It was "Royalty Night" at Olympians recently, and the children were encouraged to dress up. My daughter decided she had to be a princess, and my eldest desired to be Knighted. We found all we needed to make the costumes at a local thrift store for just over $5.00 - I was very pleased! (I did not make my daughters dress, it was one of our finds)
My daughter designed her hat, while my son designed his tunic with a matching sword and shield, chain mail and crown. When it was completed, he decided that his "buddy" needed a tunic with accessories, also... then it was his little brother. Having never worked with velvet before, I must admit it made quite a mess to sew!
All in all, I think they looked pretty good. My son wore his tunic every day for a week, until I convinced him to take it off so I could wash it. They are becoming more creative with their imaginations, and I'm thrilled about that! Next, he's asked me to sew a castle wall to hang from his loft bed (making a fort of sorts) because he found "wall" fabric.... hum... I can see this turning out to be quite the project.... maybe we can call it HISTORY and count it towards homeschooling??
Apparently, the only thing Martha wanted for her birthday was a PICNIC tea-party. Well, it's about -18 outside, so the idea of an outdoor party wasn't very appealing to me.... so we settled on an INDOOR picnic tea-party.
So, here is a picture of the birthday girl.....
Now.... for those of you who are quick, you'll remember that my daughter (pictured above) had a birthday in January.... so who's birthday is it? You've guess it! Martha Janet is the new Cabbage Patch Kid that my daughter received for her birthday from her cousins!
Well, the whole crowd turned out for the party - well, maybe not the WHOLE crowd, but certainly lots of dolls, bears, bunnies and other animals - and a little brother who kept stealing all the apple slices set out to go with the "tea"! The children set everything up themselves... and cleaned it up, too!
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching we've been working on some fun valentines to give out at two parties the children will be attending. Since the first one is tomorrow we had to get the first "batch" completed! These have been a lot of fun to make, and they turned out rather well! We've made about 40 of them - each one stamped in it's own unique way. My son keeps insisting they are not "Purses" to hold the chocolates, but instead they must be called "BAGS" otherwise he can't give them out to his guy-friends!
I want to share with you about a contest that is happing at HsKube's blog - it's a Valentines giveaway! She has some special "tools" to share.... feel free to stop by and enter - just be warned, the contest closes on the 9th.
A special friend came by today... She picked me up, and the two of us went shopping. JUST the two of us. No preschooler who needs to use the potty every hour, no baby to fuss and feed, no stroller to maneuver around the stores, no carseats to buckle up...
Can I just say, how WONDERFUL it was? I love my children dearly, and I love to do things with them... but what a special treat to be able to go out without them. It's been... well, a long time. (well over a year) I was absolutly amazed at how effeciantly we could shop, just the two of us! Wow!
I came home energized and ready to embrace my children. The baby did very well without me for a few hours. What a wonderful feeling!
The children and I do a special project every year that they can give as gifts. With a young baby who is eating baby food (out of jars *gasp*) we have a lot of jars hanging out... so we decided to make candles!
We had so much fun! It took two days of melting and pouring and hardening....
two days of cleaning the wax off the jars, and decorating the lids...
and a day to stick the stickers on the top and bottom (vellum put through the printer, then coloured, then put through the xyron)
They turned out so well! The children are pleased and so excited to give away their treasures!
My daughter (almost 4), who has always loved to dress herself, has begun to do her own hair. We never know what she will come down looking like in the morning... She gave us quite the giggle this morning when she came down, hair covered in bows "Look Mommy, I'm bowed over!" she exclaimed. I think she was right!
It's a bird.... It's a plane.... no, it's SUPERMAN!!
We headed to Brampton today to a "Welcome Home" for the summer missionaries who were out with CEF Ontario this year. Since Jeff was involved in the teaching during the first week of their training camp, we wanted to hear their stories and how their summers went.
Afterwards we headed up to see Jeff's parents. On the way we stopped at the Toronto Airport to watch the BIG airplanes take off and land - the kids just loved it. It was a good reminder to me that we can take our children to all kinds of expensive events but those simple things (like standing together and watching the planes, and imagining where they were going or who was on board) really connects with my children so well. It was a lovely time!
Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep
And doesn't know where to find him
Leave him alone,
And he will come home...
Wagging his tail behind him!
And, of course
Little Bo-Peep's brother
didn't want to miss out on any of the fun
so he got in on the
photo taking, too
He claims he helped
look for the sheep.
We discovered something today that our baby is amazed by -- BUBBLES! The children took turns blowing them for him (in Grandma's sunroom) and he lay on the floor giggling and trying to catch them. I don't know who was more amused - the little one by the bubbles or the older two by the baby's reactions!
We went STRAWBERRY PICKING with Grandma today, what fun! We hope there will be a day of jam canning in the near future. My daughter took her job of picking very seriously - until she realized she could EAT the berries... As I put the berries in my basket she sat behind me taking the out and popping them into her mouth! No wonder it took so long for the baskets to fill up! We taught her she can only eat the ones she picks herself.
And off topic again....
Whatever I have done to my knees is significantly worse this evening. Perhaps it was the bending to collect those delicious fruit? Perhaps it it something else? Either way I am in quite a bit of pain from them this evening - especially the right leg/knee
Today, since the weather was beautiful, the children and I headed out on foot to find the local library. It was an easy 20 min walk there, and we took a picnic lunch to eat beside the nearby fountain. I didn't consider, however, as we were walking there, that it was all downhill -- down some very steep hills. The walk back, with a very tired 3 year old, was much slower!! We also explored the art gallery which is attached to the library (by request of my eldest), and a nearby outlet mall. It's so lovely to have places close enough to walk to, as we enjoy doing a lot of walking in the warm seasons.
As I was putting supper together my daughter asked if she could "babysit" her little brother. He just loves her so much! She loves helping with him, talking to him, entertaining him and getting him toys. For a little boy who loves attention she is the perfect playmate.
Today we had a church picnic at my parents church!
It was such fun, with sack races, three legged races, giant ski races, tug-of-war, frisbee, and more! With a pot-luck supper to finish off the day it was a perfect day.
The kids are washed and put to bed - all exhausted!
Oh, and in case you're wondering, that water balloon that my daughter is holding above splashed very nicely on Uncle Peter's shirt! (Uncle Peter is in the bottom picture).
**On a prayer note: My hubby has seriously twisted his back and is in quite a bit of pain. Please pray for him this week!**
thank you :)
ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! I want to tell you a secret!!
Something exciting is happening tomorrow, but I just can't keep it to myself! We've worked hard today to make some announcments for this fantastic event. If you can keep it a secret I just might whisper it to you!
actually, why don't I just let you sneak a peek at one of our signs???
just remember....
sssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
don't tell!!
When Grandpa comes home tonight from church he should be greeted by 4 large signs... I hope it doesn't rain! We snuck them up... do you think he'll guess who did it? The children giggled all the way home and are still giggling!
My three year old daughter and her pal, a three year old boy, are often telling me "tall tales". This morning they came running up from the playroom quite excitedly, both talking as fast as they could.
Here is their story.
We found a bug! It is a big bug! It is THIS long and tall! (armspan about 2 1/2 feet) J--- hit the bug. It was very fast!
It is a white bug, it is an oval. It has two spots, one yerllow and one black.
It has two legs but no feet and just one toe. It's legs are fuzzy.
It has one arm on each side of its body.
It has one circle head, with three black eyes and ears, but we can't remember if they are red or yellow.
It has two sticking up things on the top of its head with balls on the ends of the sticking up things.
It has a black frown because J--- hit it, and it has no hair like our baby,
It has 10 blue stripes on its bottom.
He is carrying the mail. The mail is for the other bug.
The are 2 bugs.
The one J--- hit is a boy.
His name is Joe.
The bug was peeking out of a hole.
He was looking for the other bug.
The other bug is his friend.
J--- hit the bug with his hand.
Maybe there were 5 bugs....
I did my best to draw the bug as described by these detailed three-year-olds. (keep in mind I am NOT much of an artist!) It sounds like a rather large, scarry bug, dosen't it?
