Clothespins - OT

Using clip clothespins can be an excellent for getting ready to use scissors. Miss K is beginning to cut but lacks endurance. We have been doing various activities with clip clothespins.

We match pairs of socks and then clip them together.

We clipped them to cardboard but also added some sequencing.

These activities are best for using with cardstock as that gives a bit more stability. I try to get her to cut cardstock for practice.

Yellow and Red

For many years I lived in the city. It was during that time that I discovered how much I loved bright bold colors. I don't necessary wear bright bold colors. I don't necessarily decorate with bright bold colors but I still love them. I love finding some bright bold colors for accent.

I don't remember where it was but I found these red prints. I loved them and purchased a half yard bundle. I wasn't sure what I was going to do but loved the fabric (we are not going to talk about how much fabric I have falls into that category). Then I discovered that the same print was in yellow. So I bought some yellow to go with it. This is Blank Fabric.

In the Summer 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens Quilts and more there was this pattern. It was called Fresh Vanilla and shown in tan and white prints. I thought this would work as it was big blocks and would allow you to see the fabric. It was very easy to make. It took 2 days and I was doing other things those 2 days. The biggest task was piecing the backing and getting everything even (which I know didn't happen). I am not going to attempt to quilt this myself.

No, I don't know what I am going to do with this once it is quilted.



That used 10 yards from my fabric stash. Only 10,000 more yards to use (not really probably a few less).

National Pie Day

Today is National Pie day and so we celebrated by making and eating pie.

We made an apple pie. J liked to help because he got to use the apple peeler. Actually, he said he loved using it.



Then for dinner we had spaghetti pie. I am not a big spaghetti fan but I do like spaghetti pie and after three servings I think Miss K likes it as well.

Spaghetti Pie Recipe

Leftover spaghetti (I didn't have leftover so I cooked a box)

some melted butter

1 egg

some parmesan cheese

Mix that together for the crust put in a pie pan or just a 9 x 13 pan

Then top with cottage cheese or mozzarella or mushrooms (I only put them on one side)

Top with sauce and back for 30 minutes or so.

Dinner Inspiration

It was Thursday and I had no dinner plans. For some reason I didn't plan meals last week. We did manage to eat three meals a day but it wasn't my normally well planned week. Normally I have all day to figure out what we will eat but it was Thursday and that means we go to co-op. If I am the organized homeschool mom on Thursdays, I would have dinner not only planned but cooking in the crockpot before heading to co-op. I was not the organized homeschool mom on Thursday.

We stopped at the bent and dent grocery store on the way home. I told the kids that we needed to find something from for dinner. We walked through the whole store and still didn't know what we were having for dinner. Finally, in the last aisle J said "I could create something with noodles." So we talked. He said he would add some vegetables. We walked to the fresh veggies section which is not very big. I suggested mushrooms but he rejected that which didn't surprise me as that is one of the three things he doesn't like (his mother only allows three things to be on his list of things that he doesn't like). He said "how about some spinach". We decided to have some pasta, tomatoes, spinach, pepperoni, and some cheese.

We went home and started cooking. He did quite a bit of it and I took instructions from him.



It was good and he did write the recipe down for me.

I will post a picture when my computer cooperates.

Theraputty - OT

After I found a jar of little rewards at the thrift store and seeing her do this activity at therapy, I decided hiding them in theraputty would be good finger strengthening. You could also use little erasers to hide. This activity keeps Miss K busy for quite some time. You do have to be careful that the theraputty does not get on the floor because it never dries out. We are using some that was given to us about 2 years ago and who knows how long the person who gave it to me had it.

This is an activity that she does with supervision. If you have a special needs child and would like some little erasers to hide, let me know if you need some.

Look Dick, look

Dick and Jane books are some of Miss K's favorite. Everyone here seems to get tired of reading the same words. We have one that she has had read to her a number of times. Then I found another one and recently gave it to her. This morning she pulled it off the shelf and started to read. I went over and read over her shoulder she was reading the words. I heard "funny Sally". She read about two stories until she came to the story about Jane and Puff. Puff was new to her.

She might have a label and some might think she is slow but it just takes a bit more time. She is smart and knows what is going on around her.

I tried to get it on video but my camera did not cooperate.

So read, read and read some more and then expect all kinds of things to happen.

Mayflower Request

This morning we were doing school and Miss K say "go Mayflower". I was excited she was learning what we were studying. I asked her why she wanted to go to the Mayflower. "Snack". She remembered that when we were "on" the Mayflower she had  a snack.  Life with Miss K is not dull or boring.

Works for Us

Our chalkboard is not a chalkboard or even a white board but rather -- a spiral notebook.

We don't have wall space for a board. I used to just grab a piece of paper that was close. Then one day I realized I had all those spiral notebooks that I bought for 5 cents or so at the back to school sale sitting up in a box of school supplies. I got one and marked it math and one for grammar.

The notebooks aka boards stay in the subject box and we just pull it out when we need to write something on the board. I don't have to dig around for a piece of paper.

