Thursday, February 07, 2008

Boxcar Children projects

The Boxcar Children make a ladle from a tin cup, stick, and wire. We're having a ball replicating their make-do projects!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

These books were my favorite as a child...I remember playing I lived in a boxcar! Must have been my first dive into frugality and recycling~smile~ My boys ( all 4 of them) loved the books as much as I did! So glad you found them!

Anonymous said...

You'll have to get the cookbook too! I just saw a copy this morning at the thrift store! It was fun to make the same food and eat it as we read the stories. My "boys" are all in college and still love the "tree house chocolate pudding." Have fun!

Anonymous said...

you're a fun momma.

dm

Amy said...

You are such a fun mom! I am going to have to read these with Ethan. I didn't even know that they had a cookbook too. What a great project!

Anonymous said...

What creative fun! It would be hard for a piece of plastic from Wal-Mart to provide as much entertainment, not to mention the learning experience. (side note: I must say I am a bit surprised you keep your house warm enough for short-sleeved shirts in February!)

Meredith said...

Perhaps we actually live in Florida! I'm amazed at the details y'all pick up on.

Actually, it was 70 degrees the afternoon this photo was taken. My husband even cut on the a/c for an hour to cut the humidity inside the house.

Meredith said...

I didn't even know they had a Boxcar Children cookbook! Fantastic!

We bought a pint of cherries because Andrew hasn't ever tried them fresh (after the children pick cherries in the doctor's orchard.) He wanted to try making cherry dumplings.

Edi said...

It's never wasting time to read a GOOD book to children.

I wonder how much our kids could learn if all they had was a library and no "official" school books/textbooks...

Since I find it so much more interesting, I think the kids do too, to listen to stories about "real people" (hey aren't Violet and Benny real?) doing real things.

A lot of the old "series" type books had young kids or teens doing things that were more typical of kids or adults (ie. solving mysteries, living on their own, being independent, raising money for various charities).

I love the old books that actually had a dual purpose - entertaining children, while educating them.

Anne Marie@Married to the Empire said...

I really love reading about how you and your kids try the things you read about! I think it sounds like such fun for all of you! And tactile lessons just reiterate what they've learned visually.

Anonymous said...

Details. Everybody knows that only southerners say "cut on" the a/c or the lights or whatever. :-)
When we lived in the north we had "shopping carts" and when we moved south we nearly cracked up when the lady at the door of K-Mart asked if we wanted a "buggy". And I always wonder when the pastor asks the ushers to "go ahead and come down" - should they "go" or should they "come"?
Really enjoy your blog Meredith. Thanks for sharing with all of us.
Vicky

Anonymous said...

For a new book (just published in the last few years)which has an old fashioned feel) check out The Penderwicks A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall. I think your children will enjoy it.

Kate said...

I second the Boxcar Children Cookbook. I have a copy of it. I also have a good portion of the series. Loved the books as a child and I can't wait to read them to my children.

Pamie G. said...

My favorite books as a child!! I bought almost every book on Ebay a couple of years ago for my grandchildren. They are really enjoying reading them! Thank you for the memory!

Scribbit said...

It's been fun watching my kids enjoy those books. When my oldest was little we used to make Mrs. Piggle Wiggle potions--"Hurry-up Syrup" "Grouchy Powder" "Smiling Drops" etc. Even now when my kids talk about cinnamon and sugar they call it Grouchy Powder :)

Julie said...

Boxcar Children was my favorite book as a kid. My boys now love them too.