Next, with this image in mind, I asked them to SHOW me the bug they captured.
sure enough, they had captured this mighty beast in one of the play dishes....
the poor teeny tiny ant was desperatly trying to escape the little teacup!
They made my morning, and I helped them take it outside where it belongs.
We have a tradition in our family. Each year, when the snow clears, I go to the back of my parents property, climb the willow trees and chop down the p ussys. The first time my son saw me climbing the tree he was very nervous, he thought I would fall! As the children were able, they became the helpers, gathering up the willows as they fell. When we moved into our home my mom took clippings from her trees and we planted them in our own backyard to start our own tradition. Each year, as I see the willows from my bedroom window it makes me think of spring and gives me warm memories of past years!
How many of you learned this poem as a child?
I know a little Pussy
Her coat is silver gray,
She lives down in the meadow,
Not very far away?
She'll always be a p ussy,
She'll never be a cat,
For she's a P USSY WILLOW,
Now what do you think of that?
Today my son told me that I still look pregnant. I hadn't really thought about it, but looking in the mirror when we came home from the mall this afternoon, I realized that YES INDEED, I still look pregnant -- in fact, I look MORE then pregnant!
I'm almost embarrassed to post that picture.
Maybe it's time to join Weight Watchers, or a Gym, or Blubberbloggers....
It's hard to believe that, while chasing my own children and all the day care children, I could still be that big!
Do you think I could get away with calling it "Baby Weight" still? Two and a half months after baby has arrived??
Oh, probably!
Have I mentioned yet how much I LOVE my baby slings?? He was so comfy and cozy all snuggled up close to Mommy on the walk home!
When my son was born I had to keep him close all the time, so a sling was a wonderful idea -- but there was no where I could purchase one nearby, so I began to make them. It was such a simple pattern that I actually made several -- different colours and fabrics to match different outfits and needs! Now I still use them all the time (though I've graduated from a "small" size to a "medium" LOL) Such an easy and versitle way to carry baby more easily, comfort baby, nurse baby modestly, and keep baby close even when busy with other children.
Do you have plenty of snow falling? How about a fun treat??
INGREDIENTS:
1 gallon snow
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups milk
DIRECTIONS:
1.
When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once. For a creamier icecream, add a mashed banana. For different flavours add a different type of extract -- mint, almond, maple, or even lime, strawberry or banana! yummy and fun!
I listened in on a conversation between my eldest son and daughter...
ds5 - "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
dd3 - "Maybe a doctor"
ds5 - "If you are a doctor you wouldn't see the kid smuch, so I'd have to stay home."
dd3 - "Why?"
dd5 - "Because they have to be at home to homeschool!"
dd3 - "What if I have a baby?"
dd5 - "Then I'll carry the baby in a seat for you, wherever you go until the baby is big enough to stay with the other kids."
dd3 - "What other kids?"
dd5 - "Our other kids! When we grow up and get married we'll have to have kids because kids are fun. And we can take care of kids that aren't ours that don't have Moms and Dads, and you can do the laundry!"
Don't you wonder what kids are thinking sometimes?? You'd better believe that Daddy had a chat with the two of them about marrying each other! I do love, however, that my son thinks that homeschooling is so important that if his sister wasn't going to stay at home and do it, that he would do it himself!
Some we made yesterday, and some today. They turned out really well and the kids had such fun! My son is hoping to share his creations with his friends at AWANA, but with the snow that's forcasted there may be no AWANA to go to!
It is said that the smell of a newborn's head is one of the sweetest scents on Earth. I've always wondered what that meant -- What does a tiny baby smell like? As I held my third living child against my chest and nuzzle my nose against the top of his head, I felt unusally sad to be missing out of this special experience. (no sense of smell) My eldest, however was happy to fill me in on what I was missing. As he stood beside me, inhaling deeply into his brothers tiny hairs he exclaimed "Mommy, he smells like Yogurt!"
Well, after much painting and decorating and planning, our box cars are complete!
We had so much fun creating, and it was wonderful to see the children's minds at work! We ended up with four box cars - a green tractor, a red tow truck, a pink butterfly car and a blue sedan.
