Ice Block Building - First Time

There is a wonderful site that I found years ago before they got big. They had this activity and so I've been wanting to try it. I got the molds during Amazon's Prime Day...they were the only awesome thing that was on their "day of sales!"

Here's the finished product - I'll need to post a pic of the actual molds later. 

Investigating.

Realizes they stack. 

 
 Oh so much CONCENTRATION!

Here's when they fell down. Little visited this activity for about 30 minutes before she was done. She stacked and transferred the blocks into a basket that she carried around. Once done we used the blocks and melted water to water our veggie garden. 

In time I'll color the ice cubes and add things like droppers, tongs, salt, etc. to support the evolution of play. I have my eye on the next size down cubes, so maybe for Christmas I'll be able to get those ones!

Happy 4th!

Here's some shots from our Fourth. Daddy worked all week, and stayed home, and the Mini was with his mom this year. The two Littles and I went to my parent's house for a few days, it's always nice to go "home." :)

I HAD written "Daddy worked all week and got to stay home alone!" But had to take it out because on the fourth there was a knock at the door and it was him! He drove for an hour and a half to spend almost less than that with us, only to turn around and drive back, what a guy, what a wonderful surprise!

Little let me put a bow in her hair, which was an amazing accomplishment, and even KEPT it in during the first part of the day. Little Ry was super cute in his star hat!

Here's Little, her enthusiasm for the day was less than stellar. We're titling this photo: "Have a happy 4th or else!"

We went to my parents small town parade, it was very much the small town parade that one would expect. Little was most excited about a few horses and some tractors that rode by, oh and some balloons, whoo! 

Here's Little Ry checking out the cars in the parade, vroooom! 

Other weekend highlights were seeing the cousins, eating ice cream sandwiches, swinging and bubbles in the backyard, and swimming at "Grandpa Warren's" my mom's neighbor. 

The Mini also saved about a half a dozen fire works for the Little, so a few days after the Fourth we went outside and lit them off. It was still light out, but maybe next year when she's 3 she can make it till dark! 

Joy!

Joy is - Swinging! Whoo Hooo!!! 

Early Literacy

Just sharing, Little Ry getting his early Literacy Skills on! 

Here's Little "Reading" one of her favorite books :) This kid Loves to read! She stays up at night in bed reading for 20 to 60 minutes every night! Hope this love sticks with her!

Little Man's Reserach, Block Building, and Mommy's OCD Moment.

When Miss Little was born (two years ago), a few weeks later I received a letter in the mail from UC Davis about infant research studies. Being the nerdy Child Development major I am I was SO excited to take her! It takes us over 30 minutes just to drive there for their studies, and they only last about 5 minutes but I just think it's so neat and love doing it! She started at 4 months old and is still participating at 2, I think when she gets to be 3 she gets to do the hands on studies, rather than just the eye tracking ones. Currently she's in studies trying to understand language in infants.

Little Ry just turned 4 months so he's now eligible to participate...I totally put him on the list of participants even before the was born! :D Mini was curious what the camera set up was like, he was imagining a camera mounted on his head! So here's a picture, the thing on his head is an eye tracking device which links with a camera in front of him and the screen he watches. They gloss over the research but essentially he's tracking faces which show preference based on expression for this study. Until 12 months he'll be enrolled in research examining infant cognition.

Long story short, this nerdy SAHM loves to get just the very very small dose of something closely related to my field (you know, besides just developing my own children!), and this does the trick! Pretty sure this is the cutest research participant EVER!

This summer it has been pretty cool, until the last few weeks, and since then the kids and I have been hiding in the house after 10 am so we don't melt! Last month Little had a birthday and got some AWESOME blocks! I was so excited because she'll be able to use them for such a long time and I'm pretty certain they'll last until my husband and I have some grandkids --- a LONG LONG TIME FROM NOW!

Just a shout out, I do believe the blocks were purchased form Lakeshore Learning...best store ever!

The great thing about these blocks is not only can she use them but my 10 year old has been using them a lot too! He's been setting them up, almost like dominoes, and then knocking them down with Nerf bullets. He's also been using dominoes and doing it that way with them! You have to be creative when Momma puts a limit on Media viewing ;)

Anyway, her's a shot of Little and Mini building. Blocks - bringing together the 10 and 2 :)

Lastly, I have a bit of OCD about certain things, well here's one lol! Little insisted she "Help You" with the vacuum. Aghhhhh, is what my brain says, "Oh thank you" is what my Child Development side says. I left it like this until I used the vacuum again but ack lol. Those that know me totally get this (My Erika know's what I'm talking about)!