Tot School (May 3)

Lots of photos this week. This was our first week of our new set up to try and keep Nathanael out of mischief while I am working with the older two. For the most part it was successful and Nathanael really enjoyed exploring all the new activities. He insists on joining Samuel whenever we are doing preschool work and so is learning his letters and numbers right along with his big brother!







His favourite activity. He played with this for a solid 20 mins the first day and then many times throughout the week.


Posting tokens into the container, another favourite


Balancing marbles on the sticky circles.

Playdough fun!

Playing in the puddles after the rain.

More of big brothers work.

A bit of hammering practice.

Sorting the bears by colour.

Our Ark (April 30)

Our theme for this week is Noah's Ark, so of course we had to build our own ark!

Noah's Ark and Rainbows (April 29)

Today at playgroup our theme was Noah's ark and rainbows. We had lots of colourful fun with a giant rainbow and our very own ark to play in. It was lovely to have some new families join us this term!

The rainbow rice sensory box.


Filling in our giant rainbow wall.


Rainbow playdoh!


A very green rainbow!


Everyone busy at work creating.


Boat building.


Almost finished!


Lots of concentrating happening here.






Even morning tea was colourful!


Finished!!

First Day Back (April 28)

We have survived the first day of Term 2!!!!  Only 49 school days left till holidays  :)

Ready for Term 2 (April 27)

Well the littlies school area is all neat and organised ready to go tomorrow. I wonder how long it will look like this for?

Easter (April 9)

It's Easter time at our house! Slightly different this year as we are now completely sugar,dairy and grain free. We have never bought eggs for own children but they always receive from family and friends so it will be our first Easter without chocolate. While the kids aren't completely convinced this is a good idea I am loving the fact that our focus is more on what Easter is truly about and less on everything else that we are bombarded with at Easter. I will confess we have found some yummy sounding sugar free hot cross bun and chocolate fudge recipes that I am keen to try out this week though 

Our favourite resources for Easter this year are our resurrection eggshttp://fhdphotos.com/holidays/easter/resurrection-eggs-for-easter-do-it-yourself-versions-to-tell-the-2014.html and accompanying story, Benjamin's Box http://www.amazon.com/Benjamins-Box-Story-Resurrection-Eggs/dp/0310715059 and our favourite Easter read aloud Amon's Adventure http://www.amazon.com/Amons-Adventure-Family-Story-Easter/dp/0825441714

For the littlies we are trying out A Sense of the Resurrection from O Amanda. http://ohamanda.com/a-sense-of-the-resurrection-an-easter-experience-for-families/ We have her Christmas equivalent and have loved using it and so far we are enjoying this one too. We have read about the triumphant entry and made noise makers from tin cans to praise Jesus and about the lady who poured perfume on Jesus' feet and made essential oil diffusers for the house.

Here is a look at these and some other things we have started for our Easter celebration week....or two!

Decorating our tins to make a wind chime to praise Jesus.

Still not quite got the idea of NOT trying to eat the paint!

J for Jesus

Checking out the Resurrection eggs.

The finished wind chime, although it is more of a clang than a chime!

Easter egg painting.

Blueberries For Sal (April 1)

Today was blueberry day for playgroup! We read Blueberries For Sal to a very distracted audience and then we cooked some yummy (and very healthy) coconut flour blueberry muffins.

We also made some paper blueberry pies and painted and played all morning!

Making Blueberry Muffins

Playdough time!

Finding Bears in the Rice Box

Our Blueberry Pies

Yummy Muffins ready to eat!

Yum!!!

The big kids are great at helping the little ones on our mini ropes course.