Doll Hospital...

Being VBS director has seriously hampered our extra curricular intentions.  State study...what state study?  We haven't been able to keep up with Caleb's styrofoam solar system project either - but part of that is paint and how I've learned I can only handle so much of it.  However!  I attempted and completed two projects yesterday.

Around Christmas time, Annalise saw a large Princess Celestia toy (My Little Pony) and said she wanted it.  It was about $25 and I thought that was just too much.  Not long ago, we found one at a garage sale (accessories not included) and bought it for 50 cents I think.  Of course her hair was matted and had 3 rubber bands woven into it.  And she had some marks on her face and wings, but overall, not really damaged.  Annalise and I washed her hair and rubbed conditioner into it.  I was really surprised at how quickly we got the snarls out - Annalise pushed her button while I was yanking at a tangle and the doll said, "I looooove when you comb my hair!"  We had to laugh!

I didn't think to take a before picture, but I'm sure you can imagine a ratty haired My Little Pony.  After rising out the conditioner and towel drying, we rolled each section on a piece of straw and secured it with a bobby pin.  I just made a pin curl on the tail.

 We let her air dry and then took out the "curlers" a few hours later.  Voila!

 And the marks were no match for a Magic Eraser.  She looks great - rather she looks great for a modern My Little Pony.  I don't like how their noses look these days.  The kids are going to give her to Natalie for her birthday.

The same day I made watermelon slice cookies.

Annalise helped some - mostly she helped "clean off" the spatula after I was done with it.  She did help me mix the green food coloring into the dough.

Although our extras have suffered, our core subjects are going pretty smoothly.  Caleb is improving in reading.  He learned how to carry and borrow in math (although our book calls it renaming).  Annalise is sailing along.  My theory with her is that we are just trying to see exactly where to start with her.  She reads very well.  The kindergarten math book is just not challenging her.  She usually does 3-4 pages a day, sometimes she does extra pages in her free time.

We are still using the Abeka phonics text book (A Handbook for Reading) and the Abeka readers, but I found a copy of Explode the Code in the book box at PEP and we like it.  Caleb likes it a lot and his spelling has improved.

My main VBS goal this week is a Decoration Making Day for Saturday.  We are going to get some decorations from another church, so I'm not sure what to make and I'm not sure if anyone will come.  I know I need to have some ideas ready to go or anyone who does come will not do much.  Mostly I plan to decorate the western wall of the sanctuary, create (or re-create) a couple of banners, make signs to advertise VBS to the Summer Camp, and work on the focal point of the parade float.  Because we are making plans to be in a parade!