The Empowered Educator

Inspiring ideas, training and resources for early learning.

Weekend Wanderings…..

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We didn't venture far from home this weekend but we were very excited to see blue skies and sunshine after so many weeks of rain so we made the most of it and spent the majority of the weekend outside playing…and working on the backyard landscaping!

There was a little painting of treasures from the recycle box….and a touch of glitter always brightens things up of course!

We found a nice shady spot to bath the baby dolls and take them for a walk. Imaginative role play is becoming such a feature for the toddler twosome at the moment…i love this stage of play!
It was very warm so we had some fun with a makeshift water table and helped to water the seedlings we planted in our pallet fence garden.
Such a shame we will have to remove this and replace with fence panels to begin Family Day Care…we are going to try and relocate it somewhere else as the girl's just love helping me plant and look after their little fence garden!
 
 
His Patient Self spent a hard weekend in the hot sun trying to make some progress on the retaining walls and children's play area. It's a huge job…and it is taking a lot longer than expected due to all the rain we have had.
 

 
Yes that huge pile of dirt came from where the walls are going up! We have to remove it from the backyard yet and use it around the property.
 
I can't wait until we get to the planting and design stage…we are using a lot of recycled plants and cuttings to keep it as budget friendly as possible. We will also be putting in some nice shade trees.
 
We are getting there and in the meantime the toddler twosome are loving all the dirt and rocks to explore and play with!

 

 
The girls enjoyed some sensory fun in the shade with spaghetti and pasta shape painting and creating.
 
 Even Miss teen joined in although i don't think she realised she would be heading to work that afternoon looking like a smurf with her blue hands!
 
Miss Teen also took charge earlier in the weekend with an activity for the girls…a little bubble painting….it really doesn't seem that long ago i was doing these activities with her and now she is doing them with her younger sisters!

I think it goes a long way to proving that offering these sort of easy activities to children when young will instill a sense of creative wonder and joy that will stay with them for many years to come!

There were some vegetable and rice fritters made with leftovers for an easy Saturday night toddler dinner…you can find the base recipe HERE if interested!

A little fun in the kitchen helping Mummy to make double choc biscuits and muffins for Daddy to share at his work. Of course we had to keep a few for ourselves and there was the joy of licking the bowl…didn't make for a good dinner appetite though!

I don't often make muffins this decadent so i went in search of a new recipe to try…I found THIS ONE from Best Recipes and it was quick and easy although i used white choc buttons and dark choc chips as i was using up what i already had in the pantry.

Very yummy but perhaps not so great for my weight loss journey!

Taking a break from the heat i set up a few different activities in the shade of the verandah and the playdough with some flour in bowls as well as some plain and coloured pasta to mix was most popular and kept them busy for ages!

 
The tropical world sand tray was turned into a racing track for the cars and a beach for some shells, rocks and other treasures

Big and Little Sis had fun trying out some new dress ups that Mummy found at a fantastic garage sale for only a few dollars! Miss teen squeezed into a Tinkerbell fairy outfit which goes to prove you are never to old to enjoy dressing up i suppose!

 
These photos may give you the impression that the weekend was all fun and games and life was perfect….i want to assure you that we definitely had our moments!
 
The toddler twosome are at the age where they are really exploring their independence and pushing many boundaries at the moment…this last month has been quite tough behaviour wise but i find that having a few activities set up around the house or yard really helps them to wander off for some time to just explore in the way that they want to and thus give each other some needed space.
 
We are also hitting the toilet training again and i don't mind telling you that it is exhausting trying to get them both happening at once!
 
Miss Teen starts her half yearly senior exams this week so there is a lot of stress and angst in that corner too!
 
I'm hoping for a lovely tantrum/whining/angst and drama free week….what do you think are my chances?
 
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead with yours xx

Warm Wishes

Comments

  1. Catherine says

    Hello:) Sorry I haven’t been by for a little while it sounds like there is lots going on at your house at the moment. You will be a fantastic family day care provider with all of the things you provide for your girls the children you care for will have so much fun with you:) It was a beautiful weekend wasn’t it, I even got out and did some hedge trimming it was looking rather wild. I hope your week goes well Jodie. Take care. xx

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