blatant random silliness

the calendar

I made this calendar for Dylan back in Ohio to help him with his schedule and the days of the week.  We didn't use it as religiously then as we've started to now.  Now, the calendar is one of Dylan's favorite things to do (he asks to do it twice some days) and we integrate the songs he's learned at school to go with it.  

The calendar is a big magnetic white board that I purchased at Target.  I used electrical tape cut thin to rule off the calendar portion of the calender.  Then, I scanned in the illustrations from some of Dylan's favorite books.  I decided to use the Very Hungry Caterpillar as the basis for the days of the week, since he loves that book.  I also scanned in the ABC's from the Eric Carle ABC book in order to make the month headers.  I made my magnets too ways.  I found some adhesive magnet paper, so I just printed out my magnets on regular paper and stuck them to the magnet paper.  I went the opposite way too, where I printed on label paper and stuck that to magnet sheets.  There isn't a preferable way, both ways worked equally well.  I made magnets for the weather and for the seasons.  

Every morning, Dylan comes in and we move the red box to the correct day (I say we, some mornings its me, but when one of his tutors is here they use it to start off his session).  We change out the large day magnet and the date number.  We talk about what Yesterday was and he writes it in the space for it.  We also talk about Tomorrow and write that day in as well.  He writes the number on today's square and then we sing the "Days of the Week" song that he sings at school (sung to the tune of the Adaam's Family song:  "Days of the week, clap clap, days of the week, clap clap, days of the week, days of the week, days of the week, clap clap, there's Sunday and there's Monday, there's Tuesday and there's Wednesday, there's Thursday and there's Friday, and then there's Saturday, Days of the week, clap clap, days of the week, clap clap, days of the week, days of the week, days of the week.")

Usually, this is followed by the months (which are written on index cards). He likes to put them in order and sing the months song that they sing in school.  I made season cards and holiday cards that we are starting to integrate into the months.

word endings game

Dylan playing the newly made word endings game.

A couple of weeks ago I saw this post over at The Crafty Classroom showing how to make your own word endings game.  I knew we needed to make this for Dylan since he loves words so much.  I forwarded the link to my sweet hubby and he said, "I have some wood downstairs....I can cut out the blocks and sand them down".  He was excited to do this project with me.  The Crafty Classroom bought her blocks at the craft store and then painted them...which is definitely the easier route.  But, Denny had an excellent time making the blocks for Dylan (even though he ended up out in the cold garage to do it).  

Ready to cut more blocks.


Cutting out blocks.


Sanding the blocks.

My genius hubby turned his sander upside down and clamped it into his work table and sanded the blocks that way.


Time for painting.


I used three colors on the endings block and a solid color on the consonant blocks. When painting the blocks that will have three colors, be sure to do opposite sides in the same color. That way you can avoid having the same color on adjoining sides. The Crafty Classroom left the consonant blocks natural, but we had some rougher sides and I decided to go ahead and paint mine. I also made one extra block for blended sounds (sh, th, ch, etc.)


I used a sharpie to put the letters on the blocks. I had to figure out my word endings as there wasn't a list on The Crafty Classroom. If you want to know the endings I used, let me know in the comments and I'll post them.

We have lots of extra blocks that I have plans for.  I'll  post about the next block project once I complete it.  :)

way back wednesday: sewing

I was inspired to put together a sewing basket for Dylan from a book that I have called The Creative Family.  The author also does a wonderful blog called Soule Mama that is full of creative ideas.  She suggested using burlap and plastic sewing needles with brightly colored embroidery thread to introduce children to sewing.  Dylan really enjoyed this when I first introduced it.  We even made a "picture" for grandma.  Here's Dylan back in November 2009 sewing:

The trickiest part for him was flipping it over each time to put the needle back through.  He had a tendency to want to put the needle on the same side each time.

The other day, I thought I'd pull the sewing out again.  It's been awhile since we've done it and while he did some freeform sewing, I drew a star on another piece of burlap for him to try.  It took some guidance and me pointing where to put the needle, but, he completed his star.  I plan on trying to do more shapes and maybe letters to guide him through. 

Dylan's star.

monster fun

For Christmas, Dylan's Aunt Camille sent him this Melissa and Doug Build-a-Monster set.  We have a lot of fun putting all the pieces on the monster and making him say "rar rar rar rar" and "yum yum yum".  Dylan loves monster hugs and has started putting the monster on his own arm and making him talk.  Mr. Monster gives lots of giggles and is upping the pretend play quotient in our house (I think I've mentioned before how Dylan tends to be literal and doesn't engage in much pretend play).

