Art & Sensory Summer Camp - Reading & Rainbows

"Play energizes and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities."

-Stuart Brown, MD, Contemporary American Psychiatrist

Our first day of camp this summer was themed around reading and rainbows. Because we know that children (and adults) learn best when they engage all the senses, we developed activities where the children had the opportunity to fully use all five of their senses in order to explore and learn about ways we use color in the world. 

Activities included; rainbow spaghetti exploration,

rainbow watercoloring with spray bottles, 

and rainbow manipulatives so we could discuss similarities and differences, problem solving (when building structures), and decision making. 

This particular table was good for cooperation and collaboration which the older kids loved teaching the younger ones about!

We also had a rainbow science station. The kids loved experimenting with mixing various colored dye, glitter and flour. We supplied a lot of different tools for investigation, many of which also exercised fine motor skills. 

The messier the activity, the more fun the kids had! I loved listening to observations the children made while exploring and how they taught each other what they had learned.

We took time to read lots and lots of books and sang some new songs (thank you Chelsea!).

One of the favorite activities of the day was the rainbow obstacle course. The object of the game was to climb through the maze without touching any of the streamers.

We finished off the day with rainbow painting using our feet first...

...and then the kids ventured on to painting with their hands, elbows and knees. 

Watching the kids reiterated what I love most about sensory play--the delight children show when they are learning to love learning! 

Looking forward to sharing more photos soon! 

In the meantime, you can check out other camp days by clicking on the following:

Art & Sensory Summer Camp - PJ Party & Yucky Fun

Art & Sensory Summer Camp - Part 1

Art & Sensory Summer Camp - Candyland

"I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things...

I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind."

-Leo F. Buscaglia

Little Girl's Bucket List

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, 

anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

-Unknown

(Written on Sunday, December 15th)
Over two years ago I wrote a post about discovering and creating my Bucket List:

"While reflecting over the past couple of days it was in the creating my wishes for my future life that I realized something. Although you can write a list of things you want to accomplish in life before your day comes, I truly believe there are items on our bucket lists that we don't even know are there until they happen to us. While thinking of my bucket list wishes, other life moments kept coming to mind. Moments, memories and people that have always been on my bucket list." -May 17, 2011

Since then, and especially in these past nine months, I know that although I never would have chosen the challenge we are now facing to be on my list, it is absolutely now at the top of the list. 

No, its not the pain that I've endured and the greater pain that's yet to come, but all of the joys and blessings that have come as a result of this precious gift that we were chosen to carry. 

I am looking forward to seeing my kids grow and watch them create their own Bucket Lists and discover the moments that make up their lists along the way as I have. It hurts to know that Everly will not have this opportunity so, as her mother, I began creating a list for her. I know she doesn't have an audible voice to tell us what she wants so, for now, I created a list that I believe she would find special. There are a few items left unchecked and I'm praying that she'll be able to have long enough to finish her list. But, if not, I know she has had a life full of love and support from our family, friends and even strangers. Who could ask for anything more?

1) Go to the New York City Ballet:

 2) Take my big brother to his first day of Kindergarten

and then out for ice cream after.

 3) Go to all of my big brother and Sissy's soccer games

 4) Celebrate Mommy and Daddy's 10th wedding anniversary with them

5) Eat peanut butter and chocolate ice cream with just the girls and learn all about being a three year old from my big sister so I would know what its like.

6) Spend an entire Sunday afternoon listening to live music with my family.

7) Ride on a carousel.

 

8) Go to a Blake Shelton concert with the big girls.

 9) Have many dance parties with Mommy and my big brother.

10) Go to the Shore with my family

11) Live in New England during the Fall

 12) Enjoy a good cup of coffee. 

 13) Be part of a beautiful beach sunset.

 14) Play on my brothers and sister's favorite playground and hear their joyful laughter.

15) Pick out a Christmas tree with my family

16) Learn how big things can happen when even just a few people work together. 

(Our church worked with a number of other local organizations to 

rebuild a community playground for underprivileged kids.)

17) Break some rules because sometimes in life you just have to.

18) Send off my Daddy, brothers and sisters every Saturday morning for a run to help Daddy train for the NYC marathon so he can run in honor of me.

19) Live every day in a family where I can learn all about loving each other through good times and bad and knowing that small homes grow tight families.

20) Play in the ocean waves with my big brothers and sister

21) Experience the beauty of snow

with hot chocolate.

 22) Meet Santa Claus

23) To be undeniably and perfectly loved by so many people....family, friends and even strangers.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

(Completed on Thursday, December 19th)
As I complete this post, I am preparing to go to the hospital tonight for a procedure and then an induction early tomorrow. There are so many frightening unknowns for me but, what I do know is that I was given a great gift. 

Someone recently shared this with me:
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you." The baby asked, "who will protect me?" God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking her life." The baby said, "God, please tell me my angel's name." God said, "you will simply call her Mommy."

I feel I've done the best I can to protect and love Everly and know that whatever time remains, her destiny is in Someone's hands greater than my own. I'm still praying and hoping that Everly will get to finish this list but, if not, know she has a greater purpose elsewhere...

24) To see my family's Christmas tree and Christmas with my own eyes.

25) Regardless of how short my life, to see God's purpose fulfilled and make a difference in as many others' lives as possible.

"If you want your life to be a magnificent story, then begin by realizing that you are the author and everyday you have the opportunity to write a new page." 

-Mark Houlahan