Dirt Chic

Leaves

We talked about leaves all week last week.  The kids weren't as interested as some of the other things we have done. Here is the book I used to talk about them.

 

It was a pretty good book.  There were a lot to choose from at the library but none really good for small kids.  

 

The ladies at the library did hook me up with a fat bag of leaf cutouts. I love them.

 

We used a few of them to glue with but this is what we did with most of them. We sang a little song and threw them up in the air.  Then we hung them up on the "tree".

Here is the song- It's sung to the tune of "Farah Zhacas" (sp?):

Leaves are twirling, Leaves are Twirling

To the ground, To the ground,

Red, Orange, Brown, Very Very softly,

To the ground. To the ground.

Making a Cloth Baby Book

I did this for a contest on Etsy. It was really easy and turned out so nice.

Here is what you need:

-Fabric scissors, 6 6-inch squares of flannel, embroidery floss in different colors, 2 cotton squares of fabric that are 6-inches with a fun pattern, 2 chenille squares that are 6-inches, needles, material scraps in the theme of your choice.

 

Here is what the cover looked like. 

You can use a machine but I hand stitched everything. Stitch the front and back covers the same way. Put the cotton and chenille facing each other and stitch together with a back stitch or some other tight stitch.  Leave room on one side to turn rightside out. Then turn them right side out.  Fill with Polyfill and stitch up the hole you left. Then you can stitch around the edges if you like for a little extra flair. I have a million embroidery books I have gotten at thrift stores.  They are really easy to follow.  I taught all these stitches to myself.

 
Then you embroider material scraps onto the flannel squares.  I like to iron the edges down and then sew it on.  It makes it easier.  I also bought a disappearing fabric pen so I could embroider words well. 

 When you have finished two flannel squares sew them together like you did the front and back covers.

My theme was things that fly.

 Here is the last page.

Then you just hold everything together and stitch down the edge. Easy stuff.

--Mary
 
 
 
 
 
 

Peanut Butter Day

We have finished learning about apples so now we are on to peanut butter. It just happened to be the next lesson in our busy bees book we checked out from the library.

 

It's a fun book but there are tons just like it at the library.  This is just the first one I picked up!

So we read a book about Peanuts!

 

It was for older kids but still good.

Then we sang the "Peanut Butter and Jelly" song from camp.  I would write it out but I can't tell you the tune to sing it to. Well, I will write it out anyway.

Peanut, Peanut Butter, and Jelly (x2)

The Peanuts you pick 'em, you pick 'em, pick'em, pick'em.

And you smash 'em, you smash 'em, you smash 'em smash 'em smash 'em.

And you spread 'em, you spread 'em, you spread 'em spread 'em spread 'em.

Peanut, Peanut Butter, And Jelly (x2)

The Berries, you pick 'em, you pick 'em you pick 'em pick 'em pick 'em.

You smash 'em, you smash 'em, you smash 'em, smash 'em smash 'em.

You spread em, you spread em you spread em spread em spread em.

Peanut, peanut Butter Jelly (x2)

O.k. I can't finish typing the rest but you get the idea.

Then we made peanut butter playdough. It was so fun and yummy.

 

Junie is saying Cheese!

 

It's really easy to make.  You just need dry Milk, honey, peanut butter and wheat germ.

 

 

The kids loved it.

--Mary

 

More on Apples

My kids were a little sick this weekend so we had alot of good chances for circle times.  And Justin was able to join us too.

We went to the park today.  It happens to have a commuinty orchard so we picked some apples, pears and grapes.  We'll see if any of it is fit to eat.

 

This is a little blurry but it shows our loot.

Yesterday we made Applesauce.  It was alot of fun for James but he didn't eat it because he is so crazy picky.  Here is what we did:

James helped me wash the apples.  Then he watched while I used the apple cutter to cut them into wedges.  Then I peeled one at a time and he cut that wedge into smaller pieces with a butter knife.  He loved it! I wish I would havr remembered to take a pic but things were a little crazy.   Then I put the apples in a pot with 1/4 cup of water and 2 teaspoons cinnamon.  I simmered until the apples were really soft.  Then James got to mash it all up with a potato masher.  It was so fun but even after all that he still wouldn't try a bite!

I also put a whole bunch of apples on the edges of the table and gave each kid a bowl.  I put my step stool up against the table and we pretended to climb an apple tree and pick an apples.  Lucy especially loved this.  I promise I will take more pictures next time.

 

Here is Arwen as Shelby from Steel Magnolias!

--Mary

Recent Favorite Picture Books

Here are some Picture Books that I think are really fun, creative and amusing.

 

"The Show and Tell Lion" by Barbara Abercrombie and Lynne Avril.

I love the idea behind this book.  I especially love the Mom's acceptance of her child's creativity.  She is tender and loving but gives her child the opportunity to work out his problem for himself.  I think that for alot of parents it wouldn't occur to them that their child isn't "lying" but is just really creative. I also love the voice of the main character.

