Saturday, August 15, 2009

The Tour De Nez Bike Race

Every June the Tour de Nez stops in our little town. It is fun evening for the children with bike decorating, racing and watching the clunker race and the professionals race. This year Kensley brought her trike and Jay walked the race with her, she loves to be a big kid like Emry and Ayden.



Kensly and Jay in the little kids race.


Emry taking a moment to smile at me as the racers go by.


The fellas!


Ayden and Kensley looking over the bike decorating choices. Ayden is holding a roll of orange crepe paper, his favorite color.


A bike race and a must have dress.

Tot School

Here is what Kensley has been working on this summer.


A letter matching game using Kensley's name, I got the idea from the Tot School site under tot Tools.



The letter matching tray using our last name. Kensely impressed me with her letter matching, she completed it without a single problem, no she dosen't know the letter but is a proficient matcher.


A color matching activity--again fun and done with no problem.


Kensley sorting the colored pom-poms.


Here Kensley is working on a simple puzzle.

If you need ideas to engage your tot check out the tot school icon and the totally tots icon on our sidebar. Kensley has also been working on "copywork" along side Emry and Ayden. She excitedly gets her pencil box while I print out a block style letter or number for her to color, paint or put stickers on.

Friday, July 24, 2009

News for Summer and for Life.

NBC's chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, shares important facts about the most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma

Monday, June 29, 2009

Revelation Song

Great Way to Start your work Week.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.

Video Link

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

An Airplane Ride of Sorts!

Jay recently took Emry and Ayden to the Truckee Airport to watch planes and this wonderful man offered to give the children a tour of his plane and then let them ride along as he taxied to his hangar--what a treat.







It wasn't until after the children were loaded in the plane and the man was taxing away with them that Jay thought to himself "I hope he doesn't take off with them. "The man" though is Tom Meadows and he lives right in our neighborhood and is involved in a local flight program that gives free airplane rides to kids to get them interested in the field.










I really don't know who was happier, Ayden or Emry, but it is clear they both loved it.

Thanks Tom!

90 Day Fitness Challenge--7 weeks

So in case anyone was wondering I am still doing a 90 day fitness challenge. I am having to repeat week 7 because I was sick last week but I am now back at it. I am really enjoying the program I am using called ChaLEAN Extreme. It is a lot of strength training 4 out of 5 days to be exact and a little cardio. I have increased the amount of weight I was using since the beginning and for some exercises I have even doubled it. For example with squats I am now using a 20 pound weight set instead of 10 pounds, so yes I am now squatting with 40 pounds--yeah, maybe by the end I will be using the 25 pound set. As far as the baby weight, it is still here--ugg. So really what's bad about an extra 5 or 6 pounds--I HAVE NO SHORTS THAT FIT! That's what is bad about it. I have actually gained 2 pounds since starting the 90 days but that was to be expected as I am lifting heavier weights. I wanted to be lean by the end of the 90 days but I may have to kiss that thought good-bye until I am done nursing and everything balances out. My eating is going well, I did eat dessert 2 times a day for about a week and a half but now I recommitt to only once a day and a few times even going without. Eating wise, if anything, I need to eat more meals. I am just in a spot in life that I really don't want to take the time to fix a meal to eat, I never thought I would say that but it is to much work. So as a result I usually only have a protien smoothie for lunch instead of a balanced meal. If I could just take the time to prep a lunch and snack in a more balanced way I would probably see a difference but that is what the next 5 weeks are for. It's never to late to "get with the program," start thinking about your own fitness needs and join me!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Playdough & Tot School

Playdough whether homemade or store bought is always a wonderful entertainer at our house. This recipie comes out very well and the smell reminds me of my own preschool days.

This recipie is from Trish Kuffner's book the Toddler's Busy Book

1 cup water
1 Tbs. vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbs. cream of Tartar
Food Coloring
1cup flour

Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm. remove from heat and add flour. Stir then knead until smooth. Playdough will store for 6 months in the refrigerator.

(Click on the Pictures to see them BIG, then click Back in Browser to return to Blog)



Kensley cutting a circle.



Ayden made Wall-E, of course.


Emry always likes to make cookies.



Our 2 year old creates.

Nature Study -- Canada Geese

Life Learning Center is ready for summer. Our first nature study has been on geese. The pond by our house has several gossling families that we have been watching. The other day we went out to feed them and then we made a nature journal entry. Do you know what a group of goose eggs are called? A clutch. The goose can lay 4-5 eggs at a time and it takes 4 weeks for them to hatch. Geese mate for life and when the family is in line, it is mom in front with dad bringing up the rear as the protector. We love doing nature studies by observing a subject, photographing or drawing it, recording the subject in our journal and reading whatever we can find. YouTube is also great to watch home videos of the subject. We are planning several nature studies for the summer as well as reading, math and copywork.





Emry strikes her best goose pose.



Two handsome fellas.






What a beautiful bird, when it isn't hissing.



A few of the gosslings.

Wildflowers

Photo info (Jay wanted all to know), if you click on the picture it will open bigger in the Browser window. Just Click back to come back to the Blog Post


Kensley and Emry in the meadow by our house--they never seem to tire of flowers.




Kensley Rose





Emry Anne--check out all the missing teeth, there is 4 of them, I can't believe it.

