Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is such a fun and silly movie that Storm loves. We love playing in the dvd player in the car every September to prepare her for her Snow White photoshoot!
The 7 Dwarfs have such a fun and silly time with Snow White, bringing out her motherly side. They care about her so much that they, even Grumpy, warns her to be careful of letting anyone into the house. Snow White loves taking care of them and their house, cleaning, cooking, and loving all 7 dwarfs.
My Little Storm loves being silly and she also loves being my helper in the kitchen and watching her little niece. She is still learning what it means to be a diligent worker and to be aware of strangers. She loves EVERYONE that she meets and doesn’t know a stranger! I pray that one day she will grow up learning to love like Snow White and to make the best in all circumstances.
We took these pictures out in our backyard near the woods. She loves being outside and goes out every chance that she gets. She wore her Snow White dress that I found at the resale shop after last Halloween! Her shoes are the black flats with a bow and her earrings are from a multi color pack that I bought when she was a baby. We loved these earrings because they have the twist on backing and she wore the red earrings today. The red bow in her hair came from a colorful pack of bow that I had bought when she was a baby as well. This oval gold mirror I also found at a resale store several years ago. I used the wooden brown basket to put her apples in. I always buy Red Delicious because they look the most red like in the movie.
Proverbs 31:25 She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
Storm has dressed as Snow White on September 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Snow White photoshoots:
3 Year Old Snow White13 Month Old Snow White2 Year Old Snow White1 Month Old Snow White
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
4 Year Old Sleeping Beauty3 Year Old Ariel3 Year Old Moana
Disney’s Sleeping Beauty is such a typical princess “happily ever after” story that little girls love. We have it playing in the dvd player in the car every August to prepare her for her Sleeping Beauty photoshoot!
The 3 good fairy’s bless Princess Aurora with beauty, grace, and song. She is such a joy for the fairy’s when she lives with them, they get upset when she turns 16 and has to leave. They want to do what is best for the princess even if it is hard for them, and they are teaching her how important it is to live with dignity and make good moral choices.
My Perfect Storm is also beautiful and loves singing and listening to songs. She is still learning what it means to live a moral life, even when the world is telling her the opposite. I pray that one day she to will live with dignity and be proud of her life choices.
We visited a local rose garden for this photoshoot. She loved seeing all of the different colors of flowers and wanted a picture by each color. She wore the same Sleeping Beauty dress that she wore for the past few years (I bought it big so I wouldn’t have to keep getting her a new one each year). Her white dress shoes had a bow and a little strap. I curled her hair before we left the house while she ate her lunch. Lastly we put in the gold and pink earrings that I had bought a few years ago for these photoshoots. I bought gold glitter cardstock and made her crown and necklace. This gold glitter cardstock was perfect for cutting and there was no mess. I printed out this free princess crown template and cut it out and traced it on the back of the gold paper. Then she just held the single red rose too. I was able to get her to lay on a pillow this year and to close her eyes of couple times.
Psalm 4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Storm has dressed as Sleeping Beauty on August 17 every year of her short life!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Sleeping Beauty photoshoots:
3 year old Sleeping Beauty12 month old Sleeping Beauty2 year old Sleeping BeautyNewborn Sleeping Beauty
This girl likes butterfly and she has memorized the book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle. We decided to use this for her 4 year old birthday party. I found this fun little butterfly wings at the Dollar Tree for the girls to wear, they love them!
I used red and Green Party Paper Fans to make a caterpillar. I also used red and green paper plates to make a caterpillar and used my Cricut to spell out Storm’s name. I created a sign with my CANVA program that says, “Storm is a beautiful butterfly!”
I took a large box and painted a big red circle on it, then I cut a whole for the caterpillar’s mouth and added eyes and ears. The kids could toss the fruit into the caterpillar’s mouth. Storm and I also looked through all of her toy food and found some from the book to feed the caterpillar box as well.
