Busy Bins

after 2 years without blogging and 39485738 minutes of figuring out how to log back in (college email, really?) I am back with a purpose: breaking down Cy's new busy bins.  While the last time I posted I was newly pregnant, Cy is almost 2 and is keeping us on our toes.  After hours searching Pinterest for sensory bin and busy bag ideas, I got over myself, loaded Cy up in the car and headed off to our local Dollar Tree in search of a few boxes to keep Cy occupied when he seems restless at home!  I was absolutely successful and found so many great things! (and spent less than $30! double score!)  I posted a picture of Cy playing to Facebook recently and had a few people ask about specifics of what's in the boxes...Cy has LOVED the boxes and I don't keep them out all the time, just so they're slightly forgotten about and I can pull them out when we're all about to go a little looney!  I'll do my best to break everything down. :) 

Bin #1: Pom Poms/old wipes box - this is by far the easiest and most entertaining box!  

I literally dumped a package of pom poms in a wipey box.  

 He learns tons of hand-eye coordination!  All the pom poms start outside of the box and he puts them in one or two at a time!  Rinse and repeat!  and it's QUIET! :)  

Bin #2: Cereal sensory/measuring.  I interchange this with colored water or different types of cereal.  This is my go-to while I cook and need to not chase my busy boy all over the kitchen.  Plus, totally edible!  You can use whatever cereal you like and get creative!  I just use Cheerios because I don't mind if he eats the whole box while he plays!  not really...but you get the point.  

 Bin #3: Oatmeal and rubber frogs.  

I'll admit Cy isn't the biggest fan of this one, but I'm sure it'll come along as he gets older.  Also took a plastic shovel that was attached to one of those beach buckets.  Good for digging!  I might use dirt instead and convert this to an outdoor excavation toy!  Boys love that stuff, right?

Bin #4: Oatmeal, measuring spoons, and funnels! 

 Cy LOVES this one, but it is MESSY!  So be prepared!  Anyways, also bought a set of funnels and the measuring spoons at Dollar Tree.  I actually have two bins here, that way Cy can transfer oatmeal from one bin to the other.  You could use rice, beans, or whatever you like.  This goes easily into the funnels, and Cy won't try to eat it.  So there's that.  Bingo! :)

Bin #5: Pom Poms and measuring cups.  Transferring pom poms from cup to cup and from cup to bin is Cy's fave!  Easy peasy!

 Bin #6: Pipe Cleaners and a collander!  Perfect for hand-eye coordination and cause/effect!  I only have a few pipe cleaners here, because it seems to be still effective without being cray-cray!  Cy puts pipe cleaners wherever he chooses, plus you can pull them from the opposite end. 

Bin #7: Pretend Cleaning

Kids LOVE imitating and while I wish he would see me cleaning more often, it's still super cute and works when you need a few to dust and they can "help."  Dusting cloth, mini broom/dustpan, duster, and scrub brush.  All supplies from Dollar Tree!







Hope this helps just a little bit!  I am by no means an expert on sensory/educational play, but just a momma who needs a little help entertaining her kid and will spend countless hours on Pinterest for fun ideas!  I will convert these to color sorting/counting when the time comes and I will maybe remember my password to do it more easily next time!  Happy bin building! :)

Update as of Lately!

Well...another summer has ended (including a trip to Boston and 2 weeks of MVCC!) and we are back in the swing of things as far as school is concerned.  This year felt like we had to rush a little to get our rooms and stuff in order, but we got everything done and things are going well so far.  Steven left his position in Loving to take a new job at the same school where I am here in Carlsbad!! I know it's a change, and I'm sure he misses some of the things that he grew to love in Loving, but the decision was pretty easy when it came to no commuting, working together, higher pay, and LOTS LESS hours coaching.  I spent a lot of my first trimester at home by myself, because Steven was in the middle of a long track season.  Working together has been a blessing, and I think it will continue to be.  As far as pregnancy goes, I'm starting to feel some 3rd trimester effects...I feel heavy as ever at nearly 31 weeks, and even going up the stairs to my classroom every morning has been a job in its own.  My kids (for the most part) have been really helpful and understanding.  Thank goodness. :) I think I'm starting to feel the "nesting" syndrome, though, and I"m feeling ready to clean and finish unpacking and paint to get ready for baby Cy's arrival!  We've had a busy, busy start to the school year, but we are continually blessed by an amazing God.