 "Pirate Jam" by Jo Brown

This book is a little crazy but really fun to read to Toddlers.  James is going through a serious Pirate thing and loves this book.  Justin knows it by heart.  I like how the author makes these pirates so loveable and gives them the opportunity to grow beyond "Piratey" things.

 

"Roger the Jolly Pirate"by Brett Helquist.

More Pirates for James!  This has a really fun twist to it.  I love it.  Some of the drawings could be scarey if presented the wrong way to a sensitive child.  James is sensitive and Justin did a great job of helping him to think this story is funny.  Roger is the best pirate I have ever known.

--Mary

Things I Have Sold on Etsy.com

Just thought you might to see some of my favorite items from my Etsy shop Dirtchickids.  I keep a picture of everything sold because I really can't bear to part with any of it!

 

 

 

 

Awwwesome huh!

Mary

Apples Today

Today I did a circle time with my kids.  We are doing a Homeschool Co-op Preschool with a few other moms once a week.  Circle time didn't go so well the first week so I thought we would try doing it at home to get used to it.  So, I got a few books at the library to jump start my brain.  I also just really love looking at currriculum.

  

Here are two good ones. The first is "Busy Bees Fun for Two's and Three's" by Totline Books.  The second is "Everyday Circle Times" by Liz and Dick Wilmes.  I just bought it on Amazon for 53 cents.

Today we just started with Apples.  Our Co-op group is doing Baking this month.  I thought Apples would be a good place for us to start because it is the letter A and it is fallish, etc.

We started by taking apples out of a bowl and putting them back in.  My 18 month old really liked this.  We sang a little song like this to just a whatever tune:

Pick up the Apples and put them in the basket...x2....x3.....x4...x10

Then we cut open the apple and talked about the inside and the outside.  Then we sang this song:

If you like to munch an apples raise your hand.

If you like to munch an apples raise your hand.

If you like to hear them crunch,

And eat them for your lunch,

If you like to munch an apple,

Raise your hand.

(sing to the tune of "If Your Happy and You Know It")

Then we did a craft.

Here's how it went.

 

We cut an apple in half and stamped with Tempra paint.  The apples we used were kind of old and not edible.  But we did eat a different apple while we did this.   As you can see, Lucy loved it and really followed my directions.  She didn't get too crazy.

 

James did a good job too but also wanted to use his hands.  I love it!  Now I have wrapping paper for Christmas!  They had a blast and the whole thing took like 15 minutes. 

Mary

Little Mommy Tricks

It's good to have alot of experience in parenting before you are a parent. HA! So here are some of my favorite tips I have gathered in my daily experience with my kids.

 

CAR TRIP TIPS:

- Always have garbage bags, paper towels, towels and all purpose cleaner in the trunk.  I learned this the hard way.  I especially like Method all purpose cleaner in Pink Grapefruit.

-Baby Mozart CD is essential when traveling with a newborn.

- I always keep a potty chair in the car for my toddler.  Sometimes though there is no where to dump the pee.  Or what if there is poop involved?  The best way to deal with this situation is to have a diaper always handy.  I keep ones that my kids have grown out of for this reason.  Simply place the diaper on top of the mess and let it absorb all the liquid and poop.  It really is amazing how much it cleans up.  Then you can just throw the diaper away.

 

-Buy a grabber.  They are so helpful and you won't strain your back reaching things for the kids. I got mine at Cracker Barrel.

-When we eat on the road we always eat a a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut.  The pizza boxes can be ripped in half and make excellent trays.

-My kids both have toy bins by their seats.  I always have a variety of toys for them to play with and multiple outfit changes just in case. 

-Don't have an agenda.  Your kids will dictate the trip for you.  If you have expectations you will always be dissappointed! Let them be kids.

Next up will be food tips.

The Beeeaaach!

 

My kids love the beach.

 

Just thought everyone would like to see these pics from our summer adventures.

The Push

It took an old friend to push me into writing.  It's a fun story.

Flori was my best friend in Jr. High.  She moved away in High School and I dropped out so our friendship ended.  She just recently found me on Facebook.  She contacted me and wanted to get together.  I am always pumped to hang with friends if they can handle the chaos of my life.  :)

Anyway, she came and had Pizza with me and the kids and patiently watched me go through my bedtime routine with them.  I always read James 3 books.  After I came back downstairs from laying him down Flori said, "Have you ever considered writing book for Children?"  It really shocked me because I have always been to scared to admit my dream to anyone but Arwen.  Then she said," I know it seems overwhelming but I think you could be good at it.  Sit down and just try to write some S***.  Don't try to do anything good.  Then you won't be overwhelmed." 

I thought she had great advice.  It was the divine push I needed to get started. I'm thankful that God uses us in amazing ways. 

My first step besides writing was to buy the "Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market".  

 

Their website is cwim.com.  Before you even consider writing to be Published you must read this book.  There is a lot of business you must understand in order to write for kids.  I have read it cover to cover and it led me to my next step in my journey.  I'll talk about that next.

Mary