Flotsam

When my sister first gave Flotsam to Kira, I knew that it would become a family favorite. Flotsam by David Wiesner is a wordless picture book that tells a fantastical story of underwater adventures.

With every reading of this beautiful book, you notice a new detail and the story changes slightly.

My girls can spend an amazing amount of time telling their own versions of the story to each other – what can be better than that?

Thank you Aunty Hannah!

Life-Sized Drawings

Today we had a very fun art play date with our friend Wynn. We made life-sized drawings of the girls and then they colored themselves in. I have done this project several times before, but it never gets old. Each time we repeat, I have a perfect record of their size and ability. It also makes a great gift for out-of-town family members.

Welcome Summer

We love your delicious pleasures, afternoon storms, and lazy days at a snail’s pace.

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part II

The girls each made a special photograph album that is just for them. I printed out a selection of photographs from our trip and they each chose their favorites. Next, they stuck the pictures in the album using photo mount squares. They then decorated the pictures with pretty beach stickers. Each girl dictated their memories of the beach and we attached the page into the books.  

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part I

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part I

We recently made oil pastel and water color pictures of our trip to the beach. The girls were able to take their fondest memories from the trip and make gorgeous pictures of their experiences.

Kira :: Swimming with Daddy

Kira :: Dolphin and Sand Dollar

Nola :: Shells on the Beach

I framed the pictures and displayed them in our living room for the girls to visit often.

Preserving Childhood Vacation Memories - Part II

Felt Strawberry Garden

The girls loved my fruit and vegetables so much, that I modified patterns from the same Japanese book to make a strawberry garden. The set includes a felt watering can, seed packet, strawberries and garden.

We have been planting, watering and eating all day.

Yum!

Ballet Bags

Oh my, these sweet little Curly Birds are growing up into tapping, twirling, dancing girls.

To make the girls' first ballet class extra special, I made them their very own bags to keep their ballet and tap shoes in. I modified the Funny Animals Children's Tote pattern in Meg McElwee's Sew Liberated book.

Shoe Box Exhibition

lilla a had the ingenious idea of making a shoe box room and inviting her readers to par-take. I loved making a project with the girls and it becoming apart of a larger project within our blogging community. 

Not only did the girls enjoy making their room (which they dedicated to our cats, Maximus and Dave), but they were thrilled to see their room as part of the larger house.