Leprechauns

Tyler class has been talking about Leprechauns lately and he is very excited about them.  One of his homework projects last week was to build a leprechaun trap.  Tyler took this all very seriously.  He said he wanted to "catch him but not hurt him".  So we made the bottom of the box soft and well, here we go with the rest of the pictures:

covering the box to make it green

Outside done, trap lever installed, and stairs built

Tyler wanted to make the stairs out of legos.  So we headed up to his room in search of green and white legos.  After he started building he asked me to find some thin smooth strip legos.  He used these to cover up the bumps on the stairs so the leprechauns won't hurt their feet (he so thoughtful).  I told him the leprechaun would probably be ok since he was wearing shoes.  His response was "mom, just find the smooth ones.  I'm a nice person, ok".  He's such a good boy!

Leprechaun friendly stairs



Adding gold coins and jewels to tempt the leprechauns and a maze of string to trap them in and trigger the trap lever



The Leprechaun temptation, complete with marshmellows

This morning Tyler took his trap in to show/demonstrate to the class.  When he got home he said there were lots of other traps but didn't spend any time talking about it.  He was clearly inspired by some sort of leprechaun discussion at school today.  He immediately asked for some empty toilet paper rolls (thank goodness I had recently saved a couple) and headed up to the playroom.  A few minutes later he put this whole leprechaun catching scene together.

Leprechauns are a bit rascally and often do the opposite of what they are told.

the completed trap

Tyler definitely has the Leprechaun St. Patricks Day spirit.  Now if we could only catch a Leprechaun........

Evidence

This is how I know where Hailey has been lately....

Her trail of coloring pens and crayons.  She's become a coloring machine (strictly coloring pages though).  And it's been working out fine.  Now when Tyler wants to play legos (which Hailey is still boycotting most of the time) Tyler and I can build and Hailey can color.  Or if Tyler wants to do something and Hailey doesn't, but Tyler doesn't want to be alone....Hailey will just color whereever Tyler is.

I should also mention she's been coloring exclusively right handed.  Hooray.

Introducing Shredder

Hailey's new pet spider.

Dad and Me (Hailey) Science Night!

I am a pro at this now! My third 'Dad and Me Science Night' this evening, but a very special one because it was Hailey's first! We were both very excited and all smiles from the moment I got home early from work to when we got to her school for the science fair. In addition to science there were, of course, cookies. Then there were her classmates Wyatt, Tryson, Luke, Addison, etc...and then there were the Science Projects! Hailey had a blast and in the end we kept the cookie consumption to a minimum to still get a good night's sleep.

The night begins with a blank science project activity card.

Swirling The Vortex!

Making Flubber!

A Homemade (or School made) Kazoo!

Filling up the 'Eye Spy' bottle of sand (rice) and treasure (cool little things).

Science Night Graduation - A Full Science Project Activity Card!

This girl is gonna be some kind of amazing!

Room inspiration

If I ever get around to doing/redecorating Hailey's room (which may or may not happen......only time will tell) these are the bright cheerful colors that will surround her.  It very much matches her personality and love of bright colors.....at least for the moment.

Hailey's wall

Hailey ahs been big into coloring recently.  Specifically coloring pages we print fro the computer.  She seems to have suddenly mastered coloring in the lines.  She's started hanging a bunch of her pictures up in her room over her bed.  She has also graced Tyler with one in his room.  Our room even has 4 or 5 hanging over our bed though they are specifically designated for "daddy".

Dr Seuss

It's been Dr. Seuss week at school, in celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday.  They've been doing activities all week.  On Wednesday I was able to go in as one of several parents and read Dr. Seuss books with the kids for an hour.  Today Tyler came home with a Dr. Seuss hat and a card that had (I thought) a neat poem on it.  I'm sure it's been around a while but it's the first I've heard it.    And so far, I think it's working with Tyler (though there is question as to whether any future book will live up to Harry Potter).

The hat...Ty refused to put it back on once I was armed with the camera :)

The Reader's Oath

I promise to read

Each day and each night

I know it's the key

To growing up right

I'll read to myself

I'll read to a crowd

It makes no difference

If silent or loud.

I'll read at my desk

At home and at school

On my bean bag or bed

By the fire or pool.

Each book that I read

Puts smarts in my head

Cause brains grow more thoughts

The more they are fed.

So I take this oath

To make reading my way

Of feeding my brain

What it needs every day.