I think they turned out pretty well -- what do you think?
The evening at Awana was fantastic! We started, as an entire group, watching a big screen movie (complete with POPCORN) as a drive in movie, then on we went to race the cars! The kids had so much fun (and came home very tired!) Each car was different and unique - I was very impressed with creativity that went into building them!
Next Wednesday at Awana is Box Car Races. This is a brand new event for our Awana group and the kids are so excited! Today we cut our boxes to size and covered them with paper. Tomorrow we'll start the painting process.
They are supposed to turn out something like this.....
It should be a fun night! I can't wait to see all the creations the kids come up with!
My daughter and one of my day care children were sitting on the kitchen floor today having a drink of juice and chatting together. I couldn't resist listening to their conversation. They are both 2 1/2.
Day Care Boy was telling her about his weekend, stating that he had been to his Uncle's house on Saturday. My daughter asked if his Uncle had a "real name" and Day Care Boy was proud that he could tell her what it was. My daughter then stated, rather matter-of-factly, "I have a Bubba, but his real name is Grandpa!"
I couldn't stop laughing! "Bubba" is the name that my father was dubbed at his first grandaughter's birth, but we always refer to him as Grandpa, not as Bubba, even though the kids call him that. It's amazing what children perceive! I love listening to them talk to eachother - it is a good reminder how much they listen and remember even when we don't think they are listening!
A few recipies and a few sites were e-mailed to me, and I thank you for sharing! Here are a couple of the sites that I particularly enjoyed. I hope you'll like them, too.
Menus for Moms This site offers a comprehensive 5-day menu, complete with recipies and shopping list - every week! What a time-saver!
Freezer recipies and Freezer meals Both sites offer ideas of meals you can make - and double so that you eat one and put one in the freeze for another time. Smart cooking!
Do you ever wake up with a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach like you've forgotten something?
That was me today!
I initially woke up to my son (unusual because generally I'm up before the kids)handing me a picture that said "To Mommy Love your son". It had dino's around the edges and tulips on the bottom - because dinos are his favourite and tulips are mine. "I made this just for you this morning, Mommy!" He said. My daughter was not far behind him with a picture that she had made for me, too. They went off to play - and draw some more. Next thing I remember is my hubby telling my daughter to get dressed. Again, odd - usually he's off to work and I'm getting the kids dressed and up for the day. It suddenly clued in to me that it was Sunday, (that must be why hubby's not at work, right?) and he's getting the kids ready for church -- I must be late! I jumped out of bed in a panic.
They laughed at me. They were heading down for breakfast. It's Saturday. Hubby told me to lie back down. (so I did!) And finally, not too long later I hear some pattering on the stairs... in comes hubby and my son - carrying a tray with fresh, hot pancakes, butter, milk and apple juice. Delicious!
But that sinking feeling was there in my stomach... What have I forgotten?
It's not Mother's day,
It's not my birthday,
It's not my anniversary....
WHY am I getting pictures in bed and breakfast in bed?
I just couldn't figure it out!
Well, here's the answer: Just because I'm special. They were showing me how much they all loved me by each doing something special. Not for any particular reason, but "just because". Did it work? Oh yes! I did (DO!) feel special!
In the afternoon a friend of mine came to visit, and we went (along with a group of young adults and kids from our church) to visit a pumpkin farm. I was nervous that it would be a little halloween-y, but was pleasently surprised to find that it wasn't at all that way! It was wet, drizzly and very very muddy so we pretty much had the place to ourselves which was lots of fun! There was hay jumping, a hay maze, a corn maze, some animals to pet, etc. The kids were very very dirty, but really enjoyed it! A potluck dinner afterwards ended the fun.
We spent much of the afternoon exploring the CRAYOLA FACTORY. For a young man who just LOVES to colour and draw this was a fantastic experience!!
We got to see how crayons and markers were made, try out new products, and generally just get our creative juices flowing. The children just loved it (and I must admit, I enjoyed it, too!)
We also stopped in at the train museum,
And the Canal museum where the children learned how locks are used and how various types of bridges were built.
