Matching Colors Activity

This is a frugal simple activity for Matching Colors. I don't have a laminating machine or much colored ink so I improvise...a lot.

Materials Needed:

• Packing Tape
• Markers
• Coordinating Clothespins
• Piece of Cardboard
• Piece of White Paper
  

Simply draw a few circles, or any other shape of your choosing, onto the white paper. Wrap the cardboard with the colored paper then cover with packing tape. I decided to do use the tape so she could get the clothespins on easier without tearing the paper.

Now your Tot is ready to work on colors,
matching and hand/eye coordination.

Check out other Tools for Tots here.

Tot School-23 Months 3 Weeks

Michaela is 23 Months Old

Warning: I have a lot of pictures this week. I'm not really sure why because it seemed like we did less Tot School this week but a lot of the pictures have the same outfit. (I think we had 1 really good day which makes us look like we did stuff all week. I'm sure that never happens to anyone else, haha.) I'll keep the writing to a minimum and let the pictures do most of the talking for you.

Learning to get out her mat.

Learning to unroll the mat.

She was really good about putting everything back once she was done with the activity.

Matching lids.
First time for this one and it was a success. Just save different bottles when you are cooking. Can't get much cheaper then this!

She wanted me to call out a shape or color. Then she would hammer it.

Matching Colors.
I'll do a follow-up post to explain this one in more detail.

Cutting for the first time.
This one wasn't very successful. She needs to get better with hand/eye coordination and I need to buy her left-handed scissors. I forgot about that small fact when I purchased 'normal' scissors.

Transferring Rocks

Arranging Flowers

Putting together Cootie Bugs

Playing with her new feather board. For instructions on how to make this go here.

Matching the Uno Cards. (Notice the PJ's and hairbow?!?)

Official Kick-Off to our once-a-month Play Group.
We've talked about this for months now!

Now some practical life activities:
Putting together her art easel.

Using the easel.
This is a new favorite. I can't seem to get her to do ANYTHING else now that this is up!

Helping Mommy cook.
I wish you could really see this outfit. Leopard Dora Shirt, Orange Skirt, Rainbow socks and Pink/Blue plaid shoes. She is in the "I-can-dress-myself" phase.

Putting away the utensils. (And yes, I have already put away the knives.)

Helping me with muffins.

Want more ideas for Tot School? Check out this link. You will find many wonderful mommies with many wonderful ideas!

Slow Blogging Week

I just wanted to mention that I may not be posting as much this week. Michaela is turning 2 this weekend and I've been getting some things ready for the party. I have a wonderful, wonderful friend who offered to throw Michaela's party. That was such a blessing in so many ways.

One way is that I have time to do a few extra things for Michaela that I may not have done otherwise. One of my other awesome friends came over this week to help me make my first dress for Michaela. I would have been COMPLETELY lost. Patterns might as well be written in Latin!

This is the front of the dress.

Here is the back. We had a beautiful mess up. The ribbon was originally suppose to meet at the zipper in the back. While I was sewing the zipper it moved the satin ribbon. We had to take it out but we decided to make the sash extra long so that we could tie a bow in the back. It's beauty from my ashes. ;)

My sister, Michaela and I also decided to learn how to make fondant. I'm not sure it's going to work on the cake but we had fun learning. Michaela also had a blast!She must see me on the phone a lot. She is already talking on the phone while cooking.

That is a true woman!

Mommy Confession Mon..Opps Tuesday

Bathroom Edition

So..I'm a day behind. I have to apologize! This Saturday is Michaela's 2nd Birthday so I have been super busy getting things ready for the party but that is for another post for another time

I've been thinking about what to admit to you all this week. I decided to go with something embarrassing in the hopes that someone else does this. We don't really have a lot of storage room in the bathroom so I have to use the actual tub to store things. You'll see in the picture below what the tub looks like before we use it. We actually empty is out every time we need to use it. If you notice on the bottom you will see the used towels. I was going to take them out before the picture but I figured that would defeat the purpose of this confession.

This is a picture of the downstairs bathroom. We don't actually use this shower, ever. When I worked on cleaning up the school room I decided to use the shower stall for storage. I knew my husband would not let his Lego's go to the garage. Please someone out there tell me I'm not the only one that has to use the tubs for storage!

I have sewn my first project!

I got a sewing machine for Christmas. It only took me almost 8 months to finally get it out of the box. I have been completely intimidated by that little machine. Mostly because my background in sewing is very minimal. I learned to sew a button last year, finally.

But I have a very awesome, and patient, friend who offered to come offer and lend me her expertise. I am so thankful for her. I've always been sad because I had no idea how to sew. I really wanted to be able to pass this skill onto my little girl but felt completely inadequate.

Anyway, I digress. (I'm not sure who posted about this project and left the link so I have to say that I'm sorry for not being able to link to the middle man.)

I fell in love with this book case! It seems that at night she has to pull down every book in order to pick the one that she wants. This book case/shelf solves that problem. She is able to see the front of the book and not just the spine. Granted we have way more books then this shelf can hold so I will rotate the books out occasionally.

It is just her height. (Look to the right of the dresser.)

Close-up picture.
The pattern is of a mother and daughter. This may sound way too sentimental for a bookcase, but I had to have this pattern. I wanted to remember this project because it was the very first thing I sewed for her. I hope to pass on skills that make her an efficient wife and mother who glorifies the Lord.

Feather Activity

I made a new Tot tray for Michaela that I hope she enjoys. Here are the supplies you need:

Thick Styrofoam
Beads
Feathers that match the beads

Stick the beads in the styrofoam and you are done!

The object is for your Tot to stick the feathers into the matching beads on the Styrofoam board. Note: I originally tried using markers but they don't really write on the Styrofoam very well. Another variation is to use paint. I chose beads because it was simple and I could take them out and still use the Styrofoam for something else.

I love the smiles of my Little Man

No reason for this post except I had to show someone the recent pictures of Corbin. He is beginning to have such a sweet personality.

We finally made it back to church after many weeks. It was so good to be there!If you see him he will more then likely be laying like this. He loves, loves, loves to have his hands above his head!

I still can't get over seeing that smile. I can't help but remember being in the ambulance with him after our accident. It was so horrifying to scream and cry at him and still get no response from him. I made a deal with God that if he would just let him cry to get the oxygen I would never get upset when he cried ever again.

I think I've only failed once so far.