The other butterfly emerged

The second Painted Lady butterfly emerged this morning.  We were able to get it safely to the butterfly bush where it stayed through the rain we had later in the day and on into the evening.

I feel that I should take a moment here to mention that Teagan has begun to want to style her own hair--the more accessories the better.  On weekends I let her do what she wants.  I control it for school a bit more so the beauty of all her accessories does not distract her or others from work!

We have a new house/time machine/resturant

Braeden and Teagan got a great box which has taken up residence in our living room.  It is being decorated and is a house for children and bunnies, complete with a special bunny door, a time machine, and a restaurant, oh, I think it has also been a library.

Teagan is hoping to get to sleep in it soon.  Jeff doesn't really think she should start to feel comfortable sleeping in a cardboard box.  I think as the economy worsens maybe we all need that practice :)

In the box came a new fridge.  Our old one stopped freezing our ice packs while Meeps was visiting.  Luckily she was here to be home when the repair man came.  Too bad for her she had to be the one to give us the news that our fridge was its own little environmental disaster. leaking freon and it would keep getting worse.  We went immediately to get a new one, but it was not in stock and couldn't be delivered before today.  We have had some interesting meals this week!  No milk, eggs, or leftovers.  The kids thought it was great because I went to Trader Joe's and bought food items you put into the over from the freezer!  

The fridge is wonderful (although probably not as good as the box, but hopefully longer lasting).

The Butterfly Emerges!

Teagan received two caterpillars as a party favor from Tatum's butterfly themed birthday party a couple of weeks ago.  We have watched them grow, make their chrysalides, and last night the first one had emerged.  Since it is in a small container which does not give a butterfly much room to fly, Teagan released it in her nightgown.  Her hair had been in braids for the art show and she loves how it looks when she takes them out.

Opening the top of the habitat.
Helping the butterfly find it's way into nature.


She was so excited to have a butterfly on her finger.  It eventually headed off into our butterfly garden.  The second will probably emerge soon.

Art Show and Recorder concert at Carriage House

Donna leads the kids in a recorder concert each year at the art show.  This group getting ready are primarily first and second years (my class).

The upper elementary playing more advanced music from the sheet music, not from following Donna's hands.

Braeden is part of the Montessori Peeps--the advanced recorder group.  Much to his delight, they learned to play two Harry Potter songs.  They played Hedwig's Theme at the concert.  They had to learn four new notes to play the song.  They did a wonderful job!

Art Show and Recorder concert at Carriage House

The Art Show.  Michele does such a wonderful job with the art projects she does with the children and the display of the work at the art show.  Every child has at least three pieces up at the show--and there are 38 students in the elementary program.  

Braeden with his mosaic tile.
Pastel work.
Fish work exploring color and value.
Watercolor tree.
In the style of Matisse.
Noah and Miles in the lower elementary classroom with the display there.
Part of the display in the upper elementary room.  On the table are stories the upper elementary wrote, did water color illustrations, and made into books.  Braeden's is on the far side of the table.
Braeden enjoying his tray and cups.
The tray and cups as real use.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend was a great start to the summer season on the Cape.  This, of course, meant that we hardly strayed from our house.  In addition to playing in the garden and preparing for the ending of school, we did get to the beach.  Sandy Neck was a bit windy, but great for a walk.

Dress Up

Some of the neighborhood kids--Maeve and Grace, just hanging out over the long weekend.

Playing with Meeps

It was so great to have Meeps visit and stay with the kids while Mom gave parent conferences and Dad went to his regular school days.  She played many games of Candy Land, but I am not sure they ever actually finished a game of Monopoly.

Whoopie Pies

When Braeden gave me the beautiful cookbook he made he said, "Now we can make whoopie pies!"  We didn't have all the ingredients (I am not really a New Englander and do not keep Fluff in the house), but we complied them and made a batch on Sunday after our trip to the farm.  They turned out pretty well even though my friend Michele who is the school's resident chef, says an ingredient was missing.  Maybe they'll be even better next time!

Just in case you want some, the filling is butter, shortening, powdered sugar, corn syrup, and fluff--not the stuff of a healthy diet, but a lovely treat!

Farm visit

Meeps is here to visit and to stay with the kids while Mom holds parent conferences.

Sunday was such a beautiful day that we decided it was perfect for a visit to Coonamessett Farm.  We visited with the animals and had lunch.  There is not much ready for picking yet--but strawberries should be ripe soon!

We saw Peanut, the African Spurred Tortise.

Braeden and the donkeys.

One of the alpacas.

Our main purpose for the visit was to see the new lambs.  These little guys were born in early May, right around the first.  There is one more who was born May 4.  They are no longer wobbly, but are fun and playful and just as cute as can be!  Braeden and I saw them on a field trip on May 5 and Teagan has been wanting and waiting to get to go see them.

We went to the Middle School while we were at the farm.  

This beautiful piece of art work is the soda can world cut, pounded, and shaped by the middle school students and Liz.  No one lost any limbs, but I think it was close :)

The solar car which won the local races.  It was fastest of the 31 cars entered!  Next stop is Springfield for more races in early June.
The boat--this is actually at the farm, in the pavilion.  The launch needs to be soon since there is only one month left of school.  They have done a phenomenal job on this boat!

Ancient China Fair

Our lower elementary class has been studying Ancient China.  In Montessori, we study civilization by looking at how they meet the fundamental needs of a civilization.  We thought the fundamental needs for a civilization were food and water, shelter, transportation, defense, religion, each other, communication, clothing, arts, and health care.  Each student researched a specific topic in their fundamental need, such as bamboo writing, acupuncture, junks, gunpowder, the Great Wall, and kites, then we prepared to share the information by writing about it so that other people could learn from us.  We created posters, dioramas, and sculptures to help people understand what we had researched.  We wrote haikus (even though that is more Japanese), put them on rice paper, and painted pictures to go with them in the style of the Ancient Chinese, we painted on Sumi paper, and painted pictures like Chinese clothing.  

We also wrote and performed a play about the legend of the Chinese Zodiac.  On the day of the fair we shared our information and performed the play 3 times!  Everyone remembered their lines and really enjoyed the experience.

Sharing information about bamboo writing, bamboo books, oracle bones, and paper making.  You can see two of the haiku papers on the table.

Waiting to start the play.  Everyone, all 24 students, had a part.  

We had two Jade Emperors so one person didn't have too many lines to remember.

Taking a bow.  Everyone made their own mask.  The people who did not need masks (the river and the narrators) worked on the background.

All the animals have crossed the river.

What a beautiful dress to wear for the Ancient China fair!

Sharing information with our parents.