Painted Magical Sea Shells {A go along craft to My Garden by Kevin Henke}

We joined the virtual August book club and read My Garden by Kevin Henke.  The sweet imaginations of a child bring to life a magical garden in this book. The illustrations are so whimsical and my kids really wanted to look at them closely.

I took the kids to a local botanical garden and we found a shady spot to sit and read our book.  When we returned home,  I set some shells, paints, and glitter out for the kids.  In our house, the glitter makes the shells magical and you just never know what they might grow.

As a child, I spent the summers with my grandparents.  Their neighbors were their best friends and they had known them for years and years.  I knew them as Aunt Evie and Uncle Gussy.  My Uncle Gussy passed away when I was just ten, but I have wonderful memories of summers with them.  My Aunt Evie is still a part of my life and we talk just about every week.

My uncle Gussy told me that my play money would grow real money if I just planted it in a special pot.  Imagine how thrilled I was when I found a real quarter in my pot the next morning.  I didn't find out until I was older that each night he would walk over and change my play money for real money.

So, after the kids finished their shells, I suggested that they plant them...you never know what might grow.  It was the first thing Sassfras asked about in the morning.  I think she was hoping for more shells to grow, but was really excited to find quarters in their place.  I told them they had to share what they found...which was enough quarters for a trip to the dollar store.  I'm sure our neighbors wondered what the shrill laughs were at 6:30 in the morning!

Linking to:  Tip Toe Thru Tuesday, Superlink Party, For the Kids Friday, TGIF!, Weekly Kid's Co-op, Sharing Saturday