School Garden

This spring, I helped in the school garden. It was incredibly fun!
Some things I've learned about gardening with kids:
(1)Start with cool weather plants
We have frosts into May. So, we began by planting things that tolerate light frosts: peas, onions, & lettuce
(2)Plant "showy" plants like tall sunflowers or bright pumpkins. Just start them indoors 1st & add mini greenhouses to protect them. (Kids can make these by cutting soda bottles as shown.)
(3) Make signs

This adds some visual interest when the plants are very small.
(4) Include art I had the kids create pictures with seeds. This gives them something enjoyable to do as they wait for seeds to sprout.

(5) Make it fun!

Even if the tasks are things like weed and water, you can assign them various things by having them roll dice.
Snacks also increase the enjoyment factor.

I was just working with 5th graders, but our younger son (2nd grade) says I definitely have to let his grade pick the pumpkins in the fall. So, I can tell he's seeing how exciting & magical it is to grow something!
And there are lots of life lessons in the garden.

These thank you cards to the kids read, "Life is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds."

5 things to love about Spring!

1. Birthdays! This little girl is 2 now!

We made this pig cupcakes just b/c it's fun to hear her snort/oink.
2. Play at the park weather

3. Sunshine in the sky & in your soul

4. Gardening & hiking season!

5. EASTER! Happy Springtime!

Happy Spring!

We've had a fun winter-

building and EATING snow forts.

But we are glad it's spring!

Miss H broke her clavicle, but has been such a trooper & likes her dinosaur sling.


My MIL helped me finish this quilt. I have a few more projects for that room b/f the baby comes next month! Happy Spring!

Easter Events

This year, D asked that the baskets be found after a treasure hunt since he loved the St. Patrick's day treasure hunt at his cousin's house.



Miss H had a ballet leotard in her basket which she LOVES. She wants to start ballet & practices twirling on her tiptoes.






















CUTE KIDS... let's sugar 'em up before church & see if their teachers agree with us...














I like how D is laying on the floor. I was so tired after staying up late composing rhyming clues & stuffing/hiding eggs that I wanted to do the same.





Our Easter art: The painted egg is from our oldest. The empty tomb is from Walter Rane. It's titled "He is not here". I've found myself starring at it so much lately. Such a simple image but such a powerfully reassuring message.

Spring pictures

Some spring happenings...

My brother's family came to visit- the kids loved having their cousins come for a sleepover.

We "attended church" by listening to Easter messages at home in our pjs. I also made these cute cards to send to our great-Grandmas. (I very rarely make cards anymore, but the few I do make are usu. for them b/c I know they love them enough to justify the time it takes to make them.)

Also, D just started another hockey season. His games are so fun to watch.
One game, I told him he'd done a good job & that I saw one of his shots was SOOO close to scoring. His response, "I had two close shots, Mom, weren't you paying attention?!"
Here's a picture of the last time he played goalie.

Enjoy the sunshine! (or the rain or wind or blistering heat or whatever signifies spring where you live!)

Spring?

It has snowed quite a bit here lately. I like spring snows because they usually are more wet & you can actually make things such as...

and

Here are a few Easter pics. It snowed on Easter too.

The kids enjoyed decorating this bunny house- thank you, G'ma.

Painting eggs

I have a sweet Easter story. Usually D is more interested in justice than in mercy for his sister (as in "mommy, do you want ME to put her in time out?"). But the other night, she wouldn't stay in bed & I told her if she got out again, I would put her stuffed puppy in the top of my closet. (Great discipline tip from my sister-in-law... take away toys when ignoring rules & have to "earn" them back by doing something extra). Anyway, D is still awake in bed when I make this threat & responds "Don't worry, if you lose your puppy, I'll do something nice for Mama & get it back for you."
What a sweet illustration of what the Savior did! No matter what the proverbial "puppy" represents for us, we have an older brother who loves us and has given us hope to have what we truly want returned to us. What a joyful event to celebrate.