Very Hungry Caterpillar Food
I used my CANVA program to make some labels for the food table too. I also served salami and cheese sliders and hot dogs for lunch as well.
“A little egg lay on a leaf.” I made deviled eggs and placed hem on a lettuce leaf.
“He ate through one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries, five oranges.” I placed the fruit out with the sign sticking up with a picture from the book attached.
“one piece of chocolate cake” I made these Buckeye Brownies…
Buckeye Brownie Recipe:
Ingredients:
2½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup butter, softened
1¼ cups sugar
3 large eggs
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup creamy peanut butter
¾ cup confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon milk
½ cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Spinkles
Cherries
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Prepare your dish by lining a 9-inch square pan with heavy-duty foil then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
Place a cup of water in a small saucepan and place it on medium heat. Place a glass bowl on top of the saucepan with the hot water in it and combine 1½ cups chocolate morsels and ½ cup butter in the bowl. Turn off the stove once the water starts bowling, be careful of the steam. Stir the chocolate until it is smooth.
In a mixer you can add sugar and the chocolate, stirring to combine.
Add eggs, 1 at a time; add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring well.
Mix in the flour and ½ teaspoon salt. Stir for several minutes.
Pour into the 9×9 baking dish.
Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes.
In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, remaining ¼ cup butter, confectioners’ sugar, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, milk, and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, stirring until blended.
While brownie is slightly warm, spread peanut butter mixture over top in a smooth layer. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat cream until almost boiling. Remove from heat, and add remaining 1 cup chocolate morsels, stirring until smooth. Pour over peanut butter layer, spreading into a smooth layer.
We added chocolate sprinkles.
Refrigerate for about 4 hours, until chocolate layer becomes firm.
Using edges of foil as handles, lift whole brownie from pan. Carefully remove foil, and place brownie on a cutting board. Press down firmly in one motion to cut into individual brownies, about an inch apart.
Add the cherry if you choose.
“one ice-cream cone” I filled the cones sitting on the table with pink cotton candy and later we ate strawberry ice-cream in our cones with the cake. I was able to hold up the cones with Cone Holder.
“one pickle, one slice of swiss cheese, one slice of salami”
Place muffin cups in 12 muffin holders. And fill ¾ full with batter.
Bake for 16 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
“and one slice of watermelon.”
“The caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf” I made a salad with cucumber and tomato slices arranged on top to look like the caterpillar.
Butterfly Nectar
Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake
I used a strawberry cake mix and strawberry icing for her cake. I sliced kiwi and strawberries to place on the top to look like a caterpillar. Storm also found some fun pink and green sprinkles to put on her cupcakes.
She asked for a Butterfly Birthday Party, so we took some pictures with her butterfly wings. She felt so pretty and special. She is an energetic 4 year old who loves everyone. She is my “Perfect Storm”.
She ran around the yard like a butterfly and then she found a group of clovers to lay down in. She is an outside girl and loves to try new exciting things.
Happy Birthday, my Beautiful Baby!
You might enjoy some of Storm’s other photoshoots:
One Foot Two Feet by Felicia Zekauskas was one of my favorite books. It gives the singular and plural of some of the more challenging English words for young children to understand. Goose-Geese, Foot-Feet, etc…
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 3), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 4), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 5), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 6), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 7), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 8), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 8 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 9), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 9 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
Abeka Numbers Concept Flashcards (card number 10), count the animals on the back of the card and then turn it over to see the corresponding number. Lay the cards with the number side up on the floor in random order. Child will put them in numerical order and then stand next to the number one. Jump to the next number and count and she jumps.
Counting & Soring Shapes & Colors (number 10 page), count the objects and circle the correct number. Also, you can place the numbers on the table and let the child count out shapes to match each number.
First we read 10 Apples up on Top by Dr. Seuss. Print out the free 10 Apple Stack from Teachers Pay Teachers. Then Storm glued a picture of herself to the bottom of the paper and cut out the apples and glued them in numerical order on top of her head.
