Westside Homelearners Group and Marshmallow Architecture

 Dry Ice

Park Near Jericho Beach

It was our first and only time hanging out with the Westside Homelearners group. The meetup was held in a community church. Everyone there was very nice and welcoming. The boys were shy but had fun making marshmallow sculptures. I got to chat with some of the moms there. We were out in Point Grey and it was a beautiful day. We went to two playgrounds, did a lot of walking and met up with Israa. Things got late and we ended up catching a cab to chess to make it just in time. I was hoping to meet up with them again but Wednesdays are about to get hectic with tennis and chess. Maybe this summer we can join in their fun.

Weekly Baking Project: Chocolate Chip Cookies with Israa

Israa babysat and the boys had so much fun baking with her. August and I came home from our date to freshly baked cookies still warm from the oven.

Weekly Baking Project: Banana Bread

Minecraft Party

Dagan wanted a minecraft party for his birthday this year. There were minecraft treats, a diamond sword cake, sword fighting with friends, cookie favors, creeper cups, minecraft chess, a papercraft and jewel crafting station, and a fun afternoon spent with friends.

Country of the Month: Italy

- Italian words learned in sword play class

- Leonardo Da Vinci

- Made our own pizzas from scratch

- Made caramel gelato

- Ate mini cannolis, Roman doughnuts and sfogliatelle from an Italian cafe

- Read Strega Nona books by Tomie dePaola- Strega Nona, Strega Nona Her Story, Strega Nona Takes a Vacation, Strega Nona's Magic Lessons, Strega Nona's Harvest

- Watched "Telling Stories with Tomie"

- Ate spaghetti, ravioli

- Colored in Italian words coloring book

- Babel Italian phone app

- Learned the word venti from ordering hot chocolate at Starbucks, counted in Italian

- Made rosemary foccacia

- Watched people dance the tarantella on youtube

- Listened to Italian music

Caldecott Books