Cabin

We headed up North to the family cabin for the weekend. We really hoped it would be a great getaway for us, but it soon fell a part and we came home early and exhausted. The short time we spent there was greatly appreciated!

We stopped for Chick-fila lunch and some hard playtime at the Toddler Zone. We didn't forget to get ice cream cones and milkshakes!!!

Cute kids ready for a long ride in the car.

We left during nap time in hopes they would sleep on the way up... no such luck.

Yep, wide awake...

At the cabin, picking wildflowers

My little lady

The boys on the porch rocking on the bench, so peaceful.

We drove down to Strawberry-Pine for the festival. We thought we would buy a flat of strawberries. I wanted to learn how to can them and make jam, until.... 

We relaized all the strawberries weren't local and were from CA. Not to mention $20 a flat... no thank you. I totally lost interest.

However, they had LOVELY strawberry desserts to choose from.

We pretty much had one of each!!

Mmmm, homemade strawberry shortcake.

Charlotte loved the chocolate dipped strawberries. B Man loved the strawberry float.

Cute kids in a meadow.

Who pretty much hated me taking pictures of them.

Walking to the car.

At night Kyle and I star gazed through a telescope on the cabin balcony. We had lovely food, wonderful cool weather (mid 70s-low 80s), long conversations and lots of cuddle time. We also had no sleep, a screaming Brady, a Charlotte who got stuck under the bed in the middle of the night, a bummer of a festival, the back end of our car all scraped up from being backed into a tree, and an early trip home.

Better luck next time.

More Swimming Lessons

Charlotte continues to learn how to kick and hold her breath underwater. She also is learning how to float on her back, dive for rings, jump in from the side of the pool, and swim to the edge and pull herself up. It is so incredible to watch her progress and feel more and more confident and happy to be in the water. It was definately hard at first as she would scream and cry... each day seems to get easier.

Jumping in!!!

Holding her breath.

Swimmig to the side and pulling herself out.

Going for a noodle swim

I am so proud at Charlotte's hard work and effort!!!

Ocean Stuff

Charlotte continues to learn more about the "ocean".

She played with a magnet set I made out of laminated stickers and ocean scene.  

She enjoyed naming the animals and pretending to make the fish swim in the sea.

Counting with stickers

Coloring an ocean animal booklet.

All done!

Swimming Lessons

I was very excited for Charlotte to start swimming lessons this week. She is one of 3, as Logan and Charlie attend as well. Miss Molly is AMAZINGLY patient and compassionate and safe. I am so grateful that Charlotte has the opportunity to work with "Miss Ma-wolly".

Going in!!!

Using her "kickers"

The boys, Mason and B Man

Waiting her turn and trying to hide from Miss Molly.

Going underwater and holding her breath!!!

Yay, Charlotte!!!

Way to go, Big Girl!!!

Jellyfish

We are continuing to work on beach/ocean themed trays. I plan to introduce a few more this week.  Charlotte worked on making jellyfish out of coffee filters and streamers. She LOVED this arts and craft activity.

Painting the coffee filter with watercolors. Since this was the first time painting with watercolors I had to adapt it a bit. It was too overwhelming for her to choose colors  to paint with, so I narrowed it down and put post it notes over the paint palette. She really enjoyed mixing and painting with a small amount of paints.

While the coffee filters dried, we watched Finding Nemo's jellyfish scene. This helped her understand what we were making.

Gluing the tentacle (streamers) on.

Adding eyes.

Decorating with glitter glue. Charlotte and I really enjoyed making these jellyfish!!!

Wave bottle and Fish print scales

We went over to Vicki and Charlie's for a fun play date. Since Vicki and I have planned an ocean unit for the girls to do, we have combined activities on Fridays together. I forgot my camera while the girls did the activities today, these pictures will have to do.

The girls made an ocean in a plastic water bottle. We used, vegetable oil, glitter, blue food coloring, and water. When the bottle shakes you can see the bubbles (waves) and glitter (sand) move around, the deeper blue part is the depth of the ocean. Very fun activity!

The girls also used rolling pins with bubble wrap to roll paint on fish to make "scales". Very fun too!

Smoothie Pops and our Beach unit

Made these Smoothie Pops for something new for breakfast... http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/smoothie-pops-676160/

Charlotte LOVED it, the pops were a BIG hit!!!

We started an beach/ocean unit for the next couple of weeks. Charlotte plays with her ocean sensory box A LOT. All of the Tot Trays are ocean themed. I get a lot of ideas from playhouseinmaryland.blogspot.com.

Button Snake with felt fish (idea adapted from Counting Coconuts blog)

Umbrellas and Styrofoam

Opening/Closing Umbrellas and pushing them into Styrofoam.

She sang "Happy Birthday" when she was all done.

Big and Small sort with shell cards (made by me)

Sorting by size

Stamping with beach stamps

Note to self... never, ever walk away from a 1 year old and a peanut butter sandwich... Ddddd-zaster!!! LOL