There were so many fun things to do with the letter f that I think we could have spent a whole month on it!  Unfortunately, Mia got sick and we were unable to go to the farm with our Moms Rock group, which we were both really looking forward to.

I've been including some board books recently because they are more appropriate for Naomi, and Mia still loves them as well.  Sandra Boynton, author of Barnyard Dance! and Moo, Baa, La La La! has several board books that are super silly and super fun for little ones.  Naomi (almost 1) loves any book where she can feel different textures like Touch and Feel Farm.

F is for Flower

Fingerprint flower sheet

I added the flower petals. : )

I actually found this craft when I helped plan a service night at the Children's Hospital a couple of months ago.  All ages of kids loved the project so I knew Mia would too.

I really love how Mia put the leaves on.

Link to pop out flower

F is for Firefighter/ Fire/ Fire truck  

All of these are great books for toddlers. I love when I can add an ABC book to the mix, so I was really excited when I came across, Firefighters A to Z.

Link to fire truck printable

Printable fire truck craft

I always like to try and do a project that uses the letter we are learning. This week, we made fire out of tissue paper. I put glue spots all over the F and let Mia stick on the crumpled tissue paper. After she covered all of my glue spots, she did a few more of her own.

On this particular day, we did 3 projects.  This is not normal for Mia, but since she wanted to keep going, I kept giving her more.  Some days she loves activities and other days she is not interested.  I never force her to sit down and do a project, which is why some weeks we do more than others.

F is Fish

Of course we had to visit the aquarium.

Then, we made our own aquarium at home with contact paper.  

1. Cut out a large rectangle of contact paper and attach it to the wall (sticky side out).  I used thumb tacks and blue painters tape to attach it.

2. Cut out and color several "under the sea" creatures.  We made fish, stingrays, sea weed, octopus, and starfish.

3.  Let your toddler stick the pictures to the contact paper.

I even made an uppercase and lowercase f, because I couldn't resist.

4.  Leave on the wall for everyone to enjoy.  Can you tell that she was proud?!?

 F is for Feet

We used a large box to do some feet painting, here is the post...Painting with Hands and Feet

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Mia talks about these girls non-stop! They are her best friends and luckily their mommas are my best friends too.  We all get together every Friday to play, eat, laugh, cry and most of all...support each other  in this crazy season of motherhood.

Kennedy (22 months), Rebekah (3) and Mia (2.5)

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We love the Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney. There are Llama books for older toddlers/ preschoolers as well as board books for babies.  

L is for Leaves

After reading the book, We're Going On a Leaf Hunt, Mia hunted for leaves in our yard.

She then did some finger painting

and glued on the leaves.

L is for Lion

1. Paint the backside of a paper plate (we mixed white and brown to get the perfect light brown)

2. While your child is painting, cut out 2 large white circles, 2 small white circles, 1 black or brown triangle, 2 brown rectangles and several small brown strips.

3. Once the paint is dry, turn the plate over and let your little one glue on the strips.

4. Glue on the shapes to make your lion face (we finished this project over the course of 2 days since there were a lot of steps involved.)

L is for Llama

Llama coloring sheet

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It was sunny and bright yesterday so we decided to do an outside activity.  I am working on a new playroom in the basement (I'll post the finished space soon) and have lots of boxes that are just waiting to be turned into something special.  

I started with just three colors

and let Mia take it from there.

She was a little slow to get started

but eventually couldn't get enough.  She kept asking for more colors,

and wanted to use her hands too! (Thank goodness we were outside!)

 

This was such a great sensory experience for my girl who normally hates having messy hands.

 I was a little worried that we used too many colors and it would turn brown

but it turned out absolutely perfect!

A beautiful masterpiece.

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It's snowing and it's May 1st. We were wearing tank tops 2 days ago and have been enjoying lots of sunshine lately (see below).  Since I know it will all be over tomorrow, I'm okay with the snow and actually enjoying an excuse to stay inside all day.  It's been a cozy day full of hot coffee, muffins, organizing, and playtime.  My biggest accomplishment of the day is that both girls are napping at the same time!  Hah. Miss Mia has been boycotting her naps lately and then turning into a crazy, crying, two year old monster by the time Joe gets home.  So, finally she is sleeping and will hopefully be a pleasant, polite, two year old angel when Joe gets home today.

  

Every month I switch out my dry erase calendar and it's always bittersweet erasing everything we did the past month.  All those moments are now memories and my girls are another month older.  Even though I have some sadness erasing everything, I LOVE planning for the next month and getting organized!!  

 Last weekend, we went to a geek themed 1st bday.  My friend, Elmarie, went above and beyond and created the most amazing party.  Here are some photos of us in our geek glasses. : )

 

 

 Happy May!  I hope you have some amazing moments planned this month that will be forever memories.  We are looking forward to Naomi's under the sea 1st birthday bash, which we will actually have on her birthday(May 26).  Gosh, I can't believe it's almost been a year.

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