Friday, February 27, 2009

what we did today

Our homeschool group uses a gymnastics studio for an afternoon once a month and the kids are able to have some fun jumping around. There are lots of trampolines. Behind baby, just over his right shoulder you can see big sis running down the padded runway to a big trampoline that she can jump onto and do a flip. The lane just to her right is a long trampoline lane that runs the length of the building, kids can jump and do flips the whole way. Just like on Cirque du Soleil. The big tramps... kids were really getting some air on these. Above these is a rigging, that the gymnasts can attach to and learn complicated flips high in the air.
And the wedges to help kids learn to do back bends and flips. K had some fun with these... then began doing her back bends without help to the amazement of the owner. She was even more amazed when I told her K had been doing them since she was about 3, after she taught herself how. They were very interested in getting her into their gymnastics program. It was mentioned to me more than once while we were there.


Here is some remodeling I did today. Yes honey, that is our big floor model water cooler on the tall counter in the kitchen. I had to move it to keep my sanity. The baby was having too much fun filling cups and drinking, spilling, or pouring the water all over the floor, or in the dog's dish, or anywhere else in the house. He liked to lean against the button with his forehead while watching his cup fill, and overflow. Besides, I was filling the three gallon bottle every day. The inconvenience of cleaning up spilled water constantly makes standing on a chair to change bottles worthwhile. I know, I could get rid of it, but I like having a cup of tea at my fingertips.Jumping, Love, and doing something insane for the sake of sanity



Sunday, February 22, 2009

Daddy's Artwork

Hey all, Check out what Daddy has been doing. He misses us so much that he must immortalize us at work. These concrete walls are all over the place there. I'm guessing this one is somewhere near where he works. Can you tell what it is a picture of?
Here it is a little more close up. I took this photo of K a couple of years ago, I think. Daddy made a stencil of it and spray painted it on a wall so he can see his goofy kid every day now. He did an awesome job. I told him he may have a future in the graffiti arts.
Love and Family Forever

.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Happy Birthday Honey!

I actually had some reservations about hijacking the blog, but decided that today, it would be worth it. I want to take a minute to wish my wonderful wife a happy birthday and to encourage any followers to send a special wish as well.

I can't be there today to pamper you and make you feel special, but I hope, in some small way, this message will let you know how important you are; not just to me, but to your whole family. Happy Birthday, Honey. I love you!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Swimming Lessons

Today was the first day of swim lessons. It was hard to wait patiently for the day to get here but it finally arrived. She began with basic bubble blowing under water, then jumping up to get a breath. K was very good at this, as she practices in the tub all the time. Next they learned and practiced Flutter Kicks. She did very well here.
Next, she put the flutter kicks to good use. A boogie board helped her swim several trips back and forth across the pool. This was K's all time favorite part of swim lessons.
When it was all over, we took one posed shot of instructor and student together.

She told me that today was the best day of her life. So here is to the purest forms of enjoyment we experience as young children.
Love and Water

Saturday, February 14, 2009

juggling

Today, K decided that she would teach herself how to juggle. She has dabbled in the art of juggling before and can do two objects but not three. She decided to try different objects, to see if any were easier than others. Beanie babies are not as easy to juggle as tissues. Which are not as easy to juggle as empty plastic bags. Here are her best attempts at juggling today.


She is really getting good at it.

This last shot is thrown in because it makes me laugh how much he reminds me of you sometimes. I looked over and saw him still in his overalls (we hadn't been outside for hours) drinking his "coffee", while watching sis juggle.Peace love and Cirque



Friday, February 13, 2009

Nursing has been on my mind a lot lately...

It has been the only thing that the baby could keep down while he's been sick. We have been nursing for so long that I don't give much thought to it anymore but this week I have been so thankful to "still" be breastfeeding. That being said, I haven't been totally immune to people's thoughts and opinions of toddler nursing. Don't get me wrong, I like a good discussion, and I respect other opinions as I hope my opinion is respected. Today I received this video and it came at just the right time to be reminded how wonderful breastfeeding is. Which makes me feel even more certain that nursing for the natural duration has been the right choice for our family. How lucky we are.




