On the Teal Mini Swap blog hop?
This is unfortunately the wrong blog. The correct one is here.
Sorry for any confusion!
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Link to Slice of Pi Quilts
Looking for Slice of Pi Quilts?
On the Teal Mini Swap blog hop?
This is unfortunately the wrong blog. The correct one is here.
Sorry for any confusion!
On the Teal Mini Swap blog hop?
This is unfortunately the wrong blog. The correct one is here.
Sorry for any confusion!
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Choo! Choo! Happy 3rd birthday to you!
Jeremiah is THREE!
Ever since Micah's birthday in January, Jeremiah has been talking about what he wanted at his own party.
He immediately decided on a train theme, and it seemed a perfect fit!
Of course I found all of the ideas for the party on Pinterest.
Jeremiah picked out some fabric out of my stash to make a birthday train shirt. The morning of the party, he took his usual favorite train shirt and gave it to Micah to wear to the party!
I used some scrap lumber and vinyl (cut on my Cricut) to make a railroad crossing sign. This was at the entrance to the party.
Jeremiah helped lay the tracks before the party started. We used electrical tape to make the tracks from the door into the party room and around the tables.
A few empty boxes made a fun hiding spot!
Paper boxes made an appearance this year too. This time as train engines! (Train faces printed from here.)
(Cupcake toppers and drink labels printed from here.)
Happy birthday, Jeremiah!
Now a few stats and likes:
He weighs 26.4 pounds.
He is tall 2' 10.75".
He loves to help with anything you are doing. Cook, clean, fix, etc.
He likes to watch the Leap Frog learning DVDs about letters and words. Trains and Mickey Mouse are a close second.
He is a creature of habit. If something changes or is rearranged, he is quick to notice and point it out.
He loves to have ham with ketchup, a pancake, and some fruit. He'd eat exactly that for every meal if we'd let him.
He can identify all letters (uppercase and lowercase) and make their sounds. He's just beginning to sound out words ("cat" is "c....a....t" but not "cat").
He likes to write letters, but most are not legible yet.
He can count to ten or twelve if encouraged. He prefers to say, "1, 2, 6, 8!"
He says phrases like "wash hands" or "eat ham", and refers to himself by using his name ("Jeremiah eat"). He does not use complete sentences.
He is getting much better at gross motor skills. He will jump and barely get both feet off the ground, he will throw a ball, cast a fishing pole, climb up the steps, etc. He can not really catch a ball and prefers not to go down the slides at the park.
He assesses risk very well. He considers every move before doing it. He prefers not to attempt new things and likes to watch others first.
He loves to read. He will sit and listen to a story and even look through books independently for quite a long time.
He is partial to Mom. When Josh tries to dress him, put him into his car seat, or put him to bed, "No, Mom do it."
He prefers not to get messy. While visiting my parents recently, he played in a sand pile forever! We were shocked!
We can not seem to wean him off his pacifier. "Bed time only" is hard for him.
He flat out refuses to sit on the potty.
He is still very independent. He only wants help when he asks for it.
He loves learning new things (except how to use the potty!). We are currently using a preschool homeschool curriculum. His favorite things are to learn about letters and use scissors to cut.
We have enjoyed watching Jeremiah grow into a little boy and pray God continues to equip us for the years ahead!
If you want to reminisce, you can read about Jeremiah turning one and two. And last year's birthday party here.
Ever since Micah's birthday in January, Jeremiah has been talking about what he wanted at his own party.
He immediately decided on a train theme, and it seemed a perfect fit!
Of course I found all of the ideas for the party on Pinterest.
Jeremiah picked out some fabric out of my stash to make a birthday train shirt. The morning of the party, he took his usual favorite train shirt and gave it to Micah to wear to the party!
I used some scrap lumber and vinyl (cut on my Cricut) to make a railroad crossing sign. This was at the entrance to the party.
