CHRISTEPHI

Every so often I like to pose a STEM challenge to one or both of my kids. We've done some really fun challenges like building bridges strong enough to support 100 pennies with just 3 notecards and some tape.  I recently ran across a post where they used a clothesline and pulley to construct a Lego zip line. Since the kids' nana had just recently given them a set of  Classic Legos , this seemed right up E's alley.  And boy, was I right! First we looked for a plastic clothesline pulley at Walmart, but they didn't have any. Then we went to a small local hardware store, but only found expensive metal ones. So we tried a big name hardware store and finally hit the jackpot! Pulley: $2.38 Clothesline: $2.78 You could buy them on Amazon here and here , but they are more expensive there. Next he had to build a platform and figure out how to attach it to the pulley. Then he tested his contraption and discovered it arrived at its destin...

I've been commissioned by my 3 1/2 year old to make a life-sized doll to be his best friend and wrestling companion. Life-sized doll face in progress. Hubby is completely on board with this endeavor and issued strict instructions that the face not be too sweet. Little Guy decided his new friend's name will be Rocco, "And I'm gonna be Troy!"  Where Rocco  and Troy  came from is anyone's guess.  The mind of a preschooler is a fabulous thing!!

While this shirt is neither very springy nor very practical (save for the hottest of hot days in summer), it is a big hit with Little Guy! The pattern is the "Victor" mesh tank top from Ottobre 1/2013 #15 (in size 98).  I have another cut out from more practical material, but I really had fun making this one out of mesh fabric from JoAnn and a scrap from an old t-shirt for the yellow bit.  The ribbing is also from JoAnn. Little Guy thinks it makes him look tough…wouldn't you agree? He's too much of a sweetheart to look tough for long though!  I love his little compact bod! :-) Tomorrow's project…a pair of shorts for Miss M!

Miss M loves to read! She learned to read when she was just four. And I can't even take credit for it! I provided learning materials like the Bob Books  and I've always read to her, but she really just taught herself. (Sorry to all you mom's who wonder how parents teach their kids to read. I'm no help! Maybe I'll have a chance to figure it out with Little Guy in the next few years). Recently, she's been fascinated with germs, bacteria, and poop. Seriously. She devours anything she can find on these topics! Her two favorite books lately have been: Micro Mania: A Really Close-Up Look at Bacteria, Bedbugs, & the Zillions of Other Gross Little Creatures That Live In, On & All Around You!   which she got for Christmas and now her new favorite is: That's Gross!: Icky Facts That Will Test Your Gross-Out Factor . Both are books you'd expect to fascinate a little boy (yep, that darn gender stereotyping again!), but no, my sweet li...