Monday, November 29, 2010

Choo Choo

All aboard the choo choo train...all aboard, all aboard.


Clickety-clack comin' down the track.


Gotta love imaginations...and a good book for the ride.


Monday, November 22, 2010

Insects...

This fall we spent some time studying insects for school. What kid doesn't like trudging around in the weeds hunting for bugs?

We went on lots of nature walks hunting for beetles and other six-legged creatures.

And to study them closer...well, we decided we should make our own little friends.



We set out on our little project by making our own homemade modeling clay. Ben and Ella loved getting their hands into all the ingredients.

Then we researched beetles to make sure we made them correctly, molded them into shape, and baked them.



Once they were cool we got out the paints, pipecleaners, and googly eyes.

We learned that beetles are insects and in order to be classified as such they need to have three body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. They also have three legs on each side of their body all of which come out from the center body part: the thorax.



We had a lot of fun! And now whenever we see a picture of an insect in a book or somewhere, my kids are quick to point out if it has been drawn correctly or not.



Sunday, November 21, 2010

And The Catch-Up Starts

Okay, Folks. I am up and running. Yeah! My laptop isn't out of the hospital yet, but I have another computer to use in the mean-time. It's good to be back in the technoligical world!

A word of warning: I told you I had a lot of pics for y'all. There will be some from way back when and then some from the present all mixed about and scattered around. None-the-less...pictures and stories are coming. Woot! Woot!

Here is the first of many....dating all the way back to October sometime...back when the weather was...oh, I don't know...nice. Yes, I even consider "rain" to be nice...beats snow in my book any day.


And my kids? Well, I think they were pretty happy-snappy to have their raingear on too.

No complaining from any of them.


There's nothing like a raincoat with rainboots to brings some smiles out on their faces.

Nothing. Well...maybe an umbrella too.


Especially when you have been stuck inside all day long.



Any idea how long it took me to get them to line up and look at the camera?

(I didn't even bother with asking them to try and smile all at the same time.)

I won't tell you, it may make you shudder.

"Mom...can we jump in the puddles? Mom, can we, can we??"

"One more pic, son. If you smile, this will go a lot faster."



"Now can we??"



Hmmmm...bribery seemed to have worked well for me! Ella smiled right away.



"You said we could, Mom...you really did."

Puddles. Jumping. Splashing.

I'm a good mom...I can roll with the punches...sure you can jump in the puddles!


...Or try to climb a wet pole. Keep trying, honey...you're doing great. Heehee



Hmmm...all this puddle jumping is getting them...well...wet.

Maybe this wasn't a well thought-out plan. Roll with the punches? Me? Yeah, right.

Now I just made more work for myself...gotta find dry clothes for everyone.


But....they are having so much fun.

"Maybe just stomp a little...but not jump up and down as hard as you can over and over again" I holllered.



"WHAT?!?"

"Oh, just kidding, sweatheart. I was only joking. What fun would that be to try and stay dry?!? And goodness, Mommy loves to change everyone's clothes twice in one day!"



Ah...whew...close call. Crisis diverted.

Back to the water, my little puddlejumper.



I guess in the end...it's better to have dripping-wet, happy kiddos then unhappy ones.

Life's really about jumping in the puddles anyway.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Off The Grid

Well, I'm sorry to report that my laptop is so bad off that it is going to be having some serious surgery. Jason is going to wipe it clean, reinstall everything, and start all over. Hopefully I'll be up and running soon. I miss my dear laptop....