September is Apple month!

We've spent a great deal of September learning about apples and centering a lot of our activities around them. Since a couple of you have mentioned you like getting recipes and ideas from the blog, here are couple of Jack and Maren's favorite books and snacks from "Apple Month!"


JACK'S FAVORITE APPLE BOOKS:
Ten Apples Up On Top by Theo LeSieg
Up, Up, Up It's Apple Picking Time by Jody Shapiro
Out and About the Apple Orchard by Diane Mayr
10 Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

MARSY'S FAVORITE APPLE BOOKS:
Cutie Pie by Matthew Kempler
Apples, Apples by Saline Yoon
Apples, Apples by Kathleen Zoehfeld


OUR FAVORITE APPLE SNACKS:

Apple Smiles:
Core and Cut an apple into wedges. Spread slices with peanut butter. Line the rims with marshmallows.



Apple Trees:
Use green food coloring to tint vanilla frosting green. Spread over a nilla waffer. Place green M&M's on top for the apples. Use a pretzel stick placed vertically under the nilla wafer for the tree trunk.

Class Fieldtrip to Deanna Rose

Today Maren and I joined Jack's class on their fieldtrip to Deanna Rose Farmstead. We couldn't have asked for better weather, and the three-year-olds were so excited to be there. The kids were able to see a cow get milked, feed the goats, and visit all the animals they've been learning about. Jack's favorite part however (and Maren's too) was playing on the playground and getting to enjoy a picnic lunch with his friends. He promptly fell asleep on the way home in the car...a sure sign that he'd had a ball!

Lakeside Nature Center

Today we met our friends Katie, Carter, and Bode at the Lakeside Nature Center. The kids had a lot of fun looking around and seeing all the animals, birds and reptiles. I think Jack liked the doors you could open to see what was hiding behind them the best, while Maren's favorite was a tunnel with buttons you could press to make it light up. We saw a bunny, turtles, eagles, owls, a salamander, snakes, and even rats, mice, and cockroaches. After we were done seeing everything inside, we walked the nature trail outside and had a picnic. What fun!

I Want To Do It Too!

Alright, Marsy wanted to get a little messy too! The great thing we found out about our finger paint concoction is that it will keep in an air-tight container for weeks to come. Jack has been begging to finger paint again ever since labor day. When I got it back out for Jack, and Marsy saw him getting messy, it was all I could do to keep her out of it. I finally gave in and threw her in one of her brother's old t-shirts to let her at it! She LOVED the feel of the paint on her hands and even enjoyed tasting it too... Yuck!

Labor Day Craft Time

Jack was ready for a little fun this weekend, and what better way to have some fun than with make-your-own finger paint? Jack and I made kool-aid finger paint on Sunday, and he had so much fun painting a big picture for his Daddy. Jack not only loved getting to help make it, but couldn't get over the way it smelled and felt in his hands. He's already thinking about what kinds we're going to make next! (Pink is next on his list....a big surprise to you all, I'm sure.)

Kool-Aid Finger Paint (Kid's Crafts, Belinda Mooney)
1 C. Flour
1 pkg. unsweetened kool-aid
1/4 C. salt
1 and 1/2 C. boiling water (plus more hot water until desired consistency is achieved)
1 and 1/2 T. oil

1. Mix Kool-Aid, flour, and salt in a bowl.
2. Add Oil
3. Slowly Stir in boiling water, then add hot water and continue stirring until smooth and desired consistency is achieved.

Tunnel Voyage

What a wonderful way to spend a Wednesday! Jack and Maren had a ball this morning playing at Tunnel Voyage. Marsy is getting pretty brave climbing through the tunnels. (She used to sit and look at them, and shake her head "no" when I asked her if she wanted to go in.) Jack enjoys playing in the toddler room with his sister, but is still missing his long lost buddy Nicholas, and hasn't wanted to head out to the big tunnels without him. We miss you Nicholas! Jack has informed me that he might want to have his Birthday party at Tunnel Voyage this year. What do you think Daddy???

Smelly Art

Jack and I spent some time making "smelly art" yesterday. Being September, we worked on making a bowl of apples. I drew the picture (I never have been much of an artist) and Jack painted it with watercolors. After it dried, we painted the apples with glue and then sprinkled over the glue with jello powder. Jack says they smell "delicious!"