Chronicles of Summertime: Day 19

Day 19:
Today was library story time for both toddlers and babies. Aunt M came with us. We had lots of fun and read books about clothing. Then, we went out to eat at BW3. Snugglepuppy took a nap amazingly, then I took him to the playground, where we played with our new air rocket. Mostly, I shot it and Snugglepuppy ran after it.

Later on tonight, I worked on getting more of my children's books into my database. This has been a goal of mine for a while and when I heard about an app that scans the UPC of the book and puts it into a database, I was on it! This is the best invention ever. It is called BooksApp and it is available for Android for free. So, far, I am getting close to 400 books. Really had no idea I had that many. I am so excited because they are organized by category and it will be a great resource for doing lesson plans.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 18

Day 18:
We got up late again today and did a little shopping. Later in the evening, Snugglepuppy played in the sprinkler with a neighbor's kids. We also tried the slip n' slide, but it wasn't really slippery enough to slide on. Then we went to dinner with daddy. Snugglepuppy was tired and didn't behave very well at the restaurant. He didn't want his food and ended up throwing it on the floor. If anyone has ANY tips about how to get a toddler to eat, please comment. He barely eats anything and when he does, it's usually not something healthy. I tried bribing him with ice cream if he ate his food, but that didn't work. Anyways, here are some pics from today.

Snugglepuppy getting right in there with the sprinkler

Me chillaxing with my baby girl :)

The kids glued to the tube

Yeah, we also watched a little TV. Well, snugglepuppy did and Ladybug joined him for a minute or two but she sure looks interested. I admit, we should have been outside running around more, but honestly it was hot outside and I was just being lazy. I will try harder. Oh, I also introduced the weekly picture schedule to Snugglepuppy. He seemed mildly interested, but we will see how it goes.

Weekly Picture Schedule

I finally made a weekly picture schedule for Snugglepuppy. Below, you can download the file to print out your own copy. I made 2 copies and laminated them. I made my own pictures and laminated them as well. I used putty to stick them on the schedule and then put a checkmark on the circle under the day with a dry erase marker.


Here is an example of some things you can put on the schedule:

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 17

Day 17:
Ladybug and I slept in today. My sister, Aunt M brought Snugglepuppy home from grandma and grandpa's house in the afternoon. We played outside a little on the swing.  Then we spent a lot of time trying to decide what to do and what to make for dinner (that's my family). Finally, we went to the grocery store and ended up making a Pinterest recipe and some kabobs (that didn't get finished grilling until 10pm!) Needless to say, it was Snugglepuppy's bedtime after that. We really need to get back on a schedule! Speaking of schedule, I am working on a weekly picture schedule for Snugglepuppy. I finally got everything I need, so should be doing a post on it soon.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 16

I am going to just talk about what we did over the weekend as Snugglepuppy was not even home today. He had a sleepover at grandma and grandpa's house (with Aunt M). I did read some nursery rhymes with Ladybug, but that's about it. The rest of the day she pretty much ate and slept.

So we had an exciting weekend in Ohio's Amish Country with grandma, grandpa, and Aunt M. We shopped all day Saturday and then swam at the hotel where we stayed. The hotel was super nice. It's the first time we stayed there and Snugglepuppy enjoyed the pool, the waterfalls to the pond and gazebo and the fire pits. And there were many more things that we didn't even get a chance to do such as a small movie theater, croquet, and cornhole. Mommy loved the hot tub the most though!

They somehow ended up in the bed together at the hotel

Sunday, we came home and Snugglepuppy got kidnapped by my parents. It was a last minute decision and I was kinda sad to see him go. It's only the second time he's stayed away from home without mommy or daddy. But he had lots of fun in their backyard in the swimming pool and sprinkler.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 15

Day 15:
Today, we visited the living historical farm at one of our metro parks. This was so fun and the part was it was FREE! You can walk around and explore the park at your own leisure. I was going to try to describe it, but the website's description does a better job, so...

