What The Balman Kids Wanna Be When They Grow Up

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We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2014. This month's theme was, "What Will I Be When I Grow Up!" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read and crafts we made. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.

Books:
If there is one thing my children can do it is dream big. Both of them are very passionate and already have made up their minds what they want to be when they grow up. They even have blogs they have started which are dedicated to their passions. Gwyn's blog can be viewed here and Rowyn's blog can be viewed here. Gwyn wants to own a farm and rescue animals, especially horses. She also wants to be an artist which will help fund her rescue. Rowyn wants to be a Lego Master Builder. So the two books we read were Hurry and The Lego Ideas Book.

Hurry is a beautifully illustrated book about a little girl who helps her grandparents with the hay harvest on their farm. But while the hay is drying the sky begins to turn dark and they begin to fear the worst. If the rain gets the hay wet the entire crop will spoil and the horses would not have anything to eat. Will Nora, Gramp and Gram be able to harvest the hay and get it safely to the barn before the rain comes?  

The Lego Ideas Book is one of Rowyns favorite. It is loaded with over 500 building ideas. The book is divided into six themed chapters — transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure, and useful makes — each with basic templates of key models and spreads to inspire you to create your own. It is perfect for any child who is addicted to Lego Bricks.

Craft Project: 

Here is the fun project we did to go along with this months theme.

Hobby Horse:

Materials:
-2 Brown Paper Lunch Bags
-Torn Up Paper
-Wrapping Paper Tube or Several Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Tubes
-Marker
-Scissors
-Hot Glue
-Felt, Feathers, Yarn

What to do:
1. Stuff one of the brown paper lunch bags with some torn up, crumbled paper to make the horse head.
2. Apply hot glue onto the inside of one end of the tube. Then gather the end of the paper bag and stuff it into the tube a few inches to secure. You may also want to apply a little hot glue to the top of the outside and push the bag against the top too.
3. Cut out two ears from the 2nd brown paper lunch bag and glue them onto the horses head.
4. Draw on eyes, nose, mouth and spots, etc.
5. Glue on feathers, felt, yarn, etc to make the horses mane.

Lego Picture Frame:
Materials:
-Lego Bricks (you will need lots of 2 x flat pieces and 1 x flat pieces, 2 hinged pieces for the stand and misc items for decorating)
-Photo

What to do:
1. Decide on the size frame you want to make. We made a 4 x 6 frame which ended up being 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 once it was constructed. I suggest having the photo you wish to use on hand.
2. Using the 2 x flat pieces create your base. It is easier if you create the base around the photo you which to use.
3. Next add a layer of 1 x flat pieces the entire way around the outside on top of the 2 x flat pieces. Be sure to interlock the pieces so it is sturdy.
4. Add another layer of 1 x flat pieces, but this time leave one of the shorter sides of the frame empty. This will create a slot for the photo to be inserted. Again be sure to interlock the pieces.
5. Add your final layer of 1 x flat pieces. These will go the entire way around. This part can be a little tricky because the part by the opening will not be very sturdy until you get the top layer on. Be sure to interlock.
6. Add your last layer with more 2 x flat pieces. Be sure to interlock.
7. Decorate the frame using mini figures, accessories, etc.
8. Add the hinges along with a couple of 2 x flat pieces to create a stand. This could be done a few ways so you can always get creative and come up with your own unique stand.
9. Insert your photo.

*note these are my personal instructions the book only provided detailed photos and no written instructions.

Hopefully these photos will help you with the creation.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:

Enchanted Homeschooling Mom ~ 3 Dinosaurs ~ To the Moon and Back ~ Planet Smarty Pants ~ Farm Fresh Adventures ~ Growing in God's Grace ~ Chestnut Grove Academy ~ Learning and Growing the Piwi Way ~ The Usual Mayhem~ Preschool Powol Packets ~ Monsters Ed Homeschool Academy ~ Adventures in Mommydom ~ Teach Beside Me ~ Life with Moore Babies ~ Kathy's Cluttered Mind ~ Are We There Yet? ~ Our Crafts N Things ~ Hopkins Homeschool ~ ABC Creative Learning ~ Joy Focused Learning ~ P is for Preschooler ~ Laugh and Learn ~ A Mommy's Adventures ~ Inspiring 2 New Hampshire Children ~ World for Learning ~ Ever After in the Woods ~ Golden Grasses ~ A glimpse of our life ~ Journey to Excellence ~ Happy Little Homemaker ~ Little Homeschool Blessings ~ Raventhreads ~ Tots and Me ~ As We Walk Along The Road ~ Stir the Wonder ~ For This Season ~ Where Imagination Grows ~ Lextin Academy ~ The Canadian Homeschooler ~ School Time Snippets ~ Peakle Pie ~ A Moment in our World ~ Every Bed of Roses ~ Finchnwren ~ At Home Where Life Happens ~ The Library Adventure ~ Embracing Destiny ~ Day by Day in our World ~ Our Homeschool Studio ~ A "Peace" of Mind ~ Thou Shall Not Whine ~ SAHM I am ~ eLeMeNo-P Kids ~ Simple Living Mama

Poppins Book Nook When I Grow Up Giveaway! 
Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win a bundle of fun for the theme of When I Grow Up.  This bundle will include a copy of the storybook When I Grow Up by Mercer Mayer, one copy of Community Helpers Puzzles by Trend, and one copy of Community Helpers & Careers Pocket Flash Cards by Trend.

The winner will be randomly picked by Rafflecopter and will be notified by Enchanted Homeschooling Mom via email and posted here. Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside within the United States. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Prizes will be issued by Jennifer Altman who is an Usborne consultant. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the Rafflecopter terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here.  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Linking up with: Jay Daniel 4's Mom, Mama to 4 Blessings