07.15 Weekly Message

Hi mama!

As you know, we’ve been spending the last month with family in Michigan, but now it’s time for us to head back to Santiago and gear up for a new school year.

Are this week’s Crunchy Bites a list of everything I will miss? Maybe.

But Emi has been up to some cool summer adventures, so read on!

EAT: We might be in Michigan, but my in-laws are English, so I think of their house as "Little England." English cuisine doesn’t get a lot of buzz, but let me tell you, I dream of my mother-in-law’s pasties and I will probably cry this Sunday when I don’t get my English fry-up. Also, scones.

PLAY: I’ll obviously miss our family, especially playing games with everyone. Lately, we’ve been hooked on Tapple, and card games like Phase Ten are always favorites.

READ: Last but not least, I'll miss our local library. I've been on a reading kick, devouring two books per week, and I couldn't have done it without you. Right now, I'm racing against time to finish my last two books: Crescent City and Babel. Wish me luck!

MOVEMENT: We went on our first family “hike” this week. We've been on a lot of nature walks, but this was the first time Emi walked most of the trail. It was also the first time she held our hands while walking. Now that she's exploring more on her own, I'm excited to do more scavenger hunts with her!

SENSORY: There's been a LOT of water play these past few weeks, and I've noticed Emi is fascinated by watching things drip. I think these pipettes will be a great addition to our water play station.

MUSIC: One thing I know Emi is going to miss is her piano lessons with Grandad. She spends about ten minutes each session just having fun. She loves listening to Grandad play her favorite song, "Old MacDonald Had A Farm."

LANGUAGE: Last library visit before we go! Here are last week’s picks, and let me tell you, they were all hits:

• "Moon": It covers all the moon phases, which is great because Emi started noticing how the moon looks different in various books. Link to book

• "Who’s Behind There": If your little one loves flaps, this book will be a hit! Link to book

• "Inside Cat": This book was super fun to read, and the ending was just wow! Link to book

ART: Sun-catchers are ideal for summer crafting, and I absolutely love this DIY kit!

NATURE: Bird-watching is one of our favorite activities, and last week we visited several bird-watching areas with feeders. We spotted a turkey, a cardinal, and a blue jay—mama almost lost it! Emi was more composed than mama, but she loved it too. Before we leave on Saturday, we'll be revisiting all our favorite bird-watching spots, complete with our bird scavenger hunt printable, of course!

ps. All my free printables are available here.

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