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. We just combed her hair straight after her bath and parted it on the side. She wore the purple colored her earrings are from a multi color pack that I bought when she was a baby.
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.”
We went to a local beach lake today. She loves her stuffed Pua and takes it with her everywhere. I also brought some sea shells and palm leaves for her to hold.
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.
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. We braided her wet hair the night before and when we took out the braids she had pretty tight curls, I just pulled the top portion back into a pony tail. Her earrings are the pink sea turtle earrings that she got for her last birthday. 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!
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.
We enjoy visiting our local Botanical Gardens Chinese festival days to take her Disney Mulan photos. She really enjoyed exploring the Botanical Gardens as I followed her taking pictures. I really enjoy my Canon EOS Rebel camera.
Mulan is a super independent, courageous woman. She tries to honor her father in the way that he expects, but she discovers that she can honor him in a whole new way that takes courage and independence.
Storm is also a very independent individual, constantly saying “My doos it!” She loves to play outside as much as possible and I encourage her to have courage whenever she sees a bug or jumps in the water.
We rarely purchase a brand new dress for her princess photoshoots, but this is one of the times that she did get a new dress (Mulan Dress for Girls). She loved looking at herself in the mirror before we left the house to see the “pretty princess”. We just combed her hair straight after her bath and then parted it slightly. 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.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
These girls love to paint (and do anything messy); play dough, bubbles, pain, baking, anything! So I decided to paint the back shed wall and let them have some fun while I took pictures of them.
She is 3 and a half now, and is getting so animated. She loves dancing and singing all day long. I found this child’s artist hat on Amazon.
She enjoys spending time with her niece, and asks me every morning if she is coming over.
We splattered paint on the back wall of the shed and then put down an old white sheet and splattered paint there too. Then we brought out their easel and paint and brushes. They loved that they were allowed to get as messy as they wanted today.
