Its an Olympic Summer!

 The Olympics this summer have been providing a great sense of direction for the kids and I over the last two weeks.  Sometimes I get to the middle of the summer, and I think, "Yikes!  What are we going to do now???"  Maybe its the age of my kids this summer, and how much more capable Roscoe is or something, but I've hardly thought that!  We've been going to the beach a lot, and had family visiting, and so much more.  All the same, I love working within a theme, my kids love having a craft to look forward to every couple of days, and the honest truth?  I just need an excuse to start another Pinterest board (check out my Olympics Kid Fun Pinterest board)!!!

 So, last week we did a great painting activity using toilet paper tubes to paint the Olympic rings.  Have to say, pretty low mess, and easy clean up (I threw the tubes away... no washing brushes!).

 As we painted I talked to the kids about how everything always points back to Jesus' love for us: nature, the seasons, the Olympic rings...

BLACK reminds us of our sin, all the bad stuff we do, say or think.

RED is for the incredible LOVE that Jesus has for us, and because he loves us, he died for us, shedding his blood and taking our punishment, 

that we deserve for our sins.  

He loves us that much!

WHITE is for forgiveness.  For saying that we're sorry to God and others for our bad choices, and having our sins cleaned off us, forever!

GREEN is for new life, for the new, fresh start we get to have 

because of being forgiven: freedom!

YELLOW is the hope that we have of spending the rest of our lives 

with our true best friend, Jesus, every day.

BLUE is for telling others about Jesus and his love.  

One way we can do this is through baptism, 

as well as through our kind words, kind hands (actions) and kind thoughts.

 On another day we were watching tennis with the kids, and thanks to my Pinterest board, I had organized several crafts ahead of time for us to do, and pulled out this beauty!

 Little Tennis Puppets!  Aren't they cute?  We used supplies that I had around the house: pompoms, googly eyes, and feathers.  The kids had fun picking out the colours and then I glue-gunned them on to the balls.  

The puppets are great for storing treasure in too!

We've also built different models of boats to test which ones float the best, but were too busy having fun to take pictures!  Here are some of the ideas we used from other blogs:

Olympic Fever

I have to admit, I have Olympic fever...  Its a strange sort of sickness, whereby I celebrate with each Canadian athlete, as though I knew them personally.  I also am known to cry through the special segments talking about the athletes' journeys, and of course when they receive their medals.  I profess I cried quite a bit during the opening ceremonies.  And when I'm not shedding my happy tears, I'm speaking with a constricted throat as I try not to cry.  I didn't think I'd be so emotionally invested... although I certainly have a right to be seeing as my taxes helped pay for a lot of it!  We each have some Olympic swag now, mittens and t-shirts, and wear them with pride!  Actually, with a lot of pride!  I am so thrilled with the amount of national pride that I'm seeing Canadians display this season.  As a nation often criticized for our lack of national pride, (I mean, we are fairly overshadowed in that department by our neighbours to the south) I am delighted to discover that its chic to wear Canada emblazoned across our chests, and maple leafs seem to be more popular as mascots than the strange creatures they created for the games!  One of my most favorite parts of the opening ceremonies was the poet with his tribute to our wonderful country.  Brilliant. 

 

Aria and her cousins

 

Go Canada!
 

Parade of Athletes

 

Speed-skating

Aria's class celebrated the Olympics today at preschool.  They all participated in three races: speed-skating, bobsled and the torch relay.  It was very fun to watch.  We even had a lighting of the Olympic cauldron and medal ceremony.  The kids have been practicing for weeks, and it was fun to see them learning team-play and cheering each other on.