I've been terrible about posting baby updates and even worse about taking bump pictures.  It sort of just came out of nowhere, and now that I'm feeling a little more whale-like everyday, I'm glad I don't have pictures to commemorate every week of pregnancy.  I'm just ready to have our little guy here and not in my belly anymore!  (Cy, hope you don't mind I didn't memorialize every moment of my pregnancy!)

How Far Along: 30 weeks, 5 days

Baby Size: 18 inches, almost 4 pounds! WOWZERS!

Total Weight Gain:12 lbs.

Maternity Clothes? yep!

Stretch Marks? unfortunately yes

Sleep: decent.  body pillow has helped tremendously, but waking up for a lot of potty breaks at night.

Best moment this week: long weekend at home with hubbs!

Miss Anything? sleeping on my stomach, having energy for a full school day

Movement: oh yes!

Food Cravings: mostly sweets...oops!

Anything making you queasy or sick? not really.

Gender: baby BOY! (Cy Steven Morgan)

Labor Signs: not that I'm aware of

Belly button in or out? Still normal

Wedding rings on or off? off for a while. :( I miss them.

Happy or Moody most of the time: mostly happy I think.  I have my moments, though.

Looking forward to: next ultrasound, finishing up nursery, baby showers and Cy's big arrival! less than 10 weeks away!

Preggo Eggo!

This is ... I'm pretty sure ... our 2nd post of the year. :(  LOTS has been going on, but we have been loving life and staying busy. 

Since the last time I posted, we have had lots of change happening in our lives.  Steven has survived a season of coaching in Loving!  We spent lots of time apart aka he spent lots of time with the track kids and I spent lots of time with the cats and with the TV.  HA.  He worked his butt off and I have never been prouder to see his commitment to coaching 100%, even when the going got tough.  Thankfully, that's over and I get my hubbsy back! 

We have also been in the process of buying our first home, which has proved to be stressful and a rollercoaster ride.  We are still in underwriting for the 2485th time...hoping this time will be it.  Pray not only for our sanity, but also that we finally DO get the house we love - because we'll need the extra room for a BABY!!!!

That's right - we're preggers!  :) Our little blessing came a little earlier than expected, but we couldn't be more excited and faithful in God's timing.  We are due early November!  No gender yet, but we have our intuitions about what we're having; but really we just want a healthy baby Morgan in 7 months!  I finally have more energy than I did the first 8-10 weeks.  I really just wanted to take a nap about 80% of my day and wanted to scream at my students a LOT...but things are evening out (thank baby JESUS for 2nd trimester) and I'm feeling better.  I never really got much morning sickness (be jealous) and Steven has been the most amazing husband to me, and I know he'll be the best daddy a baby could ask for when our little bundle of joy arrives.  We have been to a couple doctor appointments, seen our little baby, and heard the heartbeat...which is the most amazing sound after an agonizing 6 weeks of waiting for our first appointment.  Can't wait to meet our new baby. :)

How Far Along: 15 weeks

Baby Size: 4 inches long, about 3 ounces

Total Weight Gain:3 lbs

Maternity Clothes? a couple pairs of stretch pants - God's gift to pregnant ladies

Stretch Marks? unfortunately yes

Sleep: terrible.  I cannot get past not being able to sleep on my stomach.

Best moment this week: hearing heartbeat for the 2nd time this doc appt

Miss Anything? sleeping on my stomach

Movement: a few flutters/bubbles that might have been movement?

Food Cravings: Strawberry Slushes from Sonic, and a few random junk food cravings here and there

Anything making you queasy or sick? first few weeks: BEEF. didn't like the smell or texture.  Couldn't have a burger for weeks.

Gender: idk

Labor Signs: Not even close

Belly button in or out? Still normal

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time:probably more moody.  but I teach middle school, which adds to the moodiness.  but when I'm happy, I'm happy...and when I'm emotional...I'm a basket case of emotion

Looking forward to: finding out gender, feeling for sure movements, getting a bump and not just chubby. lol