Friday Do-Over: Target Practice

You could also use this game for fun math practice. That is, if you're not lazy, like me. First Published 4/22/09
You can see more Math Goodness at Math Monday at Joyful Learner.


I set up this activity as a means toward some sanity (for myself) the other day.
We used the catapult we made last year and some poms.
Draw several circles and indicate their point value.
That's all.

Toddler Ice Play

When the neighbors are away, the toddlers will play. As we are looking after our downstairs neighbors' cats while they are away, I thought it would only be fair if we also played in their yard.

I froze water in a bunch of cups, filled up a small bucket with water and New Kid had a field day. It is amazing how much fun the simple things can be. (Be sure to toss away the ice cubes once they reach mouthing size) I let the ice fall out of the cups on its own, rather than trying to wrestle it out beforehand. It was always a surprise to New Kid when a giant ice cube plopped out of a cup!

I was only sorry I didn't bring down some tea to enjoy while I lounged on the most comfortable chairs ever. I also tried hard not to think about how fabulous it would be if I owned the yard and could lounge out there everyday.  Maybe when my fabulous neighbor reads this post she will invite us back for more!

Loose Ends

Bunny ears, bunny ears, playing by a tree. 

Criss-crossed the tree, trying to catch me. 

Bunny ears, Bunny ears, jumped into the hole, 

Popped out of the other side beautiful and bold.

It takes a lot of practice to learn how to tie shoes!
Which do you teach: bunny ears (2 loops) or squirrel and the tree (single loop)?

Word Find

Remember Sift n Spell? A few weeks later ended up dumping a handful of letters and numbers in the bucket and put it on the shelf. Kiddo took it out on his own and started digging around in the rice to spell his own words. I'm pretty impressed at the word he chose! (and that we had the right letters)

For more Free Play visit Childhood 101.

A Question for You

Yes, yes, I know you love it all. But what is kind of post is your favorite?

Multiple Choice:
a. parent hands on activities with kid
b. parent hands-off activities with kid
c. what we do around the city
d. from the kitchen ideas
e. books

I feel like this blog is resting in an in-between stage: New Kid is still a toddler but Kiddo is old enough that I really don't have to scrounge around to find things to entertain him anymore. Plus, it's the summer so we are spending a lot of time out and about.

Is there anything you would like to see more of? I'd love to know.

A Swingin' Summer Evening

The alternative title of this post could be, "How NOT to have a crazy evening at home."

In the city, there is always a lot going on, much of it for free. The Brooklyn Public Library has Thursday evening Swing Dancing in out in the plaza. Although I knew Kiddo wouldn't want to dance (he made this clear to me several times), I really wanted to hear the music. There is a different live band every week and I love swing music.  If you live in Brooklyn, check out their remaining swing music events here.

It has been a hot summer, but last Thursday was not humid, so it was lovely to be out and about.


After checking out some books, we read in the plaza while waiting for the music.

As you can see Kiddo chose some high-quality literature for the occasion.

 While others were getting their danicin lesson, Kiddo played in the fountains.

New Kid tried to drink from them. 

The band and dancing was fun to watch, too.

We strolled home through Prospect Park. Notice that New Kid's pants were sacrificed to fountain fun.

I won't go so far as to say it was a relaxing evening -- let's not go crazy,  I was looking after small children, remember? -- but it was a great summer evening, to be sure. I love when we get home right at bedtime because that means there is no downtime for the kids to go bonkers.

I would also love to spend my summer evenings on this roof deck I spotted. A glass of wine in hand would be delightful.

How have you been spending your summer evenings? I'd love to know.

Weekend Bonus Post for Egg-Eaters

Ever since reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, I have been obsessed with finding eggs like the ones Pollan describes on Polyface Farm. I have been trying all the eggs at the farmer's market and comparing them to my store-bought organic ones. I finally found some and I really was surprised at the difference. I think everyone in my household would like me to shut up about it now, so I must turn to Internet land, instead.
I wish this photo adequately showed how orange the pastured egg was:

Look how yellow my Ugnspannkaka batter is!

Even my mom was surprised at the color and she's made this recipe for decades.
Below is the finished product. You'll have to believe me that before pastured eggs my ugnspannkaka was a very pale color.

I love that I can get these eggs right here in the city, and the farmer will take the carton back for re-use. Although, much to Daddy-O's dismay, if we ever have a yard I am totally getting some chickens.

Friday Do-Over: Recycled Kitchen

Here is a post from the very first days of this blog. Don't spend your money on fancy pretend play furniture!
First Published 12/27/07

Mom made a snazzy range and oven from a grocery store box and presented Kiddo with one of the Hanukkah presents ferreted away in the closet: a toy cooking ware set.

Kiddo made some delicious street sign stew for a variety of animal friends and baked a birthday cake to share, as well.

Mom enjoyed a yummy 20 minute respite.

Toddler Magnet Play

One of the advantages of apartment living is that you can turn your steel door into a magnet board and chalkboard for indoor play.

 New Kid likes to amuse himself by playing with the large magnets on the back of our front door. (As you can see by his wardrobe, I took this photo of New Kid quite some time ago, but the activity is still pertinent!)

But it's all gone, now.

We checked "make vanilla ice cream" off our summer list.

