Winter Paintings

I came across a wonderful blog today, Meet the Dubiens, via ABC and 123. They were highlighting this cool art project they had done. I got out some watercolor paper and painters tape and went to work making the tree with the painters tape.

The kids used their watercolors and painted the entire page.

Once the paint was dry, I gently pulled off the painters tape, leaving the white silhouette of the tree.

I also thought their watercolor/crayon resist project was so pretty and had to do it with the kids while we had the watercolors out. Aidan thought it was pretty cool how the snowflakes appeared when he painted the paper.

Next on my list to do from Meet the Dubiens: Lava Bottles. :)

Fun with Window Markers

After I saw this post at Teach Preschool today, I knew I had to finally get out the window markers we got the kids for Christmas. I had been nervous about getting them out before because I had no idea if my toddler would stay coloring on the window or just think she could color with anything on the window (she is my little destructo - must keep a constant eye on her!).

I knew I had these two frames, just waiting for another project and thought the big kids could use them with the window markers. They thought it was so cool. Next time we do it I am going to try putting different shapes like Teach Preschool did and see what they do with them.

Aidan was excited that when his work was done he could just go hang it up - already framed!

52 Week Challenge

Week 46 of 52

I switched over to the Shoot Me logo instead of the Mom is Missing logo. The challenge is being hosted on a different blog now and wanted to make sure I sent everyone to the correct address!

So another week, another photo of me on the couch with my kids. Doesn't Olivia look so pleased? She is such a little sassy-pants. :)

We built a space shuttle!

Okay, so maybe it isn't all that exciting, but to Aidan it is. :) It is his favorite thing right now.

Don't ya just love his astronaut costume? I got it for like $3 on the after Halloween clearance and he got it for Christmas - LOVES it! Wears it all the time.

So with his fabulous renewed interest in space, (he has been obsessed with Star Wars as of late), I wanted to find something fun we could make. I came across this fun idea and thought he would like it. I had to reinforce the card stock wings with cardboard and he wanted me to add this blue painter's tape I had sitting out.

He was happy with his orbiter for a couple days, but then was reading through one of his space books and noticed the solid rocket boosters in a picture. So I explained how those are the rockets that help get the shuttle out into space. He HAD to have these added to his shuttle. So I brainstormed a little and thought maybe a 2 liter pop bottle would work great as the external tank, and two 20 oz pop bottles would make good solid rocket boosters. I wanted to have Aidan paint them, but he was too impatient for that, so we just covered them with construction paper. My husband informs me that the external tank is supposed to be brown, I thought it was more red-orange and red was the color of construction paper I had. I just found a website that says it is orange, so if you make it, you could make it the correct color. :)

Aidan wanted me to just tape them all together. I thought it would be more fun to use magnets to hold them all together, so as he was playing he could detach the external tank and the solid rocket boosters, just as the orbiter would. Sadly, my magnets that I had on hand are not strong enough, and we are in the middle of a snowstorm, so he might have to wait another day or two for mommy to get to the store and get better magnets or maybe some velcro.
Does anyone else have an idea of how I could attach them but be able to separate them easily?

The entire shuttle mission, ready to launch. Oh, I forgot to take a picture, but he also used Tinker Toys to build a launch pad. So fun!

There are so many other awesome space ideas floating around right now!

Counting Coconuts January theme is outer space - sooooo many cool ideas there.

Totally Tots has great ideas with their A is for Astronaut.

Homeschool Creations Astronaut Preschool Pack is so fun. I have it all printed out and laminated, and started a few of the activities with the kids today.

I also just found this other fun space shuttle craft so Aidan and I may need to make it sometime as well.

Good Moon Songs and Rhymes over at Preschool Express.

52 Week Challenge

Week 45 of 52

Does it seem like all of my pictures of me and my kids has me laying on the couch with one or more of them around me? I just realized this and it would seem that I am always just laying around. Which is so far from reality - in the short evening time we have with hubby at home (who can take the pictures) I do try to sit down for a little bit, and as soon as I do - they all pounce on the mommy! Without fail. But they are all in bed now, so I think I will really go lay down and rest. :)

Me and my Livi