A Tale of an Ocean Themed Spring Break

This week my kids have gone back to school after spring break. After a week, it's a shock not only for them but for me too. Homework, alarm clocks, backpacks and lunches. OH MY!

Not that we did a lot, vacations are more stay-cations in our house. My husband and I both had to work so the kids were home with their babysitter all week. But never mind that. L, my 6.75 yo started a unit on the Ocean in her 1st grade class and so the one thing we did over this break was visit an aquarium and then have a short, and chilly afternoon at the beach.

The 4yo and the 6.75yo ham it up at the Cabrillo Aquarium in San Pedro, Ca.

It was a fun day but the altered motive was to get the girls excited about ocean life and this precious resource. L has a diorama to do before the end of the month and frankly I was hoping she would get inspired. 

To keep things ocean-ish I have also been trying to send her with ocean themed lunches (SHOCKER!) So here we go, here was Monday's lunch. 

PB & J Angel Fish and Manatee along with apple slices, string cheese and bear cookies (so frustrated that we didn't have goldfish crackers)

Close-up of AF and Manatee

IDK if this will help her get going on her diorama but at the end of the day we had a nice day and put our toes in the sand. Thanks Cabrillo Aquarium! 

A Visitor for Bear Themed Lunch

One of our favorite books last year was A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker. 

It's a story about a bear who lives alone and is trying to make his breakfast. A mouse keeps showing up in his house asking for a cup of tea. It's a cute story about a creature living alone, stuck in a rut who learns to enjoy the company of someone else and to share his space and time with someone. 

Last school year I made a fairly simple bento lunch for my then 5 year old based on the book. 

As you can see it really isn't anything fancy. I used a bear cookie cutter for the main sandwich and a mouse for the second. Using construction paper, a toothpick and a marker I made the sign from the book.

Along with the sandwich I included cheddar bunnies (nearest I had to mice) a yogurt drink and sliced apple chips. It went over well. That is to say she ate her lunch. Not sure what else I can ask!

If you have young kids and don't know the book you should check it out at your local library or get yourself a copy on your favorite online retailer. It's a lot of fun to read.

Lunch O' The Irish!

Ok, so like many people here in the US, I am part Irish among other things. My father is 100% Irish American and so growing up in our house all things Irish were a big deal. Also, while I cant do everything I want for my kids or give them everything they want, I do love doing fun little things with them. The lunches, in particular the painted sandwiches, are one of those things. This year St. Patrick's day is on a weekend so I started to do St. Patrick's day lunches on Wednesday.

This little leprechaun forgot his hat but brought along some gold coins, apples, yogurt covered raisins, yogurt bark with pomegranates and a tiny box with a surprise inside. Day 3 lunch. 

Pot O Gold sandwich, bean sprouts with lemon, popcorn, yogurt covered raisins and a lucky little treat.  Day 2

Day 1 Clover sandwich with grapes and two small green tart hearts in the clover box. 

Literary Lunches?

I love using the illustrations in my kids books to help give their lunches a theme. Ok,
maybe these lunches are not actually literary, but they give us a chance to talk about the books again.

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish!

Dr. Seuss's ABC- Letter V

Verna Vera Vin and her violet violin, with apples, yogurt drink and animal cookies. 

Verna's early stage. Black line. 

Here is one of the theme lunch boxes. I love this one because I can change out the picture as I wish. 

One of my favorite images of the good Dr and one of my favorite quotes "From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere."

Last week my daughters kindergarten class is learning about farms right now so for the last two days I have done farm animals. This is inspired by our Charley Harper ABC's book. I just love the illustrations!

H is for Hen pb sandwich with yogurt covered raisins and strawberry/banana bark. 

Sandwich with the inspiration and my favorite sandwich cutter. 

Charley Harper inspired hen chasing a tractor