Button Sorting

As one of our tot activities, my 2 year old sorts plastic buttons by color and by shape. I found the best plastic buttons at JoAnn's, they are brightly colored and just the right size for his little fingers. We started out sorting into an egg carton. I would place a colored button in the egg hole and he would match it.

Then on Easter, as he was playing with our plastic eggs, I noticed that the eggs are the exact same color as his buttons! So, I pulled out the buttons and showed him how to match the buttons to the egg and fill it up. He loved it!! He will sit still for at least 30 minutes just placing buttons in the eggs.

Then of course, I have to find the matching top and close the eggs up. My 5 month gets in on the action as well. He tries to pick up the eggs when he hears the rattling sound and just gets so angry because his chubby little hands can't grasp the roundness of the egg!!

My next step will be for him to try and pick up the buttons with the chop stix and move them to the eggs. This is one of his favorite things to play with, he sits so quietly, thinking and strategizing about where to put those buttons.

Janeen

Field Trip ~ Papermill Recycling

We recently took a field trip to a paper mill where they recycle cardboard into sheets of thin paper backing for sheet rock, toilet paper rolls, tape, etc. We have been studying recycling as our community service project for the last month and since my father just happens to work at a paper mill, it was the perfect opportunity to show the boys recycling in action. The plant manager kindly offered us a tour and I have to say, it was kinda cool. The boys were in awe of the large machines and how fast they can move.

The rolls are huge as they came off of the dryers that steam them and roll them up. You can see the large, brown roll under the yellow arm thingy........

After the rolls are cut, they are sent down the line and wrapped up with tape to prepare for shipping. This robotic arm circles the paper roll to wrap the tape around it, going really fast! It sits inside a big cage and while we were standing at the cage, watching, this arm snapped towards us going 400 miles an hour! Oh my gosh, we jumped about three feet in the air. It scared the begizzies out of us! So while I am sure it didn't go that fast, some prior warning would have been nice. I mean, it's in a cage, but still...........

We had a good time, the boys liked touching the big machines and moving the switch board controls around. We had to wear glasses and earplugs and yell at each other when we talked. My tot had to get in on the action as well. He didn't get to go inside the plant, but he did get to wear the gear......

Janeen



The Sketch

My daughter, 15 yo, is extremely talented and creative. She draws, paints, crochets, designs clothes, anything really, that involves creativity, she is our go-to girl. The sketch below is by far, her best yet. She is still learning and growing in her art, but she still manages to impress!!

                                                                                  Janeen