I got to teach a “Music Maker Week” at our Summer Camp. I had about 10 kids Kindergarten-5th grade. Each day we did a Body Percussion song, STEM activity, and made an instrument. For younger kids we watched Little Einsteins.
Oobleck comes from the Dr. Seuss book called Batholomew and the Oobleck. It is a non-Newtonian liquid; which means that Oobleck has properties of both liquids and solids. You can look at the mixture sitting there as it appears like a liquid, you can even stick your fingers in it and it will feel like a liquid. You can also grab a handful of it and squeeze it into a ball, then it feels and looks like a solid until it relaxes again.
You need about 2 cups of Corn Starch to 1 cup of water, and then add food coloring for fun.
You can search for “subwoofer test MP3” and download different test tones and play to see what works best. Use 40 Hz, 50 Hz, and 63 Hz, and turn the volume way up.
Place a cookie sheet onto the speaker of a subwoofer, and pour in the Oobleck.
Before you play the MP3 you will need to place your fingers on the edge of the cookie sheet with gentle pressure to hold it flush against the sub.
Turn on the music and watch the Oobleck jump and dance.
You need about plastic tubs of different sizes (we mostly used large ice cream tubs), Just add water and then add food coloring for fun. Put in the freezer for a day or two.
Freeze water colored with food coloringin different-sized food containers and bowls.
When frozen, remove the ice shapes from their molds and place them in a tub (we used a plastic kiddy pool).
Add drumsticks and objects for beating the ice drums.
Day 4: Spin Drum
Homemade Instrument: Spin Drum
Cut the tube into 1 or 2 inch pieces (each child gets 1 pieces)
Take the tube and trace its circumference on the cardboard sheet twice, to make two circles.
Cut out the circles from the cardboard.
Use a sharp object to cut a slot on the side of the cardboard tube ring. The slot should be big enough to insert a straw through it.
Insert a straw through the slot of the tube section. Apply glue to the areas where the straw and the cardboard tube meet to attach them firmly.
Take a long piece of yarn and attach a jingle bell to one end of the strand. Tie a knot to secure the bell.
Use something sharp to poke a hole on each side of the tube. The holes should be on either side of the straw.
Place some tape around the end of the yarn to poke it threw the hole, twist around the straw and poke it though the hole on the opposite side. (the bell should be just long enough to wrap around the drum and hit the drum in the middle)
Pull the yarn through the other side of the roll. Add a jingle bell to this second side. Make a knot to secure the bell and cut off any extra yarn. Try to keep a roughly equal amount of yarn on this side as you have on the other side of the roll.
Glue your cardboard circles to both sides of the ring to close it
Use colored craft papers or paint to decorate the plain cardboard parts of the spin drum. Embellish as you’d like.
You can use the water xylophone to teach kids about pitch.
Fill 6 mason jars or glasses with different levels of water. Each should have slightly more water than the previous one. We added food coloring for fun.
Have your children to use their drumsticks or a spoon to gently tap on the jar.
You should hear different pitch for each jar that is tapped.
This tap creates a vibration sound wave that travel through the water. The sound waves change with different amounts of water in the jar. Higher sounds have less water because the sound waves travel closer together. Lower sounds are in the jars with more water producing a lower sound.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid came out when I was a preteen, and therefore I loved the movie and still sing all of the songs when my daughter watches it. She was very careful not to let her Flounder Plush get wet!
Ariel is such a romantic and adventurous girl. She risks everything for a chance at adventurous love with a human. She loves her daddy and friends so much, and in the end her father gives her the best of both worlds.
Storm loves her daddy so much too. When she watches The Little Mermaid, she is very concerned when King Triton gets so angry that he destroys Ariel’s tavern. She tries to be adventurous, claiming “I do it” as much as possible. But she is still very cautions when she feels like she might be hurt or uncomfortable.
