Tea For Three

My momm, aka Geaba, came for a visit with my niece, Sarah. While Sarah was taking a nap Geaba had a tea party with Ruby and Ian. Ruby loved the time with Geaba and she even got to pick what kind of tea they were drinking. She chose peppermint.

When Geaba asked how she liked the tea she replied, "It is really good! It tastes mintish."

Ian enjoyed the party and very politely drank all his tea but he said,"I don't really like the tea."

What a gentleman he is.

Geaba has enjoyed many tea parties with all of her grandchildren. I cannot even begin to count the number of photos I have of her and Mikaela having tea. Ruby and Ian are very happy that their turn has arrived for this cherished tradition.

While the big kids were at history Geaba planned a study about seeds for everyone else. They read some stories, studied the seeds, and planted the seeds. The children love the fun activities that she brings. They have been diligently watering their seeds and setting them out in the sun every day and bringing them in at night.

Crazy that I thought that we could actually plant the seeds soon, we woke up this morning and it was snowing! No snow on the ground but very strange to see snow falling around the crocus'.

Come on Spring we are ready and waiting!

My Most Excellent Day

Yesterday, I finally used my gift certificate to the Chrysalis Inn and Spa that I received for my birthday last May! Now don't get me wrong I was super excited to use it but life prevents us mom's from pampering ourselves. After my week of sickness and an extremely needy baby I decided that this was the perfect time to get away for the day.

Sean graciously said for me to take the whole day! I am not one to argue... After 2 and a half hours of steam room, aromatic shower, herbal tea, Swedish massage with self heating mud wrap and more aromatic shower I was completely relaxed.

Then, I met up with Syndi had a delicious lunch of Thai food and headed to several thrift stores! We had dinner out, just Taco Bell but good. And got home to all the children in bed. I made myself some tea and read my new book!

Thank you Sean for a wonderful day to relax and rejuvenate!

Green Eggs and Ham

In an effort to expose the children to great literary works we threw together an impromptu celebration of the life of Theodore Geisel, also know as Dr. Seuss!

What better way to start the day than with children reading to other children.

I said to Syndi, "Dr. Seuss' Birthday is March 13th, we should do something." She said it sounded like a wonderful idea! Then, yesterday she called and said, "Actually Dr. Seuss' birthday was March 2, should we go ahead with the plan to have a party?"

I agreed and Syndi and Ben came over for Green Eggs and Ham breakfast, I think it would have been easier to make green scrambled eggs, but I really do not like scrambled eggs so I faked it!

Ian was shocked that I would make him eat that! He really thought that it was for decoration and that I would make him 'real' food.

Nope, only green eggs this morning!

I love the way Ruby is watching Ben read to her. She really likes, "Oh The Places You'll Go"

The Cat in the Hat Hats were one of the highlights of the day, and it was really difficult for the children to move on to another activity until every single had was eaten! I gave away the top part of mine but the brim was delicious.



We played a Cat in the Hat game. Seeing who could balance the most plates on cups and walk back and forth to get more. Syndi was the winner with 6 plates and 6 cups!
Taylor held the record at 5 each until she was bested by Synid, so she had to try again! You could almost see the thoughts in her brain (If she can do it, so can I)! Alas, she was only able to get 5 again, but she did make it further than the first time.

This game required quite a bit of concentration for the boys. The girls had the unfair advantage of patience and grace!

We made my absolute favorite craft after reading The Lorax. Ruby wanted her Truffula Trees to all be purple!

We read and read and read some more! We observed the drawings, discussed the words, tried some tongue twisters and rhyming.

We read Horton Hears a Who and made some adorable clovers with a speck of dust on them.

Of course, we could not forget Batholomew and the Oobleck! I think the Oobleck was Erik's favorite! He stayed at it long after everyone else lost interest.

When Sean and Aaron got home from Scouts tonight Sean asked me, "Why are Aaron's hands green?"

It Is A Glorious Day

I really do feel it is a glorious day when all but the youngest of my children can successfully puke into a bucket. Enough said. Unrelated but really cute picture of Libby and Jamie

(I really like how they seem to have matching hair)

Today, I taught a group of wonderful ladies at church how to batch cook. Honestly I think they all knew what to do but it was super satisfying to spend time with friends and go home with several delicious meals for my family.
We made: Chalupa, Manicotti, Mozzarella Meatballs, and Taco Soup. The meals averaged
$4. 80 per meal! What a deal!

