Wheels on the Bus iphone app

Wheels on the Bus by Duck Duck Moose

I love using my iphone for many reasons, not the least of which is its ability to distract my kids!  This great little app sings the wheels on the bus song to the kids as they are able to manipulate the pictures on the screen.  You can set song to be sung in several different languages, just the music, or record you or your child's voice.  All for only 99 cents!

Photo Scavenger Hunt

My son loves using my camera!  He is always asking me if he can take pictures of his trains and then wants me to show them to him.  With this in mind, and a need to decide on some new plants for our front yard, we headed out for a photo scavenger hunt.  He was on the lookout for fun  grasses and flowers for our house.  You could also "hunt" for animals and bugs, or certain colors, whatever you think might interest your little one.  You can easily adapt this for older kids too, make up a picture list or written list and time them or have them compete against a friend or sibling.

Make your own Bubbles

A few months ago, after a few lousy bottles of bubble juice, I was inspired to make some homemade bubble solution.  I did a little research, got a couple of recipes, even bought a bottle of gycerin, and then, well, forgot completely about it! :)  So yesterday when my son was starting to go a little (okay a lot!) stir-crazy in the afternoon I said let's make bubble juice.  It took less then a minute to whip up.  We then tried to find things around the house to create our own wands.  The bubble juice worked fabulously, though the two store bought wands were by far better then our homemade wands.

Bubble Recipe:

1 cup water (Petaluma tap water worked great, though according to the internet distilled is best)

4 tablespoons dish soap (according to my research dawn and joy work best, we used dawn)

2 tablespoons glycerin or light corn syrup (tried both and they worked equally well)

Some more recipes and information:

http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/activities/a/bubbles.htm
http://science-fair-projects.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_make_your_own_bubble_blowing_solution
http://bubbles.org/solutions/

Possible Literature Connections:

 

Maguire's Pub- 1/2 off Monday and Tuesday

Maguire's Pub

Every Monday and Tuesday Maguire's Pub, in downtown Petaluma, has half-off everything on their menu.  By half-off everything, I mean EVERYTHING, all food and drinks.  I had lunch there with my two kiddos and ordered an entree and a pear cider for myself and a kids meal that included a good size entree, a side salad, a drink and a scoop of ice cream.  Our bill before tip was only $11.62!  Gotta love it! 

Book Review- Monday

Busy Horsies (A Busy Book)

This is one of a several books in the "busy" series by John Schindel (a Bay Area author).  The sharp full page images of horses really grab a toddlers attention.  As you look at all through the pictures you learn what that the horsies are eating, talking, walking, rolling, racing, chasing, sleeping, leaping, nuzzling and more. I love how engaged my kids are with the book and how much rich vocabulary they are hearing at the same time.