An Outdoor Classroom, Sort Of

The Outdoor Classroom... what that means to me is a wonderfully natural place for children to learn and grow in.  If you'd like to see my favorites take a look here, here, or here.  These are just a few of the many, many blogs I have seen and read with beautiful outdoor spaces, if you just browse through them, you'll see what I mean.  Their spaces are truly beautiful and welcoming.  

So, I have spent a long time trying to emulate some of these outdoor spaces.  Sometimes it's me that puts up my own obstacle, and sometimes it is licensing issues (which I won't go into) that keep me from creating the outdoor space I see in my dreams.  That being said, I did set up a little area on the patio this week with a table and chairs, chalkboard, and easel.  I also brought out a couple boxes of blocks to play with, and set some PVC pipe pieces in the sandbox to see what the kids would do with them.  I think it was a success...

I don't know if you can tell, there is a race care that he put through the pipe, it is coming out the bottom of the pipe.

Sometimes it's fun to just climb and lie down.
Little Man kept looking over the edge and shaking his head back and forth.

Exploring under the play structure was fun too

Although I haven't been able to create the yard of my dreams, it definitely is fun and there is always an adventure to be had.  I'll just keep working my way to where I want to be and some day I'm sure I'll get there ;)

A Hug for a Friend

When I was a toddler I only had my sisters and cousins as playmates.  I never was awarded the privilege of growing up in an environment with other kids to play with.  Not to say either one is right or wrong, better or worse, but when I look at these two little ones, I can't help but think that there is something good about this place they are spending their first years.

We cleaned out part of the Sunroom this weekend and I put this little table in there so they could practice climbing and jumping.  Seeing the world from another vantage point is just an added bonus. Scamp and Little Man were both drawn to it immediately, together.  They spent a lot of time looking out the window, jabbering to each other, and...

Lots & Lots of HUGGING!!!

We didn't just hug today... we played outside.  The weather is amazing and we had lots of fun just playing in the dirt, climbing, swinging and running free.  I introduced the letter Dd today, the color GREEN, and the Diamond shape.  Laura Numeroff wrote a new book, If You Give A Dog A Donut and I so wish we had that today.  We talked about Dogs and had Donuts for Snack... YUM!!

Friends...

I was cooking lunch today and heard lots of giggling coming from the Living Room. 

This is what I found....

They all climbed up on the couch and proceeded to laugh, giggle, wiggle, make funny faces, sing songs, take socks off, bang heads, (and yest that is Scamp trying to take Sprouts barrette) and enjoy just being with each other!!!  To cute!!!

Orange is Everywhere!!

Orange is a great color!!  I didn't think we'd find so much of it everywhere.  Sprout even found a shirt that was Orange!!  Scamp found some awesome Halloween socks that had Orange on them, and Lil Bit had the cutest little Orange painted fingernails I'd ever seen!!!  Everyone found something to bring in and Show-n-Tell with.  Some of the items even started with Cc!!  A win-win for everyone!!!

Roo brought in this cute Microscope, that she shared with EVERYONE!!!

Look at those wee fingernails!!!  I love it!!!

Lil Bit also brought in this Learning Leap Frog...
you can't really see it, but he has an Orange outfit on :)

We mixed all our colored pasta together and played.
They filled and dumped all morning

Little Man was the King for the Day!!!

"Hey, I'm the Queen for the Day!!!

We had Orange flavored Cupcakes today, and you can't have cupcakes without reading If You Give A Cat A Cupcake by Laura Numeroff.  Thankfully we didn't have to act this one out :)

After snack we had the Orange Rice Table, Pasta Fun, and Necklace Making out for the kids to explore.  The necklace making was lots of fun, and didn't prove to be to hard for the little fingers that choose to have a go at it.

"Don't I look like a Princess??"

"I did it Shell!!"

"Oh Yeah, I got this!!"
(He would get the needle in, every time!! But then would let go with both hands instead of pushing it all the way through... to funny)

"What is that!!!"

There was no real messy art today, but being outside was better anyway.  Who know's how long this weather will last, we need to take advantage of every possible warm and dry moment!!!

Our Morning Out

I haven't been to the library in a very, very long time!!  Our library went through a time where they cut some programs and I had a bad experience at a story time with my childcare kids, so we didn't visit often.  Well, it's been almost 2 years since I brought my childcare back and I am sorry I haven't gotten there sooner.  The new Librarian was amazing, welcoming, and understanding, not just of us, but of ALL the Moms & Dads of young children.  We went to a 2-3yr old story time and it was amazing!!  The kids loved it.  There was dancing, singing, and of course story reading.  The books were all quick, engaging and funny.  It was a fun time!!  We also went on our Orange Finding Field Trip through the children's library and found some great Orange Things!!

Stretch....

This could have been the highlight of the morning :)

An ORANGE book

An ORANGE tag

This ORANGE bow held together a piece of a beautiful little hanging quilt

ORANGE beads...
All at the LIBRARY!!!

These are not quiet toys, so you know the Librarians had to be  great!!

Working together

Wow... so much to see and do

Shakin Eggs during a song... I'm not sure they were comfortable getting up and moving during the story time... it was interesting.

But we still got into it!!

Leaving with some books!!!
What a great time at the Library... we will definitely be back!!!

Now the library is fun, but we all knew we couldn't run, jump, climb, or yell when we are there.  So, what would be a better way to finish off our morning but with a trip to the park!!!

We are all very hungry after our trip to the library... so we started off with snack!!!

WEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Playing Peek-a-Boo

"Shell, I'm stuck!!"

I see you!!!

Hanging from the ladder is another totally favorite thing to do!!!

"I don't want to go!!"

 What a great morning... the kids really enjoyed both the library and the park.  This weather makes me yearn for Springtime when we can do this more often.  We will enjoy it while it is here and hopefully Spring will come sooner than later :)