from the paint tip - closer makes more "spirograph" lines, farther up in the air makes "dotty" paintings - both have their charms!

Paper Mache Volcano and Wet Felting with Kids

 Also from the Art and Yoga Camp - paper mache volcano with a bottle inside to allow for vinegar and baking soda lava.  JUST like on the Brady Bunch....

Wet felted vignettes - made inside plastic bags.  With tabs sewn into the tops and hung on twigs they make cute little art.

Big Painting

 Another go at painting on craft paper on the sidewalk - this time for Art and Yoga Camp.