Time has been turned back to the 1880s at Slate Run Living Historical Farm. Visitors can experience first-hand what life was like on an Ohio farm more than 100 years ago.

As you stroll through the gardens, barns and farmhouse, you will see the farm costumed staff and volunteers going about their daily chores. What you won't see are gas-powered tractors or electric refrigerators.

You may see the farmer plowing the fields with the help of the draft horses. Inside the summer kitchen, the ladies may be canning and preserving crops from the heirloom garden.

The farm is home to all kinds of heirloom animal breeds including the Poland China hog, Merino sheep and Percheron draft horses. There are also flocks of ducks, chickens, turkeys and geese.

So, we walked around and looked at the animals, pet the animals, saw a new baby bull, and pumped water to water the garden. It was a great time. We could've stayed a lot longer, but Ladybug got hungry. I fed her in the car and then took Snugglepuppy to another area of the park to play on the playground.

New lambs born at the end of March/beginning of April.

Snugglepuppy calling for the sheep to come over.

Looking in at the ducklings.

Baby ducklings!

Snugglepuppy scaring off a duck.

Whoa! I never knew pigs could get so big!

Piglets :)

Baby turkeys.

Pumping water.

Trying to throw a corn cob/feather dart through the hoop.

Marble ramp toy. Snugglepuppy was totally fascinated.

After the park, we came home and ended up making a trip to Walmart and then having our pizza pizza party. That was about it for the day. Hope you all have a great weekend!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 14

Day 14:
Today, we went to Toddler Storytime and Baby Laptime at the library. Snugglepuppy didn't interact a lot at storytime, but he really got into the baby laptime. Which was good because Ladybug decided she was hungry about halfway through, so I nursed her. Anyways, they did some songs and books about baby chicks and the toddlers did some feltboard stories. Afterward, I let Snugglepuppy play in the kids play area and Ladybug was acting very social and I got some good pics.

Here are the books we checked out from the library or renewed. We were excited that they finally had a copy of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes!

Then, right when we were ready to head home, we heard an announcement they there was free lunch being served on the front lawn for kids, so we stayed and Snugglepuppy got a cheese quesadilla!

For more ideas of things to do at the library, see my other post:

After we came home, Snugglepuppy laid in his room for a while and rested although I didn't make him stay there long. He had a bad night last night of screaming and crying and not wanting to go to sleep after a long late nap.

Snugglepuppy did a few puzzles and played with legos and the train table. Also I am working on a weekly schedule for him that we are going to laminate. I will post it as soon as it's finished and we start using it.

7 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Local Library

I realize not all public libraries are the same or have the same resources available, but you won't know what they have until you check it out. Here are some things to help you get started, some may apply to you and some may not, but these are some things ours offers.

1. Join the Summer Reading Program! Often there are prizes you can win for reading a certain number of books or number of hours. Any age can join at our library, 0-Adults. Parents can read to little ones who aren't reading yet.

2. Check the library's website or call for schedule of events. We went for storytime yesterday and ended up getting a free lunch for Snugglepuppy that we didn't even know about!

3. Go to storytime or baby laptime. They usually make it interactive and have songs and movement activities as well to keep your little ones from getting bored or antsy.

4. Download their app on your phone or tablet. I LOVE this feature at our library, you can check your account to see what books you have out, renew books, search the catalogue and reserve books. It's so convenient!

5. Sign your child up for a library card and teach them how to use the online catalogue to find books/videos. Begin to teach kids responsibility by letting them have their own card and teaching them how to take care of books. Also, some libraries have a program where you can "borrow" e-books. 

6. Let your kids play in the kids play area. Ours has a play farmer's market, a puppet show, blocks, and much more!

7. Use it as a quiet place to READ! Keep the distractions to a minimum and take time to actually read those books you or your kids love.