Jeremiah helped lay the tracks before the party started. We used electrical tape to make the tracks from the door into the party room and around the tables.
We had three tables set up for people to sit at. One each in green, blue, and red. I drew train faces on pieces of cardboard and taped them to the ends of the tables. Black poster board taped into tubes made smokestacks and each had three white balloons coming out the top for smoke. (Sensing a "three" theme?)
There was a train tunnel and tent set up behind the tables, too (I didn't get a picture of that!).
Jeremiah loves to paint. So for one party activity, I bought plain wood plaques from Wal-Mart and put black outlines of a train engine on them (cut with the Cricut). These were on the tables with bottles of paint, paint brushes, and Styrofoam plates. The "budding" artists were able to peel up the vinyl after painting to reveal the outline that had been painted over.
There was also a "grassy knoll" where the attendees could "blow off some steam" by blowing bubbles. Micah liked this station. He would dip the bubble wand in the liquid then lick it.
The favorite activity for the older kids was a last minute addition. We took some leftover pipe insulation tubing and cut it into 2" lengths to make "coal." An extra box made the perfect "coal car". The kids threw the coal into the car, then dumped it out and did it again.
A few empty boxes made a fun hiding spot!
Paper boxes made an appearance this year too. This time as train engines! (Train faces printed from here.)
We cut the bottoms of the boxes out so the kids could run around on the tracks!
The cupcakes fit perfectly inside a wooden train track we have.
(Cupcake toppers and drink labels printed from here.)
Now a few stats and likes:
He weighs 26.4 pounds.
He is tall 2' 10.75".
He loves to help with anything you are doing. Cook, clean, fix, etc.
He likes to watch the Leap Frog learning DVDs about letters and words. Trains and Mickey Mouse are a close second.
He is a creature of habit. If something changes or is rearranged, he is quick to notice and point it out.
He loves to have ham with ketchup, a pancake, and some fruit. He'd eat exactly that for every meal if we'd let him.
He can identify all letters (uppercase and lowercase) and make their sounds. He's just beginning to sound out words ("cat" is "c....a....t" but not "cat").
He likes to write letters, but most are not legible yet.
He can count to ten or twelve if encouraged. He prefers to say, "1, 2, 6, 8!"
He says phrases like "wash hands" or "eat ham", and refers to himself by using his name ("Jeremiah eat"). He does not use complete sentences.
He is getting much better at gross motor skills. He will jump and barely get both feet off the ground, he will throw a ball, cast a fishing pole, climb up the steps, etc. He can not really catch a ball and prefers not to go down the slides at the park.
He assesses risk very well. He considers every move before doing it. He prefers not to attempt new things and likes to watch others first.
He loves to read. He will sit and listen to a story and even look through books independently for quite a long time.
He is partial to Mom. When Josh tries to dress him, put him into his car seat, or put him to bed, "No, Mom do it."
He prefers not to get messy. While visiting my parents recently, he played in a sand pile forever! We were shocked!
We can not seem to wean him off his pacifier. "Bed time only" is hard for him.
He flat out refuses to sit on the potty.
He is still very independent. He only wants help when he asks for it.
He loves learning new things (except how to use the potty!). We are currently using a preschool homeschool curriculum. His favorite things are to learn about letters and use scissors to cut.
We have enjoyed watching Jeremiah grow into a little boy and pray God continues to equip us for the years ahead!
If you want to reminisce, you can read about Jeremiah turning one and two. And last year's birthday party here.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Nashville Vacation
We recently got back from a week-long vacation in Nashville. I know you're thinking it. "Of all the places to spend a week, why Nashville?" Well, when you have two toddlers, you look at vacation-y spots that are within an eight-hour drive. Plus we were able to stay at a Wyndham Resort that had two bedrooms and two giant bathrooms, so each kid got their own room! Parenting priorities! (Yes, one kid slept in the bathroom.)
