July, 2011 | The Angel Forever

Monthly Archives July 2011

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Tuesday Tales – Goodbye Borders

Posted on July 26, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Tuesday Tales

As a teacher, I received a lot of gift cards to the local book stores. The most popular, for a while, was Borders. I was able to go and shop for myself, my classroom, and my family. With my free Borders reward card and teacher discount, it was a nice place to go and play.

When NHL was little, we used to go to Borders and spend a lot of time there. He would wander around the store, practice walking, or nap in his stroller while I would gawk at books to use in my classroom. When we would go to our local mall, we would always park by Borders. The kids always begged for a new book. Sad to say that TechyDad and I often caved at the bargain book section – especially before a trip away.

When we heard that Borders was going to close and start to liquidate their inventory, we figured we would head over there to see what was going on. The first day of the sale was during the heat wave, so it was the perfect location to spend time walking up and down the aisles.

Something caught me off guard. NHL, almost 8, asked me why Borders was going to close. I told him that sometimes businesses are not able to stay open, so they are going to be closing all of their stores. He was visibly upset and told me that he was sad. He stood there in the store recalling times that we had gone there together. He remembered books that we had bought, events we had participated in there, and on and on.

We walked around looking for something to get the boys. I was intrigued with some math/reading books for NHL, but passed. Instead, we got him a new Sudoku book for the summer and beyond. Then, I noticed the Geronimo Stilton books from Scholastic. My eyes noticed the one on Niagara Falls. NHL eventually agreed that he wanted to try that chapter book since it looked interesting and very different. Then, it was time to find something for JSL. He fell in love with a Winnie the Pooh book about the new movie. I agreed and he is in love with the Read-Along CD. He has never used one of these before and loves the character voices telling him the story for independent reading.

I also picked up a non-book item for TechyDad. They had Envirosax. They happened to sell the Sesame Street variety there. I was in luck, they had one of the Grover bags left, so grabbed it.

While paying, it was sad to realize that this was the last time I will use a gift card at Borders. It may be the last time we buy something at Borders. Of course, the memories of the times spent there, and the books we will continue to read that we bought there will live on.

What memories do you have of Borders? Did you go to their Harry Potter or Twilight Parties? Will you be going to their sale to see about getting some books to put away?

What have you read recently? Please be sure to link up to your Book Posts, and/or leave a comment below. Include something you read on your own, with a child or someone else. Tuesday Tales are all about spreading the love for books.

Categories:
books jsl looking back nhl photos shopping TechyDad Tuesday Tales

School Supplies – Third Grade Take 1

Posted on July 25, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

In New York, we go to school until the third week of June. It seems like other parts of the country have been out forever by the time we are just getting started. Do not fret, we all have to get in 180 days no matter what. If we have too many snow days here, we will have vacation days taken away.

Of course, this also means that the week after the kids end school stores like Target, Staples, CVS, and others are starting their Back-To-School flyers. When we walk into their stores, it is like a school supply factory came for a visit. When I was teaching, I loved this time of year. There was just something fun about getting new items for my classroom. Now, it seems like a chore. I know that if I do not snag these bargains now, I may not get them again.

So here we are not even into August and most of my son’s school supplies for third grade have been purchased. The Tweets from people questioning my purchases were priceless since it was still mid-July when I was buying items. The reality is that a 25 cent poly folder is a good deal when they are normally more than a dollar each.

Here is the list that came home with NHL on the last day of school:

6 Folders and 6 Composition Notebooks (see colors) labeled with subject and first and last name: Black & White (2), Red/Math, Green/Science, Yellow/Reading, Purple/Social Studies, Blue/Writing. Plastic Folder labeled “Take Home” folder Psssst – I bought all poly/plastic folders since they were on sale and will last.
Looseleaf paper (wide line) – a constant supply will be needed At this age I fear how they may eat the paper. *sigh*
Pencils No amount specified – in 1st grade it was at least 5 and 20 for second grade. I know kids and they use a lot more than that. Lots left from my classroom to hand off to NHL’s teacher.
Erasers
Scissors
Ruler
Colored Markers, 24 box of crayons or pencils
Pencil pouch (zippered, soft kind)
Glue sticks Whoa – no number required. I bought 8 for now, but have others from sales in past years.
Three boxes of tissues
Two rolls of paper towels
2 Dry Erase Expo Markers
Old (but clean) sock (used as an eraser)
$4.00 for Homework Planners, to be sent in a separate envelope
$5.00 for National Geographic magazine My son is going to LOVE this!

Curious how this compared to previous years? Here are old posts

2009 1st grade – School Supplies – What’s on Your List?
2010 2nd grade – School Supply List 2010

NHL started this school at the end of last year, so I am not sure how this list compares with kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade in the building. I guess one day we will know with JSL. I recall, as a teacher, making my lists to send home to parents to buy. Now, I wonder how difficult of a task they may have had with certain items. Hmmm……

Love it, or hate it – what is on your child’s school supply list for the 2011-2012 school year? Inquiring minds would love to know.

I cringe thinking about next year because I will have a kindergarten kiddo and fourth grader to buy supplies for. Oy. They are growing up way too quickly. If anyone knows how to stop this, please let me know.