Reading Assignment:
Ice Cream: The Full Scoop
Ice Cream
The Ice Cream King
Ice Cream Larry
Isaac the Ice Cream Truck

Cheap Entertainment at its Finest

Just to let you know: if you have a bunch of old CDs and DVDs waiting to be recycled, they are great for sliding across the floor.

 It is definitely Cheap Entertainment at its finest.
For more Free Play see Childhood 101.

PS If you have old CDs and DVDs, please don't throw them in the trash. Read this and this.

Urban Green (Bits of My Weekend)

I had a few hours to myself this Sunday (I know, can you believe it?) so I headed over to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, but not without stopping at the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Truck.

I believe this is the 3rd time (4 if you count its place on our summer to-do list) that Van Leeuwen has appeared on this blog. Can you tell I'm a fan?

Alexander's Calder's Le Guichet has a temporary home in the BBG's Osborne Garden.

Usually the garden is full of people on weekends. I think the heat kept many away. I've never seen the Cherry Esplanade this empty on a Sunday.

The Japanese Garden is the most serene spot in the city.

I always think of Summer as the calm season at the gardens. Spring is a riot of color, Fall has change in the air, Winter is rough around the edges, but Summer is green, lush, hot and calm. These lilies add a dash of color, though.

As does the Lily Pool Terrace.

My kale never gets this big!

I hope you spent time in a garden this weekend. For more relaxing weekend bits, visit Six in the City.

Another Weekend Bonus Post for Black Currant Lovers

Last summer during black currant season we made delicious homemade black currant soda. We did that again this year, but we also made...

Black Currant Ice Cream and...

Crème de Cassis.

It's a hot summer. Indulge.

Friday Do-Over: Dot to Dot

First Published 2/22/09Kiddo has shown an interest in handwriting lately but for a variety of reasons I won't go into, I'm not that motivated to teach him how to form letters yet. However, to help him with his pen-wielding skills I hit upon the idea of connect-the-dots. Due to my neurosis about not pushing representational art I am not interested in connect-the-dots which reveal a picture. Plus, I don't think it would enhance Kiddo's experience of the process as it might for other kids. Instead, I randomly, or in patterns, put the numbers on paper. I made a bunch of them ahead of time so I could use them for a distraction activity when I needed to get something else done.
Although I used rubber stamps this time, I won't be doing that in the future. It was too time consuming and I am against spending more time setting up a project than actually doing it! Geesh.
It was a big hit. Kiddo loved "chasing the numbers". He insisted I make more, including this giant one!

Tea for Two

I love making my own chai (that prepackaged stuff is so gross). Kiddo likes to join me in a cup of tea. His is just a little hot water with honey, a cinnamon stick and lots of milk. And that little cup was mine as a girl.
Can I get a collective, "Aaawwww!"

I know it looks like my chai is glistening with grease. That's because of my non-homogenized milk. So yummy.

Bottle Neck

You don't have to live on a farm to get fresh milk.

I've never been much of a milk drinker, nor have my kids. Honestly, I've always been of the opinion that cow's milk is the perfect beverage ... for calves. However, since chai wouldn't be... well, chai ...  without it I buy my milk from the lovely folks at Milk Thistle. They sell their wares at the Farmer's Market every Saturday. I love how the whole milk is non-homogenized... so I can pretend I'm all old-fashioned and everything. Plus, sometimes there is this nice little hunk of cream sitting on the top. Just a little spoon is all that's needed... yum.

But the factors that very important to me are:
It comes in returnable, reusable glass bottles. Did you know that even cardboard cartons are lined with plastic? They are.

It is low-temp pasteurized, so not all the nutrients that are good for calves are killed off.

Milk Thistle practices good husbandry. No doubt you are already aware of the practices of the mainstream dairy industry, so I won't bore you.

It's true that milk like this costs more than milk at the grocery store, but the true cost of that kind of milk is hidden.

And Daddy-O tells me their Chocolate Milk is the best.

Transportation Tuesday

Are the trains playing peek-a-boo?

Visit We Play at Childhood 101 for more free play fun.

Beach Combers (Bits of My Weekend)

This is a late post as we just returned from a glorious long weekend at the shore. Witness:
The Sun!

The Sand!

The Surf!

The Donut!

There they go!

 For more Weekend Bits visit Six in the City.

Friday Do-Over: Clean Teeth

Get your kid to brush his teeth! First published 7/1/09

I'm guessing most kids don't like to have their teeth brushed. Kiddo has gotten a lot better at it over the last few months. I've tried various tactics in the past but the one that works the best is storytellling. I tell him that the story is starting and he'd better get in the bathroom so as not to miss it. He doesn't even care if my creative juices are a little weak that evening and the story is a bit pathetic. Lately, since we have been reading chapter books, I will do a recap of the previous night's chapter. He LOVES that.

Whatever works, right?

Busy Work V: Flag Making

 Kiddo is currently enraptured by colorful world flags. He spends many hours reading through flag books and then enjoys replicating them in crayon and marker.

Two of his creations. Can you guess which ones these are?

Reading Assignment:
Flags of the World (IMHO, a great flag book for kids)
Time for Kids World Atlas
Complete Flags of the World

He even made this Pride flag because I was too cheap to buy him one at the recent festival in our neighborhood. (Plus, we don't need more crap.)