We went to play at a local beach for the day. We brought some seashells and a fork to play with in the sand. She wore an Ariel dress that was given to her last year.
Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
You might enjoy Storm’s other Ariel photoshoots:
2 year old Ariel23 month old Ariel11 month old Ariel
She has loved the Disney Moana movie since she was a year old. She loves cuddling with her stuffed Hei Hei and Pua that she got for Christmas.
I like that Moana is a leader of her people seeking to do what is best for them. This requires her to display some extremely brave actions in the movie such as sailing through an endless ocean, confronting a demi-god, and jumping into the realm of monsters.
My Girl is definitely a leader as well; she insist on leading the way as we walk anywhere, even if she doesn’t know where we are going! And I am trying to raise her to be brave as well. One of the songs that I sing to her is to the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”…
“Storm is a brave girl Brave girl, brave girl Storm is a brave girl She’s my big brave girl”
When she was a baby, I made this sail from 2 old pieces from out chicken coop and an old sheet that I had. I just used a staple gun to attach it. We went to a nearby lake with a beach to take the photos this year. She placed her seashells exactly how she wanted them. Storm enjoyed waving the palm leaves today while shouting, “Hosanna!”
Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
My granddaughter also joined us in our Moana fun. She is 2 years old and Storm is 3 years old. She is wearing the baby girl Moana dress that Storm wore a couple of years ago, and Storm is wearing the toddler girl Moana dress that we found a a garage sale!
You might enjoy Storm’s other Moana photoshoots:
2 year old Moana 22 month old Moana10 month old Moana
Or some of her other Princess Photoshoots:
3 Year Old Mulan3 Year Old Tiana3 Year Old Jasmine
My Sweet Boy is not 14! He loves Jesus, Lord of the Rings, spending time with family, computer games, and watching The Big Bang Theory. He is getting ready to start a big new adventure- High School!
Chocolate Freezer Pie
Ingredients:
8 oz. Hershey’s bar
8 oz. Cream Cheese
16 oz. Cool Whip
2 Prepared 8 inch Graham Crust
1/4 cup milk
Directions:
Heat the chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the milk in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until melted.
Beat the cream cheese and add the remaining milk. Add chocolate mix and beat until smooth.
In a bowl, fold the chocolate mix into the cool whip and blend until smooth.
Spoon the mix into the crusts. I decorated the pies with some extra cool whip and shaved chocolate bar for my son’s birthday.
He got a Nerf gun for his birthday and his little sister was al about helping him open it! She also helped me wrap the gift in her Pink Minnie Mouse wrapping paper! He loves her so much, he has been her primary babysitter every summer since she’s been born!
He informed me that it is technically not a Nerf Gun, and that it is better than Nerf.
He is turning into such a handsome young man! He has the sweetest heart, and the most empathetic teenage boy that I know. He brings joy to whomever he comes into contact with each day. I love you, My Sweet Boy!
Here are a few other birthday parties posts that you might enjoy:
First we read the book The Fantastic Jungles of Henri Rousseau by Michelle Markel and looked at some of Henri Rousseau’s jungle pieces. We noticed that he painted a variety of animals and very large jungle leaves.
Next I had the kids watercolor green background: We talked about how Henri Rousseau used many different shades of green. Show kids how to use just a bit of water so the paper doesn’t take too long to dry. Show them how to mix green with yellow, blue, white, black, and brown to make different shades of green.
Next we found some tutorials for kids to draw animals:
Draw your animals and then paint or use colored pencils to color them. After it dries, use a black sharpie to outline them and the cut them out carefully.
I found some tropical leaf outlines to enlarge and print on cardstock to use as tracing templates. Teach the kids how to trace the leaves on the edge of the paper so not to waste paper. Cut out the leaves and then use sharpie to outline and add veins.
Glue the animal and leaves to the green watercolor background.
Crumple little pieces of brightly tissue paper as the flowers and fruit. Glue them to the jungle scene.
