Sing, Sing a Song Saturday

I started last week doing what I call Sing, Sing a Song Saturday.  I'm going to post one song on Saturdays that the boys or I like. I'll see how long I can keep it up.

The song may be part of a movie, a kid's video or just a song we like. It may or may not include words. I'll try and include why we like it and/or the history of the song/singer.

This week I'm posting what a song can do for someone.

I love this story about music and what it can do for older people that have trouble communicating:




My Grandma (Great Grandma Kent to the boys) has Alzheimer's disease. I know what it's like to see someone that once had a lot of life, be quiet, confused and depressed. It would be great if everyone in a care facility would come out of their silent world and back into a world that's full of excitement.

All it took for this gentleman was an i-pod.

I love his taste in music!

I'm Tired

Today I didn't want to get out of bed! I went to bed kind of late. Then at 2 AM I heard Isaak yell out, "MOMMY I HAVE TO GO POTTY!" I'm so happy he told me. It's just that I was in a pretty deep sleep. Then he said with a whisper, "Mommy maybe I shouldn't flush. I don't want to wake up Daddy!" I said, "Isaak you need to flush. You already woke me up."

So I teach on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. By the time Wednesday afternoon rolls around, I'm ready for a nap!

Tonight I'm going to bed at 9:30 or 10, which is early for me. I have to get up early in the morning anyhow.

One last thing - Just a random funny thing Isaak said! There was a lady that was wearing a tie dyed shirt that looked kind of like this:

Source

Isaak says in his outside voice, "Mommy there's a rainbow lady over there!" Then he pointed until I turned my head to look. Silly boy!

WW: The Karate Kid {Linky}

Mica (age 6) drew this:

 After watching this:

You Can Follow Me Here:

I just joined Pinterest. If you follow me, I'll follow back. :)

Green Beans and Snap Peas Have Sleepy Seeds

Source

I've caught Isaak taking the insides of his snap peas and beans out before. He picks them all out. It takes a long time for him to eat these particular veggies.

Tonight I finally learned why he does this.

Daddy said, "Isaak calls their insides 'sleepy seeds'. He doesn't like to eat them because they are like the sleepy seeds in his eyes."

I never knew this. Makes perfect sense now. Do I push him to eat what he thinks is gross or not? He's a really good eater otherwise. In fact I think he eats the seeds once they are out. He just doesn't like to eat them when they are in tack. It just takes a long time for him to eat the "sleepy seeds"!

All Mica Needs is...

When Mica's given attention, told he looks "Handsome" and praised for his good behavior he's one happy kid.

This boy is something new all the time. This weekend he was a biker dude. Tonight he was Native American firefighter. He loves to be told, "WOW you look great Mica!"

Bugs and Worms

If Isaak's outside, all he wants to do is A) Look for bugs. B) Look for worms. C) Dig in the dirt. D) Grab sticks and swing them in the air. D makes me nervous. Isaak calls worms, "Cute!" Ants are spiders.

I was always amazed that kids can squat with ease! 

Isaak's been giving me looks like below. He then says, "Mommy take a picture!" :) He's such a goof!

Tonight some major excitement happened at our house. A moth flew in our house. Mica and Isaak were running around trying to kill it with their bare hands. I finally got it; not with my bare hands.

Mi casa - My House Review

I'm pleased to review a a DVD called Mi casa - My House set from Boca Beth. It's a set that included the DVD and a puppet named Boca.

I have to say that the songs got in our heads.  Mica was more opted to sing along because he can read some of the words that went with the songs. Isaak got up and danced.

I love how the songs are sung in both Spanish and English. I was never very good in Spanish class. I hate to say it, but my teachers were pretty boring.

Mica doesn't have Spanish in his grade school. I'm happy to get this set and learn Spanish with him. Beth Butler also known as Boca Beth makes learning Spanish fun!

She sent along a coloring book that Mica's already colored in. He likes to get his reference out (Boca the puppet) to make sure all the colors are correct.

Then he wanted to put on a mini puppet show:





I think this set is most certainly striking their interest in Spanish!

You can find Boca Beth on her website, YouTube, Facebook and on Twitter. I really like Boca Beth's YouTube channel! They have videos that are in Spanish and English. The videos can be watched for free!

Want to buy the Mi casa - My House set? It's only $19.99. You can buy just the DVD for $16.99. I think the prices are really pretty good! The DVD has 100 words and 15 phrases from around the house in both English and Spanish.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom

Upcycled Snack Containers

Mica helped me make these snack containers today:

We just cut our milk containers in 1/2. Then cut each side into a semi circle. The sides that have Velcro I made a little bigger than the sides that do not. It was pretty easy to clean out.

I'm taking one to work tomorrow filled with grapes and celery.

Mica seemed pretty happy with the results. Isaak kept saying, "Mommy that's for milk! Not my snack!"

I like the cow on the back of the Smart Balance HeartRight Fat Free Milk. The other one is Blue Diamond Almond Breeze. Isaak will only drink cow's milk. Mica likes almond milk.

I only paid for the Velcro. I got the idea here.

I do plan on making the sandwich container on the site out of a gallon milk container. I tried to make it today and quickly realized that it doesn't work very well with the gallons that have the circle indents. I'll have to wait until I use up my purified water because they don't have circle indents.

Campus Book Rentals

College is expensive! I've been to two colleges. One for my BFA and another one for my masters degree.

Now I'm an art instructor at the Creative Center. When it comes to hands on art classes, there are supplies and more supplies to buy.

Each class has an added book, which also adds to the bill. Now there is a way to reduce that money. There is a company called Campus Book Rentals.

Not only do they have a huge selection of books. They have live help. I always had to make sure I bought the right version of text book for my classes. There is no fee to sign up. College students spend only half of what they would if they bought the book full price. They sometimes save more then half! If the student loves the book they can keep it and just pay the difference. The book can be highlighted or underlined in with no additional cost to the student. Renting a book is kinder to the environment. Books that you don't want to buy, but need, is then reused by someone else. The book can be returned in 30 days for any reason. I know instructors change their mind on books a lot. The shipping is easy. The company actually gives the student a self addressed envelope for easy returning. For every book rented, they donate money to Operation Smile. A nonprofit organization that helps children that are born with a cleft pallet. 

 

Operation Smile is a nonprofit organization that focuses on healing children's smiles. They look into safe, effective reconstructive surgery for children born with facial deformities such as cleft lip and cleft palate.

Some children are born unable to socialize, speak, eat or smile because they have a cleft palate.

Image found here.

Mica was born with a cyst under his tongue. This made his tongue deformed. They told me he may never talk or eat. I'm thankful he does both just fine. Operation Smile is a nonprofit organization that I can relate to.

Donate to Operation Smile here.

Disclaimer: The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion. Campas Book Rentals wants to get the word out to college students. They have given me a choice of college book rentals or a small Paypal payment for spreading the word. If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustrationAThotmailDOTcom