The Making of a Fairy Garden

To the well organized mind of a certain 4 year old, this fairy garden has been in the planning stages for about 3 weeks.

We went to Joann today and pick out our treasured pieces like the wishing well, banner, fence,  and garden. Joann also had a Safari Ltd Toob of fairies, so of course we HAD to get those. The baby unicorn was on clearance. Score!

We went to our local nursery to get tiny plants. I had pebbles and ribbon.

Making our Fairy Garden today after naps!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Vending Machine Monkeys

Okay, I am a kid that never grew up. I love love love teeny tiny toys.

So, my husband says to me, "Did you see the monkeys in the vending machine at the grocery store?" He does the grocery shopping, so I didn't. But I went to check them out.

Oh my!

As soon as I saw them, my mind was racing. Couting. Sorting. Adding. Subtracting. Grouping. Projects. Crafts. Favors.

I got a roll a quarters and went to town. I know that I got some strange looks from people passing by. That's okay. I literally stuck my purse under the machine, so that the little plastic balls with the monkeys inside would fall right into my purse. I went back later and got more.

They are funny little critters with different expressions and in different positions. Lots of ways to sort these little guys.

I just never know where I will find inspiration for preschool math!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

CLCC Art Show and Silent Auction

Tonight, after taking photos of my daughter going to her Jr. Prom, I jetted over to CLCC Art Show and Silent Auction. My playscape was there along with so many art pieces on display. 100S of people were there. I was so pleased with the turn out and proud to be part of this special evening.
Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Safari Ltd Goes to the Beach

G had several things that she was looking forward to on this trip.
1. The San Diego zoo
2. See koalas
3. Build a sand castle
So I packed a special bag of little things to be in our sand castle. Among them, Safari Ltd. sunflower and fish.
On the very last day, we went to Torrey Pines State Park beach. We built our first sand castle together.
G. Loved. It.
Have a fun and playful day
Mel

San Diego

Today, we are leaving San Diego and heading to La Jolla for a few days. I will miss this view and turn down service :)

I brave the red trolley that runs through downtown with the girls yesterday. New experiences make me nervous coupled with the responsibility for two kiddos...but it was good. We all enjoyed the trolley ride. And childhood is all about the experiences.

We took the trolley to Seaport Village to ride a carousel built in 1895. Beautiful. Horses, giraffes, zebras, a goat. We Loved it.

The three of us shared "a slice" bigger than the plate. So yummy! The man called it New York Style pizza. All we knew was it was good.

We strolled along the harbor then back to our hotel. We squeezed in a 30 minute swim before nap.

After nap, it was off to the science center. We were a little disappointed with it. Kind of generic and the toys there all needed a good scrubbing.

We went to dinner in Olde Town in an outdoor Mexican restaurant with live music and dancers. We were all soaking in the culture.

It's been fun to explore San Diego with the girls. I think I would like to come back. We are off to La Jolla and tidal pools and sea lions and the Scripps Aquarium.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

For the birds!

I love when a small fact becomes an interest. "Mel, did you know that hummingbirds are teeny tiny and have a super long beak?" that was the launching point for us watching hummingbird videos on YouTube and discovering that there's many different kinds of hummingbirds.

Children learn the most when the subject interests them. If you have a kiddo, try this. Find something they like, then "research" together and incorporate it into their play like we did here.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Teaching our Children to Care for the Earth

My Grandma Helen died a year ago, but her Life lessons follow me daily. She said Serve God, love your family, plant a garden and some flowers, and take care of those in need.

On this Earth Day, I think back to being on my hands and knees in the dirt beside her pulling weeds or helping her refill the bird feeders outside her kitchen window.

Grandma Helen was an amazing example for her 8 children, 23 grandchildren, and 40+ great grandchildren.  Every year, she planted a HUGE garden behind Grandpa's garage.  She planted lots of flowers for the bees.  The neighborhood birds never missed a meal - Grandma Helen's feeders were always full.  If she couldn't darn it or Grandpa couldn't fix it, she gave the items away to those in need.

Simple, right?

Simple but exactly how it should be.  Grandma Helen, through living example, gave us the tools for taking care of the Earth and people around us.  I hope I am teaching my daughters these rules for taking care of the earth.

Have a fun and playful day.
Mel

picture is from a previous post entitled Rainbow Forest - a nature friendly imaginative way to play