Lunches August 13th - 17th

Boogs' lunches are inspired by the books we read at bedtime the previous evening. Each night, Boogs reads one book to me and I read a book or a chapter of a book to him. I usually post his lunches once a week. Click on the "lunches" label at the end of this post to see lunches from previous weeks.

The Ghosts of Luckless Gulch by Anne Isaacs
Anne Isaacs, who previously wrote the tall tale Swamp Angel, creates another tall tale filled with exaggeration, excitement, and explanations. Estrella is the star of this story. She can run so fast that flames trail behind her. Estrella collects a few strange pets - a bouncing dog, a super strong straight-legged sheep, and a horse with two legs longer than the others. When her pets are taken and enslaved by the ghosts of Luckless Gulch, Estrella uses her strength, smarts, and speed to set things right. Boogs enjoys tales that explain how things came to be. This story explains the redwood trees of California, California mountain ranges, and California earthquakes. In the lunchbox: cheese rubberado dog bouncing higher than the almond butter & jelly house sandwich, three marshmallow ghosts (actually I cut one marshmallow into three pieces), spooky salad, pineapple gold nuggets, and trail mix.

The Pizza That We Made by Joan Holub
Boogs read this book to me. It is an easy-to-read story about three children who make their own pizza, clean-up the kitchen while the pizza bakes, and enjoy eating what they have created. In the ELB lunchbox: mini pepperoni pizza, broccoli (the kids in the story put broccoli on their pizza, Boogs said he would take the broccoli "on the side"), marshmallow sack of flour, fruit snacks in a yeast package, pears, and salad.

Road Work Ahead by  Anastasia Suen
This cute little rhyming book is a bit young for Boogs, but the illustrations are adorable. It shows a family's journey to Grandma's house. On the way there, they have to pass through multiple construction/work zones. In the ELB lunchbox: tortilla & cheese steamroller pushing spinach tortellini rocks around, ham truck, tomato construction worker directing traffic in the salad, raisin asphalt rocks, and dried apricots.

Be sure to check out the wonderful sites I link to on my sidebar! If you want to see more book inspired lunches, click on the "lunches" label at the end of this post or go to My Story Themed Lunches board on Pinterest. I would love for you to leave a comment to let me know you stopped by. 

Treasure Hunt Game

Boogs loves to be read to. He is sometimes hesitant with reading. But, writing is a whole different story. He does not enjoy writing. Over the summer, we have been using up some of the remaining pages in his kindergarten writer's workshop notebook. About 2 - 3 times a week, I have asked him to write three sentences and draw a picture. Some of his excuses to avoid writing are brilliant. I often write in my own notebook during our writing time to model writing for him. This is what he wrote today:

Translation: I like summer. Summer is fun. I don't need to go to school.
(sigh)

I decided to play our treasure hunt game this morning to encourage him to read the clues on each card and to write clue cards for me. To play treasure hunt, you write down a clue to the hidden location of another clue, which leads to another then another clue until you reach the treasure.

Boogs loves to play this game. He had to read the clues to me before he could go find them. (Please ignore my messy house.)

The treasure - a homemade popsicle. 

Then it was Boogs turn to hide something for me. Here are a couple of his clues:

My treasure - a half eaten ring pop. Boogs told me, "You can take a couple of licks on it, but don't eat the whole thing."

YUM!

What things are you doing to encourage your reluctant writers?

Cardmaking Fun

I have really enjoyed making cards this summer. Here are a few of my latest ones:

The bugs are from the SU Bugs and Kisses Set. I stamped the grass from SU Inspired by Nature on crimped green cardstock and used a few Pop Dots to make it a bit 3D. 

I needed a thank you card for the wonderful person who made my blog button. So, I figured the card should have a few buttons on it. The jar is from SU All Wrapped Up set. The flowers are from SU Little Layers Plus. The 'Thanks' stamp is from SU Everyday Expressions.