Categories:
looking back nhl photos school shopping summer

Painting with Water – Catch Me There

Posted on July 24, 2011 9:08 am by TheAngelForever

During the summer, I typically try to take the kids outside to enjoy the weather. Of course, this week that was not really possible thanks to the extreme heat and humidity. It was just too hot and hard to breathe and function while living in an oven. Once the weather cools off some, I hope to be able to take the boys out to do some painting with water.

Painting with water? Check out what I mean:

It is exactly what it sounds like. I have written about it before and it was inspired from a walk with my family at my favorite location. Walt Disney World helped me to come up with this fun way to keep the kids busy during the summer

My latest post on The Disney Driven Life is about Painting and Learning with Water. I show how this activity inspired by the creative minds at Walt Disney World gave me a fun summer learning tool to use with my child. Not only is it fun, but the kids really can learn items about science and more.

Please stop by to say hello and check out the other magical posts from my Disney Drive Life friends. My other posts there can be found under NDM183 – that’s me!

Before I go, here is a video that Disney Parks shared so you can see the magic of Custodial Art come to life.

What would you draw with water if you had a chance? Please let me know in the comments below. Have a magical week!

Categories:
Disney Educational fun interesting looking back My Other Projects photos summer

Time for a Heat Wave

Posted on July 23, 2011 8:44 am by TheAngelForever

Dear NHL and JSL,

Monday started with rain that kept us inside the house. Then, we had two days where we could go out and play without melting into the sidewalk. After that, going outside mainly involved moving from the car to an indoor location, or stopping outside to water our garden. The only thing that seemed to like the heat were the tomato plants that gave us a lot to pluck off.

Yes, we have had a HOT week here. Thursday, we tried to avoid going outside unless we had to because it was reading at least 100 and the heat index was 109. Thanks to an emergency run to the post office, we all felt the melt factor. Friday, neither of you wanted to go out (not even to see Cars 2), it was that hot. At first, we stayed inside. At one point, we had a Wikki Stix competition. We tried to see who could make the most coils before they ran out. This was my group and you can see yours in the back NHL.

Then, Nana and Papa wanted to head to the mall to walk around for a little while in the AC. So we all packed into Nana and Papa’s car together. While there, we stopped by Borders to use a gift card that I had left. NHL, you were quite upset about them closing. You told me about the fun times you have had in the stores. I was shocked with all that you recalled. After this, we went shopping for a few things. While Nana stayed with me to try on some new shirts, you went with Papa to the food court to get something cold to drink. In the end, you had something yummy to snack on, I got new shirts, and my gift card to Borders was used.

Since the humidity had dropped some, the two of you asked Nana and Papa to open the sun roof on the way home. During that time, JSL and I had a little fun. He was falling asleep, but my frizzy hair kept bothering him.

With any luck, the heat and humidity will break soon and we can have some more summer fun outside at the park, our little pool, or on a different adventure.

Love,

Mommy

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If you want to participate in Dear Kid Saturday, head on over to Cutest Kid Ever by clicking on the button below.

Categories:
arts and crafts Dear Kid Saturday family flowers and plants jsl nhl photos summer

Adventures with Wikki Stix

Posted on July 22, 2011 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Rain on a summer day earlier this week left me wondering what I was going to do with the boys. I had some projects to work on, but wanted them to try something fun and different. The boys wanted to use some funny smelling sculpting material on the table, but I was not in the mood for that mess. Suddenly, I recalled that I had some Wikki Stix. Do you remember those? This is what I am talking about:

What are Wikki Stix? From their website: “Wikki Stix are made of hand-knitting yarn enhanced with a microcrystalline food-grade, non-toxic wax, the kind used in bubble gum and lipstick. They do not contain latex, gluten, nor peanut or other nut oils or byproducts which makes them an ideal creative activity toy for children with allergies.” If you want to learn more, they have lots of details on the what are Wikki Stix page.

Several years ago, I had gotten a Curious George Wikki Stix book to use with NHL. At the time, he was receiving occupational therapy and this was to work on fine motor skills. The beauty of Wikki Stix, they allow kids to use their imagination to play, create, and even practice letter and shape formation. The Wikki Stix above were donated to us by a friend who had them in her classroom and never used them.

For one reason or another, the Curious George book was never used, but I pulled it out the other day. JSL immediately grabbed it and wanted to see what was inside (see above). Here is JSL playing with a Wikki guy that we made together:

Of course, if one child is using something new and exciting, the other is bound to want to try it out. Since NHL was jealous, I went on a hunt for the other package so both of the boys could experiment with the Wikki Stix. NHL immediately made a flower for me:

JSL played for well over an hour and then wanted to move on. He’s four and was tired, but NHL played on and kept coming back to the new found favorite over and over.

The best part of the day was seeing the smiles on their faces, not having a mess to clean up, and just tossing them away like this:

Yes, the boys have used them multiple times again and keep coming up with new games and things to do with them. NHL has even gone to the Wikki Stix website with me and looked at their how to videos to see some amazing creations. There are also dot-to-dot and other crafts to download and use with our Wikki Stix. I am in love! We will probably be looking to buy more because we are all having such fun with them.

My questions to you this week:

Have you ever used Wikki Stix as a child or with your children? What would you make with them if given the opportunity to play?

Disclosure

All items were purchased by us or given to us by a friend. I was not asked to write this post and just wanted to share an amazing child friendly activity for children of a variety of ages.

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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.