Post Office Field Trip

So we went on a field trip to the Post Office back in June, and I never posted the pics here!   Finally getting around to it.

 The back of the post office

Our "tour guide"

He showed us where our little mail slot is!  It has our address right on it.  Pretty neat.  

 The kids got to "drive" the mail truck

 And then they got to sit in the back where the mail goes. 

 And Levi got on the front of the truck.

The big orange bins transport the mail

The kids also got their very own mail bags. 

 Some mail being sorted

And here is the attempt at a group shot!

Another fun homeschool field trip!

Christmas in July Playdate

In July, I decided that we needed to have a Christmas party, so I planned a fun "Christmas in July" themed playdate.   It was full of sensory experiences and a lot of mess!

The activites:

- "Florida snowball" fight
- ice play
- fake snow
- "christmas lights" (water beads)
- make your own snow globe
- santa and tree pictures
- gift exchange
- decorate your own cookie
- peppermint scented shaving cream with glitter in it

This is the cookie decorating table, these are vegan shortbread cookies.  Instead of icing, I put out jam, and chocolate chips to decorate!

I called the water beads "Christmas lights", by the time I took this picture some of the activities got all mixed up with each other.  There is shaving cream in this one! 

Fake snow, which I put in the freezer the night before so it was cold.  This stuff doesn't stick together like snowballs, so its not all that much fun, but it does have a neat texture to it.  Would be good for scooping with or hiding things in though.  

The craft table (before anyone showed up) with lots of collage bits, paper, glue, paint, stickers and glitter!!!

I filled a wading pool with giant ice cubes for the kids to play in, it was cold! 

This pic is blurry, but it shows how into things Levi really got!  This held the shaving cream, which I added glitter and peppermint to.  

Anna and Levi in the ice

I'm not really sure whats going on here!   This is the table for "make your own snow globes" which were jars that the kids could put glitter, foam shapes, water beads and water into.  

I also brought a parachute, which the kids put the Florida snowballs on.  

 Anna, coated in a layer of flour.

Levi with a pile of snowballs. 

Harrison, decorating his cookies!

Nick and Levi, doing something with Florida snowballs.

Snow-globe making

Shaving cream with glitter and peppermint (a bit melted!)

Mess!

Snow play - our "Florida Christmas Tree" in the background, it really does light up red and green and it has shell ornaments on it.    For the gift exchange, each kid brought a wrapped (used) book, they took a different book home on their way out.    

 
Florida Snowballs

You Will Need:
- flour, or cornstarch
- pantyhose, white or 'nude' if you can find it (each pair makes around 6-8 snowballs) 
- scissors
- 1/2 cup measuring cup or something a similar size

1. Cut off the legs of the pantyhose as high up as you can.  
2. Take a scoop of flour and put it in the toe off the pantyhose, tie a tight knot right above the flour and cut off close to the knot.   Snowball #1
3.  Next, tie a knot in the remaining pantyhose at the very end.  Turn it inside out so the knot is on the inside.  Repeat step 2. 
4.  Keep going until you run out of "leg" and then do the same for the second leg!   
5. Make lots, these are fun! 

They are nice and squishy, so they don't hurt when thrown (though try to avoid the face).  They leave behind a satisfying puff of flour with each 'hit' and last many throws.  Don't get them wet, they get hard and nasty!  
They make a HUGE mess, but they are sooo much fun for everyone!


If you prefer a non-messy, indoor friendly option, follow the steps above but use cotton stuffing instead of flour!  

Merry Not-Christmas!!!

Manatees

Sources:
Homeschool Share Manatee lapbook 
Vocabulary Flashcards (goes with the book "I'm a Manatee")
You can download my "I'm a Manatee" vocabulary list here.  
Save the Manatee (lots on here I didn't even look at)

Books:
I'm a Manatee (came with a CD that is the book sung as a song, this book has great vocabulary)
The Florida Manatee
J. Rooker, Manatee (good story about how boats harm manatees)
Manatees for Kids (this one, the story was strange, intermixed with pages of facts, which were good, I skipped the story as I read it)

We read a bunch of Manatee books today (I've listed the best ones above).   One explained how sailors though manatees were mermaids, so we did this little mermaid craft. 

