This weekend we went to the lovely Sanborn Park in Saratoga, which is filled with ancient redwoods, salamander ponds, and natural gnome homes. Our objective was to do research for Zaahir's school Pond Project. We went with some other second graders and their siblings and had a grand time!
Zaahir drew some great pictures of pond creatures which I'll have to share another time since his project was due today. I am so glad that we went to the park, and that we didn't rely on internet for the research. We used our bird and butterfly books and a book about bugs and one called Pond Life as references for drawing the pictures and to find information that we couldn't find out from our brief observations.
Pajama Pants: this weekend I finished making pajama pants for Ahmad, from an old shirt of my husband's. I used the pattern from Weekend Sewing, and strategically cut the right front piece to make use of the pocket. I copied the pattern onto freezer paper and ironed the freezer paper on to the fabric which made it a lot easier to cut out. The pattern and instructions are very clear and easy to use. Now Ahmad has some nice, cozy winter jammies!
All this week Zaahir has been sanding a small shelf that a teacher at school was going to throw away. I snapped it up and brought it home for Zaahir so that he could have a place to put his treasures, away from smaller paws! Early Saturday morning he woke me so we could paint it. He had chosen a beautiful bright blue paint, and he took his time painting the first coat.
The rest of the weekend was pretty busy. Hopefully we can finish painting it today, and put it up tomorrow evening. Watching my son work so hard and spend so much time on this personal project and on his pond research paper made me realize that I don't have to throw the t.v. away or have fights about it every day. I only have to provide engaging, creative alternatives, and the desire to watch t.v. melts away!
Last weekend, Zaahir and Ahmad drew pitures on muslin fabric, for a table runner that I hope to finish for our Eid Al Adha dinner (November 26th this year): 
We were all busy bees this weekend!