D is for Dog

This week we did the letter "D" and our theme was dogs and other pets.

I made a box full of birdseed and put our sandbox toys in it for a kinetic play area for Princess #2. It was the favorite part of this unit but it was really messy! Princess #3 loved crawling over and watching the seeds go through the wheel.

Princess #2 working on a "d" worksheet, she still has trouble distinguishing between "b" and "d"
We made "Reilly" puppets (our dog), but they came out more like mice... oh well
And finally we made paper plate aquariums with a paper plate and fish, mermaid, and nemo stickers. We hung it in Princess #2's bed (the bottom bunk).

Swedish Tea Ring

This recipe was given to me by my mother. She traditionally made it for Thanksgiving every year. It is the recipe I learned to "do" bread with. Although I do not believe it is traditionally a "swedish" recipe it a yummy sweet bread that is great for breakfast or dessert!

1/4 cup warm water

1 pkg yeast

3/4 cup warm milk

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1 egg

1/4 cup shortening

3 1/2 - 4 cup bread flour

Add shortening to warmed milk until melted.

In large bowl dissolve yeast into water. Add sugar and 1/2 cup flour to yeast.

When milk is room temp add egg and salt then add to yeast mixture. Add remaining flour, mixing well after each cup until well combined but not sticky.

Turn on to floured surface and knead until smooth.

Place in a greased bowl and let rise for about 1 1/2 hours and punch down and let rise again until doubled.

Flour surface and roll out dough into rectangle about 12x14.

Butter dough. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1/2 cup raisins. Roll up long side.

Wrap roll into a circle tucking ends together.

Make slices about 1 inch part 1/2 way through dough and turn slices to lay on top of each other.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. When cool drizzle with frosting (1/2 cup confectioners sugar and 1-2 tbsp hot water) Add cherries if desired.

C is for Cow

We had our lesson last week on "cows" or the letter "C" but we focused more on the fact that "Courtney" starts with "c"...

Courtney cut out pictures of things that started with "c" and put them on the clothes line

Doing a "C" worksheetPutting together a puzzle given to us, the letters spell her name

Coloring her legless cow brown, the color of the week

A few clothes pins and the cow has legs!

Each day we use this sheet to practice writing, the first four are tracing and the bottom line is the first time she has written her name indepentantly

On Day #2 we painted milk cartons red for the little people farm animals to play in

We also focused on the shape "squares"... here she is tracing some squares on a worksheet

We are also beginning a unit on community recognition/geography. I would like her to know her street address by the end of the unit. Here we together drew a map of our house to Kimberly's school (needs work)

As always ending the day with a journal entry, generally writing her name once and a free draw picture

Friday's Daybook

FOR TODAY, October 10th

Outside My Window... is the camper waiting to be put away for winter

What it is I am thinking of.... preschool lesson plans

I am thankful.... for 9 more days of night shift for Prince Charming

From the kitchen... cheesburger chowder, zuchinni bread and tea ring

I am wearing ...jeans, pooh sweatshirt and carrot spitup

I am creating... a new lesson plan book, any suggestions??

I am going to... get off the computer soon

I am reading... nothing at the moment

I am hoping... to get my lesson plans done ahead of time

I am hearing ...Princess #3 yelling at her toys

Around the house... is a mess!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: girls night at Ms. Spunky's

One of my favorite things... a really good movie, which I heard Fireproof was excellent... go see it!

A Picture I thought of Sharing: school time

A loss in the frozen tundra

I have a somewhat silly, but a very real prayer request. I found out today that my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, The Marine and His Wife, had to put down their beloved dog, Abby, today.

Recently she just wasn't acting herself so they took her a vet and long story short found out she had cancer in the lymph nodes that was beyond treatment. In the final days she did suffer so it was a relief to have her out of pain, but it is still very hard for them. Abby was The Decorator's dog and she is grieving her loss but thankful she is no longer in pain. It is difficult as they have just moved to the area and still struggling to "connect." A friend offered some land to bury Abby on so that is a blessing.

The Decorator is 32 weeks pregnant, tired, lonely (The Marine has been gone or working long shifts for most of the time they have been there), cold (hehe) and not yet established in a group of friends. Please keep The Marine, The Decorator, and family in your prayers if you could.

A somewhat older picture of The Marine, the boys and Abby