Gutter Bookshelves

Gutter bookshelves have been on my household wish list for quite a while now. I finally got my husband to help me make some a week or so ago. We decided to put some up in our bonus room, and also next to our older kids' beds. They turned out really cute, and now I can't wait to put up more of them! They're easy and economical; I think we paid less than $10 for a 10 ft. pice of gutter that we cut to make four individual shelves out of (two 3 ft. shelves, and two 2 ft. shelves).

These shelves kind of turned this little area into a reading nook. I love that! Now I have ideas for enhancing this nook's coziness. :)

Literacy Launchpad For Parents

Potty training My Little Reader has provided some perfect opportunities for busting out some of my Literacy Launchpad fun for him (we've been pretty cooped up in the house).

This week we read The Three Little Pigs by James Marshall. Then we made pig and wolf masks just like my students did in class.

Acting out the story was a little above My Little Reader's head, so instead we just chased each other around, taking turns as the pig and the wolf. I recited some of the rhymes from the story as we chased and encouraged him to say some as well.

"Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin."

It was a hit with My Little Reader. Already thinking up which story we'll play with next week.

Mommy Confession

My son will be turning two soon. With two new Watsons on the way, a week where I don't HAVE to be anywhere, and the prospect of no more diaper washing (we do cloth), I decided to go ahead and spend the week doing intensive potty training. It seems to be taking (knock on wood).

BUT being cooped up in the house all week with a toddler that I have to watch like a hawk (so he doesn't forget to go to the potty when he feels the urge) means I have let him watch A LOT of PBS Kids. It's been my only sanity saver. There's only so much playdough and puzzles Isaac can handle... or Mommy can handle for that reason. We've been reading books, but he hasn't been willing to sit for very long and listen this week. Plus, we've had some really close calls with some of our books nearly getting drenched when nature called. Yikes!

I'm already planning our outings for next week now that we're getting a handle on this potty thing. We'll be breaking free from the house, and from the TV!

A PBS gem I discovered this week though: The Electric Company. Had never watched it. Love it! It's not Isaac's favorite (kind of targeted at a little bit older kids), but he's warming up to it.

We're watching the above video right now. As I type this. :)

What's your Mommy/Daddy confession this week?