Three Billy Goats Gruff with a Twist

One morning, The big troll took his son to the bridge. "Now, son, I need you to guard this bridge. I can't have those silly Billy Goats trip, trapping over my bridge today."

"Okay, Dad." said the little troll.

The big troll went home to cut down all the weeds, so he could plant a garden.

It wasn't long before a line of goats came to cross the bridge.

"I am sorry," said the little troll. "I cannot let you trip trap over this bridge. My dad said so."

"Why is he such a grumpy troll?" asked one of the goats. "He is always complaining about us trip, trapping over this bridge."

"Oh." said the little troll. "The weeds are making him VERY grumpy."

"Weeds?" asked the goats collectively.

"Dad wants to plant a garden, but there are sooo many weeds!" The troll told the goats.

"We can help with weeds" said one goat.

"We love weeds!" said another.

"We will eat ALL of his weeds. Even the ones with thistles." said a third.

So the little troll let this goats trip trap over the bridge and back to their farm.

"Dad, Dad! The goats said they will eat our weeds!" The troll told his father.

And they did. Those goats are ALL of the weeds in the field. The big troll was impressed.

"Thank you, Goats. You can trip trap over the bridge any time you want."

From then on, the big troll was a little less grumpy. The goats were fat and happy. The Little troll made friends with the littlest goat.

The end

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Tell Me A Story Tuesday - Three Billy Goats Gruff

This version of the Three Billy Goats Gruff is found in worldstories.org

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Birthday Party

 The theme was American Girl Rainforest birthday party. Yes, it WAS picked by a 6 year old. Inspired by the new American Girl Lea, who explores the rainforest, we went "wild" with Palm leaves, toucan, sloths, butterflies and more.

 The party took place at our community pool. But I added a craft table to the mix. Every hour, the whistle blows and little swimmers need to get out of the pool and take a break. I knew little hands needed something to do in their break.

The funny thing was, the kiddos SWARMED to the craft table, even choosing to do crafts OVER swimming. At.a.pool.party.

We made turtle charm bracelets (charms found on Etsy), ocean animal bead necklaces, mini terrarium (pictured above), and sloths in a leaf sleeping bag.

They had a ball!

The crafts were simple yet engaging and unisex. Add a craft or two to your next party. The kiddos will love it.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

A few of my favorites from Instagram

You can never have too many sprinkles

This morning found us making 48 cupcakes! Yesterday, we celebrated my birthday. Tomorrow, we will celebrate Greta's 6th birthday.

"You can never have too many sprinkles." declared Greta.

And when cooking with children, you can never have enough paper towels! Cooking and baking with kiddos have lessons built in with delicious results. Cooking and baking are sensory, science, AND language all in one.

Some people shy away from mess. Why? Kids love mess. It's okay to be messy and it can be fun to clean up, too. Key #1 just relax. That egg dropped on the floor will clean up. That batter that splattered on your backsplash, it will wipe up. And the kiddos can be washed, too!

I have cooked with one child. I have cooked with toddlers. I have cooked with a classroom of 24 kids at one time. You may call me brave (or crazy!), but the laughing and the binding and the taste testing...it doesn't get better than THAT!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Birthday Sale - mybigworld2015.etsy.com

TODAY is my birthday! Do you want to celebrate with me?

Use coupon code BIRTHDAY to save 44% on orders over $25 today only, because it's my birthday!

www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

*Orders will all be shipped out on Saturday, August 6th  morning.

Tell Me A Story Tuesday - Helping 500 Elephants

Once there was a prince who cared for his world so much that he travelled far, far away from his kingdom. He spent weeks and weeks helping relocate nearly 500 elephants to a new conversation reserve. He wanted to help the elephants and keep them safe from poachers.

This is a true story of Prince Harry in South Africa now, helping to relocate nearly 500 elephants to a new reserve that will hopefully help keep elephants safe from poachers and increase the declining elephant population.

I know there are a lot of big words in this story, but that's okay. You can talk to your child about what a "reserve" is and what "conservation" means. Elephants are interesting to most children. Throw a real Prince that is helping them into the mix, and I would say that your child will crave more information from you. Not only are you expanding their knowledge of elephants but also their vocabulary. Then, to take it further, read a book or two (or 20!) about elephants, find all your little elephant toys to count and sort by size.

Learning is through play is fun and not work. Make it fun.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel