The Carrot Seed

Since Spring is in the air, I thought it would be the perfect time to do our BFIAR unit on The Carrot Seed (with a small break in the middle for some Easter fun). It was a really fun unit and I was happy with how most of the activities turned out! 

We read the book every day

We watched the animated version of the story on YouTube

We read some other supplemental books about gardening and planting

We made our own little greenhouses and planted carrot seeds and sunflower seeds (because they grow quickly!)

We practiced cutting with our scissors

We did carrot stamping art

We watered carrot tops to make the stems keep growing

(This one did not work :( but it could have to do with the fact that the carrots were nearly dead by the time I got around to starting this activity. Oh well! Maybe next time!)

We made carrot cake cupcakes and enjoyed them multiple nights for dessert!

We did a seed sensory bin (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, popcorn kernels, etc) with shovels and little plant pots!

(I was AMAZED! Both girls played with this activity for 45 minutes straight!!)

We made a carrot, orange, banana smoothie that was really yummy!!

We practiced tracing/following the line... still a challenge!

We made our own carrot garden that Ember could plant and pull carrots up out of

And we colored and talked about these pictures and retold a shorter version of the book. Ember was super impressive with this and told me almost word for word what the book said for each picture! She just wasn't very interested in actually coloring it so I helped some... 

Here are our carrots and sunflower seeds by the end of the unit in their little greenhouses!

Great unit! And we also got Ember a little watering pail from the dollar store and now she helps daddy water the plants every weekend! We are developing her green thumb! :) 

20 WEEKS!

HALFWAY POINT FOR BABY #2!! 

Yeah! I am feeling even better still and getting to feel the baby move around almost every day! That is where it really gets fun and becomes more real! 

Ember wanted in on the picture for a few takes too! 

Only about 3 more weeks and we will know the gender! Exciting stuff! 

Resurrection Sunday/Easter Weekend

This year, we wanted to start trying to explain to Ember the significance of Easter and why we celebrate this holiday. A little tricky for a two year old to truly understand... but she was getting some of it for sure!

On Friday, we made a cross craft, talked about her craft she made at church during my women's Bible study, and read about Good Friday in her Bible. Ember could say that "Jesus died for us because He loves us and to save us" after our discussions and activities.

On Saturday, we did some of the secular activities associated with Easter because I have so many fond memories doing these things growing up and because, we believe, it doesn't hurt to as long as they are not the emphasis! 

We dyed eggs! 

Then we did an Easter egg hunt! She had a total blast doing this! 

Ember playing with her Daddy with some of the finger puppets she got in her eggs! (Man oh man, it is alot harder to fill eggs when we don't want to give her candy)

And later we gave her a small Easter basket with a few fun and practical things in it.

Then on Sunday, we went back to the true reason that Easter exists and why it is such a celebration in our lives! 

We started the day with Resurrection rolls which show that Jesus was in the tomb but then the TOMB WAS EMPTY! Why? "Because Jesus is ALIVE!" That was what Ember got from these yummy little treats.

After celebrating our Risen Lord with our church family, we took some pictures!

(We had trouble finding good lighting!)

Geez, she is so sweet! I was so excited to capture the hands covering her face when she was laughing picture because she does that all the time when she thinks something is really funny!

That night, we had a delicious ham dinner with Dustin's parents. Ember got to go on another egg hunt and got another little Easter basket.

I know I should be thankful always - but I really enjoy Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday and reflecting upon all that God did for us and continues to do! Praise God that HE IS RISEN!