The Mayflower

We have been reading about the Pilgrims, the Mayflower, and a few other things from that time period. The other week when I was in the bent and dent grocery store I bought some beef jerky (at 3/$1.00 I figured it would be a fun treat). So today the kids spent some time on the Mayflower (okay, under the table) eating hardtack (just some crackers) and beef jerky.

I know Miss K looks a bit windblown. She said ,"I am seasick" but I think her brother taught her to say that. They liked the treat and it was fun to keep them think of what it would have been like on the Mayflower.

Celebration Banner

Remember the banner I made the other when I should have been working on Christmas sewing. I decided to make one and make it with a backing so I could put it up and take it down. I had found a fat quarter bundle at Tuesday Morning and so most of the fabric was from that. I was able to get 4 or 5 flags out of a fat quarter. I made a banner for myself and one for a friend and another person and still have fabric.

Now I need to finish one of my Christmas quilts and the backing for another one and a list of sewing projects.

The Sign of the Beaver

Last week we finished reading this book. We both enjoyed it. I know we are enjoying it when he asks for more and I really don't mind reading more. When we were part way through the book I got Tags of Time as a free download from Currclick. Since we were partly through the book I didn't use everything. I liked the vocabulary words for each chapter but the thing I liked the most were the sequence cards for each chapter. For each chapter there were 4 to 5 things that happen in the chapter and the student had to put them in order. It was a great way to test his comprehension. I might just have to do that for some other books that we read. It was nice to have it done for me. It is also nice to have something to include in our portfolio.

1+1=2

Public transit  + Miss K = the request for an octopus card

Yesterday we dropped a friend off at the public transit station -- buses and trains. As we were driving away, Miss K asked for her Octopus Card which totally made sense. She remembered and connected the dots. In Hong Kong we used an Octopus card for buses, trains, and even McDonalds or Starbucks. So she asked for her Octopus card.

She doesn't miss much and does catch on to things.



Miss K about 3 years ago on the train in Hong Kong. Just in case you are wondering she has used the Octopus Card more recently.

My Christmas Sewing

Now that Christmas is past, I can post pictures of my Christmas sewing. I had the big idea of making quilts for all my nieces and nephews (R, your quilt is in the finishing stages and will be sent to you soon). I enjoy the piecing. I think it is putting the fabric together and watching how it all comes together. I am actually beginning to enjoy the machine quilting except I need to work on getting the back tighter so I don't get tucks. I spent many weeks at Miss K's therapy session sewing the binding on the quilts.

E has a nice girly quilt that I made when she was a baby. I am guessing that one would have been pieced in Taiwan as that was where I was living. I know there is a doll quilt that matches it. I decided that it would be fun to use this wintery fabric. I love the color combination. It was just from a charm pack.



I did know what to do for J. I wanted the quilt to reflect the child in some way. I was stumped then his mother told me that the quilt I made for him when he was a baby had never been quilted and he didn't know that it was his so I could quilt this. I remember piecing this years ago when I lived in Seattle. The pattern is one that I just had to make for him. 

M loves sports and balls and so this fits him. It was a challenge to find the fabric. I found the UNC fabric at a thrift store and have been using that small piece for various things. I wanted Phillies fabric but was not going to pay $80 for a small piece of fabric (it is out of print). B loves orange. I did ask if it is still his favorite color and he said it is. I saw this fabric one day on Stitch Steals and decided it would be perfect for him. I had to search around a bit to find all the fabric that I needed. It is a flannel which I thought would be fun to try. I am not sure I am going to rush out and make another flannel quilt.

Z and D quilt are from a fat quarter bundle that I had. I just used the fabric and arranged it as best I could to make two quilts from it. I did order some dots fabric to add to the quilts. This is a Hoffman fabric which seems fitting.



I knew that the other Miss K's quilt had to be pink. She is as girly as they come and so there had to be pink. My new favorite pattern is the split nine patch. I love it - so easy and yet looks so challenging.

One more to finish and then I also have two pieced for my children that I need to finish.

Next year maybe I will just make each one a napkin -- those are easy. It was fun and it is also great to see how much the children enjoyed their quilts.

 

"Wh" Question Phase

Miss K has moved to the "Wh" question phase. Please tell me she will move out of this phase soon, very soon.

Miss K, "Where are you going?" Mama, "to the store."

2 minutes later

Miss K, "Where are you going?" Mama, "to the store."

2 minutes later

Miss K, "Where are you going?" Mama, "to the store."

so Mama says, "Miss K, where are we going?"

or it might be

Miss K, "Where is Daddy?" Mama, "At work."

2 minutes later

Miss K, "Where is Daddy?" Mama, "At work."

Insert other people she knows and the conversation is endless.

How long does this phase last? I am thankful that we are getting more sentences. She is communicating. She is talking. We can understand her for the most part. I am ready for some more sentences, different sentences.



There is Miss K Princess all dressed up.