Start 'Em Early

My kids love to read at the table. Kaity and Joe consider a book to be as essential to eating as something to drink! Well, it's already filtered down to Selah!

She's perusing one of Joe's history books, The Book of Knowledge.

Selah and Joe

Selah loves her siblings. She brings books to them so they'll read to her, she follows them around, she hugs and kisses them spontaneously ... where they are, she wants to be! The other day, she was sticking to Joe like glue:

Selah loves the little swing set we have! She loves to swing with the kids and to slide.

Joe eventually just tried hiding from Selah to make her stop loving on him!

A Wicked Saturday

Last Saturday, I went to Atlanta to see my sweet friend Alicyn. She made a delicious lunch of grilled bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, baked potatoes with broccoli and all the fixings, and fruit salad. After lunch, we drove to the Fox to see the Broadway musical Wicked. Though I love the theatre and musicals, this was my first experience actually attending one. I loved it! The cast, the lighting, the sets, the music ... plus, the Fox is an absolutely stunning building! All in all, a wonderful day spent with a lovely friend.

Nerd Clock

I really have been feeling crafty lately! In a good way, not the sneaky way ... Inspired by one I saw on-line, I refashioned our livingroom clock into what I call our "nerd clock".  I tried at first to use paper so that the clock could be returned to its former state, but that didn't work out so well. Plan B worked much better!

I painted the face black, then drew the numbers on with chalk.

Though the clock can't be returned to its former state, I can change the numbers simply by wiping away the chalk, and it can always be repainted/refashioned when the novelty wears off!

Just Like Her Mama

Trade the sippy cup of milk for a cup of coffee, and the resemblance is uncanny!

"More, please!"

Intrepid Explorers

One of the many joys of homeschooling is that when the weather is gorgeous and the kids really want to go outside to enjoy it ... I can let them! The other day they decided to be explorers out in the woods. They packed lunches for themselves, along with all the other supplies they might need for an "all day" trip away from home. As they traveled, Kaity drew a map of where they had been, naming all the new landmarks they encountered.

Dry Erase Board

My new dry erase board is finally finished, at a total out-of-pocket expense of ... $0.86! Jeff hung it on the wall for me this afternoon, and I've already written my first message: the menu for tomorrow night's dinner.

Tonight's Menu: Potato Soup & Veggie Soup, Yeast Rolls, Autumn Cupcakes

The "window" is hanging in our kitchen in a spot where we've always wanted a window ... now we have one! Sort of.

The only thing left is that I'd like to get some nice dry erase markers to use on the board, but my old one will do for now! Yay for fun projects!

Getting Crafty

I'm a creative person in general. I like to do crafts, and at various times in my life have tried crocheting, decoupage, sewing, scrapbooking, photography, embroidery, cross-stitch, painting, etc. Some have stuck and some haven't. But I don't typically get to do all I'd like to do because so many things have to align to make it possible. Off the top of my head, before I start a craft project the following things need to happen: I have to be in a crafty mood, we have to be able to afford it, I have to have everything I need to DO the project, life has to be somewhat calm, and ideally the baby should be asleep. So you can see why I don't do as many projects as I'd like! That said, I've been working on a few little things lately.

One is a duel project. Similar in nature, but with different purposes. 

The jar on the left is the "Uh-oh!" jar. When the children are misbehaving, being unkind to one another, etc. they'll be directed to get a slip of paper from the that jar. They have to do whatever the slip says, like, "Sweep the kitchen floor", "Clean the high chair", "Hand wash 2 dishes", and so on.

The other jar is for when the kids come to me with "I'm Bored!" Those slips have fun ideas on them, like playing with sidewalk chalk, writing a letter to grandparents, or playing a game on the Wii. The kids can pick out two slips this time, and choose one of the two to do.

The next couple of projects are also somewhat related:

I found a "recipe" for ModPodge, a crafter's best friend, and mixed it up. One part water, one part glue. Easy-peasy.

So I could make this montage of Where The Wild Things Are ...

... so I could turn this old window into a dry erase board!

 I got the window a few years ago from my friend Lisa and have just now decided what to do with it. The top will house the WTWTA collage, and the bottom will either be left blank, or backed with a plain/simple paper to be used as a dry erase board. Markers will fit nicely on the bottom of the window sill! I'll show a finished product picture soon - we still need to get hardware with which to hang it.

I also have a few more ideas floating around in my noggin, thanks in large part to my new obsession with Pinterest!

Four Eyes? Make That Eight!

Kaity has worn glasses for several years, (see "Katie in Disguise") and last week Joe got the boom lowered: he'd have to start wearing them, too! It was inevitable, given our family history, that our children would have poor eyesight. Thankfully, our insurance covers all costs involved, and that's a huge blessing! Here are my little four-eyed babies:

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I have two funny stories for you, both of which happened this morning.

1) I made pancakes for breakfast this morning, and in place of syrup, I served them with Honey-Cinnamon Butter. I served the kids their pancakes already slathered with the stuff, though the cakes were so hot it soaked in quickly. Kaity asked for more and I hesitated, saying, "Well, they're already pretty ..." Mind blank, I paused, giving Kaity the opportunity to pipe up with, "... heavily laden?"

2) I sent Joe upstairs with several packages of diapers to put under Selah's crib. Joking, I piled his arms too full while he laughed and groaned under the weight, "Ugh ... Mommy!" I took some down and he headed off to put them away. Turning back toward the living room, I saw that Selah had taken five diapers from her basket and was clutching them to her chest with both hands and groaning just like Joe had! When she saw me watching she really started hamming it up!

These pictures are totally unrelated, but they're a sweet (literal) snapshot of ideal sibling interaction. I tend not to have the camera handy when they're arguing!

Joe's reading Green Eggs and Ham to her.

Sorry about the quality of this picture - Blogger is apparently having issues.

Tennessee Trip

On Saturday, we spent the day in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jeff had requested the trip for his birthday this year, so we've been waiting for the perfect opportunity to go. It was a busy, full, fabulous day! We visited Rock City in the morning and then went to Ruby Falls that afternoon. Both were beautiful! Here's a photo montage so you can share in the experience:

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Our Littlest Jedi

Some of you may remember the epic battle between Selah and Darth Vader. I'm proud to say that Vader was overcome by Selah's proficient skill in the Force (drool, in her case).  Well, our young padawan has entered the next stage in her training ...

... the lightsaber.

She picked it up at Joe's birthday party and immediately began terrorizing the boys.

And then she pulled an Obi-Wan Kenobi on Darth Maul (Kaity).

The best part was that the whole time she wielded her 'saber, she was making "whoom ... whoom" sounds. Such a sweet sound to our nerdy ears.