"Oh good, now I have eyes so I can see! Thank you Dylan!"


"I can't smell anything....what do I need?"


"That's right, I needed a nose! And you gave me teeth too! All better to eat you with! Yum yum yum yum!! But, I want to give you a hug...what else do I need?"


"Yay! Arms! I can hug you now! Thank you Dylan!"

dylan's winter pants

These were originally meant to be Christmas pants.  I started them before Christmas (I started a big pair for Denny and I too) but never got them finished.  This week, I was cleaning out my craft room which had become overrun with random Christmas decorations and gift wrap and saw the pants sitting by my sewing machine.  I was so close to finishing them....I needed to finish the hem and put in the elastic.  That was all.  Silly me.  So, I sat down and finished them and was quite happy that I'd picked out. wintery fabric instead of Christmasy fabric.  The pants fit Dylan so well and I left extra elastic in the waste and about 4 inches in the hem so that they should last for a couple of years.

I found the instructions for making your own pajama bottoms on Instructables.com.  The directions were easy to follow and I didn't need a pattern...I made my own based on a pair of pants that we already had for Dylan (and I did the same for us big people).  So those of you with sewing machines that are gathering dust...go dust them off and make some pants.  :)

For those of you with smaller little people, I posted a couple of years ago about making pants out of old shirts.  Click here to check those out.

coffee bean sensory box

I saw this sensory box idea on Pink and Green Mama and thought it was an excellent idea.  She made hers using ground coffee she had leftover in her cupboard.  I went with whole beans, since that's how we buy our coffee, and we had some old ones hanging out in our pantry.  I used a small storage box with a lid and threw in some small animals spoons and scoops, wooden dice and a bowl.  So far it's been quite a fun hit with Dylan and some younger friends too.  I like the whole beans because it makes for easy cleanup in the playroom.

Also, while you are over at Pink and Green Mama check out her winter rice sensory box....another really great idea.

Dylan really likes the way the beans feel.

Little animals hiding. I think I'll put some letters in next time...Dylan would really like that.


Scooping the beans. He's putting them in these foam pieces that held foam stamps.


And he decided to climb in.


Funny boy.

my funny boy

Remember the other day when I posted about making big marshmallows with Dylan?  Well, yesterday, we went back outside to play since it was almost 30º.  I thought the snow would be good for making another snow creature, but alas, it wasn't.  Instead, Dylan had me make snowballs for him to squish.  Then, I noticed we'd left 2 big marshmallows unsquished from the other day.  I pointed Dylan in their direction.  They were really hard and little man really really wanted to squish them.  It was quite funny.  See what I mean?

Going in for the sit and squish.

Okay, I'm sitting, but its not squishing.



I guess I should try harder....oops...I slid off.

My bottom didn't work...maybe I should lay on it.


Maybe if I breakdance a little it will help. (Yep, his legs are in the air!)


Nope, that didn't work either. Oh well, guess I'll just carve in it.

our little valentine's tree

I saw a valentine's tree on one of the blogs I read, or maybe it was a link from a blog I read, but now I can't find the original post to cite it.  Basically, you collect sticks or branches from your yard and tie on hearts with the names of those you love.  I initially thought this would be hard for us since everything here is covered in snow.  But, when we were out playing yesterday I found some willow branches in the snow and thought they'd be perfect.  I stuck them in a bottle that I kept for flowers and trimmed them a bit.  

Dylan punched out red hearts with our heart puncher and wrote the names of those we love.  And I punched small holes and threaded through the yarn, then we hung them on the branches.  Denny suggested adding a bird (the design of which is from our Valentine's cards) and I perched him up there with a bit of scotch tape and a supporting branch.  Voila, a lovely centerpiece for our table.

Dylan really enjoys using the puncher.


Dylan writing Daddy on one of the hearts.

Dylan puts another heart on the tree.


Dylan and I by the tree.





The finished project (well, almost finished, we need to add a couple more hearts today). :)

way back wednesday: valentine's cards and hugs and smooches

My friend Bethany does Way Back Wednesday on her blog, and I thought I'd adopt that practice on mine.  Today, we will look back at Valentine's cards.  We'll start with this years card, and work our way back in time.  :)

This year's Valentine's Cards.

This years card was inspired by a handmade lovebird card I saw on someone's blog (I can't find the post, I have to get better at that).  I changed it a bit...we went with one bird and made it entirely out of hearts.  We added a branch and leaves and I used patterned scrapbook paper that I've collected from various places. The Target dollar bin can be a great source for cheap patterned paper as can buying a pad of scrapbook paper on clearance (the thick paper we're using is from the same pad we used paper from last year...that $6 pad will last us another year yet!).  