Its made from a clothes pin, paper, googly eyes, gems, wickki stix (mouth), pipe cleaner, wood circle and yarn. 

We did some lapbooking using Homeschool Share's manatee lapbook. 

We learned some manatee vocabulary, the book "I'm a Manatee" has some great vocabulary words in it. 

Levi also designed a "super manatee" after reading the book about J.Rooker, the manatee that got injured by a boat (he was ok at the end of the book, Levi was pretty upset with this story, but I read it anyways).   His manatee has a flag that sticks out of the water that says "please don't hit me", bright colors so boats can see it, and a shield on its back!

We also did a little science experiment on water density, comparing salt water to fresh water.  

Water Density:

You will need: 
- big clear class
- food coloring
-salt
-eye dropper

First, measure 8oz of water into the glass, and add lots of salt (we put in 8 tablespoons).  Stir well to mix in as much salt as you can, and add a drop of food coloring.  Let it settle for a bit so it isn't swirling around

Next, add a different color of food coloring to some plain water.

Using the eyedropper, transfer the fresh water on top of the salt water.  It will sit on top because the salt water is more dense!   The salt that didn't mix in settled to the bottom. 

 Part 1:

Part 2:

And then we worked on Explode the Code, made a vegan onion tart, took the dog for a walk, and it was time for small boy to go to bed!  

Re-Visiting Levi's "Down Under" Outfit for Project Run and Play

Ever sense I started watching Project Runway on T.V. I was hoping for a kids version.   Project Run and Play is it!   I've followed them in past seasons, and now, they have open auditions!
So, I've decided to submit the "Down Under" outfit that I made back in April and I am revisiting it with more pictures of all the details.  


Here it is! 

Levi's grandpa (whom he calls "Buddy") travels quite a bit, and he brought me this fabric back from Australia.  It was actually only about 1/3yard of each fabric, so I had to figure out how to make it work.  I pieced the amazing fabric together to come up with this fun outfit, which is colorful, comfortable and practical (and you can throw it in the washing machine, so good for me too)

It features my signature "patchy shorts" which have patchwork going up the sides, a good way to use small bits of fabric and make the shorts into something special.  

The inside of the patchwork is fully lined, so it won't bug his skin with all the seams in the patches.

Levi really likes archery, in particular the targets!  So I pulled the target design from a couple of the fabrics, and used it as a stitched detail.   Just adds some more fun to the front of the shorts.   Its done in a varigated thread. 

The back pockets have some details too.  They both have the top edge finished with a strip of fabric.   "tlSS" for "The Little Sewing Shop" free motion stitched on one.   And the other has my little "tag" which is just a simple piece of twill tape with a teeny tiny button sewn on.   I like buttons!

You can also see that I double top-stitched everything!  I like topstitching for a few reasons:   It holds the seam down, so it doesn't itch.   It adds professional looking detail to the garment.  And it adds more stitching, which makes it more durable, very important when sewing for kids (especially 5 year old boys!)

Some more of the shirt details:


This little patch is on the back of the shirt.  Why?  No reason, its just for fun!  I like little random details like this, it makes the garment more unique and fun.  (and check out the gorgeous fabrics!)

These are the buttons I used, they have a shank back (thats the little loop, instead of button holes).   They have almost a woven look to them, and sort of a leather texture (but they aren't actual leather, as a vegetarian, I couldn't do it!)  

Here on the front you can see the chest pockets.  The flap of the pockets is fitted into the seam between the upper and lower parts of the shirt, and then a simple patch pocket is underneath.  

And my little button tag is on the shirt too. 

He always goofs around during photo shoots!

And that's it!   Wish me luck for Project Run and Play!  I would LOVE to participate, but even if I don't get chosen I will be sewing along with their projects.