My Master Negotiator

Why did Daniel take these photos? He thought if he took photos of words maybe I wouldn't make him WRITE any words today...yes, that's right, he was hoping to persuade me to accept the photos for his writing work today! Uh, nice try (and very creative I might add), but...no.

Sarah Wraps It (All) Up!

Sarah occasionally get a bee in her bonnet about wrapping gifts. I'm not sure what that's all about...whether she's inspired by GIVING or WRAPPING or both. But here she is with her stack of wrapped gifts for Christmas, collected from items around the house. We put the tree up last night and she got all twitterpated today about wrapping. Sigh, that's the end of another roll.

Sarah's Cardboard and Tape Bathroom

Sarah spent some time making a toilet (excellent design and the lid opens!) and a bathroom for Black Kitty (which was later designed smaller for Mrs. Nesbit), you can see the drain, shower and curtain but you probably can't see the darling little Irish Spring soap inside! She's so creative and loves to build! I think Daniel read 3 books over this Thanksgiving weekend.

Sarah's Eiffel Tower

As I was cleaning the living room, I found a few of these wood models I purchased at Michael's last year. Sarah snatched hers and got right to work. Right up her alley!

Sewing Machine and Slime!

Sarah has been asking for her own sewing machine so we got the Janome Mini Sew for her. It has great reviews and though it is a mini, it is a REAL sewing machine. And under 5lbs we can move it easily. She is a total NATURAL with the sewing machine, I was astonished at how adept and confident she was using it the first time!

The kids love playing with homemade slime! It is water, glue and borax and I also put in a few drops of fragrance oil.

Here's the recipe we use:
Slime Silly Putty Recipe
Buy a large jug of Elmer's glue at Staples (about $20)
Box of borax
food coloring
water
two mixing containers
wooden spoon
1/4C measuring cup

Container #1 for glue mixture:
1 - four cup Pyrex measuring cup or similar size bowl
1/4C measuring cup
wooden spoon
Container #2 borax mixture:
1 - four cup Pyrex measuring cup or similar size bowl
1/4C measuring cup
wooden spoon
In Container #1:
Mix 1/4C water and 1/4C Elmer's glue with one drop of food coloring, stir well
In Container #2:
Mix 1/4C borax with 1C water, stir the borax solution so the borax is suspended and pour some of this solution into a 1/4C measuring cup and
QUICKLY (so the borax doesn't settle to the bottom)
pour into the glue mixture
You'll need to be stirring the glue mixture while the borax solution is poured in
Stir well for 1 minute or less, then reach in and knead and squish it all together above the container allowing the water to drip off.
When it is not so wet, give to your kids on a dinner plate! (I found this recipe online but I can't remember where, so sorry to the person who deserves the credit)!

Literature For Lunch-New Lunch Read Aloud-Rascal by Sterling North

We finally finished "The Toy Campaign"! Now, for something different! We are already enjoying this pet raccoon, Rascal! I've never been to Wisconsin, but it sounds beautiful. Excellent writing.

Miss Marilyn And Preserved Spider Webs

When Marilyn visits, she makes an effort to bring something stimulating for the kids. (Thank you!) This time was Kathryn's notebook displaying her preserved spider webs, wow! Sarah took Marilyn upstairs to share her plushie collection. I always seem to miss Marilyn's face!