A Hot Air Balloon at Our House

It is a tradition for us to attend the Great Reno Balloon Race each September but when a balloon lands at our own house it is an exciting event. This gentleman has landed at or near our house once each summer for the past 3 years and the children are delighted.



Walking on the balloon to get the air out--- How fun!



Kensley getting in on pressing out the air of the "Hot Boon."



The children rolling on the balloon to get the air out.



Folding the balloon to go in the bag.



This is Emry and Ayden helping to put t balloon in the bag.

Brady Brayd!

The latest Brady pictures, he is now 8 1/2 months old and is a content little guy, except for the week he had Roseola but I survived.



Brady has started feeding himself and here he is eating Daddy's yummie pancakes for the first time.




"Would someone please tell my parents that it is the end of May and I don't need to wear fleece to go outside" If only it would stop raining and warm up!


Happy, Happy, Happy Brady.



"I love my 2 fingers!"

Mother's Day

I realize everyone is over Mother's Day but here is what we did!



We had a picnic at Commons Beach in Tahoe City. I love this picture and I am so happy to have four beautiful children to grow with and share my life with. The other night I stood outside their bedroom door listening to them talk as they went to sleep and was struck with the fact that this is their childhood. It is their time to make memories by chatting, playing and experiencing life together. My childhood is long over, but their's is in full swing. I hope they have as much fun being a child as my brother and I did.



We also took a family bike ride through Squaw Valley. It was Brady's first time in the bikeseat, I think he had a great time. Yes, HE is wearing a pink helmet, but he's boy enough to take it.




Dosen't he look content?



Ayden and Emry ready to ride.



Kensley rode in a bike seat on Jay's bike--so much fun!

Some Random Things



So here are a few random things: This photo of Kensley is to show her "triped dress" which she insists on wearing daily. It dosen't matter if the dress has dirt on it from the day before, if she has to drag it out of the dirty clothes, it is wet from the washer or has been sprayed with SHOUT to get the marker out she must repeat herself over and over and over "I want to wear triped dress" and it get louder with each repetition--Lord Jesus give me patience!





In a previsous post I wrote about Jay's sourdough bread making, well here is the proof and it does taste as good as it looks. Jay makes a batch about once a week and it fills our home with the most wonderful smell. It is the only bread we use for sandwiches, garlic bread, bruchetta and bread crumbs. Jay calculated that is costs only $.83 a loaf--very good for our diminished income.



I think this is one of my favorite photos. Emry and I are going through a book together, very sporadically, called "Just Mom and Me Having Tea" and this is at our first tea party. We drank tea, ate treats, played a game and made necklaces. We really should do this more often.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

"The Middle Wife"

This was to funny to pass up--PLEASE read it if you need a cheer-up laugh--enjoy!
**************************************************
The 'Middle Wife' by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturday s ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest.. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

Monday, May 18, 2009

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Wanted to Share what our Pastor read during the Sunday Service last Mothers Day.

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each, for six weeks.

Each kid will play two sports, and either take music or dance classes.

There is no fast food.

Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of "pretend" bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget in money for groceries each week.

Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time.

Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room (weekend, evening, on a holiday or right when they're about to leave for vacation). He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a social function.

Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done.

There is only one TV per family and a remote with dead batteries.

Each father will be required to know all of the words to every stupid song that comes on TV and the name of each and every character on cartoons.

The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, which they will apply to themse lves either while driving or making three lunches.

Each man will have to make an Indian hut model with six toothpicks, a tortilla and one marker; and get a 4 year old to eat a serving of peas. Each man must adorn himself with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep their nails polished and eyebrows groomed. The men must try to get through each day without snot, spit-up or barf on their clothing.

During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, back aches, and have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.

They must attend weekly school meetings, church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting.

He will need to read a book and then pray with the children each night without falling asleep, and then feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair each morning by 7:00. They must leave the home with no food on their face or clothes.

A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size and doctor's name. Also the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear and what they want to be when they grow up.

They must clean up after their sick children at 2:00 a.m. and then spend the remainder of the day tending to that child and waiting on them hand and foot until they are better.

They must have a loving, age appropriate reply to, "You're not the boss of me ".

The kids vote them off the island based on performance.

The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.

If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years...eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Honey Nuggets Recipe

Honey Nuggets

This is a treat my mom made for my brother and I when we were growing up. We always had this on road trips in our motor home. They are originally called Cheerio Nuggets but Emry and Ayden have renamed them Honey Nuggets.

1c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 c. cheerios
1 c. peanuts

Heat oven to 250 degrees and grease 2 13x9 pans.

In a large bowl combine cheerios and peanuts.

Heat brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt in a sauce pan until bubbly--cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda.

Pour over cereal and peanuts, stir to coat. Pour into baking pans and bake for 15 mins. Cool for 10 minutes and loosen then cool for 30 minutes more. Break into nuggets and enjoy!

Thanks mom!

He's So Cute!



White boy waiting for a sunburn!

So do you get the idea that I think my baby is absolutely adorable? Well I do and I have thought that about everyone of our babies. I always think they have the best personalities and that I could not have thought up someone so cute and sweet on my own, so thank you Jesus.



Another photo of Brady in our backyard swing.



So cute--Brady is becoming very, very vocal and loves screaming as loud as he possible can, he's giving baby Emry a run for her money.



Checkout the cute little tongue in this shot.