Spring Gardening

Onion gone wild!

Building four new boxes for the garden. I can't wait to fill them!

Myles and his first strawberry of the season. YUMMY!

Mia spied a bird's nest with one lonely egg.

FuNsChOoL MoLd CoNtEsT

MOLD??? YUCK! Molds were grown in bags and jars and the results were oh so fabulous. The containers were opened and the contents were examined.

The contest was really discusting, however, the kids were so proud of what they grew!

We made ballots and the kids voted.

Awards were given in the following categories:
Best of Show
Best All Around
Biggest Stink
Most Colorful (Mia won this one!)
Ugliest
Stickiest
Softest
Biggest
Smallest
Fluffiest
Slimiest
Craziest
and
Simply Beautiful

Here are our molds and the ribbons we were awarded.

Mia and I made the ribbons. Color Field Paintings, cut and collaged together. We glued pins on the back so the participants could wear their award. And for those that did not win an award we made ribbons with good job! fantastic! cool! on them.

Scooters

Recently we purchased scooters for the kids. Here is a link to some fantastic movies of M&M in action. View Movies

Horses and Flowers

Mia has had several creative drawing moments lately. Here are a couple of her creations.
Field of Poppies

Show Horse

Bronco

Horse Stencil

Mia is totally into horses and I am in to this new found "Super Crafty" technique. We cut a stencil using freezer paper, ironed it onto our sweatshirt, then painted. Mia's horse turned out very cool!




Myles worked on his painting. I think he was thinking about the spring flowers.

Spring has Sprung!

Our Garden looks beautiful right now.



poppies...poppies...poppies...

Camping in the Shenandoah National Park

Our first camping trip with the fam! The kids loved it! Well, most of the time. The weather became really cold and then started to rain. Chad makes amazing camping food! I can not wait for another camping trip (with warm & dry weather).


Lena had a blast hiking on the Appalachian Trail.

Washable bear

Mia really wanted to create a bear that you can draw on and then wash the drawing off. She started the project by drawing a pattern and cutting out all of the pieces. I helped sew the features on the bear and Mia finished the sewing and stuffing.

before

after

FuNScHoOl Shenandoah Adventure

On Friday we meet as a group for a field trip to the Shenandoah National Park and entered Big Meadows. The learning trail was spectacular, beautiful and the kids were so in love with everything. We even saw 3 deer on our path.

Mia's Garden

This week Mia wanted to start a garden. It has been a really slow week since we have all been in bed with nasty colds and I was so glad when she had an interest to go out side and enjoy the warmth. On Saturday we picked up some plans at the OCP sale and she placed them at various places in her garden. She has big plans but we are starting small and adding on as she need more space.

Myles was thrilled that his strawberry plant was flowering!

FuNsChOL cErAmIcS pArT 2

Today was the day for the Raku firing.

The kids ripping paper for the trash cans (reduction)

Chad taking a piece out of the kiln and then placing it into the trash cans.

Right after these bowls came out of the kiln, Mia and friends threw horse hair on them.

Yeee-Haw

We actually felt like cowboys/girls! This afternoon we visited my Aunt Sue and Uncle Dale. Dale led their horse, Thunder, while the kids enjoyed taking turns. Mia said that she can do this ALL DAY LONG and I am sure she could. She has wanted to have this experience for a very long time.

Soda Pop Explosion!

Who new that the combination of Soda and Mentos could be so dramatic. We did not measure but I am guessing that we had a 15 ft. eruption. Carbon dioxide gas is soooo cool! For our experiment, Diet Pepsi beat Diet Coke.
For more about the experiment click here or click here.

Minnesotans Visit Virginians

This week my parents and brother (the Severns family) came from MN to visit us. During there time in the Shenandoah Valley, we drove on 34 miles of the Skyline Dr. It was outstanding! Trees were budding/flowering and the sky was clear. (oh yah!)

Pictured below: Stopping at a rest stop, Mia and Chad were enjoying everything.

The Skyline Dr. also has several trailheads to the Applachian Trail. Pictured here is my Dad, exhausted from his hike.

Back on the homefront the kids were getting a little silly.

FuNsChOoL cErAmIcS pArT 1

Today was a aWeSoMe day!!!!! We invited our Funschool friends to the ceramics studio @ JMU for a two day workshop. Appoximately 21 students participated. We also invited several JMU Art Education and Ceramics students to assist. Today was a wild time and the kids make tons of really great objects. Next Friday, April 14, we will be meeting again to glaze the pieces and then fire the work in a Raku Kiln. For more images from a previous Raku firing click here to check out our old blog.

Anaconda

Yesterday Mia surprised us with a drawing of an Anaconda. She was very pleased to tell us that this snake is larger than an adult and it likes cool places. We will be looking up more information about this animal.

8"x10", scratch board

Drawing with Chalk

Mia created a house with a backyard, a play place, bedroom, work space with a table and computer and a road to pretend to drive cars on.

Everything a child needs...

Traveling Jack Puppet Show

On Sunday we went to the Village Library, Broadway for a Puppet Show. The kids loved it! We all enjoyed the dog chasing the cat.

Making Play Dough

We had a great time making play dough. We got the recipe from preparedpantry.com.

Mia measured out the ingredients while Myles was in charge of the mixer.

Mia LOVES Harry

Currently Mia is in love with Harry Potter. This morning she woke up and said she had Harry Potter on the brain and it would not leave her. She decided to draw about it.



and this is one of my favorites...

and another drawing this one has Myles, Mia and Harry in it.