I happened to find Stampin T's Stampin' Up website. She has tons of beautiful card creations and great tutorials. I purchased the tutorial for this high heel shoe card. I think it is adorable! 

I had some leftover black glitter cardstock from an outer space card I made awhile ago. I thought it would be cute to use for a party shoe. I used PearlEx Interference Red on top of red cardstock for the heel and sole of the shoe.

Stampin' T used ribbon for the peachy accents on her shoe. I did not find any ribbon in my stash that I wanted to use so  I used scrapbook paper for the accent pieces.

Birthday card using the SU Because I Care Set.

The SU Party Animals set was one of the first stamp sets I purchased back in 1999. I still use it for little kid birthday cards. 

I was playing around with an old Paper Pizazz Diamond Folds template. This card is bright and colorful, but I don't know if I will ever send it to anyone.

I have a huge box of cards that I have made over the years. The other day, I was looking through the box for birthday cards ideas and came across an old flower pot card. These cards were hugely popular a few years ago. I went ahead and made a few of them and used SU Teeny Tiny Wishes for the 'happy birthday' stamp. The flowerpot is made out of a 9 x 4 piece of cardstock scored at 3 1/2 and 7 inches. You cut an angle, excluding the flap, to give it the flowerpot shape. After I had the angle I wanted, I trimmed the flap to match. I used the SU Punch Border Scallop Trim on the pot's flap. I used the SU Scallop Punch for the flowers and the SU Bird Punch feather for the leaves.

This card is kind of a joke for a friend who is obsessed with Hello Kitty.

Lately, I have been in a card making mood. I might have to order the new Stampin' Up catalogue and replenish some of my craft stash supplies.

I linked this post to the Get Your Craft On linky party and to Take A Look Tuesday.

Camping Trip

My folks invited Boogs and I to go on a one night camping trip with them to Pedernales Falls State Park. It is a typical August in Texas, which means that you are lucky to have any days of the month stay below 100 degrees. So of course I said, "Sure, sounds like fun!" It was hot! Boogs had such a wonderful time that I will gladly go camping in the heat again. 

After seeing how much junk equipment we were taking for
ONE night of camping,we decided to stay for an extra night.

Boogs helped set up our tent.

Boogs helped Poppa get things into their tent.

Smores - we just left a couple of pieces of chocolate out of the cooler
for a bit and they melted enough for us to smear them on graham
crackers with a marshmallow. No campfire need.

We played a lot of cards - War, Old Maid, Crazy 8s.

Boogs made Wall-E out of dominoes.

We told spooky stories.

Reading by flashlight before going to sleep.

Hike to the Pedernals Upper Falls.

Scenic overlook

We were surprised at the amount of water. Texas has
not recovered from  last year's horrible drought.

Boogs checking out a water erosion cave.

It is hard to imagine this filled up with water.

Steps back up to the hiking trail.

Poppa and Boogs were hiding in the trees.

Nonnie and Boogs beneath a huge cypress tree.

Boogs said this rock looked like a cruise ship
 and he was climbing aboard.

Swimming at Blanco State Park.

 

Boogs enjoyed following around these geese.

Boogs liked hanging out in the tent.

Nonnie taught Boogs how to play Chicken Foot dominoes.

Boogs said he was a potato and his sleeping bag was his potato skin.

This 3 1/2 mile hike got too hot for Boogs. I ended up carrying him piggy
back for most of it. Good thing he only weighs 41 pounds.

Cool down in the river after our hike.

Boogs had a great time moving rocks around
and trying to build a small dam.

We spent about two hours on Friday visiting old friends in Blanco. Our plan had been to take showers at Blanco State Park after swimming, but the showers were $4 per person because of the continuing effects of last year's drought. We skipped the showers.

I am sure you noticed that Boogs wore the same clothes both days. I only packed clothes for one night of camping, not two. The first thing we did when we got home was bathe and put on clean clothes.

Thanks, Nonnie and Poppa for sharing this adventure with us. Boogs is ready for his next adventure with you.