I'm sure there are many more things to do there. Comment if you have any to add!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 13

Day 13:
I'm not gonna lie, we didn't do much today, so this should be a quick post. We went grocery shopping and Snugglepuppy helped out a lot by putting the items on the counter and helping me bag things. We read a little (Dr. Seuss's ABC, Oh, David, and Mouse Paint and watched Chicka Chicka Boom Boom on Youtube) and made a new lid for baby Ladybug for The Lid Game, a project we did a while back. It was a pretty lazy day overall!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 12

Day 12:
Today, we did a lot of indoor play. Snugglepuppy helped me put together an Elmo floor puzzle that was almost as big as him!

Snugglepuppy and I engaged in some dramatic play with food. We cooked some burgers and hot dogs and even baked a cake. All pretend of course. Being the cashier, he rang me up and gave me a total which, of course, I paid for with coins (or sometimes pickles, they look almost the same in our set, lol.)

Then I suggested we get out his little animals and some blocks to make a zoo as we haven't had the animals out in a while. We sorted the animals by water, insects, animals that fly, and all the rest we classified as animals with 4 legs. We also made a tree for the monkeys and gorillas with Megabloks. The snake didn't really have a home, so he kinda roamed free.

(Yes, he is sitting on a potty chair, lol)

After a while, the lion got a little naughty and started attacking other animals and biting them. They had to go to the doctor and rest for a while. Some of them needed bandages or surgery. But in the end, we just had to separate the lion into his own enclosure. 

We checked our seeds that we planted a few days ago, but they haven't started growing yet.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 11

Ok, first of all, I would like to change Squeaker's name to Ladybug, so from here on out, baby girl will be referred to as Ladybug!

Over the weekend, we went to visit my mom and dad for Father's Day. My husband couldn't come because he was on call for work, but we had lots of fun with Magaw(Grandma) and Quit That(Grandpa). They got Snugglepuppy some sidewalk chalk eggs, and got Ladybug a swing (Snugglepuppy already has one), so they played outside a lot. We also went out to eat and grandma and grandpa took him to the river to see boats and throw rocks in.

Before he went to bed, Snugglepuppy had to take all his little people (the ones I played with as a kid) and put them to bed face down on the cabinet beside his bed. How sweet!

Day 11:

We were still at grandma and grandpa's house. We played in the big back yard a little and grandpa let Snugglepuppy ride on the riding mower with him. Then he rigged up the wagon to the back of the mower and let him take a ride. I would recommend that you DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. 

We also went to the park down there and Snugglepuppy played while Ladybug just wanted to eat. Snugglepuppy mostly wanted to swing, but he also climbed on the playground. I was impressed at the size of the rock wall he climbed up. It was so tall that I couldn't reach him at all when he got to the top, so he was all on his own. But he did it! We also saw some bunnies and a cat. My mom is set on letting Snugglepuppy see a train, so we went to this park. It is near a railroad track and also has 2 old train cars on the property. Unfortunately they are blocked off by a fence, but you can still look at them. Snugglepuppy liked the trains, but even though we kept hearing running trains whistle in the distance, we never actually saw one go by. 

Afterwards, we went to get a bite to eat and then shortly afterward, we had to head home (2 hour drive). Both kids slept the whole way home. They had a pretty busy weekend. When we got home, they were excited to see daddy and Snugglepuppy was happy to get back to his night wrestling with daddy before bed. Everyone was pretty tired, so we really didn't do much the rest of the evening but relax.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 10

Day 10:
Today, we had a picnic of McDonald's at the park. I know it's not the healthiest choice, but Snugglepuppy has been good all week and plus I didn't really feel like making anything. So Snugglepuppy made some friends at the park as usual. He played on the swings and the playground with his happy meal toy, a matchbox car.

We also planted some seeds in small pots. Snugglepuppy picked out Aster flower seeds at the store, so that what we planted. I tend to be very bad at growing plants, so I am not sure if these will even grow. We left them out on the deck in the sun, so I guess we will see what happens.

We had our pizza pizza party in the basement.

Before bed, I introduced some new books to Snugglepuppy, the "How Do Dinosaurs...?" series by Jane Yolen. I have 5 of them and we read How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? and How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? Snugglepuppy loved them and I hope he learns something from them!