DIY Pinecone Bird Feeders

We made the neatest bird feeders last week and I thought I would share with you all!  They were so simple and so much fun to make!  It's one of the projects on our summer to-do list! 

All you need is a few pinecones, some peanut butter and bird seed.

I rolled the pinecones in the peanut butter and used a knife to "smooth" it out a little.  Sweet Girl tried to roll them, but they were a little to prickily for her!  After they were coated, she sprinkled bird seed all over them.

Then she ran (literally) down to the tree to hang them up! 

It's been fun watching the birds (and deer) come and nibble off of our bird feeders.  I have a feeling we will have to make at least one a week to keep up with the demand!! 

Tot Trays

Here's a peek at our trays for this week!!  I'm kinda in "summer mode" already, so I didn't really have a theme in mind for these.  I just threw some things together that I know Sweet Girl enjoys!

Tonging colorful pom poms

Matching alphabet letters

Putting erasers on the end of pencils

Pouring pony beads

Lacing wooden objects

Counting cars, trucks and planes

(The counting sheet is from here)

Playdough Monsters

Sweet Girl and I made playdough monsters today and I just had to share!!  I saw the idea here and knew we just had to do this activity!!  We both had a great time making them!  I always love finding new things to do with our playdough collection!

All you need is some playdough, googly eyes and crafts sticks.

I just set them all out for Sweet Girl and told her we were going to make some monsters.  I flattened the playdough for her and then she made them "scary" (or so she said!).

Looks pretty scary to me!!

What's your child's favorite thing to do with playdough?

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Gum Ball Machine Craft

Sweet Girl and I had the most fun making our own gum ball machine today!!  I saw an old post from Valerie over at Frugal Family Fun and couldn't wait to make one for our house! 

All you need to make one for yourself are some paper bags and sticky dots.  To make it some what of learning experience, Sweet Girl and I talked about the different shapes that the gumball machine was made of, as well as the different colors of gum balls!  This has been a big hit in our house.  Last night before bed, Sweet Girl gave it a hug and said "I wube you so much"!

Check out the Frugal Family Fun post for most detailed instructions!!

Tot Trays

We're slowly getting into "summer mode" so I just threw some trays together for this week!  No particular theme in mind...these are just things that Sweet Girl really enjoys!!

Matching mini farm animals

Tonging fruit from one container to another

Teddy bear game

(Click here to see how I made our game and to get your own printable)

Pouring beans

Placing pick-up-sticks in a container

(Sweet Girl actually made this activity a little harder by placing a pony bead on top of each stick!)

Nest and stack cylinders



Our Summer Fun List

We have lots of fun things planned for this summer!!  Although summer isn't too out of the ordinary for a two-year old, it's still nice to have some "new things" in my back pocket to keep it fun!!

Here's our list!!  I think we will be able to accomplish them all by the end of summer!!  I've tried to include some crafts, some art activities, some baking/making activities and also some local visits!!  I've included links to the actual activities if I had them!!

1.  Make pinecone bird feeders

2.  Make doughnuts

3.  Crepe paper painting

4. Nature stamping with leaves and flowers

5.  Fruit and vegetable printing

6.  Body tracing and painting

7.  Visit our local science center

8.  Sandpaper art

9.  Rain art

10. Visit a local farm

11. Bean face collages

12. Make ice cream

13. Pick strawberries

14. Visit a sunflower farm

15. Pudding painting

16. Make peanut butter playdough

17. Footprint painting

18. Make sidewalk paint

19. Make sidewalk chalk for our Fourth of July party 

20. Make homemade bread

21. Make recycled crayons

22. Go for a hike

22. Paint pottery at our local pottery place

23. Play in the sprinklers

24. Make freshly squeezed lemonade


What about you???  What's on your summer to-do list?



ABC Fun - Letter L

We're up to letter L now!!  We are going to finish up with letters I,J,K,L review next week and then we are planning on taking a little "tot school" break during the summer!!  The pool is calling our names!!  I still have lots of fun stuff planned for us though...just not as much planning and organizing on my part!  (Momma needs a summer break too!!)

Alphabet Sensory Bin

Here's our letter L sensory bin for this week!! 

Ladybug magnet page

This is from COAH.  Sweet Girl always enjoys using the magnets.  I just tape the laminated sheet to an old cookie sheet and set the magnets out with it!  This is usually completed several times during each week.

Letter L picture matching

We did something similar to this during our letter J week and Sweet Girl really enjoyed it!  She completed the letter J picture matching independently so I will just leave this one out for her to complete on her own.  I love finding things that she can accomplish all my herself.

(Click here if you want to download your own copy)

Ladybug counting cards

And to finish up our letter L week, I plan on pulling out our ladybug counting cards!  Sweet Girl loves these and we haven't played with them in a while! 

(Click here if you want to download your own copy)