Paint and Picinics

The weather has been nice and we have been trying to spend more time outside.
While at the library I thumbed through a children's science book and saw a wonderful idea.  After we read In The Tall Tall Grass I thought of this science activity.

Observing what lives in our grass. 

The kids picked a spot on the grass and we made a circle of rocks around that area. 

 Then we all lay on our tummies and grabbed the magnifying glass to observe.

We saw a centipede first. 
It was quick.  

 They both tried to pick it up between their fingers. 
*shakes head* 
My kids love bugs :)

We took a moment to talk about this being the bugs home why we don't kill bugs outside. 

"We are just observing."

We also saw potato bugs or rolly pollies and ants.  

Of course they still tried to pick them up.

Later that day we had a picinic.  It was very spur of the moment but wonderful.  The weather was so nice.  

After lunch the kids ran around while we listened to some music.  Then there was some spring rain that pushed us inside. 

You can see my Cayenne Pepper in the back ground :)

Monday of this week Athena and Isaiah did wax paper painting. 

Simply put some paint on wax paper in desired design and then place a second piece of wax paper on top.  Then using different tools make designs in the paint. 

The coolest thing was you could feel the coolness of the paint smoosh and move under your fingers and there was no mess! 

 Isaiah would push the paint and then look at his fingers over and over surprised there was nothing there. 

I originally planned to do this activity with Spencer as well but he was picked up early Monday and did not have a chance to participate.  Athena did enjoy it and I did enjoy the no mess clean up so I think it will be something we repeat. 

Tuesday it was just the boys.  They were not really interested in painting for catch up.  Instead we practiced drawing and making triangles with different mediums. 

• Pencils
• Play dough
• Chocolate Chips
• Lego's
• Stickers

The cool thing about using the Lego's is that they could build a 3-D triangle.

Thursday it was pouring rain outside!  A nice good rain storm.  My plan was to paint a picture of the rain and the glue on glitter as the falling rain.  

It looked nice in my head. 

After breakfast though I got caught up in laundry and the kids were playing.  I put off the painting for an hour.  By the time I had all the supplies set up and the kids in front of a window to paint the rain was not falling as hard.  There was a sprinkle. 

I put on some rain sounds to help set a calming mood and they painted.  

And painted!  They made two pictures. 

I asked them to paint the rain outside.  The older kids painted what they saw outside in surprisingly good detail (to me).  This was the first time I asked them to do this an I also don't know what is the normal level for this type of activity. 

The above is Athena's painting.  

I was impressed when I asked her what the black triangle was and she said it was the truck.  She apologized it wasn't the whole truck and that she tried.  I told her it was wonderful and very smart that she used shapes to paint.  It was perfect! 

Yesterday we played a ball game with the kids in the basement, duck duck goose, and had a dance party!  

My plan for a summer full of activities has gone well so far I just need to keep up on it.  

I have been having a hard time sleeping so my feet are dragging a lot in the morning.  I tried going to bed earlier but it isn't helping I just can't sleep.  

The kids are also waking up earlier.  I think they are waking with the sun.  They are also so so hungry!  I don't know if it's a growing spurt or all the time we are spending running around but it is almost constant eating! 

I am loving this summer :)