And no one says it better than Mr. Rogers. Feeding really can be a wonderful way of expressing love.
Mama's Milk and Love

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Frank Sinatra ain't got nothin' on you baby.

I think she has the bluest, prettiest eyes I have ever seen. I have always been struck by those baby blues in photos and had to share the latest. We were just messing around with the camera one day and these came out.
People pay to get eyes that color.
Love

Parenting 101

We all know the very first rule of parenting... If the kids are quiet: Check on them!
I was so involved in making lesson plans, that I did not notice the deafening quiet. The worst part is, he was laying at my feet! When I turned around, here is what I saw...
Then I noticed the kitchen floor. (Man, I'm glad we own this place.) When I asked him, "what is this?" and pointed to his work on the floor. He looked at me and answered honestly. He said, "Paper."
I suppose his hand is just the notepad. I use more magic erasers than a person should around here, but they all go to a good cause. After all art is a child's first form of communication. Who am I to stifle their communication skills? Ooh maybe I can count this as a homeschool lesson...
Love and Scribbles




Tuesday, February 10, 2009

the Cafe

Yesterday, after we left the Doctor's office, we stopped by the cafe where T works. The baby loves to sit on the spinning stools. And we all love seeing big sis.Love, and Siblings

Monday, February 9, 2009

This is how we've all been feeling lately.

Some sort of a sickly bug has set up camp at our house. One at a time, we have all been host to this yucky feeling. I'm glad it wasn't all at once, but now that we are at the end of the week long puke-fest, I'm ready for it to go!
The baby was the last one to get the bug... along with the vomit, he has a cough that sounds like a seal barking and has been pulling at his ears. So I called the Doctor to get him in ASAP. The verdict is... it could be anything, so we'll throw some amoxicillin at it and hope that it will subdue anything bad that may become worse. Even feeling sick, isn't he cute? In the words of big sis, "I know, right?"
Health, Love, and Lysol
P.S. to Daddy, these were taken with my birthday present... Thank You! I love it!

Friday, February 6, 2009

I chipped a tooth...

It happened the first part of January. I was eating a grilled cheese sandwich made on whole grain bread. It was so delicious, until I bit into one of the whole grains in just the wrong way. Then all the enjoyment of my cheesy delight went right out the window. If you have ever chipped a tooth you may have experienced that gut twisting crack you hear in your head. I'm sure no one else heard it, but it was so loud to me, and instantly my appetite was gone. Then the pain set it. I thought I had seriously damaged something because I couldn't even close my teeth together without it causing major pain. I've always kinda prided myself on my ability to manage pain, but this was not good. So I called the dentist. I was able to get in right away, but we couldn't do any actual work until today...

Today we were just going to drill out the bad parts and make the tooth ready for a cap. Until we got in there..... What the heck is all this? I'm too young for dentures!
Seriously though, those last pictures were staged. I happen to have one of the best dentists in Southwest Iowa and he has a really good sense of humor. When I asked if I could get someone to take a picture for the blog, Dr. Scott was all for it and even helped ham it up a bit for your entertainment. We were able to get the tooth shaved down with no pain, and I have a shiny temporary cap while my permanent cap is being made. (So I don't have to go around with one stubby tooth which would have been kinda funny too.) I go back in two weeks for my real (fake) tooth, lets hope I don't have anymore problems. Oh, I'm happy to report... I was able to eat lunch without worrying about that pesky chunk of tooth popping off while I chew.
Here's to your dental health...
Love, Peace and Teeth.


Monday, February 2, 2009

Family Literacy night

We ate a little supper....

And read a little book...
And ate little cookies... And did a little estimation....


Then finished up the evening with a little game of penny pitch.
A good time was had by all.
Love, Fun and Learning.






Sunday, February 1, 2009

I need your help

Hi All,

Some of you may know that I've joined the local camera club. We meet monthly to discuss all sorts of great photography things. Each month we have a photography "assignment", we are to take photos during the month and bring our best shot to the next meeting. This month's assignment is back lighting. I have taken several shots and I'm asking your opinion... which one jumps out and grabs you. Which one do you find aesthetically pleasing? Please leave your vote in the comments section. Here are some of my shots in no particular order.





Let me know what you think....
peace, love and photography