We didn't pack or tell the boys about the vacation until the day before we left. As soon as Jeremiah woke up the morning we were leaving, he started excitedly saying, "Trip! Trip!" over and over. He settled in for the drive quite well!
Josh quickly discovered the best way to transport the boys from our room, into the elevator, and out to the car. We did it every time we came back too! Work smarter, not harder.
When we got to Nashville, we still needed to eat supper, but wanted something quick. We decided the mall was a fine choice (it was about a 1/4 mile from where we stayed). The food court had a carousel, so after we ate, Josh and Jeremiah went for a ride. Why not?! It's vacation!
Afterward, the attendant gave Jeremiah a horse stamp on his hand. He immediately started saying he was going to "show Hanna" (our dog). We have no idea where that came from, but convinced him showing Hanna a picture of the horse would suffice so he could wash his hands.
The building we stayed in had a playground just behind it that you could see from our room. It didn't take long before the boys found their way down to it.
The weather started out fairly warm, so we went to the Nashville Zoo. Maybe it was because it's technically winter, but most of the animals were not out or the exhibits were under construction. We did a lot of walking to see giraffes, a leopard, and fish/reptiles.
On Sunday, we went to church. We just picked one from Google. We thought Jeremiah would enjoy playing with all the other kids. Turns out, nope.
We had lunch one day at an "Amish" restaurant. It was more of a marketing ploy.
Supper at the Aquarium restaurant was a hit. Both of the boys loved watching the fish, manta rays, and sharks.
Josh surprised me with a trip to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY one day! He even tolerated taking me to visit a couple quilt shops! (You can read more about that on my quilting blog.)
When I stepped back to take his picture, he started pooping. Great photo op...
It was even fun crossing the Mississippi River!
It was a great vacation! The boys were old enough to enjoy most of the activities, but young enough to get in free. We can't wait until the next one!
We didn't pack or tell the boys about the vacation until the day before we left. As soon as Jeremiah woke up the morning we were leaving, he started excitedly saying, "Trip! Trip!" over and over. He settled in for the drive quite well!
And then kept doing it every time we got in the car and asked me to take his picture. (Notice he can't go anywhere without his blankie!)
When we got to Nashville, we still needed to eat supper, but wanted something quick. We decided the mall was a fine choice (it was about a 1/4 mile from where we stayed). The food court had a carousel, so after we ate, Josh and Jeremiah went for a ride. Why not?! It's vacation!
Afterward, the attendant gave Jeremiah a horse stamp on his hand. He immediately started saying he was going to "show Hanna" (our dog). We have no idea where that came from, but convinced him showing Hanna a picture of the horse would suffice so he could wash his hands.
The building we stayed in had a playground just behind it that you could see from our room. It didn't take long before the boys found their way down to it.
On Sunday, we went to church. We just picked one from Google. We thought Jeremiah would enjoy playing with all the other kids. Turns out, nope.
We had lunch one day at an "Amish" restaurant. It was more of a marketing ploy.
Supper at the Aquarium restaurant was a hit. Both of the boys loved watching the fish, manta rays, and sharks.
Josh surprised me with a trip to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, KY one day! He even tolerated taking me to visit a couple quilt shops! (You can read more about that on my quilting blog.)
Later in the week, it got cold and snowed. We took the opportunity to do more inside activities.
One of our favorite activities was the Adventure Science Center. We left for lunch, but Jeremiah wanted to go back in the afternoon. We spent the whole day there!
When I stepped back to take his picture, he started pooping. Great photo op...
We watched a movie in the planetarium (similar to an IMAX movie). About 3/4 of the way through, Jeremiah started screaming and had to leave. We think he was getting motion sick. He must take after me.
We stayed very close to the Opryland Hotel, so we didn't miss the chance to tour it. It was pretty great for not being in Vegas and not being a casino!
They even have a guided river boat tour inside. The boys really loved that!
It was a great vacation! The boys were old enough to enjoy most of the activities, but young enough to get in free. We can't wait until the next one!
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