Hibernating Hedgehogs

At the AJ's nursery this week they are talking about Hibernation and Emigration, so I decided to continue the theme at home with some hedgehog fun!  I wasn't sure how Arthur was going to be today as he was diagnosed with an ear infection yesterday, so we took it really slow in the morning and tried watching a film, but both of them were too interested in running around than watching it.  So after lunch, I decided to be brave and get the paint out for some Hedgehog crafts. 

First off I photocopied a few copies of a basic hedgehog shape, as I knew we would get through them really quickly, then I cut some basic hedgehog shapes out of paper plates.  To begin with Arthur wanted to play with his Lego quietly, then once he saw the fun Alyssa was having he soon changed his mind.  Alyssa got stuck straight in, making good hand prints to create the spikes, but soon she just enjoyed the feel of the paint and smudged it all over the page, Arthur also did the same, so I lost the hedge hog shape on both of them.  Next I got them to experiment creating the spikes with plastic forks, Alyssa got on really well with that and created some lovely spike effects, Arthur soon got bored and went back to using his hands.
 
After we had cleaned up the paint and washed our hand, it was time for a snack, and what else do you eat on a Hedgehog themed day, than a 70's style cheese and pineapple Hedgehog!! Whilst we ate this we watched a short video clip on Hedgehogs. 

Once upstairs Arthur wanted to use the blanket to pretend they were spikes for his back as he crawled around, I love how imagination means anything they see can be whatever they want, then we made a little den for them to crawl into and pretend to hibernate, soon I had two dens so they could visit each other for cups of tea etc.  It was so lovely watching the two of them play together without any input from me apart from draping blankets for dens, and eventually getting the two pop up tents as they kept knocking the dens over.  They played so nicely for over and hour, I have to admit mummy did a little accidental hibernating herself on the sofa they were so happy! ;D

Handprinting away!

Almost looks like a Hedgehog!!

Arthur having a go!

Before....

After...

Trying with a fork!

Cheese and Pineapple Hedgehog! (sort off!!)

Arthur being a Hedgehog

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Tin can plant pots!

After seeing a recent picture on the internet of beautifully painted recycled tin cans, I was inspired!  I have been trying to make the garden a fun place for the children with a little Bug hotel nature area and dreams of a little weather station area and butterfly garden area.  And so I thought the idea of homemade plant pots made from recycled tin cans would be a great addition to making our garden brighter and more fun!

Once the children came home from nursery, as our usual trip to the tunnel house was cancelled due to Grandad needing to go to the dentist, we sat out in the garden the last of the days sunshine and painted the cans, Arthur ended up with two cans stacked  together so he could paint around it easier, and it was great fun to see Alyssa lunge forward and knock them over, although Arthur was not impressed. 

Once the tins were painted it was time to let them dry on the windowsill whilst we cooked tea.  All that is left for me to do is punch a few holes in the bottom for drainage and attach a bit of wire to hang them off the fence, then w can plant some lovely flowers in them! 

It's so lovely seeing how the garden has changed over the years since we first moved in nearly four years ago, the huge slope has slowly been flattened out to create useable areas, the rubble has slowly been removed to create a veg/herb plot and hopefully by the summer we will have some turf so we have some lovely green grass to play on bare foot in the sun, rather than spiky wood chip!!

Settled on the patio for a spot of painting!

Arthur does a balancing act

The finished masterpieces drying nicely!

TIIIIMMMMMBBBBBEEEERRRR!!!!

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Fluffy cotton wool sheep and chicks

We are now starting our Easter / Spring activities, I didn't want to start them too early as I didn't want the Aj's to get bored of Eater, but I still wanted to build up the excitement a bit, so the beginning of the month seemed long enough!

I wanted to get the paints out as the both seem to be fans of painting, but I also wanted to add a bit of texture to the fun today, so I opted for the good old fashioned cotton wool sheep and fluffy chick that I'm sure many of us did as a child!

Alyssa had great fun feeling the cotton wool and rubbing it on her face as it was soft, Arthur got on with the sticking straight away, Alyssa ended up with a bit of cotton wool stuck to her hands and couldn't quite understand why it wouldn't come off when she waved her hand around which was very cute to watch. 

Once we made the sheep, Arthur waned to do more so I made little chick shapes and got out the yellow paint to paint them after they had glued them, It wasn't one hundred percent successful, but the children had great fun so that's all that matters, maybe we should make some other little animals and Easter themed things and make a large mural /Easter advent!! Maybe next year??

Getting into sticking

"it wont come off!!!"

Painting chicks

Getting hands on!

Just need some finishing touches!!

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