Author study- Eric Carle

Tissue paper giraffe

We did an author study on Eric Carle for a couple of weeks in March.  I absolutely love him and so do the kids! We learned about where he grew up, how he became children's author and really talked a lot about his illustrations.  Maggie learned how he uses tissue paper for his illustrations.  We made a giraffe out of  painted tissue paper.  Hunt helped a little, too.  Her finished product is amazing!

March

 Visiting Bays Mountain Park

 Abby, Hayden, Maggie and me ready for the zipline

The highlight of March was our cousins and aunts coming to visit.  We had a blast- of course- and loved showing them all the fun things we have to do.  We hiked, enjoyed playgrounds, zip lined, and laughed a lot!! The pictures tell it all!

Playing Dress Up

What little girls doesn't love to put rollers in her hair, makeup on, and dress up in mommy's clothes and high heels? Well, mine was beside herself. We did our hair, put make-up on, painted our nails and then picked out a dress and heels! It was a special afternoon that just the 2 of us spent together...well, while #2 son was sleeping. This sweet little girl...all my children...bring me such JOY!! I am blessed beyond measure!!

Valentine Handprint craft

I am going to frame these...they are such a keepsake!

He was SO proud of his artwork!

You can kind of see in the backgroud the snowmen we made with our footprints in January!

We have had lots of fun trying all different kinds of handprint and footprint crafts. Today, we did a valentine tree using our arm and hand. Then we dipped our thumbs in pink and red paint to make "heart thumbprints." The turned out to be adorable and my 2 "students" loved them! This little girl is keeping me on my toes. Her reading is amazing...she asks every day now to read to me! Makes this teacher/mommy very proud!!

Christmas 2011

Our Christmas Eve visit with my second family

Our tradition of reading Luke 2 and 'Twas the Night before Christmas

The cousins on Christmas morning

I could eat them up!!!

Our fun Christmas Eve tradition at the Johnsons! Waiting on Santa to arrive!

Christmas night...these 2 cousins were adorable! it was like flashback to childhood!

Christmas...we have such a fun family tradition...from Christmas Eve to Christmas night...it is always so much fun!!...and it was so wonderful having even more of our family with us in Clarksdale this year! Christmas Eve was a blast...just like it always is. The cousins had a blast waking up to Santa together!

The Birthday Boy

He loves Mickey Mouse...so why not do a Mickey Mouse cake!

He even had a Mickey Mouse outfit to go along with it!

My big 2 year old!

It was the perfect birthday celebration. We were able to celebrate his birthday with our close friends!! Kids were running everywhere- 12 of them...6 and under!...My big 2 year old loved every minute of it. He kept saying " My birthday...my birthday...Mickey Mouse birthday!" We are so very thankful for our dear friends we have met since moving here! God is so good!!

our favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas activity- playing with the race cars!

All the grownups of the Tyner family!

Tyner and Hagwood grandchildren

We love our cousins!!

We had such a fun Thanksgiving!! All the Tyners and Hagwoods were together...and kids were everywhere!! We are so thankful for family!!

Learning about Thanksgiving

Maggie's Mayflower...she did every bit of it by herself. Are we surprised?!!

And this is where these two wild kiddos ended up...in the cabinet...after our Thanksgiving lesson!

Cub Scouts

Tyner was so excited about starting Cub Scouts. It really is such a great organization. It teaches boys so many important lessons. Between sports and Scouts we are really busy around here. But I am enjoying every minute of it!

My Cub Scout!...He is so proud!

Halloween

Just a few of the neighborhood kids

our choices this year...a lion, Mario(big surprise!), Strawberry Shortcake

Halloween was so much fun. We got together with good neighborhood friends, played and of course went trick or treating! I have to say I am so very thankful for this neighborhood we live in. It is such a wonderful and safe place for my family! My children can ride their bikes up and down the sidewalks, walk to friends houses, etc... the list could go on! Sometimes I feel like we live in Mayberry! ha!

Field Trip to North Caroline

The North Caroline Welcome Center is about 40 minutes from our house. It is a great welcome center that has great picnic tables with wonderful views of the mountains. While Pie was visiting we stopped here to get some information. I thought it was such a neat spot that I decided to take Maggie and Hunt on a "field trip" there. We had a great picnic spot that had a wonderful view. We picked up some great information about fun things we can do in N.C!

Fender's Farm Pumpkin Patch

We had so much fun at Fender's Farm. We played on the playground, took a hay ride, jumped on the blob, rode a zip line, launched apples, and of course picked out our pumpkin. I think the pictures do the best job of explaining the good time we had!

Leaves at Bays Mountain

Bays Mountain Park has been beautiful this Fall. We were glad to take Pie there and show her our spot we love so much. There is a great hike around the lake that we enjoy doing. We took Pie on it while she was visiting.

Pumpkin craft and wild man!

I was upstairs doing something and I came downstairs to the kitchen and this is what I found. Yes, he is under the kitchen table.

We will be doing lots of fun pumpkin/fall crafts for the next month!

Are we surprised she is in her dancing costume? Absolutely not!!

And just another priceless picture!

It is unbelievably gorgeous up here right now!! Well, it is all the time. But the mountains and all the colorful leaves...breathtaking!. We were taking Maggie to dancing the other day and had so much fun talking about all the pretty leaves! Maggie asked, "Mommy, why does God make the leaves change colors?" What a good question!! I told her..."Just for us to enjoy! He didn't have to make them change colors. But he does because he wants us to enjoy his beautiful creation!" She said, "How does he do it?"...She paused for a minute. " Oh, I know. He snaps his fingers and they go poof! That's how he dooos it, Mommy, right?!" She was so proud of herself. My answer..."absolutley, honey!" Oh, how I LOVE all these precious conversations! Now back to stare out my window at the mountains and all the colors. Happy FALL!!!