Gutter Bookshelves

Buzz and Boo love to read! They each usually take a stack of books to read in their beds at quiet time and bed time each day. This, however, leads to a problem because they then fall asleep with books on their bed and the books end up on the floor by morning. Night stands aren't really an option because they sleep in bunk beds. Our solution? Gutter Bookshelves!

My wonderful hubby and his equally wonderful assistant (Buzz) put these up earlier this week and I love them!

stART: The Rainbow Fish

This is my first time making a stART post! We read The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, then Buzz and Boo made their own rainbow fish.

I drew the outline of a fish on blue cardstock and Buzz and Boo colored their fish in with crayons.

Then they painted over the crayon with water colors.

Once the paint had dried they added eyes, glue and glitter and tin foil "scales".

Buzz's rainbow fish:

Boo's rainbow fish:

 Bean liked the story too!

For more fun art projects inspired by great stories check out:

Vegetarian Chili

1 can (15 oz) chili beans

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15 oz) light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 can (15 oz) petite diced tomatoes

1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1/2 can (14.5 oz) corn

2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

Salt and pepper to taste

Bring to a simmer. Let simmer for at least 1 hour.

Top with a handful of cheese and crushed tortilla chips

Note: To be perfectly honest, I never measure spices, these are my estimates. Diced onion would be yummy in this if you don't have someone in your house who hates onions (of course I'm not referring to any one's husband in particular)

Muffin Tin Monday



There's no theme for this week, just a regular ol' lunch served in muffin liners

Buzz and Boo both had the same:

Hard boild egg, pretzels, peach applesauce, cantelope and ice cream

Buzz ate everything except the pretzels and Boo ate everything except a few bites of applesauce.

Click on the button above to check out more kid friendly meals served in muffin tins!

Valentine's Trays

I made up a few trays with Valentine's Day themed activities for this month. Most of these activities are geared toward Boo but Buzz enjoys them too!

Matching heart cards. I got this idea from Counting Coconuts.

Put the little guys with the balloons in size order, from Musings of Me.

Heart addition puzzles. This one is for Buzz.

Cards and counters. Cards are from Musings of Me.

Tracing pages. Also from Musings of Me.

Transferring beads with spoon.

Button snake. I've seen this idea in a few different places, but I first saw it at Counting Coconuts.

Transferring pony beads with tongs.

Clipping clothespins around the edge of a ramekin.

A Valentine's coloring craft I picked up at Michael's.

Lacing beads onto the matching pipe cleaner. This idea comes from Counting Coconuts too!

Sorting beads.

Our sensory tub is also getting a lot use!

And we have a book basket filled with Valentine's Day books:

The Story of Valentine's Day by Nancy J. Skarmeas

The Valentine Bears by Eve Bunting

If You'll Be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant

Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane deGroat

I Lost My Kisses by Trudie Trewin

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton

Valentine Mice! by Bethany Roberts

Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine by Herman Parish

I linked this to Preschool Corner



Wordless Wednesday: Bean's First Teeth!!!

(Can you see 'em on the bottom there?)

Valentine's Sensory Tub

My kiddos are loving this month's sensory tub!

Great northern beans

Small pail (Target)

Glittery foam hearts (Dollar Tree)

Erasers (Dollar Tree)

Heart bracelets (Target)

Spiky balls (Wal-Mart)

Heart gems (Michael's)

Heart boxes (Michael's)

Duckies (Michael's)

Boo has played with this pretty much non-stop since I brought it out. She especially loves filling the little boxes and giving them as "presents" to everyone.

Buzz likes using tongs to transfer things into the pail.