The Weekend Lens

 Hello Friday!

Hello weekend!

Friday: Pip steals my glasses all the time and then calls herself Mama. Melts my heart.  Loving this quote. My car battery died, but it was still under warranty and the auto parts store replaced it for free! 2.0 mile run, the mile a day challenge is going strong!, colored ice cubes make bath time fun!, FYI: cereal is an acceptable Friday night dinner. 

Saturday: Grocery shopping at Publix, menu planning for the week, airport pick-up, Mr. R. is home!, noshing dinner, 2.0 mile run

Sunday: Church, coffee, semi-homemade chocolate croissants, caught her reading, lots of cuddling and kisses (pups included0, catching up on DVRed TV, dress-up, "C is or cookie" is her new favorite song, and the Peek-a-boo Zoo App for the ipad was the best money I spent all week. 

Non-Newtonian Fluids

 Tonight Pip and I conducted our first experiment. We created Oobleck, also known as Goop/Slime, in the bath tub. 

I measured the two cups of cornstarch and one cup of water and she took great pleasure in pouring the ingredients into the plastic tubs and wildly mixing them with the whisk. She is an excellent whisker. 

The scientist in me explained the properties of Non-Newtonian fluids to my 20 month old. Non Newtonian fluids are not quiet a liquid and not quite a solid. Their viscosity is dependent on the speed and pressure that is placed on them. In our case, when you try to grab oobleck it feels solid, almost like a cross between sand and baby powder, but when you actually hold oobleck in your hand it moves, falls, and slides like a liquid. 

Pip seemed to be listening while I talked about the properties of matter, but perhaps she was just mesmerized by the tie-dyed awesomeness created by the addition of food coloring.

She actively played for 25 minutes and then the mess washed right down the drain. 

Engaged kid + minimal clean up = Happy Mama

Joy Filled Fridays: She loved life, and it loved her right back.

A quick recap of a few things that brought a smile to my face this week.

1. The best entertainment, three plastic boxes, rice, dried beans, and macaroni noodles. She loves sorting and moving her mixtures from container to container. 2. Facetime with Mr. R! We miss him! 3&4. My students, back from break and excited to do a lab. We are studying the integumentary and nervous systems this week. 5. On my second week of the mile a day challenge. The goal is to just run or walk one miles or more each day. Today makes day 11! 
6. Cannoli ice cream. So so so good. 

7. Pip working on her fine motor skills. While she was busy sorting I was able to enter grades. Hooray for multi-tasking! 8. Dinner that I did not have to make or pay for. Thankful for sweet students who give Panera gift cards for Christmas. 9&10. She is obsessed with wearing my shoes. 11.My grandparents brought dinner on Wednesday night and watched Pip while I ran. They are amazing. 12. Strawberries dipped in sour cream and brown sugar, I know the combination sounds weird, but it's so good. Pip and I ate this for our snack every afternoon this week. 13. Couch to 5k, week 3! My legs are sore, but I am feeling strong. 
Hope you had a fantastic work week friends. Three cheers for the weekend!

Teacher Style Files

I have a closet full of clothes and yet I find myself saying almost daily that I have NOTHING to wear. I am not creative when it comes to my clothes and I often find myself wanting to buy new clothes rather than get creative with what I have. Teacher Style Files is my way of stretching my closet, demanding creativity in my work wardrobe, and sharing my outfits with you.

Monday: Black and white striped skirt (Old Navy), pink ruffle tank (NY&Co) , and leopard cardigan (H&M), black flats (Payless)

Tuesday: Blue and white polkadot blouse (H&M) layered over my little black dress (Old Navy), black flats (Payless)

Thursday: Navy blue wrap dress (GAP), navy leggings (Old Navy), tan boots (Target)

Serious Sandwich Making

 Part of Piper's Christmas gift was a felt sandwich making set. 

She received felt felt bread, felt peanut butter and lunch meat, felt slices of cheese, and all the toppings she could ever think to ask for. 

Last night we played kitchen/restaurant and Piper spread her sandwich supplies across the playroom floor. She had some serious sandwich making going on. 

Would you like one?

Toddler Finger Painting

Those three words make me shudder. 

1.Finger painting is messy

2. Piper loves to cover herself in paint

3. She  doesn't understand the concept of not touching me or our furniture when her hands are covered in paint.

  We do paint hand print pictures often I am in control of how much paint and where the paint goes. Up until today I never let Pip have control of the paint, the canvas, and the art she was creating. 

Enter painting in the bathtub, almost mess free and I don't get covered in paint!

Here' what you do, tape the paper onto the bath tub wall. I squeeze the finger paints into an old muffin tin or baking pan and place the tin in the bathtub. Last, place your little artist in her bathing suit and let her go to town. The best part? She loves it and the paint washes down the drain. 

Made my Monday

Monday was my first day back to work after 16 glorious days of vacation. And while mentally I was ready to go back to work, I wasn't ready to leave Pip. These last two weeks have been amazing, lots of quality time playing, swinging, dancing, painting, crafting, and reading. And I am honestly a little sad that no one will ask me to wear a tiara and princess jewels today. Pip was especially sweet yesterday morning. She helped me make coffee, we had cereal together, and watched Ocotonauts. I hugged her extra tight and was off, ahead of schedule I may add! 

What made my Monday is that I have a job that ends at 3:00PM. 

I am able to be home during daylight hours for snacks, afternoon walks, trips to the park, and the afternoon showing of Olivia on Nick Junior. Being a stay at home mother, even for just a few weeks,  is a wonderful privilege and going back to work today makes the time I had off even more special.

 While I made my breakfast smoothie and packed my lunch, Pip was busily preparing her own concoction in her play kitchen. She served the dogs felt orange slices, wooden cookies, and a rolling pin.