These are the two latest crafty projects I've worked on.

The first is a birthday calendar (I copied the idea from my sisters) made out of a wooden board, some trim and wooden circles. The lettering on the board is out of vinyl and I used a white paint pen to put the names/dates on the circles. This is a clock that was actually a project left over from LAST year's Super Saturday.....hey, better late than never, right? Jeff is just glad it's out of the garage =)

This is my first attempt at doing a crackle finish....well, it took me three tries to get it right. The numbers are vinyl letters. I have "Swanson Family est 2002" in vinyl too, but I didn't like the way it looked - the letters are too big. I think I'll have to borrow Andrea's cricut again and re-do the lettering...okay Ange?

A few months ago my mom tried to paint Kiera's fingernails. K was NOT even remotely into that - in fact she seemed almost afraid. Since then, we have asked her several times (like when I'm painting my own toenails) if she'd like her's painted. No way. Then, the other day, I walk into the living room and see this! Kim had been painting her toenails and Janae wanted her's done too. Kim said that Kiera came over to watch, but kept moving her feet away from Kim and saying "no." Kim kept assuring K that she didn't have to get her nails painted. But then - a change of heart. She stuck those cute little toes out and got them painted. She even went for matching fingernails. I couldn't believe she held still long enough for Kim to paint them, and for the polish to dry.Showing off the pink!

Janae only goes to school Tuesdays, Fridays and alternating Wednesdays, so I started looking for "school" things to do on her off days. I want her to keep learning and have a more steady schedule. I have TONS of elementary school things left from my year of teaching (and student teaching) and I got some good tips from a friend of ours who homeschools her boys. She recommended the Spectrum series, and so far it seems like a good choice for Janae as well. My biggest challenge was creating a set schedule/routine....so I decided to copy Red Flyer School's set up. This is a friend of ours and she homeschools/tot schools her kids. I really like the workbox system she is using, so I've come up with our version. I still have some things to implement, but so far things are off to a good start. Janae had 4 tasks this day. I set the piles up the night before with all of the things she'll need to complete the job. (Eventually I will have actual tubs for each job) She gets soooo excited to come downstairs and see "what games I get to play today!" My only real schedule requirement right now is that she gets dressed and eats breakfast before she starts. She has all day to get the tasks done, too; I don't want to push her too much and have her start resenting our homeschool. I think as we progress through the year the rules/schedule will become a little stricter, but for now I want to be pretty flexible.

Yesterday was Janae's first First Day of School. She is officially a Kindergartener. HOLY COW! I can't believe how grown up she is. Showing off the new backpack (notice it's pink)
Posing with sister