Even Still

Happy Birthday to my Cory

Hot Air Balloon Crafting

-tear tissue paper

- dip into a glue mixture (1 part glue to three parts water)

- place gluey tissue onto air balloon traced onto cardboard

- let dry (a looooooooooooong time)

- cut out air balloon and glue to a basket cut out of construction paper

Voila!

Pake

Henry and Samuel are blessed to have loving and God fearing grandparents on both mine and Cory's side.

When we bought our new home we moved about 40 minutes further from the van der Meer's. We try to see them every other week, but a few ear infections and busyness on both ends and it's 4 weeks before we see them!

Last Sunday the boys (and Cory and me!) were so thrilled to spend the afternoon with them. While they were thoroughly spoiled with attention from Oma, as well as Aunts/Uncles, I caught these sweet shots of the boys with their adoring Pake.

Samuel loved the taste of Pakes tie :) Henry and Pake poured over this beautiful book of horses (in which Cory and Tante Melissa's scribbled names were discovered!).

Trouble

Daddy Henry

Henry is all boy. He loves his trains, balls, cars and most of all, wrestling. But there is a very sweet, tender and loving side, too. I really discoverd this side of him as I watched him interact with his little brother. He is protective of Samuel, making sure he has a toy at all times, and is so quick to tell me when Sam is upset.

Most recently I found evidence of Henry's tenderness with his beloved "boy". Nearly every day after nap I have found Henry's "boy" tucked on his pillow, with his blanket and puppy close beside. I have caught him doing this only twice and each time I overheard a sweet prayer to God for "boy" before a goodnight kiss.



Goodnight "boy", sleep tight!

One Warm Fall Day

All summer long I would set Samuel up in his Excer-saucer on our front porch. He would play happily for a very long time, watching the cars, people and animals pass by.

Several weeks ago we had an exceptionally warm fall day and I couldn't resist this last time on the front porch in the exersaucer.

Three generations later my Oma's insistence on 'keeping the ears covered for the wind' still rings true :)

Sam's New Spot

Under the table! Table and chairs legs make for a great obstacle course. It is safely hidden away from a brother who may want to take your toy and declare "MINE!" But best of all, there is often a cheerio or two to be found!

Some Preschooling Adventures

So far our practice preschool has been going well. I have managed to do one special craft per week. Since I have been so focused on schooling I've really noticed all the 'educational' things we do each day without even thinking of it. I also realized I do some nontraditional crafty things (really, just fine motor skill work) such as tearing paper and playing with stickers.

I have not been very good at taking pictures of our activities, however. As usual, we started out keen to blog our practice preschool, so this was our first week. It was an end of fall craft. We collected leaves (I tried to encourage Henry to collect pretty red leaves but he has a more subdued and post modern sense of beauty and chose brown and yellow leaves with black rotting spots), and then glued the leaves to cardboard which then slid into a paper towel roll which served as the trunk. We used a favourite seasonal book "I am a Bunny" by Richard Scarry. We talked a lot about the fall, trees and leaves but two things that stood out was Henry's surprise that elephants and trees both have trunks and that the leaves have now mostly fallen off the trees.

This was a pretty simple craft because I really want to set us up for success. I have made very modest plans for each week in November and December.

I have created a little nook in the family room to display Henry's art. I also display his Sunday School work or anything else he may be proud or excited to see hanging on the wall.

So far so good! :) Thank you to all who commented with helpful links. I have checked all of your recommendations out and have bookmarked most of them to go back to when I need them!