My Plans Were Thwarted!

My children puke, it is a fact and all my friends know it. In fact I just ran into a friend who has a brand new baby and she said, "I bet you have a child puking right now and that is why you have not come over to see the baby."
She is right of course, I cannot wait to get my hand on her cute little guy and smell the wonderful baby smell. For now, I must wait until Liberty is done puking.

Liberty and Erik

Today we were supposed to go to the Vancouver Aquarium and then to Downtown Vancouver to celebrate some Olympic History. Unfortunately, Libby was up all night (she went to sleep about 5 am). Poor sweet thing just couldn't keep anything down.
At one point last night I laid her in the crib hoping she would sleep a little and grabbed a pillow and blanket and lay down in the hall by her room so I would hear her if she threw up. Aaron was so excited to go to the Aquarium today that he got up to check the time and see if he should get ready to go. He saw a pile of blankets in the hall (Me!) and kicked it to see what it was. I am not sure if I scared him more or if he scared me more but needless to say it was futile to try and get some sleep.
Libby just went down, I am off to try to get some sleep.

Trappers and Traders

This week was Project Week for History! Have you ever seen a more eager group of children celebrate history? Syndi planned a wonderful Rendez-Vous Party! She even went to the pond and collected sticks for the tent! We were afraid the tent was going to fall down because my cats loved it! We 'jokingly' said that we could skin the cats, and use their furs to trade with. Erik took it quite literally and kept telling Jess that he likes the cats and would be really sad if we did that.
She assured him that PETA would be all over it and we would not be allowed to do it. He was relieved.

The day started with the children finding cards that had beavers on it and going to the scout (Syndi) to trade for items that they would need.

Savannah drives a hard bargain and got the most for her fur!

The best looking Scout in camp!

It was a tough choice to pick the most useful and cool items. The scout had bear claws, corn husk dolls, beaded necklaces and bracelets, beads, feathers, and real antler buttons!

On a side note, I put Ruby down for a rest before the party (at 10:30am) and she fell asleep! She must have really needed it, I woke her up at 2:00 so she would not miss the whole party. I guess I now know why the morning was so tough.

Jake demonstrates some Indian Sign used in story telling. All the children shared stories, we began in the tent but moved inside due to inclement weather.

The Trappers and Traders had to endure some of the harsh conditions in order to practice throwing tomahawks and knives in the camp.

The children even got to try to start fires without the use of matches! This was one of the most exciting parts of the day! Probably because they are not usually allowed to play with fire.

The children were all eager to answer questions related to what they have learned so far! It makes all the effort worth it when you see how much they know and have retained and how excited they all are about history.

Liberty discovered that Syndi was handing out M&M's for correct answers. It was pretty cute to watch the boys share their hard earned and coveted candy with the baby. Libby quickly learned that she could plow though and sign please and would be rewarded!

We finished off the party by heading to the pond and letting the children shoot their BB Guns and Slingshots!

Another side note: recently, Sean took Erik to the local sporting store so Erik could buy his own Slingshot. Erik said to Sean, "Thank you so much for taking me Papa! This slingshot is going to change my life!"

Jess and I were feeling quite guilty sitting in the nice warm truck with the little boys and Libby while Syndi and Jason took all the children out in the rain to practice their hunting skills. We were soon joined by Ruby, Taylor, Savannah and Ian.

My Morning So Far...

I had three children wet the bed last night....
Everyone took a bath or a shower...
I had one child decide that the containers in their room needed dumped out and reorganized, All 20 containers!
Same child decided I needed more coffee and added grounds to the water in my coffee pot and it overflowed.
Libby peed in the tub, I drained it, refilled it, she pooped in the tub, drained it refilled it and finished her bath...
Only 2 cups of milk spilled at the table this morning and had to change children that were already dressed for the party later.
Washed 4 loads of wet bedding so far... Then on to the rest of the normal laundry
I am off to do morning school work and get ready for a party at my house later today.
Praise God that my dinner is already in the Crock Pot!