A Diorama Project

When we first learned about the Charlotte's Web diorama project we were excited. Because, as you may know, we love a good artsy school project. 

A few weeks back a few essential supplies were purchased. A pig. Some silvery thread. Popsicle sticks. And an on clearance sale raffia bow. (Because the little hay bales they were selling at Michael's were $5 and this is a first grade project after all.) We also had a few shoe boxes stored up. 

We waited until the rubric came home to get started. First M had to pick the scene she wanted to depict. She opted to go with the scene where Wilbur meets Charlotte for the first time. I loved this idea because bonus: we wouldn't have to figure out how to put words in the web! 

Here was her vision: 

My favorite scene is Templeton and the rotten egg but it's not my diorama. 

I did a lot of googling dioramas and ultimately made the decision to use just the lid of the shoe box and the back wall, this makes for a shallower diorama, which gave us less space to decorate as well as let it be well lit without much effort. 

M painted the box red and we used the 3d pen to make Charlotte. I had her draw a spider on wax paper and we just traced it with the 3d pen. Purple legs and a dark gray body is what her Charlotte looks like. 

Okay, here's the diorama in all its glory. 

I think this is pretty spot on to her vision right? M really put a lot of effort into the project with an assist from her dad since I had NO clue how to create a hay loft. Husband did also cut all the popsicle sticks for her too, because let's be real, I wasn't going to let her use a snips. But M figured out exactly how she wanted the fence to look and drew lines where he was supposed to cut. I wanted rounded popsicle stick edges but she was insistent she wanted pointy pickets. M also didn't want to whitewash the fence, but for just a little contrast we were able to convince her to brown wash it. Turns out she enjoyed that part nearly as much as twisty tying the hay bunches.

Here's a close up for some details. She is pretty tickled by the use of oatmeal in Wilber's bowl (a vitamin bottle lid wrapped in tin foil) and raisins as the manure. (Yes, I now have pig poop in my google image search history. As one does for school projects.) The web obviously is on top of the manure because Charlotte knows that's how she will catch flies. 

My favorite part of the diorama is the barn quilt out of Perler beads. Do you have barn quilts by you or are those a midwestern thing? I like that it adds a pop of girly flair to the whole project which feels awfully monochromatic to me. (But... it's a barn so...) 

Okay, I admit, I also love Perler beads because we always listen to One Direction when we create them. 

We had such a fun time creating this diorama. M still needs to present it to her class but she is so excited about it. 

Flying Into the End of The School Year

 This weekend was lovely. We spent Saturday soccering. This was a picture of my girl on the big soccer ball, the picture she insisted on wanting to take. 

And the photographer who was kind enough to take it as well as snap a selfie. 

Saturday night we went to be the fan club for our friends who were in a play. (At the same place C did his show in December.) 

The show, Aladdin, was cute. And the crowd was especially energetic. Like, I am not lying, I have been to concerts and plays with less of a hyped up crowd. 

Sunday was a little rainy, but it was perfect for Husband to work on fixing some of the plaster in the house as well as get started on the first grade diorama. 

Yesterday, M had a make up soccer game. And I had to miss it because I had a board meeting. 

Wouldn't you know she scored a goal?! Of course I missed it. 

This season has been an odd one. I am not sure why, but M hasn't seemed super excited for the games. She practices well and then at games seems to not be in it. I don't want to push her into sports at all, I don't care one bit. She's 7. But she's always loved it, and she still says she does. 

I am wondering if we need to switch models to an all girls team? Maybe that would help? I'd like her to stick it out at least one more season and play in the fall. Since that's the first year of goalies and 9 players on a field. (So almost real soccer.) But we will see. 

Last night I saw a teeny tiny honey bunny silhouette so I snapped a picture. 

 

Nature is pretty amazing isn't it? 

There's still a lot of fun coming up this week so stay tuned. Plus a finished diorama and I know you're on pins and needles about that! 

May Crowning!

Today is May crowning! My crew didn't forget their flowers. 

And it is Friday. We made it! There wasn't anything this week that was particularly bad, it just was so hot, and there were a few extra things to do. So it felt long is all. 

I'm just ready for a Friday night in, with my favorites. Eating pizza, watching a movie. 

Happy Weekend!

Thursday Check In

 Well hello there! It's time for the weekly what's going on check in. 

I feel this on a deep personal level. Looking at the calendar I am slightly overwhelmed by how many things there are to do. And it is a big birthday month to boot. 

Saturday we did play soccer. I got more sunburnt on Saturday than I did when we went to Jamaica. So... that was something. 

Their team played well and won both of their games. Yay! 

Yesterday was the 3rd Grade Folk Dance Festival. I was lucky enough to get to go. I'm not even going to lie, I think that I was one of the better folk dancers of the parents who attended. 

