Vacation Journal - Florida Beach Scene

Ter hadn't had a two week vacation since he's been a "working man," so we figured it was high time. Even though we'd been planning it for over six months before we left, it worked out that Ter was actually sort of between jobs. He had this vacation planned and then he worked for two more weeks when he got back and then he moved to a new company. It was truly relaxing since he didn't have to answer a work email or phone call.

We flew into Orlando and rented a Suburban (quite nice for this family of 7) and then drove to Sanibel Island in the Gulf near Fort Myers. It was too dark to see the beach that night but we got out there before breakfast the next morning. The sunrise was gorgeous and I tried to do God justice in these pics. It's just hard to beat the real thing.

Betty was a little leary of the water at first. She didn't even want to get her feet wet, but as time went on she succumbed to the lure of the ocean. :)

Bo was a little scared at first too, but he got his toes wet with Daddy close by.

Shells were everywhere on the island. We were doing the "Sanibel Stoop" along with all the rest of the vacationers trying to find the perfect shell. We found some really neat ones and brought a bunch of them home with us.

I was really there. Those are my feet!

Some of the shells still had inhabitants like this conch.

We took a little time to pay a visit to Thomas Edison and his laboratory in Ft. Myers. We really enjoyed his company. A man of few words though and so much taller in real life.

We spent the rest of our vacation visiting the Disney parks, so that will be my next post!



Home Journal - "Little" Boy Hat

Bo is now "in" to wearing his "Little" Boy hat meaning his "Larry" Boy hat. He wakes up and wants that hat. In fact, he is wearing right now while he takes his nap! Gotta love it! 



Home Journal - Tub-O-Fun

We had one smiley toddler when we filled the bucket up with water for him to splash in. At first he just played, but then he couldn't resist getting in himself. :)



School Journal - Ocean/Beach Preschool Theme

We're getting ready to go on vacation to the beach and I thought it would be fun to do a beach/ocean theme for our school workboxes. We used some printables and ideas from several different sites:

http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2011/06/ocean-theme-printables-more.html

http://www.homeschoolcreations.com/oceanpreschoolpack.html

http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/07/on-our-shelves-july-august.html

Betty and Bo both enjoyed this activity I got from Counting Coconuts (not from the link above, but I couldn't find the exact one). It's just putting little umbrella toothpicks into styrofoam. Great fine motor activity. We used our ocean animal toobs a lot and poured "sand" into different containers with a funnel which Betty loved too.

I also put together an ocean sensory tub with our ocean animals, blue aquarium gravel, a small boat, some seashells, aquarium plants and some spikey balls for sea urchins. The beach sensory tub that I did didn't get its picture taken but it had cornmeal for sand (since I didn't have the real thing), seashells, a bucket and scoop, a toothpick umbrella and little chairs and some game pieces to serve as people. Both of them were played with a lot.



I think that now they'll know what to do when we go on vacation!

Home Journal - Biker Boy

We were outside one day and Bo wanted his brother's bike helmet and he took my sunglasses from me. He put them both on and quite proudly declared, "Erk, cycle!" which when translated means, "Erik, motorcycle." So here's to you, Mr. Erik from a big fan! :)



School Journal - Phonics Hide-n-Seek

Here's a fun thing that Betty and I did to make her matching a little more exciting.

We used this Melissa and Doug puzzle and word/picture cards from here. I hid the pictures in the puzzle and she had to open the latch and find the correct word to match the picture. Betty enjoyed doing her words this way and it was justs as easy for me. If you don't have a puzzle like this, you could hide the words under cups or stuffed animals or even do a hide-n-seek around a room. Fun and Phonics go together!



Family Journal - Special Lady's Birthday

Here's a special lady in our family that just recently turned 94! This dear one is my kids' only living great-grandparent. We're so glad that she is close enough to get to spend lots of time with her. We love you, Great Gran!

Gran with Bo and his Uncle

Great Gran still talks about the time Bo came to visit her at her apartment when he was barely a day old. She was recovering from surgery and couldn't get out so we brought Bo to see her on our way home from the hospital. He was born on Great Papa's (her husband) birthday. 

Cards from all the cousins

And plenty of hugs

All the cousins minus Bo