Here's my method.  I had Dylan help me draw straight lines with a ruler on the back of the thick scrapbook paper. Then, Dylan cut along the lines to make 4 squares.  His next task was punching out two sizes of heart–teeny tiny ones for the birds feet and beaks and larger ones for the wings and leaves.


Dylan punching out hearts. He really really likes the heart punches.

Meanwhile, I traced half-hearts on a folded piece of patterned paper (I could have Dylan do this part as well).  He and I cut out the bigger bird body hearts and then cut them in half.  I also had Dylan cut strips of brown paper to be branches.

Next up is assembly.  We've been assembling a couple of these a day in hopes we have enough for his preschool class next week.


Dylan cutting out branches. That's Erin, one of his ABA tutors behind him.


All the pieces ready to put together.

 First, we stamp the back of the cards and write our message. I also had Dylan draw hearts on the backs.


The back of the cards.

Then, depending on the type of glue Dylan chooses to use, I mark the back of the pieces we are glueing down.  I use dots for the squeezy glue and X's for the glue stick.  This way he has a guide and knows where the glue should go. After making a couple, he knows exactly where he wants to put all the pieces. After glueing on all the pieces, he uses a marker to draw an eye on the bird.  Let them dry and we have Valentine's cards.  :)

Dylan adds a tail to the birdie. Note the x showing where to put the glue and the wing.

Dylan adds an eye.


Glueing on the half a heart leaves.

Last year, Dylan was 3 and the cards were also bird themed.  I don't remember how I was inspired to do owls, but I did and I thought they turned out really cute.  I cut out the owl bodies and had Dylan cut out the hearts.  He used a "Happy Valentine's Day" stamp from the dollar bin at Target and then wrote "Love, Dylan" on the backs.  We glued on the heart faces (using the same dot method we used this year), wings and the googly eyes.

Dylan cutting out hearts to be the owls faces. I see Dylan was wearing the same pajamas as he was wearing this year when I took photos. Too funny! I don't think these pajamas will make it another year though...he's getting too tall.


Dylan putting glue on the backs of the hearts.

Dylan's letter to Grandma and Grandpa.

And since Valentine's Day is all about love, here's a photo of Dylan and Elena going for a smooch in February 2010. We miss you Elena!

In February 2009,  Dylan was 2. I took one of his paintings and cut out hearts. I had Dylan help me glue on the hearts and then he decorated the cards with stamps and scribbles.




Dylan gives his friend MC a valentine.

And some more lovey dovey photos of Dylan with one of his girlfriends.  :)


MC hugging on Dylan.


Dylan going in for a smooch. Back in those days he used to say "that's a good smooch!"

The year before that Dylan was 1 and we were getting ready to move from Japan to Ohio. Dylan colored on red paper and added some stickers. Then he added his own unique folds to his Valentine's card for Grandma and Grandpa.


Such a sweet little guy. They grow up so fast.

Dylan and Chizuru on a strawberry picking expedition in February 2008 in Japan. Yep, he's always loved the ladies.

valentine's day hanging heart

Some of our art projects.

I've been reading lots of craft blogs regularly since I started using my new web browser RockMelt.  RockMelt is cool because it gives you an "edge" on the side of your browser that shows icons for all the blogs you like to read.  The best part is that it shows you when there is a new post on a blog.  In other words, its much easier to keep up with blogs I like.

This has put me on a bit of a Valentine's Day craft kick the past few days.  We started making our Valentine's Cards (which I will post soon) and made a couple of decorations for the house.  The first, I saw over on Pink and Green Mama and it's a heart decoration with buttons.  I saw this and thought it would be fun to do with Dylan.  Ours turned out a bit differently than theirs, and that is the beauty of art.  They used a wood heart from the craft store and I went with a sturdy piece of cardboard from the back of one of Dylan's large drawing pads.  

Dylan painting our cardboard heart.


After the paint dried (and we spent some time outside) Dylan got to put squeezy glue and buttons on the heart.


Dylan puts on more buttons.


The finished heart hanging on our door.

 Instead of painting the whole heart one color, Dylan decided to do big dotty swirls of color.  I added the red border.  After letting it dry, Dylan had too much fun with the squeezy glue and we all contributed to adding the buttons.  After a night of drying, I poked holes in either side and took a length of ribbon leftover from Christmas to make the hanger.  It's now hanging on the inside of our front door for us to see.  

More crafts coming up this week!