It was kind of a hoot. Well worth taking the morning off for. 

We skipped right to middle of July weather here. It's been in the 90s with high humidity and no break at night already, which seems crazy! We're actually setting record highs. Seriously were wearing winter coats last week so the swing is not my favorite, but the sunshine sure is! 

Happy Thursday!

May!

 Happy Cinco De Mayo! Crazy that we are already 5 days into this lusty month of May. 

We started this month off with C's track meet. He did a track program through the Catholic High School for students in 3-8th. It's basically to be a training feeder program. But C has enjoyed running this past year so we thought we'd give it a whirl. 

Here are my takeaways: track meets are boring. (It was May 1 and very cold and windy, which may have had something to do with it.) 

This is my little guy running the 400m. He was the only boy in his age range who opted to run it so he actually ran with two 8th graders and they were obviously quite far ahead of him. One of the high school track guys ran part of it in the infield with him to encourage him which I really appreciated. 

To C's credit he ran the entire time. No walking, skipping or anything. Just focused and running. I was proud. I have no idea what his actual time was but it doesn't matter. He got his tee shirt and was very happy. I think ultimately, he will become a cross country runner over track, but what do I know?! He surprises me often. 

In other news M's class got to lead Mass yesterday. This was a big deal because they were the first first graders to lead since the 2018/2019 school year. 

C's first grade year they did 4th quarter, when they would have led, at home. 

C's second grade year they didn't have all school Masses with classes leading. 

And now we are in this school year, and both kids got to lead their masses for the first time. My heart is happy. 

Anyway, M had an intention during the prayers of the faithful. "For every child, that they will know God loves them, we pray." 

They also did a special song at the end of Mass. 

It was so wonderful! I was proud and I couldn't stop smiling the whole time. Their little voices leading the music? I mean, it really doesn't get any better. 

The big question over here is will there be soccer on Saturday? At the beginning of March we had a big storm and it destroyed all the soccer goals at our town's soccer complex. Like everything these days the were backordered and so the season was pushed back from starting April 2 to April 23. 

Well it's been so rainy that the field conditions are terrible and the last 2 weeks worth of games was cancelled. They haven't even played a game yet! 

Only thing is it's supposed to rain today and tomorrow. Saturday itself is supposed to be nice but if the field is mush... well we will see. This weekend is supposed to be pictures. (Rescheduled for the third time.) AND a a previously scheduled double header. 

I am torn between wanting M to play, not deal with the tears of disappointment and the utterly enjoyment of NOT actually having to go out to the complex for games. 

So Happy May! 

What's Up Wednesday: End of April

Last Thursday, I embarked on my girl's weekend in Wisconsin. And it was glorious. 

I mean seriously. Look at this gorgeousness?!

I always come back refreshed. Husband held down the fort masterfully. 

They even made these Minion Twinkie cakes. C had created a "recipe" for them and was very excited about it. So they went to Michael's, got the supplies and made them. C was absolutely delighted. 

I missed Husband's birthday as I do. But we went out to dinner as a family last night to make up for it. And guess what they had?! 

My purple coconut cake cider! 

I never thought I'd get it again. But I was not sad that I did! 

So that's the story here in Iowa. I hope you're having a good day!

 

Random Wednesday Roundup

 Lately, my boss has been rocking a little Easter Egg of a rental car. She typically drives a massive Yukon so this is quite the change. It's SO bright and little.

I had Husband make her this when she first got the car. Still makes me laugh now. Though I am going to miss the literal bright spot it's been out my window! 

Throwing it back to Wordle of Palm Sunday, I was quite proud of this one: 

Except here's the thing, BLACK has been my go to "A" in the middle word for a while and now I will have to come up with a new one!!

On Easter Monday, while I worked, the kids got to hang with Husband and they had a fancy lunch at Costco. 

M also had an eye appointment on Monday. I was convinced she was coming out with glasses but apparently not? Clearly I am not an ophthalmologist. But I am happy her eyes are healthy. She had to be dilated and it took over 24 hours for it to wear off. She was frustrated by that, my little arts and crafts girl just wanted to draw! 

This made me laugh out loud.

 

Turns out that Husband LOVES grapefruit and I am not a big fan of chips myself, but the sentiment was funny. 

Anyway, we're just dancing through life over here in the Easter season. I am hoping that the actual warmer weather we're anticipating will stick around for a few days but time will tell. 

Spring really is my least favorite. At least with Winter you just know it's going to be cold and gross. Spring... needs to get it together. Is it going to rain? Sleet or snow? Be 75 and sunny? Windy as heck? Yes, to all of the above? 

Well whatever version of Spring you're experiencing, I hope your Wednesday is lovely!