Conservators' Center

 

Spent a beautiful day at the Conservators' Center learning and admiring some beautiful animals.  It was a lovely day and we enjoyed it so much!

The Crazy Chaotic Trampoline Party

 

I thought it was NUTS.  Ayla thought it was SUPER!  It was for the birthday girl and if she was happy then I was happy!!!  She was overjoyed! 

Ayla turned 8 years old!! (Baili turned 3yrs old)

 

 

 

 

Hard to believe my little mighty mite is a full 8 years old.  She shares a birthday with her Uncle Terry and Baili, our dog.  So it is a happy day indeed.  This little girl brings laughter and smiles everywhere she goes.  She is sweet, kind, silly and creative.  I love being her Mom!!! 

And the sun finally shines

 

So we headed out doors for some vitamin D at a park.  We enjoyed the playground equipment and the trails in the woods.  What a spectacular day in the sun!!!

Today we spent some time chilling in the indoor pool at our gym.  Ayla is really swimming so much better.  Olivia is a mermaid, I think!

Color purse

 

 

The girls both picked out one of these adorable color yourself purses.  They love them. 

Olivia gets her retainer

 

 

 

Olivia went back to the orthodontist today to get her rainbow glitter retainer.  She is doing so good with it.  She even succeeded eating ice cream today with it in.  Doctor told her to take it out while eating regular food and just practice eating soft foods with it for a little while before she attempts reg. food.  She only took it out at lunch today.  So proud of her.  I love how they make these things so kid friendly and fun!!! 

Making bouncy balls for school

 

 

We made bouncy balls.  They are so cute and they bounce great.  Girls loved making them and love playing with them even more!!!  We bought the kit at AC Moore and it was a really fun activity.

Arts

 

The read aloud book we are reading is set on a sheep farm.  My girls used crayola air dry clay to make a sheep farm equipped with poop and all!  :)  Keeping it real!

Ayla made this dolphin sculpture with the air dry clay.

 

Olivia made a Momma bird and her babies in a nest.

 

Hannah tatting up her Dad's arm

 

 

Hannah has this idea for an art project but she needed a model with a tattoo sleeve.  She couldn't find one.  So she improvised and did a quick sketch of some tats on her Dad's arm to get the idea.  Anyway, I love the look on both of their faces.  What we do for our kids!

Pinhole camera

We did it!!  We made a pinhole camera that worked!  This week we started studying the human body.  We started with cells then went on to the brain, nerves and then the eye.  The girls really were fascinated with learning about the eye and how it works.  I imagine part of their interest is due to Ayla and her eye troubles in the past.  We followed up our Science knowledge this week with making a pinhole camera.  With a pinhole camera the light bounces and makes the image appear upside down much like what happens with the light enters our pupil and hits our retina.  It help really make their learning concrete.  Plus they were amazed it worked and are now rushing through the rest of their school work to go outside and play with it some more.

Setting up camp

 

The girls set up a little camp today while playing outside.  They had their bow and arrow sets, mats, and pretend food.  I love their creative imaginations.  Please note Olivia does have shoes (rubber boots on the ground) I have no idea why she kept taking them off.  Crazy girl.  It was not freezing out but it was not warm either. 

Science

Source: spelloutloud.com via Tonya on Pinterest

We learned about body cells last week.  So today I did a science activity with the girls to help them remember how our blood cells work.  First we made the water yellow to represent our Plasma that transports our blood cells.  Then we had a baggy full of white rice that we colored with red food color - we left this sit for a bit.  Then we added dried blueberries for our platelets and white mini-marshmallows for our white blood cells.  We talked about the platelets being responsible to travel to the wound to help the wound scab over/clot so you won't loose all the blood from your body.  They are the stoppers/corks so to speak of the blood.  Then we talked about the white blood cells helping to fight off bacteria and illness.  Finally we added the red blood cells/red rice to the plasma - immediately the yellow plasma turned red.  Then I said that is because the red blood cells move oxygen through the body and the body needs the oxygen everywhere so that is why it all turned red.  I got the idea from Pinterest.  I think the visual will be helpful in keeping the blood cells job descriptions in their head.