Archive for June, 2009

Posted on June 9, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Verse for the Week

Rest. Quiet. Stillness. It is hard to come by as a mom. When it happens take advantage of it and marinade in it.  My days are filled with many things but I long for rest both physically and mentally. How about you? How do you find it? Or do you create it by setting up times for yourself? This verse has not left me for two weeks, I keep coming across it and it keeps coming into my thoughts.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are burdened and I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

or this is what I pray:

I come to you Lord, burdened and you give me rest. I will take up your yoke and learn from you, for you are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul.

Posted on June 4, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Froggy Jello

Lately, there has been a lot of talk about frogs at Hearthstone House. Meebs’ favorite plush toy is a little green frog and The Bird has taken every opportunity to explain the life cycle of frogs to me. I think I have it down now egg, tadpole, froglet, adult frog. In honor of both girls love  affair, I give you Froggy Jello. Lime jello never looked so good. I used apple slices and maraschino cherries to create the face. The bird went crazy over this and Meebs liked it too. (After a few tries)

Posted on June 4, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Fire Station Trip

The Bird, Meebs and I go to the library weekly for story time and along the way we have started to form some new friendships. One of the Moms we met from story time, organized a trip to our local fire station and museum. We were able look at antique fire trucks, equipment, memorabilia, and the local history of our station. Our time there was cut short because The Bird was nervous and intimidated by the size of the fire trucks. It is funny how children internalize events because when we got home The Bird played fire fighters all afternoon. At one point she had grabbed a tape measure and was using it as a fire hose to put out an imaginary fire on her play cottage.  Here are some of the highlights from the trip. Thanks Holly!

Posted on June 3, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Zoom Art

I wish Slade would have been here for this project today, but I took some video so I could share this with everyone. Art and cars join forces! Two things that Slade loves and two girls he loves even more.

For this project you will need:

• Heavy Duty Masking Tape (we used Slade’s gaffer’s tape, which is awesome)
• Markers (washable!)
• Toy Cars
• Large Sheets of Paper or Butcher Paper

Here’s some video of us playing with the cars, and the final result of the project.

Zoom Art from Julie Waters on Vimeo.

Slade found this video last week which is a art project that’s similar, but using a full sized BMW, and an airplane hangar. I am sure that he’s trying to figure out how to do this with the Hondas…

Posted on June 1, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Lollipop Art

This project is simple and just the right speed for little ones who need practice tracing shapes and cutting with scissors. I found this project on the Crafty Crow under L is for Lollipop and click here for step by step instructions. The Bird made four of these in about a half an hour and was so proud of her paper confections.

Posted on June 1, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Summer’s Treasures

Hearthstone’s driveway was full of giggles, while the girls had a very special friend over today. Our friend Lil came to play while her mom took care of her to-do list. We had fun discovering nature: hunting for wild strawberries, finding an empty snail shell and watching ants carry food back to their hill. The girls used their imaginations and turned the Bird’s soccer goal into a tent. Meebs enjoyed her water table and was determined to crawl on the driveway. (ouch!) Her little hands and knees were so red and so was her face everytime I tried to pick her up!

Posted on June 1, 2009 - by Estate Manager

Elephant Sock Puppet

Hearthstone House is in a full on crafting blitz, summer has started and little hands need to be busy. I came across this idea in the June issue of Your Big Backyard. The Bird subscribes to this magazine and it is the little sister of Ranger Rick which you might remember from your childhood.

What you will need:

• paper plate
• gray tube sock
• newspaper
• white paper towel
• school glue
• stapler
• black magic marker

What to do:

1. Cut a 3″ hole in the center of the paper plate.
2. Glue torn pieces of newspaper onto the bottom of the plate to give it a gray color.
3. Glue three sheets of newspaper together and let dry. When dry, cut out two ears for the elephant.
4. Glue or staple the ears to the sides of the plate.
5. Roll and twist the paper towel into two tusks for the elephant.
6. Staple the tusks on either side of the hole.
7. Draw eyes on your elephant with a marker
8. Put the sock on your child’s hand and push it through the hole in the plate to make the elephant’s trunk.

This worked out pretty well with The Bird’s attention span she liked ripping the newspaper into shreds and gluing them on the plate, this step alone kept her busy for about 20 minutes. Very cute. They say elephants never forget, but neither do moms.